In a recent press conference, the GMA Network Entertainment under the supervision of Ms. Wilma Galvante, senior vice president, announced the network’s lineup of programs to end the year 2009 and open 2010.

Last Nov. 15, the fifth season of “StarStruck,” the groundbreaking and very successful reality artista-search started with two new hosts, Dennis Trillo and Carla Abellana (replacing Dingdong Dantes and Jolina Magdangal) who’ve joined original host Raymond Gutierrez. Segment hosts are Mark Herras, LJ Reyes, Arci Muñoz, and Paolo Avelino.

Carla’s show with Geoff Eigenmann “Rosalinda” will soon end (Nov. 23-27 its last week) and so she can do other programs. In addition to “StarStruck V,” she also stars in SRO Cinemaserye Presents “Carinderia Queen” which started last Nov. 12. In the month-long series, Carla and Geoff get to bring their loveteam to a new level as they portray roles different from what they are playing in “Rosalinda.”

From “StarStruck,” Dingdong moves over to the well-loved game show “Family Feud,” which starts on Nov. 30. Dingdong replaces Richard Gomez who’s now preparing for his political ambition. Meanwhile, the “Banda-Oke Rock and Roll to Millions” band gears up for their series of mall and bar tours this November and December. The new show hosted by Allan K and Jaya has created quite a following.

To cap November’s roster of exciting shows is the Filipino adaptation of the Korean original show “Full House,” which will team-up once more Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista. Richard said he looks forward to play a character so unlike his roles in his previous shows because for the first time in a long time, he will portray an actual human being. In “Full House,” Richard plays Justin (originally played by Rain), an egotistic actor who prefers to keep his feelings all to himself. Heart, on the other hand, is just as excited to unveil all of her comic and perky side as Jessie (originally played by Song Hye Kyo), the gullible, fun-loving wannabe of a writer who owns a house called “Full House.” Patrick Garcia and Isabel Oli will play Jessie and Justin’s love interests in the story. “Full House” is directed by Mark A. Reyes.

Together with other cast and crew of the eagerly-awaited primetime series, Richard and Heart have left for The Prague, Czech Republic to shoot several sequences essential to its storyline. This romantic comedy will start airing on Nov. 30.

Beginning this November, Sen. Bong Revilla bequeaths his hosting chores to his charming son Ram for “Kap’s Amazing Stories Kids’ Edition.”

This December, the Kapuso Network spreads the Christmas spirit anew with its very first ChristmaSerye to be topbilled by three of the country’s most respected actors: Christopher De Leon (who moves over from the Kapamilya Network), Gina Alajar and Ms. Susan Roces. This heartwarming Christmas offering which also stars TJ Trinidad, Maxene Magalona, Ynna Asistio, JC Tiuseco and JC de Vera, starts airing on Dec. 7.

Also in December, “Stairway to Heaven” goes on its final week (Dec. 7-11) so keep yourself glued to your TV sets as the romance between Jodi (Rhian Ramos) and Cholo (Dingdong Dantes) comes to a bittersweet end.

All Sundays of December will feature young and innocent love in “Dear Friend,” starring Joshua Domingo and Barbie Forteza, the cute teenagers who played the young Dingdong Dantes and Rhian Ramos in “Stairway to Heaven.”

On Dec. 13, GMA’s Christmas Special entitled “After the Rain” which features Ms. Regine Velasquez, will pay tribute to the heroes of the recent typhoons and inspires the viewers to share and spread love this Christmas Season. Regine will also top bill “Diva,” slated to be shown in March 2010.

And to culminate 2009, the Kapuso stars will join forces in bidding the year adieu and welcoming 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia on Dec. 31 for the New Year’s Eve Countdown.

Programs for 2010

For the New Year, Ms. Galvante said they will usher in a number of drama and telefantasya programs that will surely speak of GMA-7’s commitment in giving only quality entertainment to all viewers around the globe. “GMA-7 became known and recognized for its telefantaseryes and we acknowledge this fact so we are bringing back this genre in our line-up of programs for 2010.”

On Jan. 11, 2010, the romantic telefantasya “The Last Prince” will open the new year with a blast. It stars one of the country’s hottest loveteams today, that of Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. After “The Last Prince,” GMA-7 will be showing “Odessa” and another edition of “Encantadia.”

In “First Luv,” which will replace “Ikaw Sana,” Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza together with Jhake Vargas and Joanne Marie Tan stars in “First Luv.”

Beginning Jan. 25, the mother and daughter tandem of Jean and Jennica Garcia get together in GMA Sine Novela’s “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?”

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‘I feel whiter and gay each day!’ – DJ Mojo

When he was tapped to endorse GlutaMax, DJ Mojo was given a prominent billboard along EDSA that said “I Feel Whiter and Gay Each Day!” Unfortunately, the billboard was taken down after only a few days and this generated insinuations that it was so controversial it had to go.

But YSA Botanica explained that the billboard was taken down because the contract with the advertising company and the venue has expired so it had nothing to do with any controversy involving DJ Mojo’s pronuncement that he is gay.

Anyway, that billboard is up again but in some other site.

DJ Mojo (Joseph Paul Pacis Javier in real life) can swear to the efficacy and effectiveness of GlutaMax. Ever since he started using GlutaMax Reduced Glutathione 500mg. capsules, it has lightened his skin tone evenly and naturally. Because it is considered the most powerful, versatile and important antioxidant produced by the human body, reduced glutathione preserves and protects our bodies against the damage of free radicals, according to Dr. Isabel Lopez-Nazal, Ysa’s founder and prime mover.

Dr. Nazal’s clinics (called Clinica Dermatologica) is a well-patronized clinic that also has 18 branches all over the country. While running her clinic, Dr. Nazal formulated products that catered specifically to her patients’ needs. Over time, her clients began to experience the products’ wonderful effects. And to meet the increasing product demand and promote quality control, Dr. Nazal put up a laboratory in 1989 and began producing beauty soaps on a large scale basis. With its entry into mass market, the Ysa Botanica line of beauty products was born.

With the help of her son, Roberto Gerard Nazal II, Ysa Botanica expanded to include various kinds of soaps, facial cleansers, face and body whitening lotion and now, Ysa proudly offers GlutaMax. This product is meant to complement Ysa’s existing line of beauty and specialty products.

Going back to DJ Mojo, he is a graduate of Integrated Marketing Communication from the University of Asia and the Pacific (2002). He also took up Biological Sciences at Wayne State University in 2000, and Pre-medicine at Harvard in 1996. He finished high school at Rochester High School in Michigan.

Since December 2008 to the present, he works as VJ for MTV Philippines. He also writes a weekly column for the Entertainment section of Manila Bulletin. He is a broadcaster-Branding/Marketing Consultant of Magic 89.9.

“I host a nationally syndicated morning radio talk show with Mo Twister and Grace Lee on Magic 89.9 (www.magic899.fm) and our Killerbee FM affiliates,” he said. Very soon, he will be one of the newest MTV Philippines’ VJs. “I will also be turned into a cartoon character in the near future… watch out for it. I’ll be a green, fuzzy, fairy-like elf creature with magic powers…I love it!”

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Nov. 18 go to US-based journalist Max G. Alvarez, Glecy Cuazon, Romy Reyes, Baby Go of Cherry Hill Bakeshop, Ching de Belen, Sarsi Emmanuelle, Paulo Banga, Carrie Mapalo, Elizabeth Maglipon, Rudy Santos and Cathy D.C. Alegre. Belated b-day greetings to Gail Stephanie C. Maderazo (Nov. 17).