Manila Magic

Still friends
Ex-couple Ruffa Mae Quinto and Jay Manalo are shooting for the movie Legal Wife. The two have not acted together since they broke up a while back. Quinto however adds that there is no animosity between them, and that they were both focusing on their careers.

Singing along
Sharon Cuneta is launching her latest album Sharon Sings Alcasid. The album, under Sony BMG Music Entertainment, two years in the making because of Cuneta's pregnancy.

The actress and singer is thankful to song writer Ogie Alcasid for choosing her to sing his hit songs. The album has 14 songs and includes hits like Sana, Hanggang Ngayon, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, Kung Mawawala Ka, Dito sa Puso Ko, Mahal Kita Walang Iba. And what should bring Cuneta's fans in Dubai even more cheer is the fact that she has scheduled a concert in the city for December.

High hopes
Director-writer Carlo J. Caparas is considered the highest paid writer-cum-consultant in the business as of now. The skilled scriptwriter is the man behind the immensly successful TV series Panday. That could probably be the reason why the director is trying to give the best he has for the show.

In fact, Caparas is upbeat while predicting that Panday would relive its glory days right on top of the TRPs. Panday was also made famous by the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. in the earlier version.

Effective effects
Vic Sotto is dubbed the King of Special Effects because almost all his blockbuster movies contain so many of them. Hits like Lastikman, Fantastikman and Enteng Kabisote are just a few of the movies to his credit.

"It all appeals differently, specially to kids if there is a bit of magic in the film. The process of doing it is hard but it is worth it," says the comedian. His latest flick Tay, May Moomoo, a horror comedy, also has a lot of special effects like ghosts walking through walls. The movie will premiere in Manila on October 26.

Quick takes

• No call yet Arnell Ignacio dispels rumours of having received an offer to move back with GMA Networks. "I hope it's true. The only important thing for me is to learn that my former boss has forgiven me, I would be happy to hear that," he says.
• Head over heels Ex-teen star Antoinette Taus confirmed that she has found her new love. Taus is based in Los Angeles, USA. She sent an SMS from the US to a friend confirming the news. The message read, "I guess some of you have heard; yes, I have a new boyfriend and I'm very happy. His name is Lucho. We've been friends for a year. He is from Valle Verde in the Philippines and studied at the De La Salle University in Manila. He is staying here in San Francisco."
• Secret date Rumours are rife that Jeni Hernandez (right) and Derek Ramsey are secretly dating each other. The co-stars from the hit series Panday reportedly became very close on the sets during the shoot of the series and have been seeing each other for awhile now. The hit pair has been spotted at restaurants and malls, cosying up to each other.
• Impatience pays Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman has gone ahead and signed a contract with GMA Networks. The beauty queen was allowed to sign the contract despite being on a contract with the two agencies, Bb Pilipinas Charities and the Miss International Pageant. After signing the contract with GMA Networks, one of the biggest production houses for films and television serials in the Philippines, Quigaman expressed a wish to join the entertainment industry.
• Dangerous wheels Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual barely avoided a terrible accident while shooting for a movie in the Mountain Province in the Philippines. While driving on a mountainous stretch of road, Pascual suddenly lost control and it was only the actor's presence of mind that averted a major disaster. Santos was reportedly shaken by the incident and took a while to recover from the incident.