STILL A KAPAMILYA. Drama actress Judy Ann Santos recently signed a three-year contract with ABS-CBN, setting all doubts about her relationship with the network to rest.
On hand to join Juday during the occasion were ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio, Senior Vice President Cory Vidanes, and Business Head Enrico Santos. Manager Alfie Lorenzo was also present to accompany his longtime talent.
In a taped interview with Entertainment Live! Juday said that she's already expecting a handful of raised eyebrows over her decision to sign up anew, following months of stalled negotiations between ABS-CBN and her camp.
"I'm sure may mga taong magsasabi na, ‘Naku, pipirma rin naman siya, ba't pinatagal pa?'" Judy Ann said. "Sana po maintindihan ninyo na mahabang proseso po pinagdadaanan naming mga artista. Buhay po namin ang nakasalalay dito, so ‘wag po sana kayong mag-judge."
Projects stated in the contract are a new soap opera together with her fiancé Ryan Agoncillo, a cooking show, and a drama anthology.
Although widely identified as a Kapamilya, Judy Ann is technically a freelancer. She and do guest appearances in other networks and accept film projects outside ABS-CBN's film production outfit, Star Cinema. Juday's past television projects with ABS-CBN include Mara Clara, Esperanza, Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka, Basta't Kasama Kita, Krystala, Sa Piling Mo, and Ysabella.
HEALTH CONCERNS. In an interview with actress Claudine Barretto during a recent event, she told Entertainment Live! about her current health dilemma.
"Actually hindi pa ako bumabalik for a check-up. Pero kasi ganun pa rin nalu-low blood [ako], 90/70, 'tapos nag-90/65 ako, so, ang hirap. Habang nagti-taping, may naka... May isang taping day kami na may nurse na kumukuha ng BP [blood pressure] ko."
The young Barretto, however, denied reports that she's just using her illness as an excuse to act unprofessional during tapings.
Said Claudine, "If there's one thing na hindi ako, ‘yon, unprofessional. Hindi ako nali-late ever, hindi ako nagpapa-packed up ng taping. Hindi ako ganun! 'Tsaka ngayon pa?" She then addressed her detractors by stating, "Kung sino man ang mga nagkakalat nun, e, bahala na kayo."
Claudine started in show business in 1992 where she first joined ABS-CBN's popular youth-oriented show, Ang TV. She then progressed from a child star to a serious drama actress, appearing in various soap opera's like Mula Sa Puso (1997), Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999), Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan (2001), Marina (2004), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005), Walang Kapalit (2007) and Maligno (2007). Claudine currently topbills the primetime series, Iisa Pa Lamang, opposite Diether Ocampo and Gabby Concepcion.
MARYA AND ROÑO REUNITED. Diamond Star Maricel Soriano will be reunited with film director Chito Roño in an upcoming horror film titled T-2 under Star Cinema. The last time the two worked together was way back in 1995 in the movie, Dahas.
"Siyempre nakakatuwa, dahil hindi nila [Star Cinema] 'ko nakakalimutan. Kaya siyempre nagpapasalamat ako palagi doon sa oportunidad na ibinibigay nila na makagawa ulit ng makabuluhang pelikula," Maricel beamed on Entertainment Live! after the official contract signing.
In a separate interview, Maricel proudly shared that T-2 is a unique horror film brimming with heart and emotion.
"Ibang klase iyong scenes. Yung difference nito, istorya ng pelikula namin doon sa iba. Walang vampire dito pero nakakatakot ito. Sa kabila ng lahat ay may puso, nakakaiyak maraming makaka-relate," she told ABS-CBN News.
She commended Chito Roño's directing style, which, according to the veteran actress, is integral in carrying out the film's concept.
"'Yong style ni Direk Chito, nanggugulat ‘yan," she mentioned, "bigla ka na lang magugulat, ang ganda-ganda, nasa-shock kaming lahat."