Manila Magic

Looking to Hollywood

Donita Rose is back in the Philippines with her son JP and husband Eric Villarama. Rose is going to start filming a project that's to be shot entirely in the Philippines. Titled Seed Of Contention, it stars some popular Hollywood actors who have worked under Steven Spielberg. Though Rose is not willing to give their names, she does reveal that Filipino actors in the cast include K.C. Montero and Chin Chin Gutierrez.

A much-needed break

Comedian Willie Revillame is retiring from the game show Wowowee after the stampede that broke out during the programme's first anniversary presentation at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. He says he was greatly affected by the tragedy that left at least 74 people dead and 627 injured, and needed a break from work.

Shifting loyalties?

Heart Evangelista has not renewed her contract with Star Magic, the talent scouting arm of production house ABS CBN. Rumours have been spreading that the actress is planning to jump across to rival house Genesis Entertainment, run by Angeli Pangilinan and wife of Gary Valenciano. Evangelista has refused to comment.

The fine line

Alessandra De Rossi is comfortable doing ads for teen undergarments but will not shoot for lingerie commercials. The actress was offered a contract with a Singapore company to do a lingerie ad, but she refused to take up the offer. She says that she is not against showing skin if it is done aesthetically.

Quick takes

- Just friends Rica Paralejo was spotted at the screening of Nasaan Si Francis, which stars Rico Blanco in the lead. This led to rumours that the two are seeing each other but both toed a safe line by saying that they were only friends.

- Making a move Action star Ronnie Ricketts admits that he and his family have plans to migrate to the United States. The actor says that his brother Bruce is already in the United States and his wife's family is also residing there. Ricketts says that they're thinking of moving for their children's sake.

- Sticking on Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda have renewed their contracts with ABS CBN for the next three years. While Aquino is seen in the hit game show Game Ka Na Ba?, Boy Abunda is featured in Kontrobersyal, Homeboy at Private Conversations, that's produced by ABS CBN's sister station ANC. They are also seen in the showbiz talk show The Buzz.

- Hoping for the best Anne Curtis did not lose hope when organisers of the Binibining Pilipinas (Ms. Philippines Pageant) declined her application because of her Australian citizenship. It has been Curtis's dream to join the pageant and bring the country honour if ever she gets chosen to represent the Philippines in international beauty pageants like Ms. Universe and Ms. World.

- In the dark Maricar De Massa reveals that she was not invited to promote Terrorist Hunter, which was screened at the Metro Manila Film Festival last year. Speculation arose that the actress snubbed the producers of the movie by refusing to promote the film, but Massa claims she was never invited. She adds that the movie was made five years earlier with another title called Black Tiger and that she was never informed about the change.