‘My Korean Jagiya’ charms its way into viewers’ hearts

What if one day, all your fan girl dreams become a reality?

Headlining its first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series, “My Korean Jagiya,”  is no other than Philippine TV’s Sweetheart Heart Evangelista-Escudero as Guadalupe Immaculada Asuncion or Gia.

Introducing in this original masterpiece is professional Korean actor, host, former member of the well-known K-pop group U-KISS, and the newest Kapuso oppa who is undeniably swoon-worthy and is all set to melt viewers’ hearts, Alexander Lee as Kim Jun Ho. 

 Also starring are award-winning and talented artists Janice De Belen, Ricky Davao, Iya Villania-Arellano, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Valeen Montenegro. With the special participation of Korean stars David Kim, Michelle Oh, and Jerry Lee as Manager Choi.

My Korean Jagiya tells the story of Gia, a quirky, bubbly, and hopelessly romantic girl often teased that she is next in her family to become an old maid. Apart from being a Korean grade school tutor, she is the ultimate K-drama fan girl armed with determination to meet her long-time crush and Korean superstar, Kim Jun Ho, who has since fallen off the radar and stepped out of the limelight at the height of his career.

When her school offers her a scholarship training in Seoul, she grabs the opportunity to try and find Jun Ho, but ends up coming home disappointed. As it turns out, fate had a different plan for her when she helps a drunk Korean guy beaten by gangsters in one of Manila’s bars. After a few days, the mysterious guy comes back to thank her, and much to her surprise, it’s her dream oppa, Kim Jun Ho!

Sparks fly and the two of them eventually become friends. But to Gia, Jun Ho will always mean something more. Can he find it in his heart to fall in love with her, too? Or are some dreams too good to come true?

With a light and romantic theme, My Korean Jagiya is set to make viewers fall in love with the kilig-filled story Gia and Jun Ho. The series was partly shot in South Korea’s most scenic spots used in famous K-dramas including Nami Island (Winter Sonata), Namsan Park (My Name is Kim Sam Soon), Love Padlocks at N Seoul Tower (My Love From the Star), and Daejanggeum Park, the actual set built and used for the internationally-acclaimed series Jewel In The Palace. Also, the series was shot in other popular tourist destinations in Korea like Han River Park, Cheonggyecheon Stream Park, and Seoul Land Theme Park.

Seoul Film Commission and Seoul Metropolitan Government provided support and assistance to the production team of My Korean Jagiya during their entire stay in South Korea.

Under the helm of esteemed and award-winning director Mark Reyes, catch My Korean Jagiya on GMA Pinoy TV. 

Solenn Heussaff and Betong Sumaya sing their hearts out in ‘All-Star Videoke’

Brace yourself for a more fun-filled Sunday night as GMA Network brings back to Filipino homes “All-Star Videoke” with twice the fun and twice the excitement.                                    

The grand return of the musical game show is hosted by two of GMA’s versatile artists: multi-talented actress and TV host Solenn Heussaff and funny comedian Betong Sumaya.

Solenn revealed that because of her love for music and singing, she is more enthusiastic for the show to begin.

“Ito talaga ‘yung first hosting gig ko sa GMA Entertainment so iba ‘yung feeling kasi sobrang bongga ‘yung preparations sa lahat. Nandoon ‘yung pressure but the excitement is there for me kasi I really like music and singing so magagawa ko talaga ‘yun dito,” the Kapuso actress said.

On the other hand, Betong shared how grateful he is to finally be part of the program that has become one of the Filipino viewers’ favorite TV programs.

“Natutuwa ako kasi kami ni Solenn ‘yung pinagkatiwalaan ng GMA sa napakalaking project na ito. As we all know, inaabangan talaga ito ng viewers noon, ‘di ba? Sobra ‘yung excitement ko kasi following the footsteps of Allan K., Jaya and Arnell Ignacio, ang laki ng shoes to fill in so I feel blessed and challenged at the same time,” he said.

The game features six celebrity contestants or videoke stars vying to outwit one another by filling in the missing words on a song in a videoke-type of presentation.

In the event that every player correctly answered the words in each song, a pair of celebrity ‘laglagers’ will choose one player who will be out of the competition.

The two remaining contenders will proceed in the semi-final round for a chance to play in the jackpot round. The winning contestant becomes the “All Star Videoke Champ!” and may bring home a cash prize of up to Php100,000.

A “Super Oke” prize is also up for the win if the winner decides to continuously play in the succeeding weeks.

All-Star Videoke is under the helm of esteemed director Louie Ignacio.

Don’t miss it on GMA Pinoy TV!

Alden, Ai-Ai, at Aicelle, pinasaya ang FilCom sa Tokyo show

Ni Florenda Corpuz

Pambansang Bae Alden Richards (Kuha ni Chino Manding Caddarao)

Tokyo, Japan – Dinumog ng libu-libong fans ang “Kapusong Pinoy Japan” concert nina Philippine Comedy Queen Ai Ai delas Alas, Rock and Soul Diva Aicelle Santos at Pambansang Bae Alden Richards na ginanap sa New Pier Hall noong Oktubre 11.

Ang palabas ay bahagi ng concert series para sa pagdiriwang ng ika-10 taong anibersaryo ng GMA Pinoy TV na tinawag na “Sampuso” na nagsimula noong Mayo sa Vancouver, Anaheim at New York.

Nakipagsayawan, nakipagkantahan, nakipagkulitan at nakipag-selfie sina Ai Ai, Aicelle at Alden na tinawag na “Triple A” sa kanilang mga tuwang-tuwang Pinoy fans na nagmula pa sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Japan.

Unang beses ni Alden sa Japan na excited na pumasyal sa iba’t ibang lugar tulad ng Roppongi kung saan siya kumain ng authentic ramen at Shibuya kung saan binisita niya ang estatwa ng asong si Hachiko.

Bago ang konsiyerto ay humarap muna ang tatlong Kapuso stars sa isang press conference na ginanap sa Karaoke Kan sa Ginza kung saan magiliw nilang sinagot ang mga katanungan mula sa miyembro ng Filipino media sa Japan.

Ikinuwento ni Alden sa mga miyembro ng press ang kanyang hangarin na sana’y magpatuloy pa ang kanilang tandem ni Yaya Dub o Maine Mendoza ng mas matagal.

“Sana po it will continue. Actually, we really can’t say kung hanggang kailan magiging magical ang ‘Aldub’ tandem, pero to everything that has come our way, for the past two months, we are very grateful, even si Maine, I’m sure ganoon din,” pahayag ng gwapong aktor.

“We really are so blessed dahil talagang overflowing ang support at nakukuhang recognition mula sa Pilipinas at iba pang bansa,” aniya.

Aminado rin ang aktor na nagiging emosyonal talaga siya tuwing kinakanta ang “God Gave Me You” ng American singer na si Bryan White at ibinahagi niya ang linya sa kanta na talagang tumitimo sa kanyang puso.

“‘And all that I’m worth is right before my eyes’. Iyan ang pinakapaboritong kong linya sa kanta,” pag-amin ni Alden.

Todo-suporta din ang mga ilang miyembro ng Aldub Japan Chapter kay Alden na dumalo sa press conference at concert. Nagbigay din sila ng mga regalo para sa aktor, kay Maine at Dabarkads.

Samantala, sa tanong ng Pinoy Gazette tungkol sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng child actor na si Jiro Manio na tinutulungan ni Ai Ai na makita ang ama nitong Hapon ay ibinahagi ng comedy queen ang magandang balita.

“Si Jiro, nandoon pa rin sa facility pero malapit na siyang lumabas and hopefully, ‘yung tumutulong sa amin, si Mr. Nakasawa, nakausap niya ‘yung father ni Jiro and hopefully rin, in God’s grace, sana madala ko rin siya rito sa Japan bago mag-Christmas para magkita sila ng father niya tapos iuuwi ko rin siya sa Pilipinas.”

“Sana, makapag-artista siya uli kasi sayang naman ‘yung talent ng bata kung hindi natin tutulungan. Marami siyang dudurugin na aktor kapag umayos uli si Jiro. Di ba napakagaling na bata? Kaya natin ‘to,” pahayag ni Ai Ai.

Sinabi rin ni Ai Ai na masaya siya sa kasalukuyang estado ng kanyang buhay pag-ibig at karera sa Kapuso network.

“Ako po talagang kuntento na ako and sabi nga, huwag kang magsasalita nang tapos pero ako I think, dito na ako sa GMA 7 forever kaya may forever.”

           

Ang Japan ang kauna-unahang bansa kung saan inilunsad ang GMA Pinoy TV sa pamamagitan ng broadcast carrier na IPS, Inc. taong 2005.

Rhian Ramos: Out of her comfort zone

Isa ang magandang aktres na si Rhian Ramos sa mga parating handa na sumabak sa kakaibang papel sa loob at labas ng showbusiness. Malakas ang loob at bukas sa mga bagong kaganapan na sa tingin niya ay makakatulong sa paglago ng kanyang karera at personalidad, nagbubunga ang pagiging “risk-taker” ng dalaga dahil dagsa ang proyekto sa kanya ngayon.

Matapos ang matagumpay niyang serye na “My Destiny” kasama sina Tom Rodriguez at Carla Abellana, abala ang 24-taong-gulang na si Rhian sa pagganap bilang Jade sa primetime series ng Kapuso network na “The Rich Man’s Daughter” na tungkol sa pag-iibigan ng dalawang babae.

Kung gaano naging maingay at makulay ang naturang serye, ganoon din ang pagpasok ni Rhian dito bilang pangunahing tauhan. Ito ay dahil para sana kay Marian Rivera ang naturang papel ngunit kinailangan nitong mag-backout dahil sa pagbubuntis sa unang anak kay Dingdong Dantes.

Biglaan at wala man sa kanyang plano, walang kagatol-gatol na tinanggap ni Rhian ang proyekto na isang malaking hamon dahil ito ang unang beses na magkakaroon ng ganitong tema sa primetime series ng GMA-7.

“Naisip ko, ‘Lord, may dahilan kung bakit mo binibigay sa akin ito. Kaya kung anong blessing ito galing sa inyo, tatanggapin ko’,” pag-amin ng dalaga hinggil sa pagtanggap niya ng bagong proyekto na ito.

Aminado si Rhian na labis siyang kinabahan dahil wala siya masyadong naging preparasyon sa ginagampanan papel at sa magiging reaksiyon ng mga manonood sa kakaibang teleserye na ito. Umiinog ang istorya sa papel ni Rhian na si Jade, na mula sa mayamang pamilya, na magkakagusto sa isang babae sa katauhan ni Althea na ginagampanan naman ni Glaiza de Castro na pagmumulan ng iba’t ibang kumplikasyon.

“Sobrang natakot ako sa magiging reaksiyon ng mga tao kasi hindi ko talaga siya napaghandaan. Nalaman ko na ako iyong papalit kay Marian two days before the taping day. Kinabahan talaga ako kasi baka magkaroon ng comparison,” bulalas ni Rhian.

Nakahinga ito ng maluwag dahil bukod sa suporta na nakuha niya sa cast and crew tulad nina Glaiza, Luis Alandy, Katrina Halili, Chynna Ortaleza at Direk Dom Zapata ay positibo ang naging reaksiyon ng mga manonood simula ng umere ito noong nakaraang buwan. Sa katunayan ay mataas ang rating ng bawat episode at laging nagti-trending sa Twitter.

“Masaya kasi may approval na siya ng fans. Mas may freedom na ako mag-explore sa character ko, sa bawat scenes dahil kahit paano nawala ang worries ko,” ani Rhian sa kanyang papel na hindi karaniwan sa mga ginagawa niya.

Ibang interes

Hindi lamang nakakahon sa showbiz ang atensiyon ni Rhian. Kapag hindi abala sa shootings at tapings, makikita ang dalaga sa racing track na nag-eensayo. Nito lamang Marso ay sumali si Rhian sa Toyota Vios Cup kasama ang ilang celebrities tulad nina Derek Ramsay, Jasmine Curtis, Kylie Padilla, at Phoemela Baranda.

“Sinubukan ko lang siya and talagang nagustuhan ko na. When I’m racing, I feel so free and wala akong ibang iniisip kundi iyon lang,” pahayag ni Rhian sa isang panayam hinggil sa kanyang mapanganib na interes.

Bukod sa car racing, interes din ni Rhian ang fashion at sa katunayan ay marunong itong mag-design at manahi. Isa sa pinagtutuunan niya ng pansin bago mapasabak sa The Rich Man’s Daughter ay ang pagtatayo ng website kung saan kanyang pagsasamahin ang mga local fashion designers.

“Before I got the call for The Rich Man’s Daughter I was working on a passion project: a website that features the wonderful clothes we have in our backyard.

“I wasn’t expecting to get so busy so quickly and this sudden switch forces me to put this project on hold for a while. But it's coming. Because local talent needs to be discovered, appreciated, and shared,” ani Rhian sa kanyang Intagram account.

Panahon na ni Louise delos Reyes

Ni Joseph Gonzales

Louise delos Reyes

May kasabihan na kapag dumating na ang panahon mo, wala nang makakapigil pa. Ito ngayon ang nagyayari kay Louise delos Reyes na isa sa maituturing na prinsesa ng GMA-7. Bida siya sa bagong fantasy-drama offering na “Kambal Sirena” kung saa’y katambal niya si Aljur Abrenica. Isa itong bonggang show na pinagkagastusan talaga ng Kapuso network upang maging panlaban nila sa prime time block.

Pero bago ito ay lumikha na ng ingay si Louise bilang ka-love team ni Alden Richards. Ang pinakahuling soap opera na pinagtambalan nila, ang “Mundo Mo’y Akin” ay isang certified top-rater. Nauna rito ay nagsama na rin sila sa “Alakdana”, isang pang-hapong drama na maganda rin ang naging resulta sa ratings chart.

Maagang nagsimula sa showbiz si Louise. Sa edad na 15 ay sumabak na siya bilang mainstay ng youth-oriented show ng Singko na “Lipgloss.” Lumabas na rin ito sa isang indie movie, ang “Agaton and Mindy” na idinirehe ng premyadong direktor na si Peque Gallaga. Para sa kanyang pagganap ay nakakuha siya ng nominasyon bilang Best New Movie Actress sa Star Awards ng Philippine Movie Press Club o PMPC. Noon ding 2013 ay nominado sila ni Alden bilang Loveteam of the Year sa OMG! Yahoo Awards.

Maganda, may tindig at matalino, hindi nakapagtatakang pumailanlang sa mundo ng aliwan ang dalaga. Marami siyang beauty pageants na sinalihan kung saan ay napanalunan niya ang title tulad ng: Ms. Teen Super Ferry (2007), Ms. Jag Teen (2007), Ms. Teen Philippines International-Luzon (2007) at Ms. Lyceum of the Philippines-Cavite (2010).

Nakasama rin siya sa hit soap na “Pilyang Kerubin” na pinangunahan ni Barbie Forteza at sa phenomenal na Sunday teen drama na “Reel Love Presents: Tween Hearts.” Kabilang dina siya sa cast ng malaganap na sopa opera’ng “My Beloved” na pinagtanbalan nina Dingdong Dantes at Marian Rivera. Noong 2011 ay pinarangalan siya ng FAMAS bilang recipient ng German Moreno Youth Achievement Award dahil sa kanyang yumayabong na popularidad.

Lumabas siya sa critically-acclaimed movie ng GMA Films, ang “The Road” noong 2011 at gayundin sa kapapalabas lamang na “Basement” na isang horror-suspense.

Marami nga ang nag-aabang sa lalong pamumukadkad ng career ni Louise ngayong 2014, lalo na’t pinagkatiwalaan siya ng GMA ng isang malaking proyekto, ang “Kambal Sirena.” Buhos ang atensyon ng dalaga sa pagbibigay-buhay sa dalawang karakter, ang kambal na sina Alona at Perlas na isang sirena.

Sa ipinapakitang dedikasyon, tiyaga, sipag at husay, asahan nang lalong magniningning ang pangalang Louise delos Reyes sa larangan ng lokal na aliwan!

'Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas': Taking TV drama a notch higher

As GMA Network continues to bring superior and world-class entertainment to its viewers locally and abroad, they have a new offering which elevates drama to a higher plateau. For sure, many Filipinos will be captivated by the grand soap opera titled “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas.” 

The show features some of the industry’s finest and respected artists in plum roles. It is headlined by no less than the Kapuso’s “Premiere Actress”, Lovi Poe – as she takes on a winning lead role as Lovelia Villacorta, a woman who turns vengeful against the people who betrayed her. Lovelia is out to prove that everyone deserves equal rights for genuine and real love despite being born out of wedlock.

Lovi has quickly earned her laurels with the recognition and awards from different award giving bodies in the industry and established herself as one of the country’s most in-demand and finest actresses in film and television. She is hungry to make it far and ready to showcase her depth and versatility via her meaty role in the series.

Sought-after leading man Rocco Nacino reunites with Lovi in “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas” as he portrays the role of Jerry, a man who will be trapped in a game of lies and deceit orchestrated by his childhood love Agatha played by Charee Pineda.

One of the industry’s most versatile actors Cesar Montano joins the powerhouse cast as Conrad Alperos, the most trusted lawyer of Lovelia’s father, Roel Villacorta to be played by Gary Estrada. Conrad Alperos will eventually fall in love in with Lovelia and will become her protector. Cesar is very happy to be back on GMA and feels very excited working alongside some of the network’s finest artists via the primetime series.

Playing equally important roles in the program are two of the industry’s most esteemed veteran actresses: The Original Queen of Philippine Movies, Ms Gloria Romero as Cristina Alperos, mother to Conrad Alperos and Ms. Liza Lorena as Beatrice Villacorta, mother of Roel.

Beautiful Kapuso star Solenn Heussaff is set to show a new dimension to her acting ability in the series as Jade, the girlfriend of Conrad Alperos. Jade is out to take revenge after being ditched by Conrad. Solenn is very honored to be part of the formidable cast of “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas.”

Set to portray the role of Agatha Morales is newest Kapuso Charee Pineda. With her challenging role as one of the antagonists in the series, Charee is ready to deliver an exceptional performance as the ambitious woman who is willing to compromise her integrity and morals for her selfish motives.

GMA Network is proud to present a stellar cast of the country’s most prized artists: Ina Feleo as Emma Ignacio; Glenda Garcia as Jenny; Tia Pusit as Nanay Selya; Steven Silva as Tisoy; Kier Legaspi as SPO 2 Brando Morales; Ruru Madrid as Junior and Freddie Webb as Jaime Villacorta.

To helm this primetime masterpiece is one of Philippine Cinema's all-time best actresses and directors, Ms. Laurice Guillen. GMA takes pride in producing a program with Ms. Guillen as the director who is known in the industry for her outstanding directing style and technique.

In “Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas”, viewers will witness how Lovelia will reclaim what’s rightfully hers after being deceived by the people close to her. She will learn how to take matters into her own hands and seek revenge against Jerry and Agatha who destroyed her life and acquired all her possessions.

With Conrad on her side, will Lovelia’s love for Jerry eventually fade away? Will Lovelia succeed in her quest for vengeance?

Don’t fail to watch this compelling drama on GMA Pinoy TV!