Mariz Umali

I heard the news that GMA-7 will be cancelling its late night weekend report beginning this Sunday. This is most unfortunate for the many night owls I know who have made it a habit to watch the show regularly. A friend of mine once told me that GMA Weekend Report has a particular following among call center agents, and it’s not difficult to see why. I always thought that it was a brilliant move by the Kapuso Network to tap this significant niché market, but it seems that management is now looking towards a new direction.

The two things I like most about GMA Weekend Report is its condensed format – all the day’s breaking news in 15 to 20 minutes – and the program’s anchor, Mariz Umali. In an age when mixed-race VJs, mestiza hosts, and tisay broadcasters dominate television screens, I always found it very refreshing to see a true Pinay beauty delivering the news in flawless Filipino. I have yet to meet her personally, but seeing Mariz and listening to her command of the language would momentarily make me forget that colonial mentality persists in our country today. In many ways, she reminds me of another GMA-7 newscaster, Vicky Morales. They have the same morena appeal, similar styles, and comparable charisma. More than a handful of my colleagues believe that they are cut from the same mold. If anything, credit must be given to GMA for recognizing the drawing power of homegrown Filipina beauty, and not submitting to fads or stereotypes.

Right now, it still remains unclear how GMA will fill the void left by Weekend Report. There are rumors that Mariz is being actively enticed by other networks, particularly one that was recently acquired by a business tycoon. It seems that the network wars are heating up, not just on the entertainment front, but in news and public affairs as well.

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Herbert cries political harassment

Actor-turned-politician Herbert Bautista cries political harassment as he lashes back at former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor for linking him to “ghost projects” allegedly amounting to P2.7 billion.

Herbert, who is Liberal Party’s strong mayoralty bet in Quezon City, says the graft charges filed against him by Nicanor Salameda Jr. at the Office of the Ombudsman, is “a glaringly high-handed political machination to destroy me.”

Herbert adds that the only way to remove him from office is for the Ombudsman to place him under six-month “preventive suspension” which practically eliminates him as a threat.

He notes that Quezon City has about 1.2 million registered voters. Starting out as a child actor, Herbert went on to become a popular actor/comedian. Then politics beckoned. He was first elected councilor then vice mayor. Every now and then, he still appears in TV and movie projects. But ever since he was elected to public office, public service became his priority.

He adds that he is confident the Ombudsman will find the purchases in question legitimate and above board and will be vindicated because “honesty is my refuge and defense.”

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Greenhills Cinemas gets 2 Awards of Excellence

Greenhills Cinemas at Theater Mall and the Promenade recently received two awards of excellence from Solar Entertainment Corp. and United International Pictures for implementing strict anti-piracy measures and continually upgrading its movie screening standards in the past year.

Called the Sunnies Award, the yearly recognition is reserved for those top film exhibitors in the country that have given moviegoers the best movie-watching experience and helped preserve the integrity of the movie industry through conscientious monitoring and checking of possible piracy efforts.

Greenhills Cinemas at the Promenade won the Technical Excellence Award for obtaining state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for movie screenings in compliance with international standards. Greenhills Cinemas invested in the latest digital projector models for its two theaters in 2009 and can play both digital and 35 mm films.

The Promenade Cinemas now use the world’s most in-demand digital projector, the CP2000-SB, that is normally installed in larger cinemas, but are used to ultimate advantage at the Promenade, which has smaller screens.

“Greenhills is a premium entertainment complex. It is a next-level area that deserves no less than next-level quality entertainment,” said Sittiporn Srisanguansakul of Golden Duck.

MMG President Precy Florentino thanked the award-giving body for the twin recognition and said Greenhills Cinemas will intensify its vigilance against movie piracy in their theaters. “We will continue to strengthen our measures to deter piracy in our theaters to help lessen the high incidence of media and movie piracy in the country. At the same time, we will always be on the look-out for the best experiences for our moviegoers. We may not be as big as the other malls, but we want to be big by offering the best there is in movie watching. We cannot compromise on quality.”

This is the second consecutive time that Greenhills Cinemas has received the Sunnies Award.

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Anne Curtis joins Dr. Belo on ‘Salamat Dok’

Who doesn’t want smooth, white underarms? Nice armpits give you the freedom to wear anything you want. It’s also a huge confidence booster. This Sunday on “Salamat Dok,” Dr. Victoria Belo talks about everything you need to know about getting beautiful underarms.

Since summer is fast approaching, we all want to be hair-free and sexy in time for bikini season. Find out everything you always wanted to know about laser hair removal and say goodbye to underarm hair forever. Sweaty armpits? Discover how botox can help reduce sweatiness and leave you with dry, clean underarms that don’t stain your clothes. Insecure about your dark underarms? Dr. Belo will share different tips and treatments for underarm whitening such as Skin Master and jet peel.

The “Doctor to the Stars” will be joined in this episode by actress Anne Curtis. Watch “Salamat Dok” on ABS-CBN this Sunday, Feb. 21, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The program provides information on medical concerns, with free on-air consultation with the guest physician.

Every third Sunday of the month, Dr. Belo guests in “Salamat Dok” and discusses the latest treatments and procedures being offered by the Belo Medical Group. This Sunday’s episode will be hosted by Sol Aragones.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 20 go to Chari La’O Bagatsing, Tita R. Abiva, Emy Rodriguez, Ditas Remulla, Betty Luz Go Chua, Dolly Bohol, Prof. Lulu L. Geslani, Laleine Legasto, Diego Nicolas Capili, Enrico Castelo, Marina Calma Visaya, Janika Faye La Peña, Perla Dungo, Tiffany Santos Red, and Tony Antonio, former MB provincial editor now US-based.