The country’s “Comedy Concert Queen” wants to earn another title – as Best Actress in the forthcoming 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival. In some occasions, Ai Ai has expressed her desire to win an acting award for her latest movie, “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!).”

When she guested on “The Buzz” recently, she even knelt down as she pleaded “panalunin niyo naman ako, anyway magaling naman ako dito sa pelikulang ito,” she was just joking of course.

Star Cinema, one of the leaders in film production in the country today, wants to end the year with a big bang so it decided to give moviegoers laughter to the max via “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To!)” directed anew by Wenn Deramas from a screenplay by Mel Mendoza del Rosario.

This is the third and last part of the most successful comedy franchise in the history of Star Cinema, the movie that made Ai Ai a household name. The first “Tanging Ina” was such a huge hit that Star Cinema decided to follow it up with “Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat,” which turned out to be another big hit, that required a follow-up entitled “Tanging Pamilya.”

This marked the movie comeback of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada who played Ai Ai’s husband. The third “Tanging Ina” comedy flick is one of Star Cinema’s three entries to this year’s December film festival.

“Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To)!” reunites Ai Ai with her “children” – Marvin Agustin, Nikki Valdez, Carlo Aquino, Alwyn Uytingco, Marc Acueza, Shaina Magdayao, Serena Dalrymple, Jiro Manio, Yuki Kadooka, twins Janelle and Bianca Calma. Also joining the cast is child superstar Xyriel “Momay” Manabat, along with Owie Boy Gapuz. In the cast too are Kaye Abad, Rafael Rosell, Jon Avila, Empoy Marquez, Dennis Padilla, Tonton Gutierrez, and Jestoni Alarcon.

This final installment of the “Tanging Ina Mo” franchise also brings back the tandem of Ai Ai and “Comedy Empress” Eugene Domingo who plays Ina’s (Ai Ai’s character) best friend. In the story, Ina has 12 children and she overcame all the trials and tributations in her life.

Ina has chosen to go back to simple living even though she has already attained worldwide celebrity status when she was president.

Until one day, she was diagnosed to have a terminal illness and she may have only six to eight months to live!
“In this last franchise of ‘Ang Tanging Ina Mo,’ Ina faces the biggest challenge in her life, ang pinakamalaking problema sa buhay niya. May sakit siya at may taning na ang buhay niya,” Wenn said.

The realization that she is dying made Ina exert extra effort to make her children and loved ones happy. She tries to be with them most of the time and eventually learns about their problems.

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SM Malls, Erik Santos team up for Christmas CD

SM Supermalls has partnered with “Prince of Pop” Erik Santos to bring the Christmas spirit across the country through a CD entitled “All I Want For Christmas,” now available in all major record bars nationwide. For SM Supermalls, it is only Erik who perfectly fits the kind of Christmas cheer that they want to bring to the people especially their shoppers.

And so, together with Erik Santos, SM wishes to greet everyone “Merry Christmas” with its official holiday theme song “The Christmas ChrisSMs Bop!” which is included in the album “All I Want For Christmas.” The album is a collection of classic holiday songs – “The First Noel,” “Silent Night,” “Christmas Is,” “Sana Ngayong Pasko,” and of course “All I Want For Christmas.”

His version of “Happy Christmas” is the first single off the album, and the second single is “Sana Ngayong Pasko” which Erik rendered in his own heartfelt and inimitable way.

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Pagcor’s 12 days of Christmas gift-giving

Today marks the end of the 12 Days of Gift-Giving which the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) started last Dec. 9 in its aim to play Santa Claus and gives a merrier, more meaningful Christmas to almost 9,000 individuals through its nationwide gift-giving mission called “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2010.”

PAGCOR conducted its Christmas gift-giving mission in 24 charitable institutions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and in various communities where its provincial casino branches operate like Angeles, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Laoag, Olongapo, and Tagaytay.

The “Pamaskong Handog” is Pagcor’s way of sharing its blessings to the less privileged and often neglected sectors of society, a part of the state-gaming firm’s advocacy as a compassionate, caring institution. It is a take-off from the popular Christmas song “12 Days Of Christmas” that celebrates the season for 12 straight days through the giving of gifts every day.

Ms. Maricar Bautista, Pagcor’s Asst. VP for Corporate Communications, said the gift-giving event covered numerous marginalized sectors of society.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Dec. 20, go to Ricky Alegre, Maybeline dela Cruz, Cathy Nazareno-Rivilla, Marilu Syjuco-Velez, Neneng David, Nora Alafriz, Teresita Gonzalez, Tinette Buenaseda, Rosie Bitong of Lipa City, Tim Espinosa, Evelyn Difunturom, Jim Greene of Scotland, Ernesto “Ernie” Isidoro, head master of Saturday Group of Surrento Townhomes in Bacoor, Cavite and Anna Bernaldo Romulo of ABS-CBN Media Assets Management... Happy wedding anniversary to Jun and Betty Ventura of California and Brian Keth Strange and Wai Angeles dela Cruz....