Jake happy for Melissa’s new relationship

Jake Cuenca, Melissa Ricks’ former boyfriend, is happy that she has found a new love in Paul Jake Castillo.

“Paulit-ulit lang naman ako diyan na masaya ako para sa kanya. Masaya naman ako talaga para sa kanya,” Jake said in an interview at the 35th Gawad Urian in AFP Theatre on Wednesday, June 13.

But even if he is happy for Melissa, Jake doesn’t want to make any further comments about the actress.

“Dahil meron na siyang bagong minamahal na napakabait na tao, sarado na ako doon. Ayaw ko nang magsalita kasi ayaw ko na rin ma-involve pa sa bago niyang relationship,” Jake said.

Closed chapter

For Jake, he and Melissa are already a closed chapter.

“So, for me, sarado na talaga ako doon. Sobrang saya ko para sa kanya. Pero iyon na po iyon. Yung chapter namin na iyon, sarado na talaga.”

As for his love life, Jake said he is very busy with work, but he is “inspired.”

“Kumbaga, ang tagal-tagal ko nang gutom para makuha ang mga ganitong bagay (awards and nominations). Ang saya-saya ko ngayon. I’m in a very good place in my life right now. I’m inspired,” Jake explained.

He admitted dating someone but he doesn’t want to divulge details, saying that he wants everything to be settled and finalized first. Jake added that he won’t keep his new relationship a secret from the public.

He’s dating

“Yes, I’m dating. Kapag ready na ako, sasabihin ko naman. Ako kasi ang narealize ko sa showbiz, mahirap itago sa mga tao ang mga pangyayari. Kapag ready na ako, I’ll be able to tell anyone, but I don’t wanna talk right now yet until everything’s final and everything’s good.”

The 2012 PMPC Star Awards Best Actor is thrilled to be nominated in the 35th Gawad Urian for his performance in “In the Name of Love.” Acting recognition is one of Jake’s dreams.

“Sobrang karangalan para sa akin ang ma-nominate sa Urian. Isa sa pinakamalaking award-giving body talaga ang Urian, tsaka iba talaga yung standards nila. Para maipasok ako dito, mainstream pa yung ginawa ko, “In The Name of Love,” tuwang-tuwa po ako ngayong gabi,” he said.

Jake is doing the afternoon Kapamilya TV drama “Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo,” whose airtime is being extended, thanks to its high ratings. He is slated to do “Puso Man Ay Masugatan” with Andi Eigenmann, Iza Calzado and Gabby Concepcion.

“Yung “Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo,” gusto kong magpasalamat kasi mataas talaga ang ratings naming ngayon. Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa mga taong sumusuporta sa amin. Inextend daw kami kasi tuwang-tuwa sila,” Jake said.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Nyoy mum on Nina’s sexy magazine cover

Singer and theater actor Nyoy Volante is mum about the recent sexy magazine cover featuring ex-girlfriend Nina.

“I really can’t say anything about it. Lahat naman tayo may ginagawa para sa mga kanya-kanya nating career. I’m sure whatever it is, it is something that she wants, something na napag-isipan ng mabuti. So, sa tingin ko okay lang iyon,” Nyoy said in an interview at the press conference of the musical play “Rock of Ages” on Wednesday, June 6.

Nyoy is busy rehearsing for the play together with Vina Morales, Mig Ayesa, Jett Pangan and Aiza Seguerra.

Thus, he hasn’t seen Nina’s burlesque-themed cover photo for Playboy’s June issue.

He hasn’t seen it

“Hindi ko pa talaga siya nakikita. I’ve been very busy, hindi rin ako ang publication guy na nagsusubaybay. Kapag may pagkakataon, syempre you get to read or see, pero hindi ako (regular) subscriber. Nagkataon lang na hindi,” he said.

Is posing for a men’s magazine a wise move on Nina’s part?

“In cases like this, you can just wish best for anyone who engages in anything for their career. Kung ano man ang move na iyon or kung ano man ang dahilan, let’s just hope na talagang it improves someone’s career or character,” Nyoy said.

He added, “Let’s always pray na lahat ng pasukin ng mga kasamahan natin sa industriya ay mapabuti.”

Theater before recording

Most people know Nyoy as a singer rather than a theatre actor, but he actually started in theatre before he became a recording artist. Nyoy has also starred in seven plays, namely “Dream Girls,” “Legally Blonde,” “Hairspray” and “In the Heights.”

“I love it definitely. What a lot people don’t know is that theatre muna ako before ako naging recording artist. Hindi lang alam ng marami. Akala nila, when I did Hairspray, akala nila iyon ang unang sabak ko. I’ve always loved theatre,” Nyoy said.

Nyoy is proud of “Rock of Ages,” which will also feature `80s hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin,” “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “We Built This City.”

“This is really fun. One of the funniest musicals na nagawa ko. Nakakatawa siya. I wouldn’t have expected na ganito ang kalalabasan if we didn’t rehearse. Noong rehearsal, doon ko lang narealize na it was that funny,” he said.

“Rock of Ages” runs from June 15 to July 8 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theatre at the RCBC Plaza in Makati.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Annabelle asks for 90-day suspension of arrest warrants

Annabelle Rama, through her lawyer Dereck Delegencia, asked a Quezon City trial court for a 90-day suspension of arrest warrants arising from her failure to attend the arraignments for the 14 counts of libel Nadia Montenegro filed against her.

According to an Interaksyon.com report, Annabelle claimed that she had no intention of disregarding the arraignments, and that she had the impression that “her presence was not needed because of a motion yet to be resolved by the court.”

This plea was immediately junked by Judge Eleuterio Bathan of the QC RTC Branch 92 who claimed to have found no merit in Annabelle’s petition.

The court adds that as per revised rules on criminal procedure, “suspensions can only be allowed of the accused is mentally ill, if there exists a prejudicial question, or if there is a petition for review pending before the Justice Secretary of the Office of the President.”

Annabelle asked for the suspension on the grounds that she claims to have an appeal pending in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

11 more cases

It seems it’s raining libel cases on Annabelle. Amalia Fuentes has also filed 11 more cases against her for statements she posted on the microblogging site Twitter and for a statement in Bianca Gonzalez’s column on The Philippine Star.

“I will not allow myself to be demeaned like this. And I want her to stop once and for all,” Amalia said on GMA-7’s “24 Oras” June 13.

By Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Amalia Fuentes sues Bianca Gonzalez

Amalia Fuentes is suing TV host and columnist Bianca Gonzalez for not getting her side of the story in her column titled “Love, Laughter & Intrigues with Eddie & Annabelle”, which appeared on the Feb. 12 issue of “The Philippine Star.”

"Bianca, I don’t know you personally, but hija, take a seminar, take some lessons on what to write if you are planning to write more columns para hindi ka na masama sa libel case. I hope that this will be your last, hija," “TV Patrol” quoted Amalia on June 13.

"Basically, 'yung article ko ay Valentine piece on Tita Annabelle and Tito Eddie, and Tita Annabelle, you know, she makes candid kwentos, and so the part about Ms. Amalia was a direct quote. Nakwento lang ni Ms. Annabelle, so it was just in passing like that," Bianca explained to ABS-CBN News on Thursday, June 14.

Bianca added that the libel case shocked her "more than anything else."

"At first, actually, surreal sa 'kin, hindi ko nga alam na she knows who I am. Sad na it had to be in this way. I totally respect 'yung naging pahayag niya," Bianca goes on.

She shared that she considers the incident a learning expereince.

"For me, I took it in a good context. Meaning, lesson learned na hopefully this will help make me a better writer, a better host sa mga susunod ko pang interviews and write-ups."

Bianca added that she had no intention of putting Amalia in a bad light.

"I had no intention whatsoever na ilagay siya sa masamang posisyon. I highly respect everything she said, 'yung opinion niya. I understand where she's coming from and hopefully maayos 'to. If she got hurt, or if any one got hurt, I'd like to apologize."

By Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom