Celeste on first acting job, life after Miss Universe

by Nathalie M. toMada Philstar.com

CELESTE Cortesi shared that she would love to explore the world of showbiz after her first acting experience in Mars Ravelo’s Darna. The surprise appearance in the series finale last Feb. 10 was quick to trend on social media.

The Miss Universe Philippines played the role of Kevnar, the Queen of Marte, who showed up before the titular character Darna (played by Jane de Leon) to thank her for keeping the planet safe and protected.

“It was a surprise for my fans and I’m happy I did it,” Celeste told The Philippine STAR and a few other members of the press in a chance interview on Monday, February 13.

“It was such a good opportunity because Darna is one of the most iconic characters in the Philippines, and it was my national costume in the Miss Universe. The script was in Tagalog and not even an English word. But I managed. I had like three days to really study. It was a very fun experience. It was very challenging actually. It was my first time to do, like, a whole script in Tagalog and a script in general as I’ve never really done acting,” she said.

“It was just a few days before (that JRB Creative Production offered the role) and I was also very surprised but I really took the challenge. It was my first acting experience. It was my first experience acting in Tagalog. I’m really grateful. I just did my best as I always do. I hope more doors will open.”

She was also grateful for the chance “to work with very professional and talented people.”

“That’s the most important thing for me. The fact that I have so much to learn and so much to explore and I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen after Miss Universe.”

Joining showbiz fully could be the next step for the Fil-Italian beauty and she’d welcome it. “I would love to. Honestly, now, I’m really exploring. I’m looking forward to my next step. I’m learning to speak Tagalog so I’m very focused on that. I have time to learn,” she shared.

“I’m really just excited about what’s to come. I want to grow, I want to really step out of my comfort zone, which is what I’ve been doing for a very long time. I am excited to try new things. There’s always an opportunity. When a door closes, there’s another one wide open.”

By “door closed,” Celeste meant her failed bid at the 71st Miss Universe held last month in New Orleans. The international pageant was won by Miss USA, R’Bonney Gabriel, who happens to be Filipino-American. “Of course, everybody is very heartbroken about what happened in Miss Universe, and me as well. But I’m very grateful because I had a chance to represent the Philippines. And I worked very, very hard. I felt the love, I felt the support. At the end of the day, I’m just very grateful,” Celeste said. While she didn’t get the chance to bond enough with R’Bonney during the competition, Celeste said she’s very happy for her. “I remember we took a photo together, I remember we danced together during a dinner. She’s really nice and I think that she’s been working very, very hard for the crown. I always said it is destiny, it’s her destiny. I’m happy for her and I think she’s gonna do great things as Miss Universe.”

The STAR got to interview Celeste on the sidelines of the launch of Stanible app, which works as a one-stop shop for unique digital collectibles from celebrity creators. She said, “I can learn a lot of things about NFT. I’m here with my boyfriend.

I’m here also to have a new experience.”

On a highlight of her life that can be shared on the Stanible app, she said, “To be honest, to be able to win the crown of Miss Universe Philippines was the best moment. It was a really good comeback for me. And I really felt the love of Filipino people. I’m just grateful.” Prior to Miss Universe Philippines, she was Miss Earth Philippines in 2018.

When asked about what she did shortly after Miss Universe, she shared, “I had two weeks like I was eating everything hahaha. So good. Just two days ago, I started working out again since I wanted to continue my career. I wanna stay fit, I wanna stay healthy. But it’s good sometimes to let go after a lot of months of dieting and sacrifices. You need a break and you really need to also consider your mental health somehow. Now, I’m back, I wanna focus on new goals, so that’s it.”

The search for Celeste’s successor is already ongoing with applications being currently accepted until Feb. 17.

Told by a reporter that aspiring contestants last Feb. 13 included a mother, she said, “I think that Miss Universe has entered a new era, very inclusive of every single woman. And I think a woman, especially a mother, can be whatever she wants to be, she can have a family, she can have a career, she can also be Miss Universe,” she said.

“I wanna really meet the candidates. I want to give advice and you know, it’s the time for a new queen to be crowned and represent the Philippines so I’m really, really excited for them.

“My advice would be to really enjoy the experience, to work very hard, to not forget where you came from, to always be humble in every situation and to enjoy. Because sometimes, we have so much pressure, opinions from so many people. But as long as you remain yourself, as long as you respect yourself first, everything would be OK. And I always say the same thing: Miss Universe is destiny. Whatever is gonna happen, I’ll be very, very happy to see who’s gonna be the next Miss Universe Philippines.”

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

THE Queen of Philippine Soap Opera Judy Ann Santos is finally making a big screen comeback this 2023 with riveting horror-drama thriller film entitled "The Diary of Mrs. Winters."

Santos' last big screen outing was 2019's awardwinning war drama "Mindanao" by Brillante Mendoza. Her last horror movie was way back 2014, the reboot of "T'yanak" by directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

According to the celebrated actress, it took her a while to finally star in another movie because has already set her rules when it comes to choosing her acting projects.

"I was waiting for the right material. At the same time, siguro nandoon na din ako sa part na pinoproseso ko na yung bawat proyektong tinatanggap ko – if it's worth it to be away from my family and my children, if it's worth the time and the effort kasi kung hindi, magluluto na lang ako sa bahay at aalagaan ko na lang ang mga anak ko kasi yun naman talaga ang worth it para sa akin," a straightforward Santos said in a media conference.

"With that being said, I was really praying for a very good horror material because after 'T'yanak,' I did 'Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes,' then 'Mindanao.' I realized I was looking for a different horror project that would challenge me," she added.

Her prayer was finally answered after director Rahyan Carlos pitched her "The Diary of Mrs. Winters."

This is also Carlos' comeback project in directing horror genre. For the longest time, he has been busy as Star Magic artists' training head and as the only accredited teacher of the Chubbuck Technique in the Philippines. For this film, he has worked with National Artist for Film and Broadcast Ricky Lee as scriptwriter.

"When I got the script from direk Rahyan, he personally messaged me and I learned that it was a collaboration with sir Ricky Lee. I knew it was going to be a good story knowing how good direk Rahyan is because horror is his forte," Santos shared.

Putting into spotlight a unique career, "The Diary of Mrs. Winters" is about a Filipina bio-forensic assistant cleaner in Canada named Charity (Santos), whose life is cursed after keeping the diary of an old lady who committed suicide. A series of unfortunate events will happen to her, including the death of her loved ones, forcing her to fight for her true love, Victor, played by Sam Milby.

"When I read the script, alam kong maganda siya at kailangan kong gawin kasi sumikip yung puso ko at umikot yung tiyan ko. So that's how I base a project when it's good, I have to do it kapag alam kong hindi na ako makahinga sa ganda or tawangtawa ako habang binabasa ko. I know I'll be able to deliver this character kasi navi-visualize ko siya kung paano siya nangyayari and I trust direk Rahyan with all the workshops that we did. It's just online pero magaan agad yung pakiramdam ko sa kanya. Malaking bagay kasi yung komportable ako sa lahat ng katrabaho ko," Santos said.

Facing fears

With the production and stars set to fly this month to Toronto, Santos shares her excitement as she will be able to conquer her fear in heavy snow.

"Yung preparation lang naman na kailangan kong gawin is more for myself, it's my fear of cold and my fear of snow. Basically, takot ako sa lamig. Kaya noong tinanong ako ni Sam nung nag look test kami if I like snow or cold, sabi ko talaga no. Sabi niya, 'So why did you accept this?' Exactly," she noted.

"Parang more than anything, I'm praying for a project that would help me face my fears. I'm turning 45 this year and I think it's the perfect time for me to face my fears of heavy snow. Siguro para sa iba napakababaw nung rason, ang arte-arte. Noong bata kasi ako, noong nasa Toronto ako with my mom, ang feeling ko talaga wala na akong tenga. I was 14 years old and since then, ayoko nang maka experience ng snow. But then again, our children, gustong gusto nilang maka experience ng snow," Santos recalled.

Aside from this project, she also recognized her husband Ryan Agoncillo for inspiring her to finally face her fear.

"Gusto kong ma-surpass yung takot na yun para ma-enjoy namin as family para kung magka chance na makakita kami ng snow with them, ma-enjoy namin together. At the same time, si Ryan kapag may fear siya of something, head first tatalunin niya talaga. Takot siya sa deep water, nag diving siya. Takot siya sa trail biking, nagma-mountain bike siya. So na-inspire ako doon. Pwede pa lang gawin siyang hobby and you face your fears and you get something out of it.

"So before I turn 45, with this perfect project parang napakatanga ko naman kung ito na yung dasal at sinagot na, hihindian ko pa ba? Merong mga taong ibinigay sa akin to be comfortable with, work in Canada, and these people will help me conquer my fear and at the same time, make me do my work as an actress na sapat at tama. Para sa akin, that's more than enough reason to enjoy this film even if takot na takot ako," she ended.

Produced by Carlos' Happy Karga Films and Canadian-based production company AMP Studios, "The Diary of Mrs. Winters" is slated to be released by the third quarter of the year both locally and internationally.

IN these troubling times of wokeness, extremely radical ideologies, and confusing state of people’s minds, remembering wonderful memories and retrieving decades-old cherished joys and happy events could be a beneficial antidote to these challenges today. Unfortunately, even in our 40s and 50s, remembering old memories and recalling previous knowledge in our younger years hidden in our brain may be difficult, if not impossible, for some. But there is good news on the horizon!

A drug already in use for bronchial asthma, previously approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), has been labelled recently as a “magic pill” for its ability to restore lost memories and recall previously hidden knowledge.

The same could be achieved with optogenetic therapy, but the “magic drug” is comparatively safer, non-invasive and equally effective.

“If proven effective, this novel approach could offer a new ray of hope for millions suffering from conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s, or simply help everyday people remember critical elements of their lives lost to the passage of time,” according to the research team from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The research is ongoing and a most promising potential in keeping the brain of billions around the world youthful, with healthier memory maintenance and more efficient retrieval of old data. All these with a safe “magic pill.”

Drug ‘stops’ aging

Infusing older patients with blood of younger and healthier individuals shows promise