It was a different Angel Locsin who met the entertainment press recently at the Dolphy Theater in the old ABS-CBN building. For one, before the usual interview portion, she showcased her culinary skills. In full view of everyone who attended the presscon, Angel prepared a rice dish called “Aligue Bibimpop,” which was really malasa according to those who tasted it.

With the way she efficiently cooked during the presscon for “Only You,” it was hard to believe that Angel didn’t really know how to cook, that this wasn’t something that interested her in the past. “I’m just learning how to cook, panibagong passion na naman ito,” she said, smiling.

Her happy and radiant look also didn’t escape notice and Angel admitted, “Happy po ako ngayon. I’m really super happy together with Luis.” Luis is of course Luis Manzano, son of the Star of All Seasons who is also Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos. (But they won’t be together for a while because Luis is set to shoot a movie with his mom and awarded actor John Lloyd Cruz in New York.)

Anyway, her learning how to cook is necessary because in her forthcoming teleserye for ABS-CBN, “Only You,” Angel is portraying a character named Jillian, a chef. Diether Ocampo, one of her leading men in the drama series, is also a chef. Come to think of it, Diether also came to the presscon looking great.

Diether admitted he is also super happy at the moment, showing that he has really moved on. He said, “Things happen for a reason talaga, and I am thankful to God for all the blessings He’s showering me. I’m very proud of this project because napakaganda talaga...”

The other leading man “Only You,” Sam Milby, wasn’t in the presscon because he hasn’t returned from his vacation in the US (he arrived the day after, according to Jobert Sucaldito who was host of the program which was simultaneously broadcasted on www.abs-cbn.com, the very first-ever presscon that had a simulcast in said website). It’s the first time that Sam is working with Diether.

Rory Quintos, who’ve directed several box-office hit movies for Star Cinema, and who now directs “Only You,” said Angel, Diether and Sam had a very good working relationship. “Malakas ang chemistry nilang tatlo...” It’s the first time Rory is working with Diether.

Rory and the head writer Henry Quitain said that although “Only You” is based on the hit Koreanovela of the same title. “Pilipinong-Pilipino ang mapapanood ninyo... but we have to retain the basic spine of the story as required.” Rory also said, “Walang iyakan o heavy drama dito, all the three main characters are looking for the missing ingredient of happiness.” The production with some of the major stars just came back from taping in Korea.

When asked what she felt when she learned that she’d been assigned the female lead role in “Only You” opposite Diether and Sam, Angel said, “Sobrang happy ako of course, kasi this is it, may trabaho na ulit. I was super excited dahil iba naman ito. Nasanay kasi ako sa fantaserye, the last of which was ‘Lobo.’ Yung ‘Love Me Again,’ drama naman. Ang ‘Only You,’ iba naman kaya nakaka-challenge, hindi ba? This is light in approach. Kailangan kasi recession tayo ngayon, kailangan aliwin natin ang mga tao. Tulungan natin silang makalimot pansamantala sa mga problema.”

Diether, on the other hand, was asked if there was pressure on his part to do better in “Only You,” and he shared, “Coming from a very successful teleserye (‘Iisa Pa Lamang’), siyempre you want to surpass your accomplishments in the past. But more than the pressure, like what I said, I am more excited and challenged to do a project that will give us a totally different feel. And, you know, it’s always nice to offer something new to the viewers.”

“Only You” is an adaptation of another hit Koreanovela. It is a story that revolves around people who are searching for their happiness and how this search will change their lives forever. Angel plays Jillian, a very stubborn and proud girl who has a passion for cooking. Her friend from high school, Jonathan (Diether) loves her dearly and shares her passion for cooking. Sam plays TJ, who is from a wealthy family who owns a large hotel and various restaurants. As the story progresses, each will touch the life of the other, and this will spark love.

Also in the cast of “Only You” are Tirso Cruz III, Al Tantay, Dimples Romana, Iya Villania, Irma Adlawan, Candy Pangilinan, Bing Pimentel, Ella Cruz and Dick Israel. Al Tantay plays a loser, he said, and it is his wife (Irma) who keeps the family in tact. Tirso’s role is that of a man who can’t express himself, most especially to his family, and this affects his business decisions, he said.

Dick, on the other hand, plays the drunkard father of Diether. By the way, the stars of “Only You” will be in SM Sta. Rosa today at 6 p.m. The teleserye will start showing tonight on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

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Lucy Torres – ‘The Sweet Life’

It is not an over-statement if you say that the marriage of TV host Lucy Torres and actor-sportsman Richard Gomez is a perfect one!   

“Richard and I are good friends and lovers,” Lucy said during a break in the taping of her TV show, “The Sweet Life” aired on Q-11. Regarding her TV hosting, she said that she loves the work. She added that though there are problems now and then, like technical matters, we just take them for a ride. Nothing is perfect, she stressed.   

“Sometimes we are pressured for time, but that’s something normal in a Monday-Friday talk show. I enjoy the show, so there’s no hassle for me,” Lucy added.    Lucy indeed appears always in bloom. A “flawless beauty” indeed.   

There is one great reason for this: The urgent desire to have a second child! “It is a priority,” Lucy stressed, “but it does not mean that this priority dictates on all the things we do.” She also admitted that having a second baby  is not something you can also dictate. You’ve just to wait and be patient about it.”   

What is so sweet about her show, “The Sweet Life?” Lucy said it is all about women empowerment. How to help develop the potential of women to be more creative and productive so that they can contribute to the upkeep of a family and the community. 
 
The show also features artists – singers for instance – who are still very much around but are no longer appreciated as much as the present generation of singers.   

“When we guested some of these great singers, I became their instant fan. Indeed, we really have to give them their well-deserved recognition,” Lucy also stressed.   

As the show moves on to its third year, it will be showing a number of new things to its viewers – its new set, title card (T card), and opening billboard (OBB). It will also come up with a new segment, The Gift Room, which will show Lucy wrapping gifts and giving them to the show’s guests and friends.   

“The Sweet Life” celebrated its second anniversary last March, which was star-studded. The lifestyle talk show was awarded a Finalist Certificate  in this year’s New York Festival. Locally, it won last year two prestigious awards, CMMA’s (Catholic Mass Media Awards) “Best Talk Show,” shared with GMA-7’s “Mel and Joey,” and Gawad Tanglaw’s  “Best Lifestyle Show.”   

Lucy’s co-host is comedian Wilma Doesnt with Grace Lee as roving reporter. “The Sweet Life” airs Monday to Friday, at 5 p.m. on Q-11.   

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 27, go to Pepe Pimentel, Manilyn Reynes, Jackie Kookoortichkin, Chiqui Ocampo, Joseph Pastrana, Rosita Z. Fragas, Alfred de Leon, Terry Villanueva, Thea Inocentes, Anching Torillo and Ms. Erlinda S. Pastoral…