Sharon Cuneta found three cysts

The case was actually blown “out of proportion” by some quarters, sending unnecessary minor shock waves across Sharonlandia.
Last March, Sharon Cuneta found three cysts in her left breast. Since this kind of ailment runs in her family, she promptly flew to an Asian country with husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for a series of tests.
“All the results were negative,” said Sharon. Yes, benign! “Praise God! If it were serious, I would have flown at once to the US for further treatment.”
Back home, Sharon resumed shooting Star Cinema’s BFF (Best Friends Forever) with Ai-Ai delas Alas, directed by Wenn Deramas.
“I showed Ai-Ai and direk Wenn my plates from the hospital and all. Recently, I mentioned casually on SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon, hosted by Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino late nights on ABS-CBN) that I had a cancer scare this year but benign nga. Pinalaki lang yung balita ng hindi nakaintindi.”
Sharon explained her condition to movie reporters who witnessed her first shooting day at the Sofitel for Mano Po: My Mother, the sixth installment in the smash-hit Regal Films franchise intended for this December’s Metro Manila Filmfest, directed by Joel Lamangan. Playing the coveted role as Sharon’s pasaway daughter is Heart Evangelista, with Kris Aquino (a “graduate” of an earlier Mano Po) who  agreed to do a “special participation” gratis et amore as a nod to Sharon and Kiko’s support for Kris’ brother (Sen.) Noynoy Aquino’s 2010 presidential bid, as well as that of Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde who, as to be expected, will call a movie presscon as soon as Noynoy formally files his certificate of candidacy (together with running mate Sen. Mar Roxas presumably when the Nov. 30 deadline nears).
Next month, Sharon and some members of the cast, along with select members of the movie press, will shoot some scenes and do pictorials in Beijing as did most of the Mano Po movies. They will be there for four days.
Incidentally, women are advised by doctors to undergo a mammogram once a year. The earlier anything wrong is detected the better are the chances for cure. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

‘May Bukas Pa’ Drops to 9th, ‘Survivor Philippines’ Debuts at No. 5 in Mega Manila

Rosalinda hit 33% in Mega Manila last Monday night, its highest rating so far. Thanks to Darna, GMA officially reclaimed the primetime race.
Darna registered an average rating of 43.5% on its pilot week. Darna helped other GMA programs to fly higher than before, specially Rosalinda. The Carla Abellana-starrer reached its peak rating of 33% last Monday. Adik Sa ‘Yo also experienced some boost.
Aside from Rosalinda, TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy also had its peak rating. Last Saturday, the Ryan Agoncillo-talent program registered a remarkable 30.3% to top the primetime race. This is the highest rating a TV5 program had ever got.
While Darna soars on primetime, it’s rival show May Bukas Pa falls. The former no. 1 teleserye in Mega Manila dropped to 6th place last Friday and it even dropped even lower at 9th place last Monday.
Survivor Philippines Palau, on the other hand, premiered last Monday night. It registered a strong 30.8% to finish fifth in the primetime race in Mega Manila. It wasn’t able to match the pilot episode of the 1st season which scored 31.8 percent last September 15, 2008.
TOP 10 DAYTIME AND PRIMETIME PROGRAMS IN MEGA MANILA
(August 14 to 17, 2009; AGB Nielsen)
August 14, Friday
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 26.6%
2. Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin (GMA-7) - 20.6%
3. Ngayon at Kailanman (GMA-7) - 18.7%
4. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 18.3%
5. Daisy Siete: Kambalilong (GMA-7) - 16.9%
6. Hole In The Wall (GMA-7) - 16.7%
7. Kambal Sa Uma (ABS-CBN) - 16.4%
8. Spongebob Squarepants (TV5) - 12%
9. Hunter X Hunter (GMA-7) / Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 11.6%
10. Chil Princesses (GMA-7) - 11.5%
Primetime:
1. Darna (GMA-7) - 39.2%
2. Rosalinda (GMA-7) - 30.1%
3. Adik Sa ‘Yo (GMA-7) - 28.8%
4. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 28.3%
5. Tayong Dalawa (ABS-CBN) - 26.3%
6. May Bukas Pa (ABS-CBN) - 25.5%
7. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 23.9%
8. Only You (ABS-CBN) - 23.4%
9. Cruel Love (GMA-7) - 20.8%
10. All My Life (GMA-7) - 19.9%
August 15, Saturday
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 29.7%
2. Wish Ko Lang (GMA-7) - 22%
3. Joey’s Quirky World (GMA-7) - 20.5%
4. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 16.2%
5. Cinema FPJ (ABS-CBN) - 13.4%
6. Startalk (GMA-7) - 13.3%
7. Maynila (GMA-7) - 12.4%
8. Spongebob Squarepants (TV5) - 12.1%
9. Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 10.2%
10. Art Angel (GMA-7) - 9.7%
Primetime:
1. Talentadong Pinoy (TV5) - 30.3%
2. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA-7) - 29.2%
3. Imbestigador (GMA-7) - 26.7%
4. Bitoy’s Funniest Videos (GMA-7) - 21.4%
5. Pinoy Records (GMA-7) - 18.6%
6. Are You The Next Big Star? (GMA-7) - 18.1%
7. Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat Ni Ramon Revilla - Tiagong Akyat (ABS-CBN) -17.9%
8. Midnight DJ (TV5) - 17.8%
9. XXX (ABS-CBN) - 16.4%
10. Vilma: A Woman For All Seasons (ABS-CBN) - 16.2%
August 16, Sunday
Daytime:
1. Pinoy Power 2: Donaire vs. Concepcion (GMA-7) - 29%
2. Showbiz Central (GMA-7) - 15.7%
3. SOP (GMA-7) - 15%
4. The Buzz (ABS-CBN) - 13.2%
5. Matanglawin (ABS-CBN) - 12.6%
6. ASAP ‘09 (ABS-CBN) - 11.3%
7. Joey’s Quirky World (GMA-7) - 10.9%
8. Your Song Presents Gaano Kita Kamahal (ABS-CBN) - 9.7%
9. Kay Susan Tayo (GMA-7) - 8.9%
10. Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (ABS-CBN) - 8.3%
Primetime:
1. Kap’s Amazing Stories (GMA-7) - 27.9%
2. Mel & Joey (GMA-7) - 25%
3. Power of 10 (GMA-7) - 23.9%
4. Rated K (ABS-CBN) - 21.6%
5. All Star K (GMA-7) - 18.6 %
6. The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN) - 18.5%
7. Sharon (ABS-CBN) - 18.3%
8. George and Cecil (ABS-CBN) - 14.2%
9. Goin’ Bulilit (ABS-CBN) - 13.6%
10. TV Patrol Linggo (ABS-CBN) - 13.5%
August 17, Monday
Daytime:
1. Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 27.1%
2. Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin (GMA-7) - 20.8%
3. Ngayon at Kailanman (GMA-7) - 19.5%
4. Daisy Siete: Chacha Muchacha (GMA-7) - 18.1%
5. Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 16.3%
6. Kambal Sa Uma (ABS-CBN) / Hole In The Wall (GMA-7) - 15.2%
Primetime:
1. Darna (GMA-7) - 43.7%
2. 24 Oras (GMA-7) - 34.4%
3. Rosalinda (GMA-7) - 33%
4. Tayong Dalawa (ABS-CBN) - 31.2%
5. Survivor Philippines: Palau (GMA-7) - 30.8%
6. Adik Sa ‘Yo (GMA-7) - 29%
7. Only You (ABS-CBN) - 27%
8. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) - 23.77%
9. May Bukas Pa (ABS-CBN) - 23.4%
10. All My Life (GMA-7) - 21.5%

CELEBRITY DUETS 3 IN GMA-7, HOSTS ARE REGINE VELASQUEZ & OGIE ALCASID

The new episode of  “Celebrity Duets 3” will start to air this Aug. 29 in GMA-7 hosts are Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid with judges Danny Tan, Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Freddie Santos and Louie Ignacio as the director.

AGB Mega Manila TV Ratings Aug. 14-17: Survivor Philippines: Palau debuts strongly

The second season of GMA-7’s reality show, Survivor Philippines: Palau, opened last night, August 17, with an impressive 30.8 percent rating to take the fifth spot in the primetime race.
This is based on the latest overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households.
Compared to the first season of Survivor Philippines, however, the second season’s pilot rating was slightly lower by one percent. The first season, which was launched on September 15, 2008, scored 31.8 percent and ranked No. 4.
Survivor Philippines: Palau is hosted by Paolo Bediones.
The Kapuso network’s fantaserye, Darna, retained its top position with 43.7 percent, followed by other GMA-7 shows 24 Oras (34.4 percent) and Rosalinda (33 percent; its highest rating so far), and ABS-CBN’s Tayong Dalawa (31.2 percent).
(When the first season of Survivor Philippines premiered last year, the No. 1 primetime show then was Dyesebel, starring Marian Rivera. The actress now plays Darna, the current leader in the ratings game.)
The rest of the Top 10 was occupied by: Adik Sa ‘Yo (29 percent), Only You (27 percent), TV Patrol World (23.7 percent), May Bukas Pa (23.4 percent), and All My Life (21.5 percent).
Meanwhile, Eat Bulaga! remains on top in the daytime race. The longest-running noontime show in the country posted a rating of 27.1 percent.

GMA-7’s afternoon soap Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin was a far second with 20.8 percent, followed by Kapuso soaps Ngayon at Kailanman (19.5 percent) and Daisy Siete (18.1 percent), and ABS-CBN’s noontime show, Wowowee (16.3 percent).
DARNA’S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT WEEK. Darna also topped the primetime race last Friday, August 14, with 39.2 percent—its lowest rating since its launching last August 10. But, overall, Darna still registered an average rating of 43.5 percent on its pilot week.
Three other GMA-7 shows—Rosalinda, Adik Sa ‘Yo, and 24 Oras—took the second to fourth slots. The fifth slot was occupied by ABS-CBN’s Tayong Dalawa.
The daytime race was again ruled by Eat Bulaga!, followed by Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin, Ngayon at Kailanman, Wowowee, and Daisy Siete. All these shows, except for Wowowee, are from GMA-7.
WEEKEND RATINGS. Last Saturday, August 15, TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy reached its highest rating, so far—30.3 percent—to take the No. 1 spot in the daytime race.
GMA-7’s Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho came in second with 29.2 percent, followed by Kapuso shows Imbestigador (26.7 percent), Bitoy’s Funniest Videos (21.4 percent), Pinoy Records (18.6 percent), and Are You The Next Big Star? (18.1 percent).
The remaining slots were taken by Kapamilya shows Tiagong Akyat (No. 7) XXX (No. 9), and Vilma: A Woman For All Seasons (No. 10), and TV5’s Midnight DJ (No. 8).
Eat Bulaga! was the most-watched daytime program with 29.7 percent, followed by Kapuso programs Wish Ko Lang (22 percent) and Joey’s Quirky World (20.5 percent), and ABS-CBN’s Wowowee (16.2 percent) and Cinema FPJ (13.4 percent).
GMA-7’s coverage of Pinoy Power 2—which featured the boxing matches of three Filipino fighters, including Nonito Donaire—generated an average rating of 29 percent to lead all daytime programs.
GMA-7’s Showbiz Central and SOP, and ABS-CBN’s The Buzz and Matanglawin took the other slots in the Top 5.
GMA-7’s Kap’s Amazing Stories topped the primetime race with 27.9 percent.
Here are the comparative TV ratings of ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA-7 programs from August 14 to 17, based on the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households:

August 14, Friday
Non-Primetime:
Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 5.2%; Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 5.8%; Bob The Builder (TV5) 1.3%; Barney & Friends (TV5) 1.7%; Thomas & Friends (TV5) 2.4%; Go Diego Go (TV5) 3.4%; Blue’s Clues (TV5) 3.8%
Pokemon: Master Quest (GMA-7) 6.4%; Amazing Twins (ABS-CBN) 3.5%; Blue Dragon (ABS-CBN) 3.8%; Spongebob Squarepants (TV5) 6.3%; Catdog (TV5) 4.6%
Jackie Chan Adventures (GMA-7) 9.7%; Buzzer Beater (GMA-7) 8.8%; Naruto (ABS-CBN) 3.7%; Ang Pangarap Ni Cosette: Les Miserables (ABS-CBN) 2.7%; Danny Phantom (TV5) 5.8%
Hunter X Hunter (GMA-7) 11.6%; SiS (GMA-7) 7.9%; Ruffa and Ai (ABS-CBN) 4.4%; The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron (TV5) 6.8%; Makibaoh (TV5) 6.5%; Duel Masters (TV5) 4.6%
Lalola (GMA-7) 9.6%; Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) 11.6%; Juicy (TV5) 2.2%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 26.6%; Daisy Siete: Chacha Muchacha (GMA-7) 16.9%; WowoweeMidnight DJ (TV5) 5.2%; Barney & Friends (TV5) 2.5%; Thomas & FriendsPlay With Me Sesame (TV5) 1.7%; Elmo’s World (TV5) 2.2%; Global Grover (TV5) 2.3% (ABS-CBN) 18.3%; (TV5) 1.8%;
Ngayon at Kailanman (GMA-7) 18.7%; Kambal Sa Uma (ABS-CBN) 16.4%; Postman Pat (TV5) 2.1%; Bob The Builder (TV5) 3%
Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin (GMA-7) 20.6%; Chil Princesses (GMA-7) 11.5%; Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers (ABS-CBN) 11.1%; Maria de Jesus: Anghel Sa Lansangan (ABS-CBN) 8.8%; Legendz Tale of the Dragon Kids (TV5) 4.2%; The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron (TV5) 8.5%
Hole In The Wall (GMA-7) 16.7%; Mr. Bean Live (ABS-CBN) 8%; Miss No Good (ABS-CBN) 10.6%; Spongebob Squarepants (TV5) 12%; Avatar: The Legend of Aang (TV5) 8.6%
Primetime:
All My Life (GMA-7) 19.9%; Boys Over Flowers (ABS-CBN) 18.4%; Azumanga Daioh (TV5) 4.5%
24 Oras (GMA-7) 28.3%; TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 23.9%; Ranma 1/2 (TV5) 6.6%; The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok (TV5) 6.3%; Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (TV5) 5.4%
Darna (GMA-7) 39.2%; May Bukas Pa (ABS-CBN) 25.5%; Only You (ABS-CBN) 23.4%; Lokomoko High (TV5) 6.9%
Rosalinda (GMA-7) 30.1%; Tayong Dalawa (ABS-CBN) 26.3%; 5 Max Movies: Thir13en Ghosts (TV5) 8.7%
Adik Sa ‘Yo (GMA-7) 28.8%; The Wedding (ABS-CBN) 18.1%
Cruel Love (GMA-7) 20.8%; SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 14.4%
Bubble Gang (GMA-7) 16.7%; Bandila (ABS-CBN) 8.2%; SOCO (ABS-CBN) 5.6%
TEN: The Evening News (TV5) 0.8%; MOG TV: More On Gaming (TV5) 0.8%; Jojo A. All The Way (TV5) 0.5%
Saksi (GMA-7) 7.2%; OFW Diaries (GMA-7) 4.4%; Trip Na Trip (ABS-CBN) 4%; Games Uplate Live (ABS-CBN) 1%; Lipgloss (TV5) 1.3%
August 15, Saturday
Non-Primetime:
Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko (GMA-7) 2.6%; Jang Geum’s Dream (GMA-7) 4.2%; Salamat Dok (ABS-CBN) 3.6%; Mustard TV (TV5) 1.3%
Slazer X (GMA-7) 6%; Kabuhayang Swak Na Swak (ABS-CBN) 5.1%; Inside the Fish Bowl (TV5) 0.9%
Chess Master (GMA-7) 7.5%; Wanted: Perfect Husband (ABS-CBN) 2.8%
Black Jack (GMA-7) 9.5%; Sineskwela (ABS-CBN) 2.4%; Kim Possible (ABS-CBN) 6.1%; Soul Mix (TV5) 1.3%
Batang Bibbo (GMA-7) 8%; Wolverine And The X-Men (ABS-CBN) 7.2%
Art Angel (GMA-7) 9.7%; Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (ABS-CBN) 5.8%; Catscratch (TV5) 4.3%
Happy Land (GMA-7) 8.1%; Ka-Blog (GMA-7) 7%; Wonder Mom (ABS-CBN) 5.4%; Chalkzone (TV5) 8.9%; Spongebob Squarepants (TV5) 12.1%
Maynila (GMA-7) 12.4%; Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) 10.2%; Rocko’s Modern Life (TV5) 8.6%; Legends of the Hidden Temple (TV5) 5.1%
Joey’s Quirky World (GMA-7) 20.5%; Makibaoh (TV5) 3.6%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 29.7%; Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 16.2%; Melancholy of Haruhi SuzumiyaAzumanga Daioh (TV5) 3.1% (TV5) 3.7%;
Startalk (GMA-7) 13.3%; Entertainment Live (ABS-CBN) 8.2%; Ranma 1/2 (TV5) 6%
Wish Ko Lang (GMA-7) 22%; Cinema FPJ: Da King On ABS-CBN (ABS-CBN) 13.4%; Lipgloss (TV5) 5.1%
Primetime:
Pinoy Records (GMA-7) 18.6%; Are You The Next Big Star? (GMA-7) 18.1%; Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat Ni Ramon Revilla - Tiagong Akyat (ABS-CBN) 17.9%; The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN) 14.8%; Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (TV5) 15.2%
Bitoy’s Funniest Videos (GMA-7) 21.4%; Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) 15.2%; Talentadong Pinoy (TV5) 30.3%
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA-7) 29.2%; Vilma: A Woman For All Seasons (ABS-CBN) 16.2%; Midnight DJ (TV5) 17.8%
Imbestigador (GMA-7) 26.7%; XXX (ABS-CBN) 16.4%; Voice of McDonald’s I’m Lovin’ It (TV5) 2.8%
Cool Center Hello It’s Me (GMA-7) 13.2%; Banana Split (ABS-CBN) 15.2%; TV Patrol World Sabado (ABS-CBN) 9.8%; Juicy! (TV5) 0.7%
GMA Weekend Report (GMA-7) 8.2%; Sports Unlimited (ABS-CBN) 6.9%; Kiddie Kwela (TV5) 0.9%
Walang Tulugan With The Master Showman (GMA-7) 2.9%; Games Uplate (ABS-CBN) 2.5%; Shock Attack (TV5) 1.3%; Baikingu (TV5) 1.5%; OMG!!! TV5) 1.7%

August 16, Sunday
Non-Primetime:
Jesus The Healer (GMA-7) 1.6%; The Healing Eucharist (ABS-CBN) 5%; Kerygma TV (TV5) 0.1%
In Touch With Dr. Charles Stanley (GMA-7) 1.6%; Chess Master (GMA-7) 4.6%; Kabuhayang Swak Na Swak (ABS-CBN) 3.4%; Salamat Dok (ABS-CBN) 4.7%; The Word Exposed With Bishop Chito Tagle (TV5) 0.5%; Sunday Mass On TV (TV5) 1.3%
Kay Susan Tayo (GMA-7) 8.9%; Totally Spies! Undercover (ABS-CBN) 5.2%; Wolverine And The X-Men (ABS-CBN) 6.2%; Catscratch (TV5) 4.5%
Joey’s Quirky World (GMA-7) 10.9%; Power Rangers Animated (ABS-CBN) 8.3%; Chalkzone (TV5) 5%
Pinoy Power 2: Donaire vs. Concepcion (GMA-7) 29%; SOP (GMA-7) 15%; Hana Kimi Crazy In Love (ABS-CBN) 7.6%; Matanglawin (ABS-CBN) 12.6%; ASAP ‘09 (ABS-CBN) 11.3%; Your Song Presents Gaano Kita Kamahal (ABS-CBN) 9.7%; Spongebob Squarepants TV5) 7.6%; Rocko’s Modern Life (TV5) 4.4%; Legends of the Hidden Temple (TV5) 2.2%; The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok (TV5) 2.1%; Tora Dora (TV5) 4.2%; Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (TV5) 5%
Showbiz Central (GMA-7) 15.7%; The Buzz (ABS-CBN) 13.2%; G&G: Goals & Girls (TV5) 2.5%; Front Act With Mike & Stanley (TV5) 1.4%
Primetime:
Goin’ Bulilit (ABS-CBN) 13.6%; Wow Mali (TV5) 5.4%
Kap’s Amazing Stories (GMA-7) 27.9%; The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN) 18.5%; Everybody Hapi (TV5) 10.6%
Power of 10 (GMA-7) 23.9%; Rated K (ABS-CBN) 21.6%
Mel & Joey (GMA-7) 25%; Sharon (ABS-CBN) 18.3%; Shall We Dance (TV5) 6.5%
All Star K (GMA-7) 18.6%; George and Cecil (ABS-CBN) 14.2%; TV Patrol Linggo (ABS-CBN) 13.5%; Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 Sa Aurora Province (TV5) 3.7%
Pinoy Power 2: Donaire vs. Concepcion Replay (GMA-7) (GMA-7) 7%; Sunday’s Best: Story Line (ABS-CBN) 8%; Urban Zone (ABS-CBN) 3%; Juicy! (TV5) 0.9%; Lokomoko High (TV5) 2.3%; Ogags (TV5) 1.6%
GMA Weekend Report (GMA-7) 3.4%; Diyos at Bayan (GMA-7) 1.1%; Philippines’ Scariest Challenge (TV5) 0.4%
August 17, Monday (Incomplete Data)
Non-Primetime:
SiS (GMA-7) 10.2%; Ruffa and Ai (ABS-CBN) 5.8%
Lalola (GMA-7) 11.4%; Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) 12.8%
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 27.1%; Daisy Siete: Kambalilong (GMA-7) 18.1%; Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 16.3%
Ngayon at Kailanman (GMA-7) 19.5%; Kambal Sa Uma (ABS-CBN) 15.2%
Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat Sa Akin (GMA-7) 20.8%; Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers (ABS-CBN) 11.1%
Hole In The Wall (GMA-7) 15.2%; Miss No Good (ABS-CBN) 9.7%
Primetime:
All My Life (GMA-7) 21.5%; Boys Over Flowers (ABS-CBN) 16.9%
24 Oras (GMA-7) 34.4%; TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 23.7%
Darna (GMA-7) 43.7%; May Bukas Pa (ABS-CBN) 23.4%
Rosalinda (GMA-7) 33%; Only You (ABS-CBN) 27%
Adik Sa ‘Yo (GMA-7) 29%; Tayong Dalawa (ABS-CBN) 31.2%
Survivor Philippines: Palau (GMA-7) 30.8%; The Wedding (ABS-CBN) 17.3%
Cruel Love (GMA-7) 17.7%; SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 14.9%
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not (GMA-7) 11.9%; Bandila (ABS-CBN) 10.8%
Saksi (GMA-7) 9.6%; Kalye (ABS-CBN) 4.6%

Jamila’s back to reveal more!

Now in her 20’s, former “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition” housemate Jamila Obispo is back in the limelight with lots of revelations!
“I’ve been in a lesbian relationship when I was 14 years old,” admitted Jamila in Filipino when asked if she had qualms about having relationships with the same sex.
The said inquiry came about during the recent launching of the second edition of the gay and lesbian magazine called “Ketchup” at Slab restaurant inside the Ortigas Home Depo complex where she was one of the celebrity guests.
“That relationship was a long time ago,” she added. “But I’ve been friends with some people behind ‘Ketchup’ like Lalen Calayan. And I’m here to give them my utmost support.”
Another revelation was that she has recently signed up with Viva Artist Agency headed by Veronique del Rosario.
“I’m really excited because I feel I’ll be able to explore more as an actress,” she quipped.
Jamila couldn’t also hide her frustration when nothing solid and consistent happened to her showbiz career after her “Pinoy Big Brother” stint. A single-mom, she also admitted that she banked on showbiz projects for her child’s needs and future. And when she didn’t get anymore projects, she opted to go back to school and leave showbiz in the meantime.
Before she signed up with VAA, she said that she had been studying interior design which she hopes to finish in the near future. Under her new management, Jamila is eager to try her acting skills through more mature and daring roles. She expressed that she feels this is the right time for her to do this while she is still young and able.
“All I can say right now is that there are exciting projects lined up for me by VAA. And I’m happy I signed up with them because now my career will have a new and exciting direction,” she remarked.
According to her, preparation for her upcoming projects would involve acting workshops and keeping a sexy figure. She is also the newest “Calayan-baby” being one of the latest celebrity endorsers of the Calayan Surgicenter.
One of Jamila’s goals in her return to showbiz is to earn enough for a condo unit located at The Fort!
As to whether she would appear on the next cover of “Ketchup,” she only flashed a “teasing” smile.
Does this mean, we should expect a more daring and steamier Jamila in the months to come?
All Jamila could say with a smile is “just wait for my projects to come up!”
And as to whether there could be a rivalry between her and Cristine Reyes who also has a “sexy image” among the VAA talents, she said there won’t be.
“We both have different looks and characteristics. So I think there won’t be any competition. We can even be friends,” she replied.
Slab and Ketchup
If Jamila feels comfortable attending events by “Ketchup” magazine, it’s because she feels comfortable around the magazine’s staff. For her, she feels a certain warmness, like a family with them. And it’s the same way she felt with Slab Restaurant which could be described as a restaurant for the whole family!
“They have big servings, affordable and they taste good,” commented Jamila about Slab’s famous quarter baby back ribs.
Rosette Carlos, owner of Slab, said that they’re also geared to hosting events like the launching of the second edition of “Ketchup” magazine to spread the “good taste” of Slab’s baby back ribs and more. And having celebrity guests at the said event wasn’t expected but a welcome bonus.
A pastry chef by profession, Rosette Carlos also revealed that Slab turns into a bar with upbeat music after 10 p.m. making it a quaint “club” for people who enjoy house or dance music.
Rather than barbeque sauce, Slab goes perfectly hand-in-hand with “Ketchup!”

Sitti tries theater

When Sitti emerged in the local music scene a few years back, some were aghast with her audacity to barge into the local pop audience with her musical genre.
And when she succeeded in carving a niche for herself, many called her flash in the pan.
Nowadays, no one can contest that she is Philippines’ Queen of Bossa Nova. With three successful bossa nova albums  — Café Bossa, My Bossa Nova and Ngayong Pasko — under her belt, and another just-released (titled Contagious, still under Warner Music Philippines), Sitti has grown not only as an artist but as a young woman.
In Contagious, Sitti demonstrates that almost any song can be turned into bossa nova numbers. The 15 remakes in the CD span musical genres that an artist of lesser mettle would have a hard time stamping his signature on.
The artists whose works she does versions of are those even her most avid fans would not expect: Annie Lennox (No More I Love You’s), Sarah McLachlan (Adia) and Sade (Your Love Is King), just to name a few.
She even has an original, titled Is This Love which was co-written by Andrew Fromm of Christian Bautista’s The Way You Look At Me — fame.
Sitti reveals how she is able to “own” music of different genres, turning these into progressive bossa nova. “I immerse myself in that (whatever genre the original is of) world. It’s on a different plane, where only the music exists.”
Listening to Sitti’s brand of “beach” music, as many people are wont to call it, one would never guess that behind the lilting voice is an artist who is as adventurous as, say, Madonna (forgive the audacious comparison); that is, someone who is willing to trail paths she has not yet taken.
One of these is acting and hosting. To date, Sitti has hosted (albeit briefly) Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 and has appeared in TV shows Ysabella and Your Song.
Sitti pushes her acting career further by delving into theater. At the press conference for Contagious, she announced that she has been cast in a theatrical production where she will play the role of a physically and sexually abused woman. She is currently taking up voice lessons with Annie Quintos of The CompanY to prepare for the role.
A bossa nova singer playing such a role? Kind of hard to reconcile.
“My fans would just have to realize that I have other talents. I can’t limit myself as an artist. I have to grow. I want to grow,” she said.
The budding actress is not yet allowed to divulge details (not even the title) of the production, only that it will be staged within the year. She added that she had long wanted to involve herself in theater and that her dream roles are Maria in West Side Story and Kim in Miss Saigon.
Then again, people who have been attending Sitti’s shows lately, ought to have anticipated the daring streak in the singer. Apart from bossa nova, Sitti sings jazz and Latin music — even pop music sometimes (including her recent duet with Christian Bautista titled Captured).
Sitti has a degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines. Although she is not thinking of quitting showbiz just yet (“or ever!” she points out), it may be comforting to her fans to know that their idol not only has talents but brains, too (Sitti was a consistent Dean’s Lister in college).
“But make no mistake about it — I will be in showbiz for a long, long time.”
Other songs in Contagious are Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (originally by Culture Club); Let Me In (Mike Francis); Promises/A New Day for You (Basia); Till There Was You (Beatles); Bossa Nova Baby (Elvis Presley); La-La Means I Love You (Jackson 5); One On One (Hall & Oates); A Certain Sadness (Astrud Gilberto); and Dindi (Jobim).
Erratum:
The beautiful, amiable and efficient lady of Heritage Park who I mentioned in the first part of my Untold Stories About Tita Cory which appeared Friday, Aug. 14 as Ting is Raquel Mendoza a.k.a. Quey.
My apologies to Fr. Manoling Francisco whose name was inadvertently misspelled as Fr. Monching Francisco in the second part of the Untold Stories About Tita Cory which came out last Monday.