"Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?,” starring Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal, has been garnering a consistent high rating among other afternoon TV drama series.

According to the AGB Nielsen Media, “Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?,” which started airing last March 2 this year, obtained the following ratings – considered the highest in any afternoon drama – 29.9%, April 1; 29.8%, April 28, and 29.1%, April 29.

Aside from Aljur and Kris, the other members of the cast are: Ara Mina, Lloyd Samartino, Juan Rodrigo, Maritoni Fernandez, Mariz Ricketts, Mike Tan, Maybelyn dela Cruz, Paulo Avelino, Say Alonzo, Jhake Vargas, and Carlo Aquino.

Aljur and Kris is a lovely couple. It’s so obvious that they love each other, though they maintain that they are just close friends, and if there is any distinct closeness between them, it is because of their being the love-team in “Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?”

“We support each other in our roles in ‘Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin,’” Kris said. “And Aljur is so much a gentleman,” she added. “And as friends, we are both open to each other!”

Aljur added, “Whenever we have a strongly emotional scene where Kris would cry, I always tell her that we embrace each other tight. It helped us a lot in expressing or emoting the emotion, and that made the particular scene much effective.”

Kris said that she had done several scenes which required her to cry and shed tears. “It was really difficult,” she stressed. “Especially when there were ‘cuts’ and you have to do the same scene at a different angle. I have to maintain the intensity of the emotion. And it was even more difficult if the make-up artist made a re-touch of my make-up.”

She confessed she would suffer some kind of a headache later. Perhaps because of the intense internalization of that particular scene which required her to cry.

“I’m so happy however and so grateful that I was given the role. And I’m getting noticed already when I go to the malls. Unlike before when I was just playing minor roles,” she said.

How much is she willing to sacrifice for her career? “I have to give up any love life,” she stressed. “I do not have any time for it yet. It’s my career which is getting all my attention.”

Though both Aljur and Kris claim that they are just close friends, they are obviously sweethearts!
“What do you think?” Aljur asked instead. “Of what are you seeing now?”

Kris is however a very jealous girl. Everytime Aljur meets another women and he gives her some kind of attention, he must explain it to Kris that it was just a chance meeting and there was nothing significant in-between.

On May 17, Kris is celebrating her birthday, and Aljur, it was rumored around, was to give her a designer’s bag worth P100,000!

Anyway, with the highest ratings their afternoon teleserye is garnering, Aljur and Kris are even dubbed now as the “Royale Couple” in television.

Jeepney Joyride video to be launched today

Catch the fast-rising band Jeepney Joyride as it launches its latest music video “LiLiM” today, May 15, at the new Homer Bar & Resto right across ABS-CBN Main Gate on Sgt. Esguerra St., Quezon City.
Jeepney Joyride is known for its popular songs “Midnight Special” and “Sumayaw Sumabay” from its successful debut album “Let’s Get Party!” under Sony BMG.

The band, managed by popular comedian Tado, will rock the crowd starting at 9 p.m., with some of the country’s favorite underground bands as guest performers including Live Tilapia, FMD, Echo’s GAIA, Chardonnay, Orgasmic Chicken, Faintlight, Chunckrew and Earthlings.

No dress code. No entrance fee. No tuition fee increase.

Jeepney Joyride publicist Dyan Balgos said registered lucky guests will receive free gift items from Limitado Merchandize and Microminds, two of the event’s major sponsors.

Jeepney Joyride is one of the most in demand bands across the country today. For tickets and inquiries, e-mail camilleq00@yahoo.com or visit myspace.com/jeepneyjoyride.

Celebrities run for a reason

From the pigeonhole:

Although TV and movie stars have very demanding schedules and active lifestyles, it’s interesting to note that some find time to be involved in worthy causes. Many also have strong concern for the environment and they willingly take time off from work to take part in a cause that will benefit our natural resources like the seas.

Recently, TV icons, along with thousands of Filipinos, experienced the joy of running to help protect the marine environment, as Condura, premier manufacturer of air conditioners and refrigerators, once again made marathon history at the Bonifacio Global City grounds where the “Condura Skyway Run for the Whale Sharks ’09” was held.

This advocacy, featuring the very first 21K half-marathon to pass through the Skyway, was a premier running event that took the initiative to protect the wonders of the aquatic deep, the renowned whale sharks of Donsol, Sorsogon, which can be deemed the “Whale Shark Capital of the World” and perhaps even the “Whale Shark Hatchery of the World.”

Recognizing the Philippines’ marine environment as the country’s key asset, Raul Anthony “Ton” Concepcion, President and COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Concepcion Durables, Inc. as well as founder of the Condura Run, launched this year’s 2009 Condura Skyway Run for the Whale Sharks. Condura partnered with ABS-CBN foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan for the noteworthy undertaking, and also joined forces with Runners for Others and Operation Smile.

Proceeds of the run will go to the preservation and other activities that aim to care for the whale sharks of Donsol, which is also a major source of livelihood for people in the nearby areas.

i-amtv supports Filipino indie bands

Independent Asian Music TV (i-amtv) continues to support Filipino independent (indie) bands and artists.

In a recent event held at Hard Rock Café, i-amtv gave away music videos to the Filipino indie bands that performed at the i-amtv event last year. The videos were individual live performances of Codename Adobo, Airport Drama, Hija, Tabass, Moon Siren, Tanya Markova, Pentaspiral, Carpe Diem, Killer Kamatis, and Pack of Wolvz.

i-amtv is a joint Asian-European multi-media organization that aims to promote Asian bands and artists who are not affiliated with any major record labels. It is a known fact that independent or indie artists lack the massive media exposure that their mainstream counterparts have. The main advocacy of i-amtv is to provide Asian indie artists new platforms that will assist them in promoting their individual crafts not only in Asia but in the global community as well.

Independent Asian artists are promoted through i-amtv’s interactive communication media which consists of i-amtv music channel, mobile videos and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), i-amtv website and web blogs, and several tie-ups with a handful of Asian music publications.

The videos can be seen on Smart Mobile TV’s Go Channel, globally via the Internet on www.joost.com, and over cable in USA starting this May.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on May 15, go to Gov. Justo M. Ortiz, Dr. Socorro Alejandrino, California-based former actress Leila Hermosa, Dr. Ederliza G. Concepcion of New York, USA; Ising Naidas, Erlinda Santos, Dyn Paula Sequioco, Mark Trajano, Debbie Pajaro, Mrs. Pacita M. Reyes of Taguig, Nita Ablaza, Elsa Calo Tionloc, Joy Manankil-Gonzalez and actress-singer Jennylyn Mercado... Universal Studios Singapore, in cooperation with the New Voice Company Manila, is in town as part of its 11-city audition tour, in preparation for their 2010 opening in Resorts Worlds Sentosa. The USS team is holding auditions today, May 15 for singers and dancers (10 a.m.), actors, improvisationalists, celebrity look-alikes, vocal impersonators, puppeteers (3 p.m.). On May 16 for stunt performers, power skippers and animated mascots, as well as technical and stage management professionals at 2 to 4 p.m. at Studio M, VG Miranda bldg., 9699 Pililia st. cor. Concepcion st., Bgy. Valenzuela, Makati...