Feuding brothers: JV and Jinggoy

San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito is apparently already getting the ire of an influential member of the Senate, months before the official campaign period can even begin for the 2013 senatorial polls.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada admitted his half-brother's statements over their reported sibling rivalry have made him "very upset and deeply hurt."

Estrada said he never considered his relationship with Ejercito, who is running for Senator under United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), to be characterized by bitter competition.

"I am very upset and deeply hurt over some of the comments made by him and his efforts to generate publicity over a supposed competition or rivalry between us at my expense," Estrada said.

"I believe that the nature of our tepid relationship is perhaps understandable considering our family's circumstances," he explained in a statement.

Estrada is the son of the former president with legal wife, former Senator Luisa "Loi" Estrada while Ejercito is Estrada's son with San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez.

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The Senate official issued the statement after Ejercito said there would be some check-and-balance in the Senate should he be elected in the upcoming May polls.

Ejercito, who ranks the highest among first-time senatorial candidates in recent poll surveys, added he foresees having floor debates against Estrada. He however clarified although he is usually opposing Estrada, he still respects his half-brother for the sake of their father.

Estrada meanwhile admits debates are always likely.

"I admit that we may not agree and even argue on some social and political issues - much like the atmosphere in any deliberative body and the current Philippine Senate where free exchange of ideas is not only welcome but absolutely necessary," Estrada said.

"Again, this does not mean that we have to be at each other's throats at all times though it seems that my brother thinks otherwise," he added.

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The Senate President Pro Tempore urged his half-brother to rise above making "petty and unjust remarks" against him as a senatorial aspirant, whom he said he looks forward to being a colleague in the next Congress.

But Ejercito clarified he did not intend to hurt his "Kuya Jinggoy" with his answers in media interviews, noting he also did not mean to gain political capital at his expense by making our disagreement public.

"I have always regarded my brother, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, with respect. I don’t hide the fact that I disagree with him on certain, mostly political, issues," Ejercito said.

"However, I’ve never said or done anything that would lead anybody to conclude our relationship is hostile or antagonistic," he added.

Rio Rose Ribaya | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Angel hopes to fly again as Darna

Angel Locsin wants to reprise her “Darna” role through ABS-CBN’s remake of the Mars Ravelo classic.

“Kung ano 'yung nasabi ko dati parang naghihintay ako. Actually naipatawag although nasabihan ako noon pero hindi ko pa naririnig yung story, I think inaayos pa nila. Sa akin hindi ako magpapaka-plastik noong narinig ko ang balita ay natuwa ako kasi parang feeling ko ako talaga si Darna. 'Yung katauhan ni Darna, sobrang inalagaan ko,” Angel said at the press conference for the first anniversary of ABS-CBN’s sitcom “Toda Max” on Tuesday, November 6.

Angel admits nothing is final yet and she still has to learn more about the story and details.

“Kapag nakita ako ng mga bata na hindi very ‘Darna’ yung kilos, parang nakalulungkot ako. Kaya nung nabalitaan ko na parang sinundan ako ng bato, nagdasal ako na kung para sa akin, para sa akin. Kung hindi naman para sa akin, at least na-experience ko at maganda yung performance ko.”

On doing comedy

Meanwhile, Angel shows her funny side as Isabel in the sitcom “Toda Max,” where she stars with Robin Padilla, Vhong Navarro and Pokwang.

The comedy newbie admitted she didn’t expect she would be a regular in the sitcom.

“Bukod sa sobrang saya sa taping, nakakapagpakita ako ng isang side. Bukod sa Angel na nakakapag-iyak, kumakagat (in Lobo), lumilipad (as Darna), siguro mas nakakarelate more yung mga tao dito as Isabel.”

Angel adds that she misses doing action projects, which she is comfortable in.

“Action, 'yun talaga yug gusto ko. Hindi ko alam bakit ako nalilinya ngayon sa drama. Nai-enjoy ko siya pero mas maa-appreciate ko po siguro kung nandito ako sa genre ko na sanay po talaga ako, na alam kong ako lang po, na wala akong magiging kaagaw sa trabaho, na wala akong ka-kumpetensiya kasi mga kaibigan ko rin yung mga kasabayan ko.”

Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom 

Enchong Dee Marks Birthday With Ellen DeGeneres

Enchong Dee recently got the VIP treatment for his birthday in the United States, as he visited the studio of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" as a live audience member.

Along with Kapamilya actors Jason Abalos and Rayver Cruz, Dee scored VIP tickets to the show's episode, which reportedly aired in the US on November 6.

In a photo shared Wednesday by Dee on the image-sharing site Instagram, the "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" actor is seen inside the Warner Bros. Studios in California, where the live talk-variety show is held.

According to Dee in the photo's accompanying caption, DeGeneres "hugged [him] for three seconds."

Dee turned 24 on November 5.

He also expressed excitement over getting tickets to a concert of the pop-rock band Maroon 5, as well as to another live episode of "Ellen."

"#ImAtEllen Im with my friends, I won an Ellen shirt for Dancing, We won Maroon 5 tix for March 15 in staples, I got a new album of maroon 5, Ellen Hugged me for 3 seconds and greeted me Happy Birthday kahit walang picture masaya na ko to the Ginormous level," Dee said.

"The best part we have a sure seat for December 17 show for 12 days of giveaways on Ellen again:) ahhhhhh!!!! #bestbirthdayever," he added.

Upon seeing their idol on the American TV show, fans of Dee took to micro-blogging site Twitter to share that they've spotted the actor with Cruz and Abalos in the audience.

A video of the opening segment of "Ellen" for its November 6 episode has even made the rounds among Dee's followers. The video uploaded on YouTube (seen above) shows the Kapamilya actors dancing along with the audience in the first minutes of the program.

Along with other Kapamilya talents, Dee is in the United States for a series of shows celebrating the 20th anniversary of ABS-CBN's talent management arm, Star Magic. By wanderer || Full Story: Kapamilyalogy

Zsa Zsa Padilla Set for Teleserye Comeback

Actress-singer Zsa Zsa Padilla is ready to return to work full-time, four months since her partner, the late film icon Dolphy, passed away.

Padilla told ABS-CBN News' Gretchen Fullido on Wednesday that she will be doing a teleserye under ABS-CBN by November or December.

While Padilla has been performing every Sunday on the concert variety program "ASAP 2012," she has not taken on any new film or TV project since Dolphy died in July after a five-year battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In addition to the new "teleserye," Padilla earlier told "Showbiz Inside Report" that she is working on a tribute album in memory Dolphy, which she will be doing in collaboration with Zia Quizon, her daughter with the late veteran actor.

"We've been meeting about it; it's going to be under Star [Records]," Padilla said Wednesday, referring to ABS-CBN's record label.

"Mas chill 'yung sound," Quizon said of the album. "It can be a way of healing for me rin for the both of us at the same time."

A proud mother over her daughter's achievements as a recording artist, Padilla said she cannot possibly credit the young singer's talent to herself alone.

"When you're in love with a person, you want to have children with this person," Padilla said.

"When you see Zia on stage, you kind of see me. I hope I could claim it, but so much of is (Quizon's talent) is Dolphy's," she added.

The youngest daughter of Dolphy, Quizon also shared she is grateful for the presence of her family as she continues to "heal" from their loss leading up to the Holiday season.

Dolphy has 18 children from five relationships. Among them are Quizon and her older sister, Nicole, from the comedy king's 23-year relationship with Padilla.

"The healing process isn't a concrete science. Everybody heals in their own pace," she said.

"I'm just really glad na marami kami in the family as a support group, and we're always there for each other," Quizon added. By wanderer || Full Story: Kapamilyalogy

KILALANG ALOPECIA ADVOCATE, MAGBIBIGAY INSPIRASYON SA “BOTTOMLINE”

Kwento ng kakaibang tapang at inspirasyon ang ibabahagi ng "The Bottomline With Boy Abunda" ngayong Sabado (Nobyembre 10) tampok ang nakaaantig na istorya ng singer-host at kilalang Alopecia advocate na si Abby Asistio. Sa pamamagitan ng life story ni Abby, alamin ang matitinding hamon na pinagdaraanan ng mga may Alopecia Areata o mga taong may pambihirang sakit na nagreresulta sa pagkawala ng buhok sa ulo o katawan. Ano ang pinakamasakit niyang naranasan nang magsimulang mawala ang kanyang buhok? Kinwestiyon ba niya ang Diyos dahil sa kanyang karamdaman? Sa kabila ng kanyang sakit, saan nakuha ni Abby ang lakas ng loob para palayain ang sarili sa kanyang mga kinakatakutan at maging inspirasyon pa sa ibang gaya niya? Huwag palampasin ang kwento ni Abby ngayong Sabado ng gabi, 11:30pm, sa 'Ani ng Dangal 2012′ awardee na "The Bottomline with Boy Abunda" ngayong Sabado, 11:30 ng gabi, pagkatapos ng "Banana Split" sa ABS-CBN. Para sa karagdagang updates, mag-log on lamang sa www.abs-cbn.com o sundan ang @abscbndotcom sa Twitter.

By Night Owl || Full Story: Kapamilyanewsngayon

DRAMA SA LOOB AT LABAS NG KUSINA, SISIKLAB NA SA ‘MASTERCHEF PINOY EDITION’

Magsisimula na ang sagupaan sa kusina at ang pagharap sa mga totoong hamon ng buhay sa pinakaunang kusina-serye ng ABS-CBN na MasterChef Pinoy Editionna mag-uumpisa ngayong Lunes ng umaga (Nov 12).

Matapos bumida ang mga batang kusinero sa Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition, bibigyan ng pagkakataon ng bagong edisyon ng cooking reality show ang mga ordinaryong taong magkakaiba ang edad, pinanggalingan, at estado sa buhay na magpakitang gilas sa pagluluto at pagtagumpayan ang sari-saring pagsubok upang maabot ang pangarap.

Tampok sa kusina-serye ang pagbabalik ng Teleserye Queen na si Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo bilang host at ng chef-judges na sina Fernando "Ferns" Aracama, Rolando "Lau" Laudico, at JP "Jayps" Anglo. Sila ang huhusga sa mga putaheng ilalaban ng mga amateur chef para maging kauna-unahang Pinoy MasterChef at magwagi ng P1 milyon.

Idiniin ni Juday na magiging kapana-panabik at madrama ang pagsala sa contestants dahil mas mahigpit at mas maaanghang ang kanilang kumento sa mga ito.

"Mas magiging mahirap ang challenges. Mas magiging prangka ang lahat. For you to become a good chef, kailangan mapagdaanan mo ang lahat ng paghihirap," ani Juday.

Siguradong mapapangiti at mapapaiyak ang mga manonood sa kakaibang version ng MasterChef dahil itatampok din dito ang kanilang pakikipagsapalaran, mga hangarin para sa pamilya, at ang layuning patunayan ang sarili.

"Mas makaka-relate ang mga tao dahil hindi lang talent nila sa pagluluto ang kinukuha namin, pati 'yung istorya talaga ng buhay nila," ani Juday.

Higit pa sa pagiging isang cooking show, ipapatikim din ng programa ang elemento ng 'reality' dahil  mamumuhay ang lahat ng finalist sa iisang bahay. Dito lalo silang magkakakilanlan, makakapagbuo ng mga samahan at gusot, at mararanasan ang tagumpay at pagkatalo kasama ang isa't isa.

Bukod sa pang-araw araw na paghahain ng drama, handog din ng kusina-serye ang iba pang kaalamang magagamit ng mga manonood sa kanilang pang-araw araw na buhay gaya ng Pinoy recipes na madaling ihanda, cooking demo, at sari-saring tips sa pangangalaga ng tahanan at kalusugan.

Kung drama at tunggalian ang nakahanda mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes, kwela at saya naman ang hatid nina Melai Cantiveros, at Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 4 housemates na sina Joj at Jai Agpangan tuwing Sabado sa MasterChef Saturdish Edition kung saan maghahanda at magtutuklas sila ng mga kakaibang putahe at magtuturo ng trivia at tips sa pagluluto.

Abangan ang unang patikim ng kusina-seryeng MasterChef Pinoy Edition ngayong Lunes (Nov 12) bago ang "Be Careful with My Heart" sa Umaganda block ng ABS-CBN. Maging updated sa programa at i-like angwww.facebook.com/MasterChefPHL, sundan ang @MasterChefPHL sa Twitter, o bisitahin ang www.masterchefph.tv.

By Night Owl || Full Story: Kapamilyanewsngayon