Gov. Vi speaks on Luis' new courtship of Angel

MANILA, Philippines - Star for All Seasons and current Batangas Governor Vilma Santos has given her thoughts on the reports that her son Lucky "Luis" Manzano is again courting his ex-girlfriend actress Angel Locsin.

Santos, who is seeking re-election as governor of Batangas, said she does not want to meddle in her son's love life.

The governor said she's just happy that Angel and Luis are friends again.

She said what is important is the couple's respect for each other.

"They are friends I don't usually meddle with their love lives, or the love life of my son. Ang importante lang dito, as long as they will stay as good friends, tama na sa akin 'yon, maiwan lang 'yong respeto nila sa isa't isa," Santos said.

Last month, Luis admitted that he was again courting his former sweetheart.

He said that he was doing his best to win back the heart of Locsin, and to make up for all of his mistakes in the past. He also realized that Locsin is a girl worth fighting for.

Manzano pursued Locsin again after reports surfaced that 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida was courting the actress.

Locsin later denied there was an on-going battle between her new suitor and former boyfriend Manzano.

She explained that she doesn't want to give anybody false hopes, especially Peñaflorida, who gained international recognition for his efforts in educating out-of-school Filipino youth.

However, Locsin told the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year she will always have her support, and added that Manzano does not feel threatened by Peñaflorida.

Locsin also said she was glad that she and Manzano are on speaking terms again.

Locsin is currently engaged in her upcoming series "Kokey @ Ako", while Manzano stars in ABS-CBN's "Your Song Presents: My Last Romance" with Toni Gonzaga.

Manzano will also be hosting ABS-CBN's upcoming talent show "Pilipinas Got Talent" with international performer Billy Crawford.


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Angel Locsin, Daniel Razon shortlisted in Twitter contest in New York

Film and TV actress Angel Locsin and veteran broadcast journalist Daniel Razon made it to the official lists of the Shorty Awards, a competition for real-time, short-form content.

Shorty Awards, considered the Oscars for Twitter writers, announced the list of finalists, including the names of Locsin under the Best Twitter Celebrity category and Razon in the Best Journalist in Twitter, two official categories. Awarding is set on March 3 at the Times Center in The New York Times Building, thanks to support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

According to the press release from Shorty, over 250,000 nominations have been tweeted for The Shorty Awards to determine the six finalists in each of the 26 official categories.

The Shorty Awards has partnered with sponsors including PepsiCo for the Innovation category, Marketwire for the Journalist category and Porter Novelli for the Advertising category.

Some notable finalists include Haiti resident and TV presenter Carel Pedre @carelpedre, actor Steven Fry @stevenfry, Grammy Award-winning Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo @ivetesangalo, personal finance TV host and author Suze Orman @SuzeOrmanShow, actor and comedian Marlon Waynes @marlonwayans and MythBuster co-host Adam Savage @donttrythis. Notable organizations that are finalists include NASA @NASA, Whole Foods @WholeFoods and Sesame Street @sesamestreet.

“This year’s diverse group of finalists shows the global impact Twitter users are having across all topics of media,” said Gregory Galant, the CEO of Sawhorse Media, which created the Shorty Awards.


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Professional differences led Becky Aguila to part ways with Angel Locsin

Talent manager Becky Aguila acknowledged the statement of her former ward Angel Locsin that their separation was done amicably.



In an article published earlier today, February 11, here in PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), actress Angel Locsin confirmed that she is no longer under Becky's watch. The talent-manager relationship between the two had been a source of speculation in the past few months. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)



Initially, some thought that Angel would join Viva Artist Agency, given Becky's decision to sign a co-management deal with the said group in overseeing the careers of Jennylyn Mercado and Valerie Concepcion. Talent manager-host Boy Abunda was also mentioned as a possible candidate to assume Becky's role.



Angel's new manager, however, turned out to be veteran entertainment columnist Ethel Ramos, who is also widely known in the showbiz circuit as the manager of Aga Muhlach.



MUTUAL DECISION. "Nag-usap kami nang maayos ni Angel. Napagkasunduan naming dalawa ang maghiwalay. Mutual decision," Becky informed PEP through a text message sent earlier today, February 11.



Obviously, the decision to let go of the partnership was a tough choice, especially for Becky. She and Angel had a long history together starting from Angel's rise to stardom as part of GMA-7's roster of young talents to her controversial transfer to rival network ABS-CBN. The sudden shift in network alliance earned both Angel and Becky a lot of harsh criticism.



"Magkasama kami sa hirap at ginhawa for eight years. Marami kaming pagsubok na dinaanan. May hangganan ang lahat. Nothing permanent except change. Basta ang imporante ay nagkahiwalay kami nang maayos," continued Becky's text message.



Becky proudly mentioned that she was still able to secure certain pending deals for Angel, including a network contract and product endorsements, before they parted ways.



"For the rest of the commercial inquiries and endorsement renewals, ipanasa ko na kay Angel para si Manay Ethel na ang makipag-negotiate with the clients."



GROWING DIFFERENCES. "Nothing to do with money matters," Becky said about the decision to end the partnership.



Rather, they agreed to disagree. According to Becky, she and Angel have contrasting visions on the actress's career path: "Marami na kaming di napagkakasunduan. May sarili nang ideas at konsepto si Angel na naiintindihan ko naman because she's young... Life goes on."



No hard feelings, declared the talent manager, despite their growing differences. Becky is even confident that Angel will be in "good hands" with Ethel as her manager.



"Isa ring kagalang-galang na haligi ng showbiz si Manay Ethel, kaya alam ko na maaalagaan niya si Angel, kagaya ng pagmamahal at pag-aaruga ng ibinigay ko sa kanya nung kami pa."



In closing, Becky stressed her good wishes. "Ang importante sa isang samahan ay ang meeting of the hearts and minds. It's time to let go and move on. Part ways as friends and wish each other good luck for good karma."


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Angel Locsin bids goodbye to longtime manager

MANILA, Philippines—Actress Angel Locsin has bid goodbye to her longtime talent manager Becky Aguila, a showbiz report on Bandera Thursday edition would reveal.

The ABS-CBN star will now be handled by Ethel Ramos, who is also the manager of Aga Mulach.

In Thursday’s issue of
Bandera, find out why Locsin has suddenly turned her back on Aguila.


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Angel picks Luis over Efren?

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN contract star Angel Locsin said she is not open to being courted by 2009 CNN "Hero of the Year" Efren Peñaflorida at the moment.

In an interview, Locsin stressed that she and Peñaflorida are just good friends. "Iki-clear ko lang 'yon. Hindi ako nagpapaligaw. Right now, we are good friends," Locsin said.

(I'd just like to clarify. I am not open to being courted. Right now, we are just good friends.)

Though she has seemingly rebuffed Peñaflorida's romantic advances, she says they are in constant communication and even go out with his students on occasion.

"Minsan, pumunta sa bahay kasama ang mga kids. Minsan, lumabas kami, nanood ng sine. Kasama namin 'yong mga bata din," Locsin said.

(One time, he came to the house with the kids. One time, we went out and we watched a movie. We were with the kids also.)

Locsin said she is letting Peñaflorida down easy before things get too serious. "I just want to be true to myself and wouldn't want to give him any false hopes," she said.

Considering ex

Meanwhile, Locsin is reportedly back on speaking terms with ex-boyfriend Luis Manzano.

She said this is one of the reasons why she has graciously declined to be courted by Peñaflorida.

"Ayaw ko na kausap ko si Luis, may kausap akong iba. Ayaw ko namang nagpapaasa sa isang taong nage-effiort. (I don't want to entertain Luis while I'm entertaining others. I don't want to lead on someone who is making an effort)," Locsin said.

Last week, Manzano admitted to "The Buzz" and "Entertainment Live" that he is courting Locsin again.

"I'm trying to win her back and make up for my mistakes in the past. I realized she's a good girl worth fight for," Manzano said.

Though open to talks with her ex, Locsin said she won't jump into a relationship so easily. The actress said Manzano visits her at home and she agrees to come down and see him.

"May effort naman so na-appreciate ko naman 'yon. Tignan natin kung ano ang mangyayari. (There's an effort, so I appreciate that. Let's see what happens)," she said.

"Hindi naman kami nagmamadali pero hindi naman maalis kung gaano ka-special sa akin si Luis. Pero right now ayaw ko munang pumasok sa relationship," Locsin said.

(We're in no rush, but Luis will always be special to me. But right now, I don't want to go into a relationship.)

Manzano was lukewarm to Peñaflorida's plans to woo his ex-girlfriend. He stated, however, that he respects Peñaflorida's work as a social worker who teaches out-of-school youth through his "Pushcart Classes" project.


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Is Angel still with talent manager Becky Aguila?

Dealing not only with predicted reunion with ex-boyfriend Luis Manzano and imploring the friendship-first-clause with suitor CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida, Angel Locsin also has to deal with rumors saying that she is out of talent manager Becky Aguila’s management.

In her statement in Pep.ph, Angel intriguingly commented, “Hindi ko masasagot ‘yan, ‘saka hindi na muna ako magko-comment tungkol diyan.”

Angel will soon be seen in “Kokey” with Vhong Navarro, and another soap pairing her for the first time with John Lloyd Cruz.


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Hero woos Angel

Everyday hero is in love with a “superheroine”. Sounds like a movie plot? I’m actually referring to CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, who is reportedly seriously wooing actress Angel Locsin. A favorite subject of many “testosterone-fueled” fantasies, Angel first became popular by portraying superheroine roles in GMA 7 fantaseryes, the most memorable of which was “Darna”—the highest-rated show in primetime history.

The news about the Efren-Angel courtship broke out when (the now ABS-CBN talent) Angel was interviewed on “The Buzz” last Sunday. It was followed by Efren’s confirmation on GMA 7’s “24 Oras” last Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Efren, we learned, has been smitten with the 24-year-old Angel since 2004. He apparently harbored this crush through the years, even admitting to praying over it. So, when he finally met Angel on a flight to the US last November—she to the International Emmys and he to the CNN awarding ceremonies—it must have felt like an answered prayer.

Knowing what we know of this actress, who’s also known for her own nonstop charity work, we could safely deduce that Angel reacted towards Efren like a starstruck fan herself, perhaps heaping praises on Efren for his heroic feat just like any proud Pinoy would do. He, after all, rose from poverty and troubled youth to be an award-winning teacher and personal hero to hundreds of underprivileged kids thanks to his innovative pushcart classroom.

Obviously, Efren gleaned enough encouragement from that serendipitous encounter to pursue the lovely Angel.

Efren has already taken the next big step by visiting Angel’s abode and facing her father to express his intentions to court in earnest. Angel, who is said to be still smarting from her breakup with fellow actor Luis Manzano, offered an answer already. And it doesn’t sound like a rebuff to me. Here’s what she said: “Dahil nga magulo ang buhay ko dahil nasa showbiz ako, ayokong ‘yong hope na mabibigay niya sa mga tao maapektuhan dahil sa akin. Sinabi ko sa kanya kung ready na ba siya na harapin ‘yong mga iyon... Gusto ko friendship muna. Kilalanin niya muna ako.”

This story is currently ranked as the most read item this week in the entertainment news portal Pep.ph, spawning follow-ups including an interview with Luis, as expected, and eliciting hundreds of comments.

“Has popularity gone to his head?” one posted. Another wondered if Efren, who never ever had a girlfriend, read into the meaning of that chance encounter more than he was supposed to. Some simply didn’t like how Efren and Angel would look together from what we gathered in the reactions in sulit.com.ph’s online poll: Do you like Efren Peñaflorida for Angel Locsin? It seems that whatever his merits are, they’re simply eclipsed by his lack of movie star appeal. The media babies that we are, overfed with stereotypes, we hanker for superstar-in-the-making Angel to end up, in reel and real life, with the likes of her past boyfriends Oyo Boy Sotto and Manzano, who is reportedly trying to win her back.

There are also some of us rooting for Efren to go get the girl. “It must be God’s will,” Efren himself said of that chance meeting that started the ball rolling, so to speak, on “24 Oras.” And as the film “V for Vendetta” puts it: there are no coincidences, only the illusion of coincidence. (Team Efren, anyone?)

While this news has the elements of a movie story, I hope, however, that this plays out in privacy. In that way, the guy, who wears his heart on his sleeve, avoids the vicious showbiz trap, wherein this issue can be exploited to generate controversy.

For the pride he has given us last year, let’s all hope for our CNN Hero of the Year (and make that for the rest of us as well) the best in life and in love this year.


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Efren’s ‘love letter’ to Angel

Efren Penaflorida’s message for Angel Locsin written at the back of his calling card was revealed on “Entertainment Live.”

It is recalled that the two first met at the airport on Nov. 19, 2009 when Efren was on his way to the CNN Heroes event while Angel was en route to the International Emmy Awards.

The letter read: “Dear Ms. Colmenares, I’ve always been praying for you and I will always pray for you. Let me be your distant warrior. God heard me when I met you unexpectedly today. Please continue your noble service. I admire you for that. Sincerely, Efren.”

In an interview with ABS-CBN, the self-confessed no-girlfriend-since-birth CNN Hero of 2009 said he has been “waiting for one great love na ibibigay sa’kin.”

Should he and Angel end up as husband and wife in the end, Efren assured that “mamahalin ko siya nang buong-buo.”

Luis Manzano leaves ‘E-Live’ for ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’

Luis Manzano will leave “Entertainment Live” for the talent search show, “Pilipinas Got Talent.”

The last appearance of the actor-host in the afternoon talk show was on Jan. 9.

Luis, who is trying to win his ex-girlfriend Angel Locsin back, said he does not feel threatened that a number of gentlemen had made known their intentions to the beautiful actress.

“Nung kami pa nga ni Angel, it’s one of those things na pag magkasama kami sa mall, I know for a fact that at least 99% of the guys admire Angel. Ayokong isipin [‘yung competition]. We’re starting over, [so] might as well start the right way,” said he.

Zanjoe spent holidays with Mariel

Kapamilya actor Zanjoe Marudo spent Christmas and New Year with girlfriend Mariel Rodriguez and her family.

“Nung New Year nandun ako sa pamilya niya. Nung Christmas naman siya ‘yung nandun sa family ko,” he said.

In other news, Zanjoe takes on intense, violent scenes in his “Maalala Mo Kaya” episode with Valerie Concepcion, whom he hesitated “hurting” for the scene.

“First time kong gumawa nang ganung ka-intense. [At] siyempre first time kong maka-trabaho si Valerie, siyempre nailang ako na saktan siya,” he related.


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CNN hero Peñaflorida smitten by Angel Locsin

This hero is in love.

Efren Peñaflorida, the CNN Hero of the Year for 2009, has admitted that he is enamored by young actress Angel Locsin.

A report by Nelson Canlas in GMA News' "24 Oras" said the 28-year-old Peñaflorida has known Locsin since 2004 and that just last New Year, he went to her house to inform her father, Mr. Angel Colmenares, about his intentions.

"Sinabi ko sa dad niya kung ano ang intentions ko, in-open ko . . ." he said.

Peñaflorida, who caught CNN's attention for his "pushcart classroom" for urban poor youth, said he started having feelings for the 24-year-old actress when they accidentally bumped into each other in a US-bound flight last November.

Locsin then was bound for New York to attend the International Emmy Awards where she was nominated for a Best Actress award, while Peñaflorida was en route to Hollywood to accept the CNN award.

"It was really unexpected," Peñaflorida said of their first face-to-face encounter.

Locsin, in an article on Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), admitted that Peñaflorida had talked with her father.

She said she has known Peñaflorida through Facebook even before he was named CNN Hero of the Year.


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CNN hero Peñaflorida smitten by Angel Locsin

This hero is in love.

Efren Peñaflorida, the CNN Hero of the Year for 2009, has admitted that he is enamored by young actress Angel Locsin.

A report by Nelson Canlas in GMA News' "24 Oras" said the 28-year-old Peñaflorida has known Locsin since 2004 and that just last New Year, he went to her house to inform her father, Mr. Angel Colmenares, about his intentions.

"Sinabi ko sa dad niya kung ano ang intentions ko, in-open ko . . ." he said.

Peñaflorida, who caught CNN's attention for his "pushcart classroom" for urban poor youth, said he started having feelings for the 24-year-old actress when they accidentally bumped into each other in a US-bound flight last November.

Locsin then was bound for New York to attend the International Emmy Awards where she was nominated for a Best Actress award, while Peñaflorida was en route to Hollywood to accept the CNN award.

"It was really unexpected," Peñaflorida said of their first face-to-face encounter.

Locsin, in an article on Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), admitted that Peñaflorida had talked with her father.

She said she has known Peñaflorida through Facebook even before he was named CNN Hero of the Year.


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