One of Kuh Ledesma’s big plans as she marks her 30th year in show business next year is to direct a movie. Yes, she has been very keen on this project and in fact she already has a gem of a story idea germinating in her head a long time ago. She’s just waiting for the right time to work on it.

It’s her own story, meaning she’s writing it, because “I cannot work on somebody else’s story,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to be controlled by the owner.” It’s the story of seven women, whose lives will be intertwined, she revealed.

“It’s an original story, a comedy of sorts that depicts Filipino way of life. There will be a lot of funny situations in the real-life scenarios. Kasi tayo, kahit umiiyak kung minsan, nakakatawa tayo…”

Kuh also said she wants some of the country’s best talents to star in her movie: Cherie Gil, Gina Alajar, Tessie Tomas, Nanette Inventor, Nova Villa, and Regine Velasquez (but who is yet to confirm if she’ll have the time to do it). Kuh will also be part of the cast.

Kuh may have made a name as a singer, earning the title “Pop Diva” along the way, but she’s also an actress. It is recalled that early in her showbiz career, Kuh also appeared in some movies, most notably “Tinimbang ang Langit,” “Oro Plata Mata,” and “The Year of Living Dangerously” with Mel Gibson no less, and whom she described as a “very nice guy.”

“I’m not really into acting, but many have been pushing me to give acting another try, kaya ito, nagbabalik-acting ako.” Kuh has recently appeared in GMA-7’s remake of the toprating Koreanovela “Endless Love,” starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. In the teleserye, Kuh played mother to Dennis Trillo.

In the meantime, Kuh is preparing for two shows in the US this November. On Nov. 20, she will have a show at the Atlantic Grand Ballroom in Reno, Nevada. She will be performing with Stephen Bishop and Dan Hill. On Nov. 27, Kuh along with Stephen Bishop, David Pomeranz and John Ford Coley, will perform at Horseshoe and Hammond in Indiana.

Kuh also plans to do a back-to-back concert with her daughter Isabella. “We first did a concert together 16 years ago, when Isabella was only 10. I’d like to do a part two of that concert,” she said.

Also in Kuh’s agenda is an album which will feature songs from her live concerts. “This is finally happening, after 30 years,” Kuh said. In the works too is a special Valentine show. And of course, her 30th anniversary concert which will be directed by Leo Rialp.

Always poised, composed and seemingly unaffected, Kuh was asked if there were any dark moments in her life that had adversely affected her somehow.

She was honest to say there was, when she separated from her husband (Louie Gonzalez). But she did not resort to drinking, or any self-destructive acts. Just a little depression, which happens to everyone. But it helped a lot that soon, Kuh found Jesus Christ, and developed a strong personal relationship with Him.

She said she doesn’t intend to retire or stop doing what she loves best – which is singing. “When we are with Christ, we are always flourishing and fresh.”

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Sef is laughing his way to success

Sef Cadayona, who emerged the 4th Avenger in the last “StarStruck” Edition, has found 2010 a very good year for his showbiz career.

Along with fellow “StarStruck” alumnus Chariz Solomon, and comic act Jan Manuel, he is now hosting a “Startalk” segment. He had a good acting stint in “Diva” and now, Sef is in “Ilumina” where he displays comic skills playing Renato, the best friend of Aljur Abrenica.

And, to top it all, Sef is also showcasing his terpsichorean prowess in GMA-7’s Sunday show “Party Pilipinas,” alongside Mark Herras and the top-five finishers of “StarSruck V.”
Sef looks up to the Michael V.-Ogie Alcasid tandem, finding them original and witty. More surprising is the fact that he kept tapes of Tito, Vic and Joey’s comedy albums as inspiration.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Nov. 5, go to former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, ABS-CBN head of Corporate Communications Bong Osorio, Gabby Concepcion, Dianne Medina, Mrs. Julie Benedicto, Zandro Zamora, director Maning Borlaza, Maria Elena K. Bocalan, US-based Marife Santos, Carol Nielsen, Thelma Paredes, Cherry E. Mojica, Arman Giron, Alexander P. Romero, Mon Chua, Dr. Aldrene Lee-Tan, Isabel D. Espejo, Marc P. Ventura of California, Ida F. Calimlim, Belinda Zabala Valdecanas, Mina Malinab-Martinez, Quincie Joy Crisostomo of Cityland, MB’s Yugel Losorata and Sheryl Vitto, and Joy Isabel… Belated b-day greetings to Winnie Cordero of “Umagang Kay Ganda” and Boy So of Carmela de Boracay… We’d like friends of Rap Hervas, co-founder of Archipelago Films (which produced the blockbuster Gloria Diaz-starrer “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa”) to know he has passed away in Palos Verdes, California where he resided since 1978. Rap was a lawyer who we worked with in the defunct Philippine National Cooperative Bank.