Mother Lily signs up Kapuso star Heart Evangelista as her latest Regal Baby. Also in photo are Roselle M. Teo and Heart’s mother Cecilia. (Photo by Noel B. Orsal)

MANILA, Philippines -- The formidable mother-daughter tandem of Mother Lily Monteverde and Roselle M. Teo welcomed recently showbizlandia’s newest Regal Baby, Heart Evangelista. The contract-signing, also attended by Heart’s doting mom who is also now her manager (her contract with Annabelle Rama expired last April 30), was held in a room at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

Mother Lily and Roselle said they signed up Heart because they were impressed by her dedication and professionalism while working on Regal Entertainment’s latest joint venture with GMA Films, “Temptation Island,” a remake of Joey Gosiengfiao’s box-office hit film.

“We never had a problem with her sa shooting namin. Kahit malayo ang location, mainit ang araw at buhangin, wala siyang reklamo. She is very punctual and always ready sa work niya. After seeing the rushes, bumagay pa sa kanya ‘yung role na virgin. That is why, I have to let her sign a contract with us and I will give her the best projects because I believe in her talent and dedication to her craft,” Mother Lily said.

At the contract-signing, Mother Lily added: “I’m very lucky to be signing up Heart today as it has been my dream, for as long as 10 years ago, to have her as a Regal Baby.” Both Mother Lily and Roselle expressed their admiration for Heart’s mettle as an actress.

On her part, Heart expressed honor and delight over the development. She is grateful to Mother Lily and Roselle for the trust they’ve accorded her. She thinks she did the right thing in accepting her role in “Temptation Island” even when she initially had qualms taking on the original part that was assigned to her which landed on co-star Lovi Poe’s lap. That minor hit notwithstanding, Heart was able to pull things off and give justice to the character previously portrayed by Dina Bonnevie in the film’s original version.

For the film, Heart promises that she’ll definitely show “something” whatever that is.

It’s a blessing that Heart is not as busy with TV work at this time, thus she is able to focus on her role in “Temptation Island.” Heart has to her credit toprating series like “Luna Mystica,” “Full House,” “Codename: Asero” and “Dwarfina.”

An awardwinning actress too, Heart received her first acting award from FAMAS as Best Actress and in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival, she bagged the Best Supporting Actress award for her remarkable performance in “Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love” produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc.

'Amaya' pilot gets 26.2 percent rating

Almost a month ago, GMA-7 has proudly called “Amaya” as its biggest epic teleserye production. And when it aired last Monday, the series topbilled by Marian Rivera, got a winning 26.2 percent household rating.

“Amaya” airs on primetime from Monday to Friday following “Captain Barbell” starring Richard Gutierrez.

Judging from the first episode which was screened earlier for the media. “Amaya” is indeed an expensive – perhaps ultra expensive – compared to previous GMA-7 teledramas like “Enkantadia,” “Mulawin,” and “Darna,” to mention a few.

“Amaya” is being filmed in various exotic locations in the country to depict the temper of the times – like more than five hundred years ago! Indeed, watching “Amaya” is like riding in a time machine back to the past. How these Filipino lifestyles then were compressed into the epic teleserye is an amazing feat of the creative staff of production.

We have our fears, however, about the production of “Amaya.” It may be so expanded with several subplots – the stories of the various tribes – that it might lose its coherence and strength as a story. Well, we hope not, let’s wait and see.

A historical production – by adhering to historical facts – usually becomes boring along the line or slowed by the desire to put in as much as many traditions or culture. We trust that this will not be so too.

By the way, there will be an Amaya Road Show today and tomorrow (June 4 and 5) in Northern Central Luzon. Today, the Amaya Kapuso Mall Show will be in SM City Rosales (Pangasinan) Event Center at 10 a.m. and there will be an Amaya Motorcade along the streets of Dagupan at 4 p.m. to be followed by a Kapuso Mall Show at the CSI The City Mall Dagupan Atrium at 5 p.m. On June 5, the Mall Show with Amaya will be at SM City Pampanga in San Fernando City at 10 a.m., an Amaya Motorcade in the main streets of Cabanatuan City at 4 p.m. to be followed by a Kapuso Mall Show with Amaya at 5 p.m. at the NE Pacific Mall Parking Lot.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 4, go to Maribel Dario, Sonia Pajaro, Vic Savellano, Paquito Ignacio, Camille Arnault-Teotico, Francy Varilla, Angie Liao, Darlene V. Bayota, Nicholas Magnale, Lorna C. Quinones, Joshua Aquino, Harmony Cosette Tabora Cabusao of California, USA, the first grandchild of my friend Evita Tabora; Angelo “Jigger” Armas, and Gretchen Fullido of ABS-CBN…