MANILA, Philippines —  Kim Chiu, dubbed as ABS-CBN’s “Primetime Drama Princess,” is currently seen every Sunday afternoon via “Your Song” where she projects a stronger and different Kim. She is going on her fifth year in show business and having survived the trials and tribulations in both her personal and professional life with grace and aplomb, she looks forward to a better and brighter 2011.

As always, Kim felt challenged when she was offered the role in “Your Song.” In fact, she said that she sees challenge in every role that she gets to play.

“Tuwing sumasalang naman po ako sa ‘Your Song’ lagi po ako nacha-challenge. Kaya nga ngayong balik-‘Your Song’ ako, isang mapanghamong papel ang makikita ng mga manonood. Ibang Kim ito.”

This is actually Kim’s sixth “Your Song” project. Her last teleserye was “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo” where she worked with A-List stars like Kris Aquino, Gabby Concepcion, and Albert Martinez. Her last movie with Star Cinema was “Till My Heartaches End” where she played opposite her ex-boyfriend Gerald Anderson.

In the drama series, Kim gives life to various characters that she has not played before. The show highlights the different acting facets of the young actress. Expectedly, this undertaking is a step up on Kim’s title as a dramatic actress.

In the near future, Kim said she would like to work with friends like Maja Salvador, Sam Milby, Rayver Cruz, Enchong Dee, Ejay Falcon, Felix Roco, and others. She would still want to work with Gerald “kung kaya ng schedule namin, okay lang magkatrabaho kami ulit. Trabaho lang naman ito, walang personalan as they say,” Kim said. Reports say in the works for her and Enchong is a movie project.

Among the roles that Kim would like to play are those of a mermaid, a super heroine – “yong lumilipad sa himpapawid at lumalangoy sa dagat to save people in a fantasy-action film.” She would also like to play a tomboy, taong-grasa, masungit na fashionista among others.

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Sam made school children happy at Colegio San Agustin
It was a delightful afternoon for the grade school students of Colegio San Agustin in Dasmariñas Village, Makati, as actress/model Sam Pinto joined them for their Christmas party.

When the actress entered the classroom, kids were initially surprised, yet they gave her a warm welcome in chorus led by their class adviser. Photo sessions with Sam followed, as well as little niceties shared with her very young fans.

Sam left the school not only with the satisfaction of giving simple joy to her younger fans. She also received a simple token of appreciation from her alma mater for attending the Christmas party celebration.

Sam Pinto started modeling at 10. She landed several print-ads, TV commercials and appeared in a couple of TV shows. Her big break came when she joined ‘Pinoy Big Brother Double Up” as a housemate in 2009.

From there on, Sam’s career went uphill. She did a couple of shows on ABS-CBN and even debuted on big screen in the comedy movie, “Petrang Kabayo,” starring Vice Ganda.

Last September, Sam made a huge decision of moving to ABS-CBN’s rival network, GMA 7, where she signed a three-year, exclusive contract. She now can be seen regularly in “Bubble Gang,” “Party Pilipinas” and “Puso ng Pasko Artista Challenge.”

Sam is also starring alongside Sen. Bong Revilla and Vic Sotto in the “Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote.”

In 2011, she will star opposite Richard Gutierrez in “Captain Barbell: Ang Pagbabalik.”

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‘Asenso Pinoy’ now on its 6th year
Congratulations and best wishes to Leony R. Garcia, formerly with Manila Times, who is joining “Asenso Pinoy TV” starting tomorrow, Jan. 10, as editor and marketing executive for lifestyle and entertainment.

“Asenso Pinoy” is a magazine program on Entrepreneurship and Development. It was awarded as the Best Business Feature for Television in 2008 by the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) and the 2010 KBP Golden Dove Awards for television. “Asenso Pinoy” promotes entrepreneurial spirit and positive developments in the country including tourism, culture, and the arts. It is aired every Sunday, 12:30 p.m. on NBN-4 and every Saturday, 6 p.m. on IBC-13. It can also be seen live worldwide through web streaming via www.nbni.tv.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 9, go to business columnist Rodolfo Romero, producer Redgie Magno Acuna of GMA-7, Fiscal Ma. Victoria Alba Estuesta, Cely Castro, Ody Tensuan, Nenette Claudio, Gina Valdes Rivera, Mrs. Marilu Mendoza, Colette Centino Glazer, Erick Esguerra, Lydia Motol, Melissa Ricks of Star Magic, singer Icy (Justine Moral), my good friend and neighbor Cely Austria Pili, and my grandson Elijah Ethan S. Belen of Queens Village, New York…