Jackie Rice

Jackie Rice, one of GMA Artist Center’s (GMAAC) prized talents, may well be on her way to superstardom as things looks very promising for her in the New Year.

For one, Jackie graced the cover of the country’s premier men’s magazine FHM under Summit Media on its New Year salvo, and FHM editor-in-chief Allan Madrilejos said they are very happy with the reception of their January issue.

“We’ve started the year right judging from the public’s enthusiastic response to Jackie. We’re selling so well,” Allan said revealing that Jackie has always been on top of FHM’s most-requested cover girl list.

“We’re happy that finally, Ms. Ida Ramos-Henares of GMA Artist Center, gave us her nod and trusted us enough to give Jackie to us for the cover. Medyo matagal-tagal din naming hinintay si Jackie,” Allan said.

Jackie, for her part, is so elated by the response of the public to her FHM feature. “Natutuwa po talaga ako kasi ang ganda-ganda lumabas. Hindi nga ako makapaniwala na ganon pala ang magiging outcome nung pictorial namin sa Boracay. Masaya po ako kasi puro compliments ang ibinibigay nila sa akin,” the reluctant sexy actress said laughing.

Jackie revealed that during the shoot in Boracay, she had nervous apprehensions when she was made to pose looking like she was topless in one lay out. “Sobrang ninerbiyos po talaga ako. Pero alam ko naman pong hindi ako pababayaan ng FHM at ng GMA Artist Center. Kaya po nung nakita na namin ang results, sobrang natuwa po kami talaga,” she added.

Last year, Jackie’s career started to pick up as the young actress renewed her love affair with show business. “I realized I was not getting any younger and that I was actually squandering God-given opportunities by not taking my careeer seriously. Kaya po nung kinausap ako ng Artist Center boss namin, si Ma’am Ida, ready na ako to take on new challenges. Mas serious na ako ngayon sa career ko. Mabuti na lang nandiyan pa rin ang GMA to back me up,” she said gratefully.

Among her assignments last year was the top-rating show “Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin” landing a serious drama role there opposite Nadine Samonte and her villain role in “Darna” pitted against Marian Rivera. “Both roles were very challenging to me and I welcomed all those. Mas gusto ko na po talaga na makilalang serious actress na. Tapos na din naman ang panahon ko noong pa-tweetums pa ang mga assignments na natatanggap ko,” she said.

Jackie’s career will be on a roll this year. She is seen of late exchanging gags and garbs with the wacky cast of “Bubble Gang” every Friday. But soon, she will play an important and pivotal role in the TV adaptation of the recent MMFF topgrosser “Ang Panday” with “Panday Kids” on GMA-7. She will be one of those “kids” who have been gifted with special powers to fight the evils wanting to conquer the world.

Jackie is focused on her career at this point that she seems to not have the time for her love life, yet. “Bata pa po ako. Marami pa pong panahon para sa love. Mas mabuti pong asikasuhin ko muna ang career ko hangga’t nabibigyan pa tayo ng break. I’m always hoping for the best,” she said.

Jackie added: “I am not closing my doors for love, please don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I know lang now that when the perfect time comes, the perfect guy will be there for me.”

Jackie is the only child of her mom with her merchant marine father. She has four other siblings.

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Boy Abunda, mom Lesing endorse Great Image

TV host-talent manager Boy Abunda and his mother Nanay Lesing Abunda are the faces of Great Image’s latest slogan dubbed “priceless photography.”

Mother and son had a pictorial for the endorsement with a concept following the photo studio’s new thematic campaign, “Every boy has non-negotiables.”

The pictures, which will be used in billboards and print ads, underline the importance of family and relationships as exemplified by candid shots of Boy and Nanay Lesing celebrating their love for each other.

Boy elaborates on the theme saying: “There are things in life that are non-negotiables and those include family and relationships. We are at the time in our lives when we have to go back to our families. Amidst the noise, the problems, the good times and the bad times, it is our relationships with people we love that anchor us. Life is easier if we have our loved ones beside us.”

The new Great Image campaign precedes the one that was launched in 2004 with the theme, “Ilabas mo ang totoo.” That campaign also featured Boy and it started the beautiful friendship between him and Robert and Toots Palomo, Great Image President and CEO, respectively.

Boy is the perfect choice for Great Image’s latest thrust. Boy, being a well respected TV personality and a formidable force in the local entertainment industry, has shows left and right, engagements, guestings, meetings and a host of other things to do that it is virtually impossible to squeeze in his very busy schedule.

But there is one person that he’d stop and drop everything for: Nanay Lesing.

“Even when I am in a meeting and my phone rings and I see that it’s Nanay calling, I stop the meeting and take the call. Mas importante ang Nanay,” he says.

Boy describes Nanay Lesing as “nurturing, tough, can be noisy, quiet, stern, very loving, very generous… she’s a father, mother, brother and sister all rolled into one – and more!

“She’s already 80 years old but she still hasn’t lost her sense of humor. I draw a lot of strength from her.”

Boy also lauds the photographers of Great Image. He says they are especially trained to handle family portraits or capturing on film the relationship between their subjects.

“That’s because they are not only good in technical matters, but also in establishing a relationship with their models. It’s important that a subject trusts and at ease around his photographer because their relationship during the shoot will show in the outcome,” says Boy.

Great Image is still the Philippines’ No. 1 Photo Studio, boasting with 34 branches located in major malls nationwide and specializing in professional portraiture, digital imaging and photo and video coverage.

For more details on Great Image, visit www.greatimage.com.ph.

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Talent manager mad at Cebu Pacific

Talent manager and promoter Lito de Guzman was fuming mad, because according to him, Cebu-Pacific Airline refused him and his talents, the Baywalk Bodies and Wonder Gays, to board the plane last Thursday for their trip to attend the Sinulog festival in Cebu and where they were to perform in a concert.

De Guzman said they had earlier checked in and their luggages were already loaded into the plane.

De Guzman added that the plane left earlier than what was indicated in the boarding pass.

When they rushed to board the plane, it was already closed, and inspite of the appeal of De Guzman, their luggages were instead unloaded!

They had to buy new tickets for succeeding trips of Cebu Pacific to Cebu.

Last Monday, De Guzman and his talents went to the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) to file a complaint against the airline.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Jan. 31 go to Ms. Lilibeth Rasonable, GMA-7’s VP for Drama, singer Ronnie Liang of Star Magic, Bong Villafuerte, Larry Esguerra, Marcela Esguerra, Manny Pineda, Nitz Miralles, Jimmy B. Lazatin, Tere Orendain, Phebe Pilapil Tumampil, UK-based Nicholas Manuel M. Almontero and Michael Jeffrey Marshall, Beth Flake Jose’s daughter Kway-Kway, Cynthia Sico, Noel Orlain Lim, Iraida Tanopo, Richmond S. Lim, and my beloved mother, Mrs. Juliana V. Martinez who turns 90 years old on Sunday. Happy wedding anniversary to former Comelec Chairman & Mrs. Ben Abalos; Benhur and Menchie Abalos, and Arnold and Yolly Abalos.