MANILA, Philippines -- Astonishingly but interestingly for a movie about young love, the songs used in “Tween Academy: Class of 2012,” which opens Wednesday in theaters nationwide, are mostly covers. The 14-track record in fact pays homage to romantic comedy movies of the past. But there also contemporary songs in the soundtrack to spice up the fans’ and moviegoers’ listening pleasure.

Many think this is a brave and bold musical move by the producers (GMA Films and SM Development Corp.) which succeeded because in the movie’s soundtrack, the young stars in the cast prove they too can be singers and they shine in their own respective ways.

The mood is easily and clearly established through “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” with three different versions created for the album. The first version is rendered by newcomer Julie Ann San Jose and promising solo act Elmo Magalona. The Starship No. 1 hit was used in the movie “Mannequin” (1987).

The other two versions of the song are rendered by the two lead loveteams in “Tween Academy: Class of 2012” Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio, and Bea Binene and Jake Vargas. Their versions, as expected, provide the “kilig” factor that will surely make their fans giggle with delight.

Another promising young star in “Tween Academy...,” Lexi Fernandez (daughter of noted actress Maritoni Fernandez) sings Taylor Swift’s “Back To December.”

Her male counterpart in the album, John Miguel also does a fantastic job with Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.”

Mainstream actors gather for play 

Raymond Bagatsing and Richard Quan will lead a cast of theater actors in a musical based on the life of Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes, O.P. of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena.

Titled “Mother Francisca de Manila,” it will go onstage today, Aug. 24 at Siena College in Quezon City, and Aug. 26 at Siena College in Taytay in celebration of the tricentennial – or 300th death anniversary of Mother Francisca, who is one of only two Filipinas being considered for beatification by the Vatican.

Raymond, who recently returned to the Philippines after four years of living in the US, was last seen in “Boundary,” an independently-produced film exhibited at the Cinemalaya, and also appears in the GMA-7 shows “Amaya” and the danceserye “Time of My Life.”

Richard was last seen as Nanding in ABS-CBN’s remake of “Mara Clara.”

The lead role in “Mother Francisca de Manila” will be played by Astarte Abraham and Aretha Ancao as young Mother Francisca and the Thea Perez-Prosia as old Mother Francisca. Major sponsors for the show are PLDT-Smart and Rebisco. The musical is directed by Francis Villacorta.

Zombie fever featured in comedy 

Talent manager Richard Hiñola launched the careers of Angela Velez, Pamela Ortiz, Stella L., Hanni Miller, Monina Perez, Karina Zobel and Keanna Reeves. He now hopes to do the same with newcomer Jane Travolta.

Jane loves to travel and in one of her trips to Manila, she caught director Jade Castro’s eyes. Through handler Rodel Roxas, she was cast in the comedy-thriller “Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington,” starring Martin Escudero, Lauren Young, Kirby Zamora, Roderick Paulate and Janice de Belen.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Wednesday, Aug. 24, go to Senators Tito Sotto and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aber P. Canlas, Paolo “Pong” Joveres, Tony Adriano, Atty. Jun Torrente, Symphony A. Yuquimpo, Mimi Munoz, Rufino C. Palencia, Zeny Tripol, Councilor Star Querubin and Raul Teehankee… Belated b-day greetings to Christine Laguitan (Aug. 16)…