RAYVER CRUZ, Bangs Garcia, and Sid Lucero

A few drama series intriguingly titled “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal” will be shown on ABS-CBN starting Monday, Jan. 25, after “Wowowee.” The afternoon primetime show based on an ’80s movie of the same title, features Bangs Garcia in her very first starring role that is also very challenging.

Bangs’ beauty and star potential was first noticed when she became a runner-up in a reality contest and was later on casted in such shows as “Let’s Go, Gokada Go” and “Your Song” which paved the way for her to land a big role in the action series “Palos.” After this, Bangs was seen in “Precious Hearts Romances,” “Kambal sa Uma” and “Katorse.”

In the show, Bangs will breathe life to the character of Carmela, a loving and devoted daughter who will do anything and everything for the one she loves.

Also starring in the show that will certainly inspire and touch the hearts of many is Rayver Cruz. Rayver will be playing a mature role that will showcase his acting mettle. The Rayver that people know, a talented dancer, will be an entirely different character in “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal,” and from the words of Beverly Salviejo (who hosted the presscon for the series and who is also in the cast) Rayver will no doubt impress viewers with his mature role. “You should see him to believe.” But Rayver only said “I’ll do my best… abangan na lang nila.” Rayver plays Troy, the friend and secret admirer of Carmela in “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal.”

Rayver became popular in the group Anime and was one of the lead actors in the paranormal series “Spirits,” and the fantasy-based show “Rounin.” He was also part of the toprating show “May Bukas Pa.”

Also to watch out for in the series is Sid Lucero, who plays the role of Nilo, the smart, principled and close friend of Carmela. Sid is a favorite of indie filmmakers for being so natural in his acting. He has received Best Actor awards from respected award-giving bodies like Gawad Tanglaw and Gawad URIAN as well as the Golden Screen Awards which gave him the Breakthrough Performance by an Actor. Sid appeared in various shows like “Kung Fu Kids,” “Ligaw na Bulaklak,” “Flash Bomba,” “Your Song” and “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” wherein he proved that he is indeed a versatile and effective actor.

Also in the cast of “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal” are Mickey Ferriols, Emilio Garcia, Bing Pimentel, Debraliz Valasote, Nikki Valdez, Paw Diaz, Bettina Carlos, Makisig Morales, Martin Rosario, Ella Cruz, and Joshua Dionisio. The series is directed by award-winning Chito Roño, with Francis Xavier Pasion, Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Czarina Cruz as associate directors.

Bangs replaced Roxanne

It was Roxanne Guinoo who was originally the female lead star of “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal.” In fact, she has shot for one day, but then after that she begged off for “personal reasons.” An insider said she decided not to go on with the project because “baka di niya kayang gawin ang mga love scenes na ipagagawa sa kanya.”

Incidentally, Ms. Zsa Zsa Padilla who was part of the movie “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal” which was made in the 1980s, will sing the theme song entitled “Mahal na Mahal Kita.”

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The fun run

After a successful debut movie production entitled “Isang Araw Lang” which he wrote, directed and acted in, Kuya Daniel Razon also released an album which was rated “Platinum” after two days!

He also came up with two successful one-man photo exhibits, which were also released as photography books. The proceeds of these undertakings were however spent for his various public services that benefit senior citizens and the needy.

Kuya Daniel, as he is fondly called, is dubbed as “Mr. Public Service.” He is about to shoot the sequel of his first movie, “Isang Araw Lang,” and the proceeds will again go for his public service projects.

Top on his agenda now is a 10-storey college which will offer free tuition, free books, free uniforms and free meals. Called “La Verdad College,” the institute will offer ladderized courses on mass communication and nursing. The students, regardless of their religions, will be thoroughly screened on their competence and their inability to finance their studies.

The first three storeys of the college are now finished and it is ready to open by the forthcoming school-year. Kuya Daniel said they are expecting no less than 359 enrollees.

The free college is under the auspices of the Manggagawa Foundation, Inc.

How will the free college be financed?

“We are undertaking a ‘Takbo Para Sa Libreng Kolehiyo,’” Kuya Daniel said. The project is expected to raise more than P10 million. “We are expecting no less than 50,000 participants,” he said. As of now, there are already 26,000 who have registered, more than the 24,000-record-breaking fun-run held earlier by other organizations.

The fun-run will be held at the Mall of Asia loop. The date: Jan. 31, 2010. The fun-run features various categories, like 21, 10, and five kilometers. Even children can participate through the 300-meter category.

Of course, there are also prizes: P30,000; P20,000; P10,000; P7,000; P5,000; and P3,000.

It must be exciting to run for a good cause. You still have enough time to register!

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Lloyd getting busy with many projects

He has always been relatively quiet in both his personal and professional life. Even if he has TV or movie projects, it was not much talked about. What the public knew however was that Lloyd is the son of the once voluptuous and still lovely chanteuse Carmen Soriano (who made a comeback in the concert scene last year with a series of shows with fellow “Golden Divas” Pilita Corrales and Carmen Pateña), that he married Jo, one of the daughters of former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, that they have a very handsome son, but sadly they separated.

Anyway, of late Lloyd’s acting career has been flourishing with the projects he has been getting, like GMA Network’s newest teleserye “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?” which starts airing today. In the series, Lloyd co-stars with Jean Garcia and her daughter Jennica, among others. He also just finished “Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin” with Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal. Earlier last year, Lloyd was in the ABS-CBN fantaserye “Dyosa” with Anne Curtis and Sam Milby.

Lloyd, who was hailed as the “Golden Boy” in movies during the ’80s, also has a guest role in Judy Ann Santos and Derek Ramsay’s teleserye “Habang May Buhay.” He is also in the cast of “Paano Na Kaya,” the first movie of Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu this 2010.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Monday, Jan. 25, go to Lolita Rodriguez, Dra. Vicki Belo, Lito Bermundo, Bimbo Cerrudo, Julio Locsin, Mrs. Anita Cuevas, Eddie David Jr., Pablo Gomez, Merla V. Grupp, Dr. Antonio Jalcon, twins Ben and Alfred Ramos, Efren Chua Yap, Erly Dungo and Rose Salvania of PCSO, Ricardo Liwanag, Edgar Cruz, Tess Gubi of Star Magic, Nyoy Volante and GMA-7 star Yasmien Kurdi… Happy wedding anniversary to former Rep. and Mrs. Dante Liban…