Eugene Domingo

With her many projects these days, comedian/actor Eugene Domingo is easily now a millionaire and she admitted it. And this is why she has also tapped the services of a financial manager to insure that the fruit of her hard work doesn’t go to waste.

Nowadays Eugene (Uge to friends and associates), being the most bankable comedian now, has a lot of work, more than she can handle actually, but on her birth anniversary (last July 23) she saw to it that she celebrates her special day. “Once in five years lang yata ako magbakasyon kaya itinaon ko na noong birthday ko,” she said. She went to Hong Kong where she met with another July celebrant, Dolphy, and his children.

A late-bloomer in the movies, Uge recalled that it was actually in a Regal Films movie (“Emma Salazar”) where she first appeared. “Bit role lang, ang bayad ko nga P150 or P200,” she laughed. And now she comes full circle as she headlines another Regal offering, “Mamarazzi,” set to open on Aug. 25 to kick off the film outfit’s 50th anniversary presentation. Before this, she played just supporting roles in a number of movies but she waited patiently for the so-called big break.

Last year, Uge made her first box-office movie, “Kimmy Dora,” which was followed by “Here Comes the Bride” early this year. With these two movies, she became a certified box-office queen. Expectedly, “Mamarazzi” will be her third box-office hit.
“Mamarazzi” is the story of a mother who constantly pries into the lives of her three children, often resulting in riots and hilarious situations. Uge’s character is a funeral parlor owner and make-up artist for the deceased. The family comedy is directed by multi-awarded megman Joel Lamangan, who directed comedy movies such as “Ako Legal Wife,” “Pusong Mamon,” and “Manay Po” among others. The script is written by award-winning Ricky Lee.

The “Mamarazzi” cast will have a mall show at SM Sucat on Aug. 8, SM Clark on Aug. 15, and Glorietta on Aug. 21.

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GMA-7’s interactive SONA leads ratings

SONA 2010, GMA-7’s coverage of the first State of the Nation Address delivered by Pres. Noynoy Aquino, was the runaway ratings winner according to the more widely recognized TV ratings service Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Mega Manila Overnight Household Ratings show that GMA-7’s SONA 2010 bested ABS-CBN’s Boses ng Bayan with a whopping 5.7% lead – with SONA 2010 earning 21% compared to the other station’s 15.3%. GMA-7’s SONA coverage was also the ratings leader based on the Mega Manila Overnight People Ratings, which measures the number of “eyeballs” or the actual number of people watching. SONA 2010’s 8.5% posted a clear lead of 2.6% over Boses ng Bayan’s 5.9%.

The success of the GMA-7 coverage of the historic address by the newly elected President of the Republic once again proves that GMA-7 is the network of choice when it comes to the latest updates and the most comprehensive coverage of the biggest events, including the recent inauguration of Pres. Aquino.

Bannered by no less than GMA News pillars Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco as studio anchors; Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales as field anchors and the rest of the formidable news team that has won both local and international honors, SONA 2010 also used popular new media like Youscoop, Twitter and Facebook. The highly interactive coverage encouraged scores of people from all walks of life to participate in the day’s biggest event.

As with all GMA special coverages, the GMA News and Public Affairs team prepared well for SONA 2010 through strategic positioning of the remote equipment, the reporters and all the other elements of the coverage.

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Rock & Beez does front act for Charice

Steven Villareal couldn’t believe his luck when he and his group were asked to do the front act for Charice and Billy Crawford’s concert in Dubai. Steve, a former member of German Moreno’s “That’s Entertainment,” just came from a series of shows in China when a call came for him and his group, Rock and Beez of which he is lead vocalist, to render several songs in said concert.

Actually, Steve did not know anything about Charice, having been away for a long time, but he knew Billy because they were both members of “That’s Entertainment.”

Steve was so impressed by Charice, describing her as “small but really terrible, very talented and she’s got a powerful voice.”

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Aug. 5 go to Sen. Richard Gordon, artist-actor Dranreb Belleza, Col. Noe Andaya, Wally dela Cruz, Alice Arenas, Felisa Almaden, Ampy Dacer, Henry Gosyco, Alice Pizarro, Carmencita “Baby” San Juan, Jeff Geronimo, and Anna Katrina H. Cruz.