In a recent interview with Kris Aquino for “Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN),” Anne Curtis was asked to comment on alleged rumors saying Viva Films “bought” the Best Actress for her. Anne was named Best Actress for her role in the Viva-produced movie “Baler,” which also won several more awards including Best Picture in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Anne didn’t show any sign that she was affected by such rumor if there was any. The fact that nobody stood up to question her winning meant she deserved it, she said. Well, she deserves it. I should know, because I was one of the MMFF jurors. It’s not fair to say Viva “bought” the award, it isn’t fair to Anne because she did a good job, and it isn’t fair to us the judges.

Anyway, Anne and some of her close friends are leaving soon for a European vacation. It’s always been work for the actress whose latest teleserye for ABS-CBN was the top- rated “Dyosa” and she felt she owes it to herself to take a leave and travel to see some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. This European tour has been in her mind for some time. “I really planned it together with my friends,” she said with excitement.

Because of this trip, Anne pre-taped her scenes in her new and forthcoming teleserye “The Wedding.” In this new series, directed by multi-awarded Jeffrey Jeturian (“Kubrador” among others), Anne plays the role of Candice De Menes, a loving daughter who will do everything to prevent her parents from separating. In her desperate attempt to save her parents’ marriage, she will scheme her engagement to Marlon (Zanjoe Marudo), a poor engineer working for her father.

Candice’s initial scheme develops into a full-fledged whirlwind romance leading to preparations for a real wedding to prove the true love they have found in each other.

But what if Candice’s first and great love Warren (Derek Ramsay), the Mr. Right she has long waited for so long, returns to claim her back? What will Candice choose – a love worth fighting for or a love worth waiting for?

“The Wedding,” with its original story, witty sense of humor, fresh take on love, is all set to revolutionize Primetime TV when it starts airing on May 11. The series also stars Eula Valdez, Michael de Mesa, Alwyn Uytingco, Mitch Dulce, Irma Adlawan and many other talented stars.

Watch out for this new and exciting series starring Best Actress Anne Curtis.

Christine sings the power of love

We are not saying that no other singer can sing any better about love, but Christine Love does sing with great power when she sings love songs!

Perhaps she has to live up with her second name which is Love! And her concert, entitled “A New Love,” definitely sends the message that true love is always new because it is constant.

Her concert will be held on May 15, at the Music Museum, Greenhills, San Juan City. Among her special guests are Immigration Commissioner Nonoy Libanan, the famous guitarist, and Pop Icon Mark Bautista.

Christine’s hit single, which she will also perform during her concert, is “Isang Halik Mo Lang,” composed by (lyrics and music) Cecille R. Marcaida.

With her hit single, Christine will showcase some timeless songs, Broadway, movie themes and current hits.

Christine was one time based in Australia, where she stayed for several years with in-between visits to the Philippines. As a singer, she is well-honed!

For her “A New Love” concert – actually her second major concert – Christine is very much excited about it.

“I have so much to share with my audience,” said talented Christine Love. “I have to share with them the power of love through the songs I will be singing in my concert,” she added.

She is now so focused with the preparation of her concert. She cannot afford to miss any detail of the concert though how small it may be. “I cannot disappoint the audience,” she added. “I have to show them my versatility as a singer!”

Christine Love is a recording artist of Viva Records. Boss Vic del Rosario, with other VIPs and celebrities, are expected to attend the concert.

Chase Vega breathes life into ‘Agaton’

From the pigeonhole:

Eighteen-year-old Chase Vega is set to conquer the big screen as he stars in Peque Gallaga’s newest film entitled “Agaton & Mindy.” Inspired by the classic story of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the film is a coming-of-age story about two 15-year-old dance scholars. There are no feuding families at all, except for the two star-crossed lovers whose hearts fight the complexities and craziness that love brings them.

“Agaton & Mindy” is one of the six films to be showcased under the Sine Direk Series project through the partnership of the Directors Guild of the Philippines Inc. (DGPI) and APT Entertainment Inc.
Chase finds himself portraying an important role in Gallaga’s film project. The search for Agaton was not easy, but Gallaga already knew that he wanted someone not famous, someone who can provide a fresh look for the film. “He doesn’t want the audience to have a preconceived notion of the actor,” shares co-writer Lore Reyes.

When the casting call was set, a good crop of artists went to the audition. “It wasn’t just like any other cattle call,” Reyes recalls. “We had a good one that time. But usually you already know who to cast the moment that actor comes in. If he has the personality, the star material and the X factor, then he’s the one. And Chase has these qualities.”

The auditionees were trimmed down to 12 boys and seven girls. By the time that Gallaga left Manila, the selection was narrowed down to the top three for both Agaton and Mindy roles. “We wanted an Agaton who is not romanticized,” Reyes explains.

When Chase auditioned for the role, he didn’t have any idea as to who he’d be working with. “I really didn’t know who they were,” he says smilingly. “It was not until I was talking to my mom and she asked me who the director was. I told her that it’s Peque Gallaga and she was like telling me that he’s a very good director and all those stories. And I was amazed and felt really excited.”

Chase had to undergo an acting workshop under Gabby Fernandez for two months and a dance workshop under Denisa Reyes for more than a month. Chase also watched a lot of Tagalog DVDs to observe how the actors talk and express their emotions. “Even though it’s my first time to be a part of film project, it was really fun working with Direk Peque and Tito Lore,” Chase relates.

Chase really made a very good impression on Gallaga and Reyes. “We already shot one of the most difficult scenes with Chase on day one,” Gallaga reveals. “We started the first scene with Audie Gemora who’s playing the father of Mindy. Then we moved to the second scene that was full of high emotions, and Chase was able to deliver it well. We were impressed and confirmed that we didn’t go wrong with casting him as Agaton.”

Gallaga continues, “Chase won’t be using words here to convey his emotions but through movements. We had to do a number of takes for editing purposes and as Chase repeats the scene, we noticed that some of the crew and staff were already teary-eyed.”

Reyes, who served as the acting coach of Chase, is also very proud of him. Reyes is also line producing “Agaton & Mindy.”

Gallaga’s non-formulaic teen romance “Agaton & Mindy” is slated to hit Philippine theaters on May 27, 2009.

Chase belongs to STAGES Talent Group together with Christian Bautista, Karylle, Sam Concepcion, Iñaki Ting, Raki Vega, Mikee Lee, Enrique Gil, Jeff Singson, Bryann Foronda, Greggy Santos and Cheska Ortega.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 5, go to Butch Tuason, Ernesto Sarao, Raphie de Ocampo, Manny Ortega, Jan Ric Belen, Nerie Joy Pingol, Jeffrey de Leon, Atty. Amado Valdez, Lita A. Cadiz of Toronto, Canada and Cynch Florendo…