MANILA, Philippines - GMA Films on Wednesday reminded Gabby Concepcion against accepting projects from other film outfits as he was already given a down payment by the company for a comeback movie.

“Kung nag-sign siya okay lang(If he already signed a contract it’s okay). But he can’t start working on a movie, until matapos yung contract(the contract expires),” GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar told Chika Minute reporter Nelson Canlas on Wednesday.

Lawyers of GMA Films already sent a letter to the actor notifying him of his existing contract.

The report said that Gabby received an initial amount of P1.75-million for the movie, “I.T.A.L.Y. (I Trust And Love You)” with star Jolina Magdangal.

“We fulfilled part of our obligations. We gave him the down payment. Actually, the provisions in our contract said that it’s for one movie but we also have the exclusive right to his second movie if we serve him a notice within three months after the termination of the first movie,” Abrogar said.

When the ‘80s matinee idol returned to the Philippines on Sunday, one of the questions immediately thrown to him was whether he still was a Kapuso or not.

Gabby earlier backed out from the movie and was replaced by Zaido star Dennis Trillo.

“Hindi nag-materialize kasi nga hindi niya nagustuhan ang script para sa kanya. Iniisip niya sa comeback picture kapag comeback picture naka-sentro sa kanya(The movie did not materialize since he didn’t approve of the script. He was thinking that since it was his comeback film, the story should revolve around him),” Gabby’s manager, Rose Flaminiano explained.

The GMA Films executive, however, defended the storyline and said that they provided Gabby with the best comeback movie.

“It will be shot in three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa. It will be shot onboard one of the most beautiful cruise lines,” Abrogar said.

ABS-CBN Network is set to air a local version of NBC’s The Singing Bee.

THE GAME:
Combining karaoke singing with a spelling bee-style competition, this show features contestants trying to remember the lyrics to popular songs. In each episode, six contestants (four contestants in season two) will be selected from the audience to play a series of games that test their knowledge of song lyrics. If a contestant makes an error, he or she will forfeit her chance to get into the “musical chairs”. If a contestant is not in a musical chair when the round is over, he or she is eliminated.

Nancy Castiglione, the actress, model and commercial endorser has reinvented herself into a recording artist, one in the mold of Bonnie Bailey (of Ever After fame) and Kylie Minogue.

The album, which will be released under the Warner Music Philippines label, is titled Nancy Jane, which contains 12 tracks with the carrier single, Love Song. It recently premiered on the MYX music video channel. But Nancy was quick to clarify that launching an album does not mean that she will turn her back on her acting career.

ASF Dancers members, Luningning, Mariposa, and Milagring will be on the cover of Maxim Philippines April 2008 issue.

The three are the more popular members of Wowowee’s ASF Dancers managed by Anna Feliciano. Luningning in real life is Lea Carla Santos, Milagring is Danna de Castro, and Mariposa is Rovielyn Cabigquez.

Seeing them execute their moves on the dance floor is more than enough to satisfy your noontime palate. This April, Maxim gives in to your craving for the lovely ladies of Wowowee. They delivers a show and tell exclusive in their special photo shoot on the set of the top rating noon time variety show. Then get to know more of the sizzling chicks this summer like Cindy Carino, Marikris Lozada and the gorgeous staff of Sea Air who will happily bring you to the most beautiful sights in the Philippines.

It really seems all this Betty La Fea fever isn’t fanning out soon. While a number of girls’ names have already surfaced on possibly portraying the lead role of the Philippine adaptation of the popular telenovela, many says that Bea Alonso is the number one candidate….

And she doesn’t know yet!

Well the production people are said to be meeting about it already and in the pre-prod process and writing the show, they already have Bea in mind and as a peg for the role. Well they better hope that Bea will really welcome the chance to do it.

But after all, she is already used to portraying ugly ducklings as her launching vehicle was when she portrayed this dowdy lady who transforms into John Lloyd Cruz’s object of affection. I also remember this movie where she portrayed also someone who used to be fat.

So some may say that based on affinity, Bea is a strong contender to do Betty. What do you think?

Controversial comeback actor Gabby Concepcion signed a three-picture contract with ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s Star Cinema Tuesday to revive his career in show business, which was put on hold for more than a decade.

According to Concepcion’s new manager, FLT Films producer Rose Flaminiano, her ward has a two-year contract with ABS-CBN. The contract gives him projects not only in the movies but television as well.

“A soap opera is being readied for him,” said Flaminiano, also known as Mommy Rose in entertainment circles.

A film with Concepcion’s daughter KC is underway, but according to Flaminiano, there will be immediate projects he has to consider before teaming up with his daughter.

Concepcion was warm when he met with former colleagues in the entertainment field, many of whom he has not seen since he left the country in the mid-nineties.

He said he is attuned to intrigues in show business. He is aware that he has been a subject of discussions whether he is here or in the US.

“Ang sabi nga ni Gretchen Barretto, life is never exciting without intrigues. Hindi ka pag-uusapan kung walang intriga,” Concepcion said.

As clever as ever, Big Brother continues to have BIG surprises, as he revealed the latest twist in “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus” — the entry of the housemates’ very own parents and guardians.

In another big welcome prepared by Pinoy Big Brother last Saturday night, the parents and guardians of the teen housemates were escorted into the country’s most famous house to live inside a covert area particularly built for them.

The show’s hosts Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, and Luis Manzano served as the welcoming committee to the teen housemates’ parents and guardians.

The new residents include Ejay’s father Erning, Priscilla’s mother Jinky, Alex’s mother Minda, Kevin’s father John, Linda’s mother Ningning, Jolas’ father Ike, Nan’s mother My Love, Rona’s mother Rose, Jieriel’s step-father Gerry, Nicole’s mother Sandy, Robi’s father Boy, and Beauty’s mother Carina. The guardians, on the other hand, are Josef’s Tita Anna and Valerie’s Tita Violy.

Actor Gabby Concepcion is back in the Philippines after a self-imposed, 13-year “exile” in the United States following the 1994 Manila Film Festival scandal. It was Concepcion who blew the whistle on an attempt by his own manager Lolit Solis to manipulate the results of the film festival awards.

Concepcion arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 at 3:26 in the morning Sunday from San Francisco, California.

The actor told reporters that he returned to the Philipines for the sake of his father Rolando, who is struggling with a serious illness and already wheelchair-bound, and to attend the birthday of his daughter KC, who is one of the hottest new young stars in Philippine showbiz today.

In the 1994 film festival awards, the winners announced for Best Actor and Best Actress were Gabby Concepcion and Ruffa Gutierrez. The scandal erupted when it was later learned that the real winners were supposed to be Edu Manzano and Aiko Melendez.

A subsequent investigation showed that several awards presenters, including Miss Mauritius Viveka Babajee and Rocky Gutierrez, conspired to switch the real envelopes containing the real winners’ names, with other envelopes prepared by Solis. The fake envelopes contained the names of Concepcion and Guterrez.

Two unforgetable videos from that scam include that of a tearful Concepcion talking to reporters and implicating Solis as the mastermind, and the awards clip showing an enthusiastic Babajee reading Ruffa’s name off the fake envelope as the Best Actress winner.

After calling out Ruffa’s name, Babajee even egged her on to go onstage and get the award, saying, “Take it! Take it”. It became a popular catch-phrase for a time among Filipinos.

That same clip also shows Rocky’s hand surreptitiously snaking across the podium, grabbing the real envelope, crumpling it and placing it in his pocket.

Babajee quickly left the Philippines after the scandal broke. Concepcion also went to the United States. Gutierrez matriarch Annabelle Rama later told reporters that her son Rocky was traumatized and had to undergo psychiatric suport. Solis ended up in the hospital after an attack of hypertension.

Solis later bore the brunt of the legal consequences of the scam after she was convicted for her attempt to sabotage the results of the film festival.

Here are the winners in the recently concluded 2008 MYX Music Awards held at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas Center.

Favorite New Artist: Sam Concepcion

Favorite Indie Artist: Updharmadown

Favorite International Music Video: “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance

Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video: Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson (Love Team by Itchyworms)

Favorite Media Soundtrack: Spongecola (”Tuloy Pa Rin” in Pedro Penduko at ang Mga Engkantao)

Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ: Sarah Geronimo

Favorite MYX Live Performance: Pupil

Favorite MYX Bandarito Performance: Zelle

Favorite Music Video: Tuliro by Spongecola

Favorite Song: Sarah Geronimo (”Ikaw”)

Favorite Artist: Sarah Geronimo

Favorite Male Artist: Erik Santos

Favorite Female Artist: Sarah Geronimo

Favorite Group: Spongecola

Favorite Rock Video: “Vampire Social Club” by Chicosci

Favorite Mellow Video: “Alam ng Ating Mga Puso” by Rachelle Ann Go

Favorite Urban Video: “Like That” by Billy Crawford

Favorite Collaboration: Rachelle Ann Go and Christian Bautista in “Pag-ibig Na Kaya”

Favorite Remake: Kyla

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Comedian Robin Williams‘ second wife, whom he met when she was his nanny, has filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, court documents showed on Wednesday.

Marsha Garces Williams filed her petition in a San Francisco court late last week. The couple has been separated since December 31, and she is requesting joint custody of their 16-year-old son, Cody, according to the filing.

The couple have been married since 1989 and have two children. Their daughter, Zelda, is 18 years old. They first met when she took care of Williams’ son with his previous wife, Valerie Valardi.

Williams, 56, rose to fame in the 1970s playing the wildly comic space alien Mork in the hit television show “Mork and Mindy,” and is known for his frantic, zany stand up comedy.

Garces Williams has worked as a producer on her husband’s films and co-owns their production company, Blue Wolf Productions. Her attorney, Robert Kaufman, was not immediately available to comment and Williams’ spokeswoman declined further comment.