Joem admits it's fun Working with Jannah

Joem Bascon has found a new leading lady in Janna Dominguez in Precious Hearts Romances presents Bud Brothers. The cast of the top-rating afternoon teleserye was changed, with Janna taking on the role of originally meant for Wendy Valdez. ABS-CBN.com spoke with Joem on the set of Bud Brothers where he shared his excitement over his new leading lady. “Na-excite naman ako to have a new partner. Matagal din kasi kaming nagkasama ni Wendy sa I Love Betty La Fea. Masaya rin ako na magkaroon ng bagong ka-love team at least hindi ako stuck sa isang ka-partner. Binigyan naman kami ni Janna ng time para makapag-bonding. Naging close naman kami.”Joem said that he was very comfortable working with Janna whom he described as playful and a joker like him. “Playful si Janna, parang bata. Mabait siya na makulit. Pero very professional siya pagdating sa work. Mapang-asar siya kagaya ko. Baka nga bigla niyo na lang kaming makita na nagkakagatan o nagsasabunutan kami. Walang sumusuko sa amin sa asaran. Ang level kasi namin e nagkakaintindihan kami. Happy naman kami na naging magkaibigan kami in a short time na nagkakilala kami.”Joem and Janna had just finished shooting their love scene for their episode in Bud Brothers when they were interviewed by ABS-CBN.com. The 22-year-old actor-model had done love scenes before, like with Wendy in I Love Betty La Fea, with Iza Calzado in the movie Batanes, and with other actresses in indie films. In those projects, Joem said that the one thing he learned when doing a love scene was to take care of his co-actor. “Enjoy naman pero kinakabahan. Hindi ko kasi alam kung nakagawa na siya [Janna] ng love scene before so ingat din ako kasi nga maselan ‘yung eksena. Somehow responsibility ng guy na ingatan ‘yung girl kapag gagawa ng love scene. Pero na-enjoy pa rin naman namin ‘yung scene (laughs). Sayang nga e one take lang. Paano ba ako nag-prepare? Basta go lang ako. Kasi kapag masyado mong pinaghandaan magmumukhang scripted. Si Janna rin naman ang nagsabi na mas maganda if we will just go with our instinct. I’m very happy naman na nagtiwala siya sa akin.”When Joem and Janna had to kiss in their first scene together, he revealed that his thick beard got in the way. “Sabi nga niya mas gusto niya ‘yung may bigote (laughs). First taping nga namin kissing scene agad. Nung nag-kiss kami ‘yung lips niya nasa taas ako naman ‘yung nasa ibaba.Ang weird lang para sa akin kasi ‘di ba dapat guy ‘yung nasa upper lip, anyway (laughs). Natatawa kami habang nagki-kiss kami kasi ang nahahalikan niya ‘yung bigote ko hindi ‘yung lips ko. Natatawa kami kaya muntik na kaming mapagalitan ni direk. Sabi ni Janna hindi daw niya maramdaman ‘yung labi ko, puro balbas daw ‘yung nahahalikan niya (laughs).”

Mariel Rodriguez and Rafael Rosell, May nakaraan?

Very sun-kissed ang Wowowee host na si Mariel Rodriguez nang makausap siya ng ABS-CBN.com about her upcoming afternoon drama na Precious Hearts Romances featuring The Bud Brothers. Makakapareha niya dito ang hunky na si Rafael Rosell. Mariel delighted the press with her charm at talagang nakaka-aliw ang TV host. Ipinakita ang teaser at habang pinapanood ng lahat, Mariel herself was shocked nu’ng ipakita ang bedroom scene nila ni Rafael. ABS-CBN.Com asked Mariel how she felt when she was kissed by another hunk in the person of Rafael? “Oo nga, may kissing scene rin. I’m really excited although mas tame ang story namin dito than that of the book.” Habang inuusisa si Mariel about her role in this new series, ABS-CBN.com also learned that she and Rafael shared something in the past. Pero before her boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo panics, it’s not something romantic as what people may think. “Ganito, hindi pa siya Rafael Rosell noon, at ako, hindi pa artista, we did a commercial together. Isang brand ‘yun ng candy. Extra kaming pareho sa commercial na ‘yun and we were paid P8,000 for that,” Mariel fondly recalled. “That’s why when we worked again for this project, I was the one who reminded him about that. It sort of, broke the ice na rin.” Her role as Betchay is kind of naughty, playful and aggressive. But Mariel told ABS-CBN.Com, she didn’t have second thoughts in doing this projects kasi magaling ang director na humawak nito. “Before I started taping, tinanong ko muna kung sino ang direktor, Direk Lauren Dyogi said it’s going to be Direk Cathy Garcia –Molina. Wow, grabe, ang galing niya. Ngayon ay alam ko na kung bakit isa siyang box-office hit director.” Mariel adds, Zanjoe isn’t the type who would react sa mga eksenang ginagawa niya gaya ng mga kissing scene with Rafael. ”Eh, siya rin naman, mayroon din, ‘di ba? Kaya nga nu’ng ginawa ko na itong Bud Brothers, naisip ko, hmmmn, pantay na kami.” Nilinaw din ni Mariel ang isyung nagbabantay siya sa set ng The Wedding, where Zanjoe is one of Anne Curtis’s leading men. “I have never gone to the taping of The Wedding. Saka ‘yung kissing scene nina Anne at Zanjoe, matagal na nilang ginagawa, sa Dyosa pa lang meron na.” People have also been mentioning about Mariel’s weight gain since she came back after her Palawan vacation with Zanjoe and her friends. “We stayed in Dos Palmas. Paano ba naman ako hindi tataba eh, breakfast, lunch and dinner, they served buffet sa hotel na tinutuluyan namin.” Mariel said.

Bud Brothers Blooms in Afternoon Television!

Na-in love ang buong sambayanan sa nakakakilig na pagsisimula ng Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers. Sa inilabas na national TV ratings ng TNS Media Research para sa araw ng Monday, May 4, ay nanguna ang bagong afternoon romance series laban sa katapat nitong programa.
Bud Brothers (21.8%) vs. Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin (20.4%)
Sa kasal ni Pio (Ahron Villena) at Sandy (Maricar Reyes) ay nagkita muli sina Vince (Jake Cuenca) at Georgie limang taon matapos ang kanilang malungkot na paghihiwalay. Hindi pa rin makalimutan ni Vince ang sakit na dulot ng pagsisinungaling ni Georgie. Pero nang sila ay magkita ay biglang tumibok muli ang puso ni Vince. Ano ang gagawin niya kapag nagkasama sila ni Georgie sa isang bahay? Anak nga ba ni Vince ang batang dala ni Georgie?
TNS Media Research National TV Ratings. Friday (May 4, 2009)

Guji Lorenzana recounts his encounter with Simon Cowell

Blessed good looks and possessing an amicable personality, Guji Lorenzana is a great singer, writer, and radio jock. Another edge that this aspiring actor has over his batch mates in Star Magic Batch 16 is that he was able to enter the preliminary auditions of American Idol back in 2003, in which season Fantasia Barrino won. His experience may have been short-lived but it was nonetheless enriching. He even shared that contrary to popular belief, he found Simon Cowell the nicest among the three AI judges. “He gives you good advice eh. He really tries to help the contestant,” the 26-year-old actor revealed. Guji recalled his own encounter with Simon when he performed in front of them. “He told me, ‘You have what it takes to make it, you just don’t have the American idol appeal,’” Guji related. “In 2003, I was about 200 lbs. I was so big so I’m assuming, ‘yung reason [for losing my chance to go up further in the contest was] physically I don’t carry myself well.” Eventually, he went to the Philippines and resolved to give the local entertainment industry a shot. But he had to “shape up” first before he proceeded with his plan. Initially, he cut the rice for two months and he immediately lost 30 lbs. He then started hitting the gym to lose more of the excess pounds. Today, Guji is 152 lbs and tries to maintain his leaner physique. Guji is one of the lead stars of the afternoon program, Precious Hearts Presents: Bud Brothers, playing the leading man of actress Roxanne Guinoo. Apart from this, he also sings on ASAP ‘09 and was the understudy of Christian Bautista in the musical West Side Story. He has also released a couple of albums. He confessed that he sometimes thinks of giving American Idol another try. “I think about it sometimes. I think of maybe going back [to the US] and trying it. I’m not closing my doors. The thing is there is a rule there that if you release a record or if you had a record deal or if you’re a semi-professional lang, it’s a breach of contract [for American Idol],” he explained.

Valerie Concepcion Gets Close To Manuel Chua

Valerie Concepcion returns to acting via an episode in Precious Hearts Romances presents Bud Brothers. ABS-CBN.com visited the set of the romance teleserye in Tagaytay where Valerie revealed that she had missed acting. “Kumbaga ito ‘yung first series ko kasi when I moved to ABS-CBN ang nagawa ko lang Wowowee, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Banana Split. I did a movie last year, One Night Only. Medyo matagal na din akong hindi nakaka-act so medyo nangangapa na ako. I’m happy that I get to act again kasi dun naman talaga ako nag-start bilang artista. Nakaka-miss din umarte.”

In the upcoming episode, Valerie will play the feisty Hiromi. She described her character as someone very much different from her real self and the host that viewers see everyday on Wowowee. “Si Hiromi lagi siyang galit. Inis na inis siya sa mga Bud Brothers kasi magkalaban sila ng flower shop. Lagi ko silang sinusugod and ang lagi kong nakakaharap e si Ed, si Manuel (Chua). Lagi kaming nag-aaway at sobrang tapang ko dito, ‘yung tipong lagi akong nagpapaputok ng baril, sigaw ako nang sigaw, masungit. Malayo siya sa totoong Valerie na tawa nang tawa sa Wowowee.”

The original plan was to pair Valerie with model Will Devaughn, but after a cast revision, she was paired with Pinoy Fear Factor hunk Manuel instead. Valerie said that she doesn’t have a problem working with a newbie actor or with anyone. She revealed that at first Manuel felt very shy around her, so she made an effort to make him feel comfortable. “Nahihiya siya sa akin, hindi ko nga alam kung bakit e. Nung workshop pa lang namin napansin ko na na nahihiya siya. So after the workshop kinuha ko ‘yung number niya and I texted him kung kamusta na siya, malapit na taping natin ready ka na ba, just to make him feel comfortable sa akin. Kaya nung taping medyo hindi na siya nahihiya.”

Now, Valerie and Manuel have become good friends. They both have daughters from each of their previous relationships, and parenting is the usual topic that they would talk about during their breaks on the set. Having more experience in acting, Valerie said that she is making sure that she establishes a good chemistry with Manuel on and off the screen. “Okay lang naman na baguhan ‘yung kapartner ko. Ako nga matagal nang hindi umaarte so nung workshop nagta-trust na lang ako sa instinct ko at sa advice ng director. Also wala naman akong karapatan na i-judge ang kahit sino lalo na kapag baguhan. Minsan kapag line reading binibigyan ko siya ng tip sa kung paanong mas tamang expression. Si Manuel naman magjo-joke na, ‘Sorry, typo error lang,’” Valerie laughingly revealed.

Valerie and Manuel will be having a love scene for their episode in Bud Brothers. The actress-TV host said that she is ready for the love scene although she doesn’t think about it that much. “Wala akong love scene dito, maarte ako e…joke! May love scene pero hindi pa nashu-shoot. Hindi naman ako masyadong kinakabahan. It’s just work. Siguro dun na lang sa eksena, kung ano na lang ang sabihin ni direk. I know naman na maganda ang kakalabasan nung scene.”

Valerie told ABS-CBN.com about the time when the production team played a prank on her by telling her that she will have to shoot the love scene with Manuel. “Nung first taping day namin together ni Manuel sinabi sa akin na kukunan na daw ‘yung love scene. Nagulat ako, tanong ko, ‘Are you serious?’ kasi siyempre hindi pa nga kami nagkakapalagayan ng loob ni Manuel tapos love scene agad. Pero joke lang pala, tapos nun biniro ko si Manuel sabi ko sa kanya ‘O, mag-toothbrush ka na!’”

Catch Valerie and Manuel in Precious Hearts Romances presents Bud Brothers.

(http://www.abs-cbn.com/Feature/Article/3739/Valerie-Concepcion-gets-close-to-Manuel-Chua.aspx)

Manuel Chua goes Bold at Precious Hearts Romances Bud Brothers!

Next up in Precious Hearts Romances presents Bud Brothers is the love story between Pinoy Fear Factor hunk Manuel Chua and Wowowee host Valerie Concepcion. ABS-CBN.com visited the set of Bud Brothers in Tagaytay and spoke to Manuel about his upcoming episode in the romance teleserye. “Ako si Ed Lacson, ‘yung pretty boy daw sa mga Bud Brothers. Binigyan ako ng task na i-seduce si Hiromi, ‘yung may ari ng kalaban na flower shop para makuha namin ‘yung business niya. Una kong inakit ‘yung bading niyang flower arranger na si Joel. Nung mabola ko na si Joel, mas lalong nagalit sa amin si Hiromi. Nung una kong makita si Hiromi na-attract na ako sa kanya agad pero natakot ako kasi matapang. Pero nung magkanakawan sa flower shop niya ako ‘yung nag-save sa kanya. Dun nagsimulang maging close sa akin si Hiromi."

The initial plan was to pair Manuel with fellow PFF Participante Janna Dominguez and Valerie with Will Devaughn. But after a cast revision, Janna was paired with Joem Bascon and Will with Wendy Valdez. Manuel said that he never had any problem working with Valerie who is more experienced in acting. “Masayang ka-trabaho si Valerie. Nagtutulungan kami sa mga eksenang gagawin namin. Nagkakilala na kami nung mag-guest ako sa Banana Split. Madali siyang lapitan hindi ‘yung tipong mahihiya ka kaya naging okay kami agad. Excited ako na may bagong ka-trabaho. Ngayon nga kapag break sa set nagkakabiruan na kami.” He added that he and Valerie get a lot of help from their director Eric Reyes. "Mainly kami ni Valerie sumusunod kami sa sinasabi ni Direk Eric Reyes. Si direk napaka-detailed niya at talagang perfectionist. Ipapaliwanang niya sa amin ‘yung bawat eksena at kung anong klaseng emosyon dapat ‘yung makita sa amin."

In the Precious Hearts book, Manuel’s character is a model who once appeared in a sexy film, which meant they had to shoot the scene for the series as well. Manuel told ABS-CBN.com that he never had a problem doing this daring scene. "Hindi naman talaga x-rated, parang sexy film lang. Na-shoot na namin kaninang umaga, diyan sa may malapit na niyugan. Kapartner ko si Shy (the house player in Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus). Sa may labas kinunan ‘yung eskena kasi ang title daw nung movie e ‘Gata.’ So ‘yung love scene ginawa sa ilalim ng puno ng niyog. Sa eksena hinubaran ako, pinunit ‘yung sando ko tapos may mga kiss na."He also shared that the love scene was the easy part, and the real challenge was running in the grass.

"Bago ‘yung eksena kinakabahan talaga ako kaya nga si direk muntik na akong batukan. Madali lang naman ‘yung eksena kasi sandali lang at hindi naman talaga detalyado. May mga part na hindi kita ‘yung mukha ko para hindi agad ma-reveal na ako ‘yung nasa movie. Madali lang ‘yung love scene, ang mahirap talaga ‘yung tumatakbo. May part kasi na naghahabulan kami sa damuhan. Ang hirap ng timing."But aside from this, Manuel is also set to shoot a love scene with Valerie. He confessed that he’s a bit nervous because he is just a new actor. But since he and Valerie have grown more comfortable with each other in the few taping days they have been together, he is confident that the two of them will do the scene perfectly. “Hindi pa nga namin nashu-shoot ‘yung love scene. Nabasa ko na kung paano gagawin pero hindi ko pa talaga masabi kasi syempre iba pa rin kapag gagawin na. Kinakabahan nga ako e. Wala pa nga kaming kissing scene e. Hindi ko siya tinatanong tungkol dun, siyempre nakakahiya naman. Pero alam naman niya na may love scene at siguro naman ready na siya.

Watch Manuel and Valerie in Precious Hearts Romances presents Bud Brothers weekdays after Kambal Sa Uma.

(http://www.abs-cbn.com/Feature/Article/3740/Is-Manuel-Chua-going-bold-for-Precious-Hearts-Romances-.aspx)

Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers

Precious Hearts Romances, the country’s most celebrated publisher of pocket book love stories, is now the newest teleserye to lighten up the ABS-CBN Hapontas tic. or its initial offering, Precious Hearts Romances presents a story written by Rose Tan entitled BUD BROTHERS.

Bud Brothers follows the story of eight male friends who together own a flower arm business. Pio, Vince, Wayne, Carlo, Pete, Rei, Ed, Monty, and Dick will each take on a journey of love and self-discovery with the different women who swill come into their respective lives.

(http://www.abs-cbn.com/Weekdays/article/3244/budbrothers/Precious-Hearts-Romances.aspx)