They are both achievers and established stars and they are also good friends so it would be exciting to see young superstar Judy Ann Santos and singer-songwriter and comedian Ogie Alcasid team up in an outrageous comedy. This is “Oh, My Girl!” the latest offering of Regal Entertainment, Inc.

“This is a movie borne out of friendship,” Regal matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde said, “Undoubtedly, Juday and Ogie are two of the most loved personalities in show business, and their friendship goes beyond what is seen by the cameras. Ogie was one of those who stood by Juday during the ‘Ploning’ fundraising and unknown to the public, Juday and Ogie together with their respective partners spent Valentine’s with a double date.”

“Oh, My Girl!” is directed by Dante Nico Garcia, who directed the much talked about “Ploning,” which was one of the films considered for the Best Foreign Language category of this year’s Academy Awards.

Of course, Ogie and Juday are the most excited about their team-up on the big screen. Aside from their occasional guestings and co-hosting chores in ‘S.O.P.,’ Juday was last seen gracing Ogie’s anniversary concert via a short film-music video directed by Dante Nico Garcia. “But this will be a riot, we shall do everything to make this work,” Ogie said.

On the other hand Juday has this to say: “I look forward to having a grand time on the set as I always enjoy being with Ogie.”

Asia’s Songbird Ms. Regine Velasquez, Ogie’s ladylove, is one of the key people who made “Oh, My Girl!” a reality. According to Regal heiress Roselle Monteverde-Teo, “this production is teeming with friends who are deemed as the best in the industry, so we are really excited to see through this project’s fruition.”

Noel Ferrer, supervising producer, noted that “Juday and Ogie have sowed a lot of goodwill in the industry and ‘Oh, My Girl!’ will be a testament to their love and friendship. We hope to make evident onscreen the positive vibes that we all feel about the project.”

Mother Lily emphasized: “All of us have best friends and soul mates and I’m sure a lot of people will identify with Juday’s and Ogie’s characters in ‘Oh, My Girl!’ - the partnership of an odd couple magnetized by friendship which makes the chemistry all the more interesting and worth waiting for.”

“Oh, My Girl!,” which is set to grind before the end of this month, is the story of two childhood best friends who are separated by fate, only to be reunited many years later, worlds apart.

At the local orphanage in Taal, Batangas, lived two children Siops (Juday) and Biboy (Ogie) who have been each other’s soul mate and best friend for as long as they can remember. Promising to stay together forever, Boboy even makes a song that would be their way of finding each other if ever they got separated, but the real world interferes and breaks their promise. And the orphans are torn apart.

“Oh, My Girl!,” a romantic comedy, is based on a concept by Ogie and Regine with Emman dela Cruz. The story was developed for film by Ogie, Regine, Tanya Winona Bautista (who wrote the script), Emman, Dante Nico Garcia, Josel Garlitos, and Raymond Lee.
Watch out for it.

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Karen Davila, first Filipino media speaker for HPAIR Harvard confab

After winning the TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men) award for Broadcast Journalism in 2008, ABS-CBN broadcaster Karen Davila was invited to speak before the HPAIR Harvard Conference held last Feb. 19-22, 2009 at the Harvard Campus in Boston, Mass, USA. This was the second year that Harvard hosted the HPAIR conference.

Since it started in 1991, HPAIR has become the premier place for the discussion of issues pertinent to the Asia Pacific region and their effects around the world.  This year’s theme was “Linking Minds: Challenges in the 21st Century.”

Karen Davila was invited to speak for the Social Policy Workshop on Gender Equality for Women in Asia. During her speech, which was one of the most attended in the conference, she showed videos of documentaries from her show “The Correspondents” showing issues revolving around women including health care, OFW mothers leaving their children, sex trafficking and child marriages.

“I felt very proud and humbled at the same time to have shared my knowledge and experience as a broadcast journalist,” Karen said. “I know that one day, these delegates will be future leaders and decision-makers. Natutuwa rin ako at nakita nila kung gaano kalaki ang impluwensya ng media sa ating bansa. Natatalakay natin ang maraming issues na walang takot, di tulad sa ating mga kapitbahay. Gusto ko ipakita na mayaman ang Pilipinas sa talino, at kahit na maliit lang ang ating bansa, may mahalaga tayong masasabi sa buong mundo. May boses tayo sa paggawa ng polisiya.”
Karen won the TOYM award in 2008 and the Gawad Tanglaw for Mass Media, given by members of the academe from the University of Perpetual Help last month.

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A winter motif for a debut

It was a grand coming-out party with a winter motif that Larry Natividad of The Wedding Library designed for Dinagat Islands Governor Jade Ecleo’s daughter Natasha Ecleo Villaroman when the latter celebrated her debut on Feb. 6. For the occasion, the Palawan Ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel was turned into a wonderland of snow. The governor is of course the one we’ve written about as a former Bayanihan dancer, and singer who performed for many years in New York where she studied and took her master’s degree.

The mood was really set perfectly for a wintry chill as the lovely debutante (wearing a lovely gown by Larry Espinosa) emerged, singing a duet with her beautiful mom for an opening salvo for their VIP guests, family and friends alike.

Natasha’s charming brother Aga escorted the Snow Princess onstage and handed the flowers for the 18 Snowbuds with little sister Sofia who was the evening’s Snow Fairy.

It was six years ago when Governor Jade, after coming upon a financial windfall, started preparing for this most auspicious event in the life of her eldest daughter. A dynamic lady with impeccable taste, the good governor left no stones unturned for Natasha’s debut to be the best ever, and the most memorable “wonder of wonders.” This despite the rigorous dictates of her position as a public servant.

To be remembered are the winter-inspired birthday cake by Maite of Cake Concepts, giveaway neatly tucked with the artistry of Emeellee Mercado, photo and video presentations and coverage by Jaime Tee’s Studiotech, production numbers choreographed by Margot Esplana, Jansen and Martin, and event coordination by Wings & Motion Entertainment Productions.

By the way, the special guests were led by Senator Loren Legarda and other public officials.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 15, go to Mrs. Teena Sarino, Cecile C. Limjoco, Lourdes Medalla, Corazon P. Velasco, Linda Pasco, New York-based Ray Sampilo,  Josefa “Tita” Ejercito, Arnold Valdecanas, Bojo Molina and Gabb Drilon… Happy wedding anniversary to Johnny and Baby Go of Cherry Hill Bakeshop…