COCO MARTIN and Angeline Quinto

MANILA, Philippines — Star Cinema, together with Cinemedia, proudly presents “Born to Love You” as the second offering to its 19th anniversary celebration. The romantic comedy teams up an awarded veteran actor, Coco Martin, with newcomer Angeline Quinto. Directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan from a screenplay and story by Rondel Lindayag, “Born to Love You” opens today (May 30) in more than 100 theaters nationwide.

He’s been around for quite some time (having started several years ago in bold indie films) but this is Coco’s first time to do a light romance movie and he expressed excitement about it. “This is the first time na magpapa-in love sa pelikula. Sabi ko nga, matagal ko na talagang pangarap ito. Bata pa ako, mahilig na ako manood ng mga love story movies. Ang dami ko na nagawa na pelikula – action, drama, pero sabi ko gusto ko makagawa ng love story. And ito na nga ang katuparan ng pangarap na ito.”

If Coco is excited about ‘Born to Love You,” Angeline is doubly excited since it is her first time to do a movie, and with Coco yet. “Noong una, akala ko biro lang sa akin ng mga kasama ko sa ABS na nagsabi may binabalak na pelikula para sa akin, at the Coco Martin nga ang magiging ka-partner ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala noong una, pero nung si Sir Deo Endrinal na ang nagsabi sa akin, talagang sabi ko ‘Wow!’ totoo pala.”

This is Direk Jerome’s first mainstream movie, after directing teleseryes for more than 10 years already. “Having Coco and Angeline in the cast made me accept the project,” he said. “Because it’s a challenge for me as a director na timplahin at magkaroon sila ng chemistry. And believe me, maganda ang rapport ni Angeline and Coco. Malakas ang chemistry nila.”

Direk Jerome said he saw in Angeline great promise as an actress. “I saw that immediately.” In the movie, Angeline plays Joey, a tourist guide while Coco is Rex, a photographer. For Joey, every time she deals with tourists is a way to find her long-lost father whom she has neither seen nor known, and is said to be in Korea. On the other hand, for Rex, every click of his camera is a way of making clear what’s in store for him.

Also in the cast of “Born to Love You” are Albert Martinez, Eula Valdez, Tonton Gutierrez, Al Tantay and Malou de Guzman.

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Halili-Cruz Ballet School At Newport

As the Summer Dance Workshop comes to an end, the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB) prepares its young aspiring ballerinas for an enjoyable celebration of talents and creativity. The school will present more than 400 dancers in a dance concert entitled “Summer Dance Divertissement 2012” today, May 30, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre, Resorts World Manila.

In the two shows of the “Summer Dance Divertissement,” one will see beautifully choreographed dance pieces that will excite the audience and inspire young dancers. The dance concert will showcase different forms of dance: Classical ballet, neo classical, lyrical and modern contemporary.

The youngest performer is three years old while the most senior ballet dancer is 25 years old. All the HCSB dancers look forward to the recital as rehearsals, pictorials and the actual stage performance – package the moment as challenging and exciting.

Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz, the strong force behind the dynamic Halili-Cruz School of Ballet and great achievements of the school, has maintained the tradition of having dance concerts, great productions, participation in international competitions and evaluation by the international examiners as integral to the ballet training. Through the years of dedication and commitment to her craft, Ms. Halili-Cruz has received numerous well deserved awards and recognition both national and international.

The dance concert will feature new works of the equally dedicated dance teachers who all trained under Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz for the past 30 years, Grace Garalde-Perez, Anna Tuazon-Balmadrid and Anna Kathrina Cruz.

Shortly after this dance concert, selected students leave for the Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Hong Kong on July 19-23.

The First Semester for School Year 2012-2013 will start on June 13, 2012. Enrolment is now going on. For inquiries, call 3724607, 4130804 or visit its main studio at 1227 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. (Tickets to the “Summer Dance Divertissement 2012” are available at all Ticketworld outlets.)

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 30, go to actor-director Ricky Davao, rep. Bingbong Crisologo, restaurateur Glenda Barretto, retired travel exec Rene Austria, Roxanne Lapus, Marlene dela Pena, Jose Lim, Dr. Jofe Syquia, Ferdie Villar, Narciso Talampas Jr., Marilen I. Cojunagco, Midz Reyes, Jacqueline Sagmit, Monina S. Capili, Pocholo Malilline of Club Mwah, Mary Grace V. Macahindog, Rihanna Sofia L. Tabor, Leslie Lomeda, actress Ronalis Cheng and MB’s Chito Vasquez and Maria Teresa G. Martinez…