Lovi unleashes ‘Batang Quiapo’

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

SUPREME actress Lovi Poe feels beyond blessed to be given another big project more than a year since transferring to ABS-CBN. From "Flower of Evil" and "Sleep with Me," the 34-year-old is now living a dream by starring in "Batang Quiapo," an action-comedy teleserye inspired by the 1986 film of his father, late film icon Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ).

"It's a dream for me. I keep saying it out loud kasi it's something I've never done before. But sa mga interviews ko way, way back, tinanong ako kung anong paborito kong movie niya, ang sabi ko 'Batang Quiapo,' and now nangyayari na siya," Poe happily shared to The Manila Times in a one-onone interview.

"There's this pressure. Kahit ano namang project ang ibigay sayo. But more than anything it's just the excitement and kasi the fact na ipinagkatiwala sayo yung mga ganitong klaseng project, for me it's just a blessing. As much as possible, you just want to give your all and give your best because of the trust that was given to you," she added.

With her in headlining "Batang Quiapo" is no less than country's "Primetime King" Coco Martin who also serves as the show's director. It will be remembered in their previous interviews that the two have always wanted to work together even before Poe's network transfer.

Now that it finally happened, Poe has nothing but praises for her leading man.

"He's very collaborative because very improv style yung kay direk Coco. You don't know where the cameras are sometimes so talagang you have to be on your toes for sure. But so far so good kasi nga na-enjoy ko. When I entered, I was already told na iba yung style. And you know when it challenges me, I'm always up for it," Poe noted.

Ang sarap kasi relaxed at enjoy lang. Yun ang magandang part — yes, meron siyang ibabato na linya pero it's up to you kung gusto mong dagdagan

So he lets us be. We understand na din kasi our characters and I think that's his way of showing us that he trusts us as actors," she continued.

In "Batang Quiapo," Poe plays Mokang, Tanggol/ Baldo's charming friend who will put up with his shenanigans. Martin's character, on the other hand, is a stubborn yet loving son to his mother (Cherry Pie Picache), father (John Estrada), grandmother (Charo Santos), and younger brother (McCoy de Leon). Based on the teaser alone, the show is set to give viewers not only intense action scenes but also important values that viewers can learn from.

Poe has been having the time of her life in shooting in an open location where they are joined by the community in Quiapo. But what challenged her the most in the series were her Tagalog lines.

Yung kilos okay, sanay ako kasi magalaw ako. Ang pinakanahirapan ako in particular is sa Tagalog. Marunong naman ako magtagalog pero yung lutong, kung paano mo sabihin. My god, yung first day, to be honest kumakabog talaga yung dibdib ko. Sabi ko, 'paano ko sasabihin?' Buti na lang may mga kasama ako na gina-guide ako. Kahit si Coco tinuturuan ako so nag pa-practice ako kung paano yung Tagalog ko. Tapos as time went on, nagawa ko naman siya."

Asked what the audience can expect in this action-packed series, Poe promised, "It will be very entertaining. Siguro lahat nandito — family, drama, action-packed, comedy, different types of people. It's not just my character and Coco's character that you have to look out for. Everyone, aside from the veteran actors, influencers, ating mga FlipTopers or rappers. Sobrang huhusay nila, nakaka-amaze, nakakagulat."

"FPJ's Batang Quiapo" also stars Benzon Dalina, Mark Lapid, Ronwaldo Martin, Jojit Lorenzo, Ping Medina, Mercedes Cabral, Alan Paule, Lou Veloso, Susan Africa, Pen Medina, Lito Lapid, Irma Adlawan, and Christopher de Leon. Malu Sevilla will co-direct the series with Martin.

by KrIstofer Purnell Philstar.com

FILIPINA American actress Vanessa Hudgens has confirmed that she and professional baseball player Cole Tucker are engaged.

Rumors of Cole popping the question during the latter part of 2022 circulated last week and was picked up by media outlets like TMZ and People.

Vanessa confirmed the engagement when she posted on her Instagram account a photo of her with the Colorado Rockies player as she showed off the diamond ring on her finger.

"YES. We couldn’t be happier," Vanessa simply placed in the caption, accompanied by a white heart emoji.

Among those who congratulated the couple were actresses Lily Collins, Monique Coleman, Sarah Hyland, Ashley Benson, Nina Dobrev, Brittany Snow, Ashley Park, and Vanessa's sister Stella.

Vanessa had previously dated Oscar-nominated "Elvis" actor Austin Butler for over eight years but broke up in 2020; later in the year she was linked with Cole whom she had met over Zoom, as she had shared on "The Drew Barrymore Show."

Since then Vanessa has been attending Cole's Major League Baseball games while Cole has frequented as Vanessa's plus-one to events and companion on social media posts.

She is best known for her role in the "High School Musical" franchise and will next be seen in the upcoming film "Downtown Owl" and a voice role in "Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas."

Health @Heart

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

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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.