Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal

It’s the Kapuso Network’s great pride that it has brought televiewers to fantasyland and earned high ratings in the process. In “Mulawin” which was Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin’s first hit fantaserye, GMA Telebabad brought televiewers to the kingdom of winged creatures. In “Darna,” it showcased the power of the original Philippine heroine, and in “Encantadia,” viewers were transported to the enchanting world of diwatas. “Kamandag” brought us to the realm of half-serpentine mortals, and in “Luna Mystika,” we were brought to the supernatural domain of mythical beings called engkantos.

And now, as GMA-7 celebrates its yearlong 60th anniversary this 2010, another groundbreaking project comes to life in the network’s primetime programming – “The Last Prince.” Tonight, the gates open to bring televiewers to another magical kingdom called Paladino with the premiere of “The Last Prince.”

The new primetime show, described as a spellbinding telefantasya that will take us to a world where magic is real, where supernatural creatures exist and where the enthralling saga of love, friendship, and sacrifice abound, is topbilled by Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal, dubbed the Royal Teen Couple of GMA. Aljur plays Prinsipe Almiro, and Kris portrays Lara.

The others in the cast are Eula Valdez as Adela; Carmina Villaroel as Reyna Lamara; Angelu de Leon as Mayang; Chanda Romero as Rosata; Emilio Garcia as Adorno; Benjie Paras as Rizayo; Bianca King as Bawana; Chynna Ortaleza as Lourdez; Paolo Ballesteros as Anexi; Karen delos Reyes as Minnie; Elvis Gutierrez as Guwarko; Bubbles Paraiso as Prinsesa Saraya; Joey Paras as Salim Salamin; Steff Prescott as Naveya; Francis Magundayao as Onuro; Rita Iringan as Gigi; and Angeli Nicole Sanoy as Bambi.

Making the initial GMA Telebabad offering this year even grander are today’s hottest loveteam mates, Geoff Eigenmann and Carla Abellana. Geoff plays Prinsipe Javino, and Carla, the veterinarian Sonia who will fall in love with Prinsipe Javino.

Making a TV comeback is Princess Punzalan, who plays the role of Alwana.

“The Last Prince” tells the fairy tale story of a kingdom in the clouds – Paladino! This magical realm is headed by the noble King Adorno and his beautiful wife Queen Lamara with their three children: Prinsesa Saraya, Prinsipe Javino and Prinsipe Almiro.

The peaceful and perfect life in Paladino is suddenly threatened when Prinsipe Javino went missing. His disappearance is orchestrated by the most powerful and wicked black diwani in Paladino – Alwana. Diwanis are the powerful wizards in the kingdom.

The production team of “The Last Prince,” directed by Mac Alejandre, includes headwriter RJ Nuevas, set designer Richard Somes (who won as Best Production Designer for “Ang Panday” in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival), and Roy Red as production designer. The fabulous costumes were made by Jerome Ang who represented the country in various international fashion design competitions, and Aries Lagat, the grand winner in the first season of “Project Runway Philippines.”

“The Last Prince” will be shown beginning tonight, right after “Darna” on GMA Telebabad.

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Richard Quan  and his giving heart

For movie-TV and stage actor Richard Quan, 2009 was a good year, not just for the recognition of indie/digital films, but also for the immediate response of the Filipinos to extend a helping hand to those victims of the two powerful typhoons (Ondoy and Pepeng) that hit the country in October 2009.
Richard himself did his own relief operations through his foundation that he put up with some friends seven years ago.

“2009 was a really tough year that put a test on us all,” says Richard. “The whole nation really pitched in to help. Hindi lang tayong mga nasa showbiz industry ang kumilos kundi halos lahat ay nagbigay ng kanilang makakaya.

“We did our own relief operation through our foundation. Every year, we help out three institutions by providing them with food, clothes, medicines and other important things. When Ondoy and Pepeng struck the country, we did our own way of helping the victims. Para mas marami pa ang matulungan.”

Last Nov. 10, 2009 Richard and a few friends went on with their charity work for the Philippine General Hospital. It’s a yearly tradition for Richard to go and visit a certain ward at the PGH to share his blessings.

“I’m very thankful that even if the film industry is not as active as it was a few years ago, meron pa rin naman tayong pinagkakitaan on TV and by doing indie films. Kahit papa’no, nakapagbigay pa rin tayo at napasaya namin sila sa PGH.”

Richard did a handful of indie/digital films that were highly-acclaimed by film critics such as “UPCAT,” “Fuschia,” “Bala Bala: Maniwala Ka” (where he got a best supporting actor nomination in the Cinema One Originals awards night) and “Ded Na Si Lolo,” that was chosen to be the Philippine representative to the 2010 Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language category.

“We’re very happy that ‘Ded Na Si Lolo’ was chosen. It’s a small film that says so much of our culture as Filipinos. We are praying that the film makes it to the final nominations. Alam nating maraming magagandang pelikula ang kalaban ng ‘Ded Na Si Lolo.’ It’s a competition and may the best films be chosen. Let’s hope that our film is one of the best they choose.”

Richard is seen daily in the GMA-7’s primetime drama series “Ikaw Sana” that topbills Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado.

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78th birthday party

Mrs. Corazon M. Samaniego, president of the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation which gives out the annual Box-Office Entertainment Awards that include Box-Office King and Queen of Philippine Movies, marked a milestone, her 78th birth anniversary recently.

The dinner party held at Zamboanga Restaurant along Adriatico St. in Malate, Manila, was attended by family and close friends, among them Bulacan First Lady Violeta Mendoza, and Commissioners Dely San Juan, Elvira M. dela Rosa, Eva Pajardo and Laureana S. Angeles.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Monday, Jan. 11, go to Roger Serafica, president of Burgundy Realty Corp.; Anos Fonacier, Atty. Eric Aguiluz, Butch Dans, US-based Lyn D’Amor, Atty. Malou Sarao, Dr. Manny Palabrica, Dr. Harry Lockhart, Glenny Callaja, Dr. Fernando A. de Mesa of UST, Shiela Lina, Joyce Bacasmas, Tien Tien Soriano, Marlon A. Esteba, Nap Alip, Tony Molina and Cindy Khan of UK…