Pokwang

MANILA, Philippines — She has made her mark as a comedian on TV and the big screen, but behind Pokwang’s wacky and zany antics is a serious side. She in fact, takes her role as a single mom to daughter Rhia Mae very seriously. She loves her so much but she sees to it that her daughter doesn’t grow up a spoiled brat. For instance, Pokwang said she doesn’t allow her to spend money frivolously on unnecessary things.

“Kung para sa pag-aaral niya, okay sa akin, bibilhin ko lahat. Pero kapag para sa luho lang, hindi ako papayag. Gusto ko matutunan niya ang halaga ng pera habang bata pa siya.”

Pokwang’s life story has always been an open book ever since she joined show business. She has talked about her life as an overseas worker time and again – how she took on odds jobs to make both ends meet for her family back in the Philippines.

Luck smiled on her, though, when ABS-CBN took her in as a talent. It was then that she was able to acquire her dream house and save enough for her child’s future.

Successful though she may be, Pokwang’s top priority remains to be her relationship with Rhia Mae.

The screen comic admits there are times when she misses her daughter’s company – sharing meals together and Rhia Mae running after her every time she leaves the house.

“Naku, nagiging emotional nga ako minsan sa anak ko. Kasi nga, hindi na siya bata. Gone are the days na sabay kaming kumain. Eh, ako naman, kesa magseryoso, sinamahan ko ng comedy. Kung nagagawa kong patawanin ng ibang tao, siyempre, dapat, keri ko ring gawin sa anak ko ‘yon!”

Catch this hilarious side of Pokwang in Regal Entertainment’s Mother’s Day presentation, “The Mommy Returns!,” where she plays a mother who refuses to let even death separate her from her children.

She returns as a ghost to scare her bereaved husband’s (Gabby Concepcion) new wife (Ruffa Gutierrez).

So, brace yourselves for laughter and horror combined in “The Mommy Returns!” with John Lapus, Gloria Diaz, Jillian Ward, Kiray, Gerald Pesigan, Kirbie Zamora, Ervic Vijandre and others in the cast.

Directed by Joel Lamangan, “The Mommy Returns!” opens today.

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‘The Road’ Goes

To Hollywood

Yes, “The Road,” the latest horror offering of GMA Films, is all set to go to Hollywood for screening in some cinemas in the USA starting on May 11.

Locally, the Yam Laranas film will be shown in selected digital theaters today, May 9, the same date when the producers (Atty. Anna Teresa Gozon Abrogar, Joey Abacan), some members of the cast (Rhian Ramos, Marvin Agustin, Alden Richards, Derrick Monasterio), director and VIPs from Hollywood will grace the red carpet premiere at the Arclight Cinemas in LA.

Says Atty. Abrogar: “Both GMA Films and Freestyle Releasing have put so much effort in preparing for this much-awaited event. We’ve been planning this for almost four months now and we’re glad that everything is happening according to our plans. We’re all excited for ‘The Road’ because it is not every day that one could see a locally-produced movie achieve this level of international recognition. And we’re proud not only because we are the producers of this film but also because this was made by Filipinos.”

Early this year, GMA Network Films and US-based international film distribution company Freestyle Releasing signed an exclusive distribution deal which paved the way for the release of “The Road” in the mainstream markets in the US.

The Yam Laranas film – a three-act spectacle – will also be released in digital media format, Video-on-Demand (VoD), Netflix and other online film distribution platforms available worldwide.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 9, go to actresses Ara Mina and Odette Khan, New York-based entrepreneur Josie Cruz Natori, Atty. Nerio Paculdo, Phil Kennedy, Linda Miranda, Gracie Arizola, Linda Belarmino, Venson Ang, Lily Lansang, Nestor dela Cruz, Zarah Jane H. Miranda, and Star Magic stars John Wayne Sace, Gian Carlos Castro and Jiro Manio… Happy wedding anniversary to Ed and Bing Joaquin... Congratulations to Zara Jane A. Baisas of Paete, Laguna for passing the recent licensure exams for electrical engineers. The only daughter of publicist Zar Baisas, she’s a graduate of UP Los Baños…