Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz with Director Cathy Garcia-Molina

The popular tandem of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo is back via the romantic Star Cinema movie “Miss You Like Crazy.” It’s been almost a decade since the love team commenced and made fans believe in love. Not real love between the two of them though because ever since, they’ve proven just to be a movie tandem and nothing more.

Starting Wednesday, Feb. 24, the celebrated on-screen couple is set to recapture the magic of their love team in a special post-Valentine offering, “Miss You Like Crazy” which is Bea and John Lloyd’s much anticipated reunion on the big screen.

“Regalo namin ito sa mga fans namin,” said Bea whose last big screen team-up with John Lloyd in the movie “One More Chance” raked in millions at the box-office and earned for them the titles of Box-Office King and Queen for 2007. The film has not only boosted the couple’s local fan base but also strengthened their global following, making Bea and John Lloyd audiences all over the world.

To finally answer the fans’ clamor for another big screen team up after their last box-office hit, what would be more perfect than another love story with a title that captures not just the fans’ common sentiment for the last three years but also the couple’s feelings about filming together again, “Miss You Like Crazy.”

“’Yung pagiging sobra niyang mapagbiro sa set. ’Yung tatawa lang kayo. ’Yun ’yung nakaka-miss,” says Bea about her leading man. John Lloyd, on the other hand, continues to believe in the value of their long history together. “Kasi ’yung pinagsamahan namin after ilang teleserye, nag-movie, ’yun ang hindi mo mababayaran, ’yun ang hindi mo mapapantayan.” This is probably the reason why John Lloyd thinks every new project with Bea becomes a celebration. “It becomes a big event all of a sudden. I’d like to believe na malaking step into maturity ’yun.”

Another cause for celebration in this new venture from Star Cinema is the couple’s reunion with box-office director Cathy Garcia-Molina, who also directed them in their last film together. This time, Direk Cathy guides John Lloyd and Bea toward embracing an offbeat romantic tale that would touch on the wrong sides of love, such as missteps and infidelity.

Direk Cathy further describes the plot as a love story told in a unique way, “Ibang-iba ang tono. Mas mature ang kilig moments.” In the film, John Lloyd plays a serious type of guy who suddenly found himself emotionally torn between her long-time girlfriend and a girl he just met. Bea, on the other hand, plays a bubbly lass whose destiny may have led her to the perfect man at the most imperfect time. “Madaming makaka-relate sa movie,” Bea enthuses, “Lalo na sa panahon ngayon. Sa mga di naniniwala sa destiny na naging jaded na, mapapa-isip ka, ano kaya, totoo kaya ang destiny?”

The film, shot in both Philippines and Malaysia, also launches a promising big screen career for rising star Maricar Reyes. It also carries Eric Santos’ soulful rendition of the 90s hit song “Miss You Like Crazy” as its official movie theme song.

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Plaza Fair celebrates 40 years in retail business

Forty years ago, a man named Yu Bon Kiong (a.k.a. Ng Frank Yang) who was a humble merchant scholar after leaving China at the tender age of 11, envisioned something that has a potential to be the best in the retail industry – Plaza Fair.

With about eight branches nationwide – in Cubao, Makati, Angona, Manila, Baguio, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro – Plaza Fair remains to be a strong brand that caters to all the needs of every Filipino consumer. As Plaza Fair starts another decade, many interesting things are set to happen in the chain of store, according to Danny Velasco. 2010 is another beginning of a new and better Plaza Fair in the service of the Filipino.

Happy 40th anniversary Plaza Fair family!

Incidentally, at the right time, the patriarch of the store handed over the business to his wife and children while he devoted himself to deeper studies of philosophies and social systems. The result of this almost monastil life is a book entitled “Unified System of New World Order” that heads like a manifesto for peace in the world anchored on a “more forceful” united nations.

The book gives guides in establishing a harmonious and prosperous world government and the consequence if we follow the present world order.

To get a copy of the book, write to MCS P.O. Box 9082, Pasong Tamo, Makati City.

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Rico Hizon anchors new BBC World News program

We take pride in announcing that global Filipino broadcast journalist Rico Hizon is taking on a bigger role on BBC World News as he anchors, the global networks’ flagship Asian news program “Asia Today.”

Broadcast to 260 million viewers worldwide from the BBC’s Singapore studio, “Asia Today” can be watched on Cable TV in the Philippines every weekday morning at 7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45 and 11:45 a.m.

“Asia Today” not only brings you up to date on the issues, but explains why they matter and demonstrates BBC World News’ commitment to covering the region in all its depth and variety.

Apart from anchoring “Asia Today,” Rico will continue presenting “Asia Business Report” (ABR), the business newscast which he has been presenting for the past seven years.

“I’m really excited to anchor two of the network’s flagship programs to a worldwide audience from Asia to Africa, Europe, the Middle East to the Americas. And as a Filipino, its such an honor, and in my own little way, carrying the flag whenever I broadcast to our global audience,” Rico said with enthusiasm.

The 2006 TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) Awardee for International Journalism and People Asia Magazine’s People of Year Awardee is the only Pinoy to anchor for two of the world’s most prestigious global news networks CNBC and BBC World News.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 24 go to Ms. Wilma Galvante of GMA-7, Nancy Castiglione, former Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz, Don Manolo Favis, Canada-based Norma R. Primicias, Helen Ruth Reyes, Rhoda Campos, Bebeth H. Trinidad, Mar de Guzman Cruz, Mrs. Leonisa Gamboa, Jenina C. Cruz, Marissa S. Gumatay of Norway, Ryan Manabat, and California-based Beatriz Palma-Ventura.