Bela Padilla

MANILA, Philippines -- Upstart actress Bela Padilla scored a promising nod when the GMA Artist Center talent landed on Yes! Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful Stars. She has been with GMAAC for just over a year, but has established a steady foothold in her career. Still, she said “I just turned 20, so I’m still coming out of my shell. I need a little more time, a bit of push.”

One of Bela’s goals is to win an acting award, and for this she was somehow emboldened when she was recently nominated in Yahoo OMG’s “Female Breakthrough Actress” category. Her other goals are to become a beauty queen, which she could achieve in the future with her beauty and intelligence, and to write more articles for a leading broadsheet which invited her to do so after an impressive showing in an interview.

Bela is slowly but surely winning over the public, after initially appearing in Kapuso shows “Endless Love” and “Machete.” She also appeared in the movie “You To Me Are Everything” and now seen regularly on “Party Pilipinas” and “Sisid.”

Things are coming up roses for Bela in her showbiz career, which is why she is putting love life aside. “It’s not every day that we are given opportunities like the ones that have been coming my way. So those expecting should understand – love can and must wait!” Bela said.

For her next projects, Bela hopes to work with Iza Calzado, Richard Gutierrez and Aljur Abrenica. “I’ve already worked with Aljur so when we work together again, I know it would be a breeze. As to Richard, I think every [new] Kapuso shares the same dream.”

Tagalized foreign  classics at Conspiracy

We had fun last Tuesday night listening to beautiful songs – in Tagalog – rendered by music artists we haven’t heard sing for quite a long time: Leah Navarro and Yvette Ocampo. As always, both impressed us with their passionate performance of well-loved songs with Tagalog lyrics by Pete Lacaba, called “salinawit.” It was a revelation to us – the writer can sing!

For opener, Pete sang his Tagalog version of an Elvis Presley song, “Love Me Tender,” which he titled “Nakakaliyo” which could have been intentional because of the presence of actor Mark Gil whose father Eddie Mesa was once called the “Elvis Presley of the Philippines.” Mark also sang a few songs (among them “Sa Tulong Mo” to the tune of “You Raise Me Up” and “Kahapon Lang,” to the tune of “Yesterday”).

On her part, Yvette sang among others “Kayakap-Yakap” (“Embraceable You”), “Walang Ibang Katulad Mo” (“There Will Never Be Another You”), “Kung Iibig Ako” (“When I Fall In Love”) and “Ang Aking Hiling” (“This Is All I Ask”). Yvette’s performance delighted her guests, among them her parents, Dr. Pablo and Gloria Ocampo, sister Emma and close friends such as Usec. Francis Varela of DepEd, Rep. Rene Diaz and friends, members of the ATAT Bike Club, sharpshooter Jet Dionisio, family of Judge Dick Gonzalez, Nonoy and Sarah Campos, the Nemenzos of UP, Arnold Edrosa, Danny Pay, Atty. Toto Africa et al.

Leah, now better known for leading the Black and White Movement and for rallying behind advocacies of change, rendered the theme song from the movie “Casablanca” (“As Time Goes By” which Pete titled “Walang Kupas”), “Tulay” to the tune of “Bridges,” which Lea sang for the very first time of stage.

She also performed “The Look Of Love” (“Ang Pagsinta”) by Burt Bacharach who she recalled first came to the Philippines in 1978 when she was just starting out. Her mom, Nelda Navarro, brought her along to meet Bacharach whose songs she “loved so much,” Leah said.

By the way, the venue was the Conspiracy along Visayas Ave. in Quezon City. Every third Tuesday of the month, Pete organizes an intimate musical soiree at the place. It was the second time that Yvette performed at the place and she thanked Pete for inviting her.

IMAX Southmall

SM Cinema opened July 14 its newest IMAX Theater in SM Southmall, the addition to IMAX SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” was the first 3D film played at the IMAX 3D branch.

IMAX theatre’s digital theater system uses a comprehensive suite of proprietary IMAX technologies, that, when integrated together, creates an experience that consistently puts the audience “IN” the movie.

Aside from: “HP7 (Part 2),” “Cars 2,” “Real Steel,” “Puss N’ Boots,” “Happy Feet 2,” and “Mission Impossible” are also scheduled for 3D experience.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Thursday, Aug. 4, go to Sec. Leila de Lima, former Guimaras Island Gov. Emily R. Lopez, Oscar Reyes, Gus Villanueva, Baby Stradran, Inki Azarcon, Tet Defensor, Minda Imperial, Lyndon Mosos S. Gatdula, Ruben O. Fruto, Irene Diaz, Anna Kathrina H. Cruz, Venus Maregmem, Ligaya Colina-Salang of Tagum City, Scarlett Parlan and Melton Alingod… Happy wedding anniversary to Rudy and Betty Valdez…