Maxene Magalona was one of the stars who graced the media launch of the 6th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival held earlier today, June 16, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
She is cast as the wife of Joem Bascon in the full-length Cinemalaya entry Rekrut. Directed by Danny Añonuevo, this film also stars Rich Asuncion, Alwyn Uytingco, Dominic Roco, Alchris Galura, and Pinoy Fear Factor ex-participante Manuel Chua.
This action-drama film revolves around the friendship of recruits, particularly a Muslim named Jamir Alura (Joem) and a Christian named Lando dela Cruz (JM de Guzman).
The 6th edition of Cinemalaya will take place at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from July 9-18, 2010.
AMPALAYA ANONYMOUS NO MORE. Maxene revealed that the group called Ampalaya Anonymous no longer exists.
"Actually, wala naman talagang grupo to begin with," she said. "Katuwaan lang siya. Dahil nga puro kami artista, napalaki [ang issue] at marami nang nag-uusap about it. Pero wala talaga, katuwaan lang yun.
"Yung grupo talaga na nagkakasama at nagkikita si Angel Locsin, ako, si Bubbles Paraiso, Ehra Madrigal at si Paolo Paraiso. Si Rich Asuncion at si Glaiza de Castro, iba ang grupo namin. Kaya nga naiinis ako kasi itong Ampalaya Anonymous na ito, hindi naiintindihan ng mga tao kung sino talaga ang mga kasali at kung ano ba talaga yun. It was just really blown out of proportion."
She then declared: "Yung grupo na yun, wala na at parang kung kelan lang puwede magkita-kita... Actually, ako, hindi na 'ko masyadong nakakasama kasi ang mga kasama ko lagi, si Rich 'saka si Glaiza."
Maxene described the Ampalaya Anonymous by saying, "It's just a group of friends who decided to meet up pag may time, pero hindi talaga siya parang weekly dapat may meeting. It's not an official organization, hindi talaga siya ganun."
MEETING WITH PAULEEN LUNA. Maxene is now busy taping for the upcoming GMA-7 soap Trudis Liit, with child actress Jillian Ward in the title role. Also in the cast is Pauleen Luna, with whom Maxene reportedly had a rift.
When asked to describe her working relationship with Pauleen, Maxene said, "Magkasama kami ni Pauleen sa set [ng Trudis Liit] kagabi at sabay pa kami kumain ng dinner together. Okay talaga, wala namang problema, nakakapag-usap kami, small talk."
Maxene then revealed that she initiated a dialogue with the Eat Bulaga! mainstay to clear the air between them.
"Marami lang hearsay at misunderstanding so that's why before the show started, nag-request ako na kung puwede mag-usap kami ni Pauleen with our managers kasi marami nang masyadong na-involve. Sabi ko, 'Teka nga, kami naman ni Pauleen yung iniintriga, bakit hindi kami yung mag-usap?' So nag-usap kami at nagkaliwanagan kami na lahat pala sabi-sabi lang. So yun, okay na kami at wala nang problema."
Maxene debunked rumors saying that their project Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? was shelved because she and Pauleen did not get along.
"Naiinis nga ako kasi people keep saying... Kasi nga dapat Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? [ang pagsasamahan namin], pero naging Trudis Liit. Sinasabi nila na kaya raw ganun kasi hindi kami magkasundo ni Pauleen. E, paano yun, magkasama pa rin kami? Lilinawin lang namin na walang katotohanan yun," she said.
In a separate interview, Pauleen also said that this meeting with Maxene helped clarify the issues involving the two GMA-7 stars. (CLICK HERE to read related article)
ON ELMO MAGALONA. Last June 12, Party Pilipinas mounted a tribute to the late Francis Magalona, and Maxene's brother, Elmo Magalona, performed "Mga Kababayan Ko" with a video of his father playing in the background.
"I'm so proud of Elmo! Ako ang number one fan niya!" exclaimed the daughter of Francis M. "Actually, nung nag-tribute and Party Pilipinas sa dad namin, I was in Tagaytay for our first taping day of Trudis Liit and nung nandun ako, sabi ko, sayang hindi ako makakapanood. Then sabi nila sa akin may TV at tumakbo agad sa TV. Pero nung pagbukas ko, tapos na. Halos maiyak-iyak ako kasi hindi ko talaga napanood. Pero sa Internet, napanood ko at proud na proud ako, lalo na nung part na sumasayaw sila nang sabay ng dad ko. Finally napanood ko siya sa Internet at sobrang proud ako."