We got a chance to talk to Richard Gomez during a press visit last week at the set of GMA- 7’s “All About Eve,” an adaptation of the hit Koreanovela that was shown on the Kapuso network a few years ago.

Richard plays Federico, husband of Eula Valdez who, unknowingly is the father of Erika (Sunshine Dizon), and is also the father of Nicole (Iza Calzado). The two are the protagonists in the toprating drama series.

Richard said he is enjoying working with both Sunshine and Iza considering that “they are very good actresses, at mga professional.” Actually, Richard is a lucky guy, having two primetime shows at the moment, “All About Eve” and “Family Feud,” both well-followed. This week, “Family Feud” will have celebrities as contestants. Today, April 1, the “All About Eve” family will be the contestants.

Richard hopes that when “Family Feud” ends which is soon, GMA would resume its airing as soon as possible because it has amassed a strong following among televiewers. And if you ask Richard what he’d rather do, a sitcom or hosting a game show, he’d readily choose the latter. Since “Family Feud” started, he has proven his mettle in hosting a game show, and televiewers and the contestant themselves just loved his comfortable and charming style. He was indeed a perfect choice to host “Family Feud.”

We noted how his wife, Lucy Torres, is very good and sexy in dancing and he agreed, laughing. But Richard said he would never be seen on TV dancing with Lucy. Because dancing is not one of his talents.

Keempee de Leon to try politics?

Yes, he admitted that many have been enticing him to try politics but Kempee de Leon isn’t so keen on it. “I also asked my father’s (Joey de Leon) opinion at ang sabi niya, kaya mo? My friends and colleagues who’re now into politics are the ones convincing me. Bakit di ko daw subukan? But ang sa akin naman, focus muna ako sa showbiz career ko. Saka na lang ang politics… one at a time lang ang dapat gawin, so now I’m concentrating on my work.”

In “All About Eve,” Keempee plays a different role from the one he portrayed in “Lalola” which is a gay character. “Iba naman dito, hindi ako gay dito, wala naman yatang gay characters sa mga Koreanovela,” he said. Like Richard, Keempee likes working with Iza and Sunshine. “Pareho sila maganda and magaan katrabaho. Neutral ang feeling ko sa kanila. Dito sa show na ito, I provide the comic relief. Best friend ako ni Alfred Vargas.”

But what Keempee wants to play the next time is a kontrabida role. “Gusto ko may challenge, and challenging naman talaga ang kontrabida roles. I’ve played a kontrabida before but guest appearance lang.”

As to his lovelife, Keempee said he has moved on since he parted ways with his girlfriend who is now based abroad. Among his previous girlfriends are Pauleen Luna and Cristine Reyes. Asked if he has any intention to get back to any one of them, now that they are single and seemingly unattached, the actor said, “No, we’d rather be friends. Mas okay kung magkakaibigan na lang kami. Besides, gusto ko sa work ko lang ibuhos ang panahon ko sa ngayon…”

Others in the cast of “All About Eve” are Mark Anthony Fernandez, Jean Garcia, Ian de Leon, Eric Quizon, Celia Rodriguez, Ina Raymundo, Gabby Eigenmann, Angel Aquino and Carmen Ronda.

Verniece Enciso, champion skater

Champion skater Verniece Enciso, a Grade 9 student of Southville International School in Las Piñas City, became the National Champion at the age of 10, having won the Novice Ladies Division in the 2005 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships. In 2006, she was crowned Miss Barbie Ice Princess.

That same year, she also appeared as the infomercial model of ice skating in TFC’s (The Filipino Channel) “Bravura.” She is the Grand Champion of QTV Channel 11’s “Star On Ice,” with model-actor Victor Basa. She was also declared “Most Promising Skater” in the Skate Manila 2007 competition. She is the present poster model of SM Ice Skating Rinks.

Verniece not just topped in our country, but also in other countries as well. She won gold medals when she competed in the Skate Asia 2001 Hong Kong, Skate Asia 2002 Bangkok, Thailand, Skate Singapore 2004, Skate Asia 2006 Shenzhen, China and Skate Asia 2008 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Her most recent achievement in the international arena is winning 12 gold medals in Skate Bandung 2008 held in Bandung, Indonesia last Dec. 12-14, 2008 where she also won the “Most Medal Skater” award.

All in all, she already garnered 90 gold medals, 37 silver and 15 bronze from various international and national competitions.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 1, go to Tirso Cruz III, Dr. Lettie Escarte, Samboy Lim, Melinda Hidalgo, Mae Romero, Vicky Dee, Johnson Kwang, Suzie Moya-Benitez, April Miranda, Arlina Onglao and Sarah Barrera... Belated happy college graduation to Arthur Sibug (March 31), congratulations to Esther Peñalosa who’s having her highschool graduation today...