Sarah Geronimo has been proclaimed “Box-Office Queen” for 2008 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation headed by Mrs. Corazon M. Samaniego. “Box-Office King” is of course John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah’s leading man in “A Very Special Love,” the top-grossing film (from Star Cinema) for 2008.

Aside from the “Box-Office Queen” title, Sarah was also chosen Best Female Concert Performer of the Year (for Sarah Geronimo: The Next One) and Female Recording Artist of the Year.

Sarah is currently in the US on another successful concert tour. Excited about her awards, she said she’ll come home in town for her and John Lloyd’s coronation as “2008 Box-Office Queen and King.”

Just before she left, Sarah was launched as Unica Hija’s celebrity endorser. The launch, highlighted by a mini fashion show at Glorietta 5 in Makati City, was held right before the showing of Sarah and John Lloyd Cruz’s latest movie team-up “You Changed My Life,” which expectedly, was another blockbuster at the box-office.

Unica Hija, the women’s specialty apparel retailer, kicked off the year with things bold, beautiful and new, and this included signing up with the Pop Princess as its newest celebrity endorser.

Now that she is an adult, and with her successes in various fields like singing and acting, Sarah is faced with tougher career challenges and a more fast-paced lifestyle. But it helped her a great deal that she has found the perfect solution to her eclectic wardrobe needs. “Now that she’s a woman in full bloom, Sarah’s fashion choices lean more towards sophistication and excitement, which aptly reflect the new Unica Hija philosophy,” explained Ley Lacar, Unica Hija marketing officer. “Sarah’s transition to womanhood dovetailed perfectly with Unica Hija’s reinvention. It’s a well-timed and perfect marriage!”

Not one to rest on its laurels, the 15-year-old brand dares to tread new grounds as it redefines the boundaries of glam and chic. Indeed, smart dressing need not be drab and dreary with Unica Hija’s new mix and match silhouettes, colors and fractional designs that can segue seamlessly from frenzied power luncheons to more laid back after-hour cocktails.

“Unica Hija caters especially to young, career-driven Filipinas who, despite their work ethic, still lead very active social lifes,” Lacar added. “As such, they put a high premium on smart dressing and would never be caught dead in staid, conservative business garb. They tend to favor ensembles that can go seamlessly from work to play, from day to night.”

Along with its newfound fashion credo, Unica Hija also has revamped its corporate logo. The new one – a striking contrast in black and gold – augurs well for the brand’s panache. “A change in the logo is the simplest way to tell our customers that Unica Hija has changes,” affirmed Ley Lacar.

“Aside from indicating a bolder look for our merchandise, it also signifies that Unica Hija is now ready to shed its conservative image. It’s our affirmation as to what kind of change the brand will be making in the fashion scene,” she concluded.

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‘Sundo’ – scary indeed!

If you want to squeeze out the toxins from your body, then go and see “Sundo,” the horror movie starring Robin Padilla, Rhian Ramos, Sunshine Dizon, Katrina Halili and with the special appearance of Iza Calzado, among others.

You will come out from the theater much healthier! When you scream, regardless of the reason, every fiber or nerve in your body vibrates, and in the process, the toxins and impurities of your body are pushed out. The only side effect is you might smell as you walk away from the theater!

“Sundo” is therefore a ready-made solution for your tensions or stresses.

“Sundo” evolves from stories believed to be true especially among the old folks. Everyone has a story to tell – that when one is having a near-death experience, there is an individual, or perhaps a reception committee already waiting for the dying person and escort him or her to a final destination, whether in hell or in heaven.

As in “Sundo,” there is no way of stopping one’s destiny. In Tagalog parlance, “kung oras mo ay talagang oras mo na.”

Karma is also featured in the movie. Karma means justice. If you do wrong, you are punished. If you do good, you are rewarded.

In “Sundo,” a mother is being terrorized by the constant crying of an infant. And the mother reveals that she aborted her pregnancy. And with the constant crying of an infant, she believes that justice is being served to her!

In the movie, Romano (Robin Padilla), a retired military operative gifted with a mystic eye, returns to Manila from Baguio City, together with his sister Isabel (Rhian Ramos) and childhood friend Louella (Sunshine Dizon). They are joined by an aspiring actress, Kristina (Katrina Halili), a widow, Lumen (Glydel Mercado), and his son, Eric Hero Angeles) along with Louella’s driver (Mark Bautista).

Their Manila-bound vehicle was doomed when they managed to avoid a fatal accident or their “sundo” by a twist of fate. Then followed a series of catastrophic incidents endangering the lives of the passengers, including Romano whose visions seem to be causing ill-fate.

Other members of the cast are cager Simon Atkins, Jacklyn Jose, Estrella Kuenzer, Odette Khan, Mely Tagasa and Rina Reyes.

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Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista partnerswith MSBF in newest project

Actor turned politician Herbert “Bistek” Bautista who is currently vice mayor of Quezon City, launched recently a pet project of his called “Halamanan sa Bakuran.” In this regard, he has partnered with the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, headed by former Elvis Presley impersonator Chito Bertol.

Vice Mayor Bautista embarked on the project to help alleviate the current food crisis by having vacant lots in the various barangays in Quezon City planted with vegetables for self-sufficiency.

In a recent visit to MSBF offices, Chito presented the vice mayor with various vegetable seeds, pamphlets regarding Guides to Urban Gardening, 1,000 mango seedlings and 1,000 langka seedlings.

Incidentally, Herbert is one of the strong contenders for mayor in QC.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 23, go to Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna, Margarita A. Fores, topnotch PR man Chris Cahilig, Marivic A. Gancayco, Manny Cinco, Charo Jalandoni, Tita Basa, Monica Casta, Alex Ongoco, Marivic Alvarado, Sandra Jean P. Melicor, Flor Liam, Dely Lim, Alex Wong, Tiya Pusit, Lily Bruno-Lagasca, Vicenta Bonnin, Andie Babante, Atty. Gaby Concepcion and actor Geoff Eigenmann… Condolence to Regal line producer and director Pong Mercado on the death of his beloved mom Aurea Mercado last March 20. Her body lies at the family residence in Taal, Batangas. Interment is on March 26 at the Holy Land Memorial Park…