The cast of the movie 'Ang Tanging Pamilya'

Judging from the trailer alone, it could be said that “Ang Tanging Pamilya,” the comedy film team-up of Pres. Joseph Estrada and Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai delas Alas, is already a big winner. The trailer is funny and a riot and movie buffs expect it to be a blockbuster at the tills. It’s a film worth watching out for. By the way, “Ang Tanging Pamilya” is another Star Cinema offering, the latest franchise to the film company’s big box-office hit “Ang Tanging Ina.”

This is the comeback film of the former president, fondly called Erap in the movie circle, after 20 years. As to why he wants to do movie again, he said, “Ito ang propesyon ko for 20 years and after 20 years I’m back. I can’t express ‘yung aking feeling na hindi ko alam na may comeback akong ganito. At natutuwa naman ako dahil sa nakasama ko ngayon, ang leading lady ko, eh box-office queen, comedy queen ng Pilipinas, kaya ako ay nagpapasalamat. Sobrang bait niya. She’s a natural actress, a natural comedian.”

On the other hand, Ai Ai said: “‘Ang Tanging Pamilya’ ay kwento tungkol sa isang pamilya na middle-class at tungkol sa natural sa ating mga Pinoy na pag ikakasal na ang anak natin, namamanhikan; kung anong mangyayari sa pamilya namin dahil diyan, yan ang dapat abangan sa pelikula na ito.

“Siyempre, bukod sa masaya ako, this is different kaya honored ako, legendary itong movie na ginawa namin, historical kasi kasama ko ang dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada. Kaya napaka-importante sa akin ang pelikulang ito. I’m honored na nakasama ko siya sa isang pelikula.”

Also in the cast are Sam Milby, Toni Gonzaga, Janus del Prado, Thou Reyes, AJ Perez, Igiboy Flores, Carl Camo, Miguelito de Guzman, Candy Pangilinan, Empoy Marquez, K. Brosas, Carla Humphries and Dionisia Pacquiao.

Sam, who plays the boyfriend of Toni and son of Aling Dionisia, said: “I think anybody that is given the chance to do two movies in one year with Star Cinema, that’s a very big blessing. I’m excited, I feel very blessed and happy, it was hard to adjust lang kasi galing sa ‘And I Love You So’ na drama, tapos ito comedy. But it’s fun doing it…”

On working with Toni again, he said “I’m happy about it, marami kaming followers from all the movies we’ve done before. And they’ve been taking about it. Sa Star Cinema naman, I think when I did a cameo sa ‘My Only You,’ they saw the reaction ng tao. We need to do another Sam-Toni movie. This is definitely for the fans, ‘yung mga followers namin. And of course, we’ve already said how we really get along. Our connection, ‘yung chemistry namin, on and off screen. It makes it a lot easier since we know each other well. It’s been two years since our last movie ‘My Big Love,’ and we haven’t gotten to keep in touch much so it’s nice to be doing this movie to catch up.”

From Toni: “Siyempre honored and grateful na nabigyan ako ng opportunity na makatrabaho ang comedy queen na si Ms. Ai Ai delas Alas at former president natin na si Erap Estrada. I’m really grateful sa opportunity na makasama ko sila sa isang pelikula.

“At masaya kami kasi comedy ito at nakakatawa si Direk Wenn (Deramas), mabait siya sa lahat kahit sa crew. He sets the mood para sa lahat. At si Ate Ai Ai naman, very professional. At the former president Erap, pagdating niya sa set talagang ready na siya, prepared na siya sa costume niya. He was always on time at talagang lahat kami nai-inspire magtrabaho dahil ang gagaling ng mga kasama namin sa ‘Ang Tanging Pamilya.’”

On working with Sam again: “Masaya dahil siyempre reunion din namin ito ni Sam, matagal na rin kaming di nakapagtrabaho together. It’s another reason kung bakit nila dapat panoorin ang pelikulang ito dahil there’s so much to look forward to in the film.”

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Rhian Ramos launches singing career

Beauteous GMA-7 star Rhian Ramos recently launched her singing career via the Audition Dance Battle album. She is now a recording artist of X-Play Online Games Inc. (X-Play) and Bellhaus Entertainment, Inc. This, after establishing herself as one of the Kapuso Network’s premier leading ladies.

In “You,” the carrier single of the 15-track dance album, Rhian showcases her singing mettle. By the way, Audition Dance Battle is a highly popular online casual dance game with millions of players nationwide. It is published locally by X-Play, the joint venture company of GMA Network Inc.’s digital media arm GMA New Media Inc. (GMA-NMI) and leading online gaming publisher IP E-Game Ventures Inc. (E-Games).

During the recent official launch of the Audition Dance Album in GMA-7’s Sunday afternoon variety show “SOP,” Rhian shared: “It’s been such a great year for me; sobrang dami kong blessings na nakuha this year. I wanted talaga to be able to give something new to everyone who supported me. This year, singing was it.”

Rhian’s launch in “SOP” was also the premiere for the official music video of “You.” Directed by Jeff Tan of Bellhaus Entertainment, the video featured a very sophisticated Rhian in stylized party scenes along with fellow Kapuso artists Sheena Halili, Dominic Roco, Vaness del Moral, recording artist Brenan and Audition’s very own players. Highlights of the music video included scenes of Rhian in a helicopter amidst a classic skyline.

In addition to her playing lead roles in top-rating Kapuso shows such as “La Lola,” “Zorro” and most recently in the Pinoy adaptation of “Stairway to Heaven,” Rhian has been planning to come out with her own album this year. “We’ve all worked so hard to make this album happen, and I thank the Audition family na talagang pinaghirapan yong album,” said Rhian. Audistas, as Audition Dance Battle players are called, have chosen Rhian’s song to dance to frequently inside the game that it has stayed in the No. 1 spot for several weeks now. Audition Dance Battle offers the ultimate online gaming experience for dance aficionados, who enjoy grooving to the beat of fun and funky dance hits.

“My song is featured inside the game and soon, I will have my own avatar (character) in the game, which means you can dance (online) pero ako yon,” Rhian proudly said.

Rhian Ramos’ mall tour

To show her appreciation to fans and Audistas, Rhian Ramos will be in a series of mall shows nationwide along with the crew of Audition Dance Battle dubbed “The Hottest Gaming Barkada.” The free admission mall tour will include special performances and an album-signing activity with Rhian, on-site tournaments of Audition and other X-Play games, with lots of prizes.

Mall tour dates and locations are as follows: Nov. 7, SM Batangas; Nov. 14, SM Baguio; Nov. 21, SM Cebu; and Nov. 29, SM San Lazaro (Manila).

“On behalf of the millions of Audistas playing the game worldwide, we are excited to have Rhian as the newest star of Audition Dance Battle Philippines. It’s an honor to have one of the biggest celebrities today to be part of the Audition family,” said Franco Santos, product manager of Audition Dance Battle.

On the other hand, George Royeca, COO of X-Play Online Games, Inc. said: “I’m sure all Audistas out there are thrilled to see their favorite game come to life through the album, particularly with Rhian’s single ‘You.’ Hopefully even non-gamers who like Rhian’s single would also start playing Audition Dance Battle, for a chance to party with Rhian online.”

From Jeff Tan, CEO of Bellhaus Entertainment, Inc., “Rhian has already achieved so much in her acting career, but has not stopped her from pursuing her love for music. She has so much potential as a recording artist, so we’ve very proud to have her as the feature star for the Audition Dance Battle album and launch her singing career with Bellhaus.”

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Nov. 4 go to ABS-CBN Chairman Gabby Lopez, Armida Siguion Reyna, Ms. Tessie Cruz, Ms. Ching K. Lopez, Mrs. Nellie Bengzon, Dr. Mike Noche, Bobong Velez, Ningning Ocampo, Dr. Lito Sarao, singer Roeder, Michelle C. Santos, Lilia Ty, Jennifer “Chiqui” Canlas, Melissa Mercado, Lulu I. Ilustre, Lean Lorenzo Lacap, Joseph Armond, Dr. Jun Mendiola, Luz M.J. Acosta, Modesta Baquiren, my brother Carlo V. Martinez, Michelle Madrigal and Star Magic talent Angelica Panganiban.