GMA-7: Greater and Grateful at 59

GMA-7, the longest running Philippine television network is celebrating its 59th year anniversary this year with the theme "Greater and Grateful at 59".

And as a treat to all loyal Kapuso fans who brought them to being number 1, GMA Network will stage a grand anniversary celebration on Friday, June 19, at the Araneta Coliseum. To get free tickets to this event, you may proceed to GMA Network Center audience entrance from June 15 - 16 at 2pm - 5pm.

TJ Trinidad is Now a Kapuso Star

Kapamilya identified actor TJ Trinidad will be soon be a Kapuso. Although TJ Trinidad claims that he is not really an exclusive star of ABS-CBN, he expresses his gratitude to the management of ABS-CBN for giving him good projects where he made a name for himself - Basta’t Kasama Kita, Krystala, Gulong ng Palad, Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko, Hiram Na Mukha, Rounin, Walang Kapalit, and Prinsesa ng Banyera.

"I was never under contract with ABS, it’s per project also. Kaya medyo matagal ako na nagkatrabaho uli after Prinsesa ng Banyera, kasi we just had to make sure that everything was okay. Si Tita Annabelle ang nakipag-usap sa ABS-CBN, nag-meeting kami and all that.

It’s not like bigla na lang kaming lumipat nang walang abiso. Nagpaalam kami nang maayos. We prioritized ABS-CBN first. Eventually, nagpaalam kami nang maayos at nagbigay sila ng green light. Ako, I owe it to the management of ABS. Kami naman, we don’t wanna burn bridges.

I don’t think it’s fair for people to speculate. I’ve proven my loyalty to ABS when I was there."

TJ Trinidad will soon be seen in Richard Gutierrez starrer 'Zorro' where he will play as Zorro’s nemesis.

He also change managers from June Rufino to Annabelle Rama.

'Starstruck Season 5 - Elite Explosion' Soon on GMA

Starstruck, the first reality-based artista search on Philippine television is making a big comeback this 2009!

Two years after Season 4, the Kapuso talent search that discovered some of this generation’s brightest stars like Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Herras, Katrina Halili, Aljur Abrenica, among others, is coming back on GMA-7 with subtitled "Elite Explosion".

Jolina Magdangal and Raymond Gutierrez will return as hosts of the Starstruck. Dingdong Dantes will be replaced by Balikbayan host Drew Arellano, due to his busy schedules.

Joey de Leon and Ida Henares will return as judges, together with Iza Calzado as the third judge. Mike Tuviera will be the new director and the new studio of GMA will be the new home of StarStruck.

But unlike the past seasons, the upcoming 5th season will have Elite Final 5, instead of Final 4. The winners will be called Elite Love Team and Elite Survivor.

Prizes will be the following:

1. Elite Final 14: PhP 5,000 per week and 4-year Exclusive contract wih GMA Network and GMA Artist Center.

2. Elite Love Team: each will receive 2 million exclusive contract from GMA Network, 1 million cash, franchise of Pinoy Waffle, endorsement contract with Bench, and a movie under Regal Films

3. Elite Survivor: 3 million exclusive contract from GMA Network, 2 million cash, franchise of Pinoy Waffle, endorsement contract with Bench, 3 movie contract with Regal Films, and 3 movie contract with GMA Films

The search for the next teen stars of GMA-7 will begin summer of 2009. So once again, let's Dream! Believe! Survive! 'StarStruck: Elite Explosion' soon on GMA-7.

Angel Locsin and Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao Cover Rouge Magazine December 2008 Double Cover Issue

Kapamilya and Kapuso reunite in this month's double cover issue of Rouge Magazine.

Young star Angel Locsin and People's Champ Manny Pacquiao grace the cover of December 2008 issue of Rogue Magazine.

Marky Cielo is Dead

And now the sad news...

Kapuso young actor Marky Cielo died at dawn today, according to a confirmed report. Doctors are still investigating the cause of Marky's death, but an acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is also being considered.

An initial report says that Marky died in his sleep. His mother went up to his room in their house in Antipolo City around 6 a.m. to wake him up for a charity event. But he never woke up.

According to Marky's father, Mr. Bobby Cielo, Marky's mother and sister Marcel Andrea knocked down Marky's door when no answer came from him. They found Marky lying on the floor.

They immediately rushed Marky to the Antipolo Doctors Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival at around 10 a.m. today.

Marky was a product of GMA-7's StarStruck Batch 3, where he won as the Ultimate Sole Survivor. He was the first Igorot to join the popular reality-based artista search. Among his batchmates were Iwa Moto, Jackie Rice, and Gian Carlo.

After winning in StarStruck, he appeared in several GMA-7 shows which included Encantadia, Fantastikids, Bakekang, Asian Treasures, Boys Next Door, Kaputol ng Isang Awit, and Codename: Asero. But he was best known as Zaido Green in Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan.

He was also a mainstay of the musical-variety show SOP and in the primetime series La Lola.

Marky's remains lies at their house in Mission Hills, Antipolo, where a wake will be held for two days. After this, Marky's family plans to bring the young actor's remains to Bontoc, Mountain Province, where he grew up.

Marky was 20 years old.

May your soul rest in peace, Marky+

December 1 - 2 TV Ratings: Eva Fonda Hit Big on its Pilot Episode But Dropped on its Second Night

Luna Mystika, starring Heart Evangelista and Mark Anthony Fernandez, maintains its supremacy in the weekday primetime race while three shows occupied the No. 2 slot: La Lola, 24 Oras, and Gagambino.

Survivor Philippines, on the other hand, remained steady at No. 5.

ABS-CBN premiered its new primetime series Eva Fonda, starring former Kapuso star Cristine Reyes, last Monday. Eva Fonda opened strongly with 26.8 percent to place sixth overall and, more importantly, lead all Kapamilya shows. However, it was not able to sustain its high rating and dramatically dropped to No. 9 last night with 21.7 percent.

Here are the Top 10 daytime and primetime programs from December 1 - 2 based on the overnight ratings conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households:

December 1, Monday

Daytime:
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 21.9%
Una Kang Naging Akin (GMA-7) - 17.4%
Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 15.5%
Saan Darating ang Umaga? (GMA-7) - 15%
Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 14.1%
Rosalinda (GMA-7) - 13.8%
Pieta (ABS-CBN) - 12.3%
Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 11%
SiS (GMA-7) - 9.4%
La Traicion (ABS-CBN) - 7.7%

Primetime:
Luna Mystika (GMA-7) - 35.2%
24 Oras (GMA-7) - 31.2%
Gagambino (GMA-7) - 30.9%
La Lola (GMA-7) - 28.8%
Survivor Philippines (GMA-7) - 28.1%
Eva Fonda (ABS-CBN) - 26.8%
I Love Betty La Fea (ABS-CBN) - 25.7%
My Husband's Woman (GMA-7) - 24.9%
Dyosa (ABS-CBN) - 22.7%
Pinoy Fear Factor (ABS-CBN) - 22.4%

December 2, Tuesday

Daytime:
Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) - 20.4%
Una Kang Naging Akin (GMA-7) - 18.4%
Saan Darating ang Umaga? (GMA-7) - 17.2%
Daisy Siete (GMA-7) - 15.2%
Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) - 14%
Rosalinda (GMA-7) - 13.8%
Wowowee (ABS-CBN) - 12.9%
Pieta (ABS-CBN) - 9.8%
SiS (GMA-7) - 8.5%
La Traicion (ABS-CBN) - 7.6%

Primetime:
Luna Mystika (GMA-7) - 35.1%
Gagambino (GMA-7) - 33.3%
La Lola (GMA-7) - 31.4%
24 Oras (GMA-7) - 30.6%
Survivor Philippines (GMA-7) - 28.8%
My Husband's Woman (GMA-7) - 24.9%
I Love Betty La Fea (ABS-CBN) - 24.7%
Family Feud (GMA-7) - 22.6%
Eva Fonda (ABS-CBN) - 21.7%
Dyosa (ABS-CBN) - 21.6%

Source: AGB Nielsen Philippines via PEP

Diether Ocampo Transfers to GMA-7

Diether Ocampo has jumped ober da bakod from being Kapamilya to being Kapuso. Last Monday night, Diether signed a maximum four-year contract with GMA Network.

Diether is set to do a Koreanovela adaptations. His first project is All About Eve with Iza Calzado, Sunshine Dizon, Jean Garcia, Eula Valdez and Richard Gomez.

Before signing up with GMA, Diether very kindly informed his bosses at ABS-CBN, the studio that discovered him and groomed him as member of Star Circle. His last project for ABS-CBN was the just-concluded soap Iisa Pa Lamang with Susan Roces, Gabby Concepcion and Claudine Barretto.

He will also do movies for GMA Films, the network’s sister company, and hosting jobs.

Diether will now join other former homegrown Kapamilya stars who also made the big switch. The list includes Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, Paolo Contis, Camille Prats, and Heart Evangelista, to name a few.

Source: RFL

Jennylyn Mercado Will No Longer Renew Contract with GMA Artist Center

There were rumors that after Jennylyn Mercado gives birth to her love child with Patrick Garcia, she will transfer to ABS-CBN just like Angel Locsin and Valerie Concepcion who are also being managed by talent manager Becky Aguila.

According to Becky Aguila, Jennylyn Mercado will truly not renew her contract with GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) but denied the transfer issue as she will remain a talent of GMA-7 but no longer under the management of GMA Artist Center.

There are reports that Jennylyn camp is considering to be a GMA exclusive contract artist just like Kapuso superstars Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Richard Gutierrez, and Dennis Trillo.

Jennylyn’s comeback to the big screen is via the Metro Manila Filmfest entry “One Night Only” by Octoarts Films. There are also reports that she and former love team/boyfriend Mark Herras will be reunited in a primetime tv series on GMA.