From the looks of its trailer, ABS-CBN has given the classic tale of “Maruja” a modern-day horror-romantic spin. Something in the way ghost scenes the Komiks TV version now billed “Mars Ravelo’s Nasaan Ka Maruja” is guaranteed to give viewers a spine-chilling experience.

Beginning May 2, Saturday afternoons take a suspenseful turn when Kristine Hermosa tackles the role previously done in film versions by Susan Roces and more recently by Carmina Villaroel.

Without leaving the same romantic/reincarnation undertone of “Maruja’s” plot, Kristine said of the TV version, “Nandun pa rin yung classic idea of reincarnation that unfolds through scattered dreams for my character Cristy but there’s the modern twist because she’s gifted in this series… nakakakita ako ng mga ghosts dito.”

“Nasaan Ka Maruja” marks Kristine’s return to leading actress roles with this series as her first major project after a long while in ABS-CBN. Kristine’s last was the afternoon drama “Prinsesa ng Banyera.”
“Matagal na rin akong walang series kaya naman nung nalaman ko na magiging part ako ng ‘Maruja’ sobrang excited agad ako mag-taping.”

Director Jerome Pobocan justified the casting of Kristine in the title role saying, “I feel that Kristine is the perfect actress for the part kasi classic din ang beauty niya.”

Kristine added of her role, “I play a columnist here with all these strange dreams. In my dreams, there’s Maruja and Gabriel, the only clue I have of what past life I might have led before.”

Played by Derek Ramsay who’s enjoying good breaks from ABS-CBN, Gabriel is Cristy’s love interest in the series who happens to be the boyfriend of Cristy’s half-sister Helen, played by Karylle.

At the launch of “Nasaan Ka Maruja,” Derek admitted that Kristine used to be his crush. “I feel so blessed with this chance to be in ‘Maruja’ and being in a project with Kristine na crush na crush ko talaga dati.” When asked if this admission will get him into trouble with girlfriend Angelika Panganiban, Derek said, “Dati pa naman ‘yon. Iba na ang crush ko siyempre.”

On the part of Karylle, she revealed that working with Kristine made her appreciate more how beautiful her co-star is. “Lagi lang akong natutulala kapag kaharap ko si Kristine at sinasabi ko talaga na star-struck ako sa ganda niya.”

Karylle said it’s quite a challenge playing Helen. “Si Helen kasi is an extrovert, a real party-goer. I’m not like that in real life,” Zsa Zsa Padilla’s daughter explained. However, “Maruja’s” director said Karylle plays Helen with such authenticity. “For someone whose playing a role that’s the opposite of her personality, Karylle delivers her portrayal very well.”

Joining Kristine, Derek and Karylle are John Estrada, Kitkat, Enchong Dee, Bing Pimentel and former screen goddess herself Gloria Romero. The veteran actress said she has been with ABS-CBN for 22 years.

Under the direction of Jerome Pobocan, Komiks Presents “Mars Ravelo’s Nasaan Ka Maruja” airs Saturdays starting on May 2 after Cinema FPJ.

A woman of strength and purpose

She epitomizes the empowered woman, and when Marichelle M. Torres (called Mache by her colleagues) celebrated her 39th birth anniversary last Easter Sunday, she considered it as a symbolism of new life and renewed hope in God’s grace!

With administrative skills and endeavors (she is after all the daughter of the late Jaime T. Torres, a self-made businessman and entrepreneur who in partnership with the well-known educator and three-term mayor of Tigbauan, Iloilo Myrna Montealegre-Torres founded St. James College System in l971 and which has three branches now in Quezon City, Parañaque and Calamba, Laguna), Mache is a successful woman, being driven in purpose despite going through trials and tribulations early in her life.

Aside from being a member of the board of directors of St. James College System, Mache is also civic-oriented, and she is currently the president of Zonta Club of Mandaluyong-San Juan 2. We all know that Zonta Club is an international organization of women professionals whose advocacy is to empower women worldwide.

With a positive attitude and great enthusiasm, Mache is also actively pursuing the vision and mission of her late father’s foundation, the Jaime Torres Memorial Foundation (JTMF) by doing joint projects with Zonta Club like medical missions, gift-giving to the inmates of Mandaluyong Women’s Correctional, giving relief goods/housing to typhoon victims, providing livelihood projects for mothers and day-care centers for street children.

For these projects, Mache said she uses the 3Ps – Planning, Preparing and Praying!
Mache is a multi-tasking, critical and idealistic woman, and in addition, she is the proud single mother of four beautiful daughters named Mica, Bea, Cielo and Daniela. They were part of Goullee Gorospe’s recent fashion show aptly billed as “Wow Power!” The show, held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, was a tribute to chosen empowered women in the country, most notably Marichelle M. Torres.

A tribute to Conching Sunico at the Metropolitan Theater

The Zonta Club of Makati & Environs headed by its president Olga Severino Martel will sponsor “Mga Ginintuang Alaala ni Conching Sunico at ng Met,” a tribute to Conching Sunico & the Manila Metropolitan Theater, on May 14, 8 p.m. at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to raise funds for its numerous service projects.

The Club serves 880 families of the Centennial Village and neighboring barangays in Taguig where its Community Center is located, providing medical and health services; training programs for leadership, entrepreneurship and livelihood skills with micro-credit assistance; seminars on women’s legal rights along with values formation; supplemental feeding programs; a pre-school for over 120 children and scholarship funds for higher education and vocational training.

Currently, the Club is constructing 40 units at the ZC of Makati Gawad Kalinga Village in Taguig. It also funds a Psychological Center at Marillac Hills for the rehabilitation of sexually-abused girls from age six to 17 through individual counseling, group therapy and art & theater workshops.

“Mga Ginintuang Alaala ni Conching Sunico at ng Met” is being produced by the Filipino Heritage Festival headed by Mita Rufino and under the directorship of Floy Quintos & Tony Mabesa. This will be a magical evening of dance and music showcasing some of the best performing artists in the country. The program will include excerpts from operas and Broadway musicals, modern and folkloric dances; a mini-Karilagan Fashion Show, among others.

Performing artists are pianist Raul Sunico, sopranos Rachelle Gerodias, Clarissa Ocampo, Ana Feleo, Beverly Salviejo and Karla Gutierrez; singers Chinggoy Alonso, Leo Valdez and Issay Alvarez; the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Dancers; the MMC orchestra under the baton of Chino Toledo and the UST Chorus. Annotators are two of Conching’s nieces, Tessa Valdez and Chinggay Lagdameo.
Pres. Martel is appealing to one and all to watch the show and do your share in uplifting the status of women and improving the lives of those in need.

Tickets are at P2,000 and P1,500. Attire requested: Filipiniana.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 28, go to Vic Sotto, Chito Roño, Gene Palomo, Ms. Liela S. Salgado, Tess Lopez, Chato Maneru, Rosemarie Sonora, Mrs. Prudy Vijungco, Sarah Kay M. Guila, Dennis Belen of Hawaii, and Marvin M. Sampilo of Queens Village, New York…