Larger-than-life celebs in their unguarded moments

Pops Fernandez (right) and Martin Nievera (left) —POPS FERNANDEZ/ INSTAGRAM

I wrapped up 2023 with a bang by attending the parties of some of my closest friends in the biz.

I had a blast at the nth debut of my soul sister, Pops Fernandez. It was a disco-themed fête at Sari Sari Speakeasy Bar.

Aside from her birthday, Pipay celebrated being a ‘grannie’ to her first grandson, Phineas Atlas (baby of her son Robin and Miami). But the ever fab Concert Queen will never look like a grandma at all. Her ex-hubby, Martin Nievera, and his girlfriend Anj were there, too. That only goes to show how cool their setup is.

Ogie Alcasid (right) with Regine Velasquez —OGIE ALCASID/ INSTAGRAM

I also had so much fun at the 13th anniversary celebration of Ogie and Regine Alcasid in CWC Interiors. It was an all-white party. The fun couple still seemed like honeymooners as they blushed while clips of their wedding in Punta Fuego were shown. I asked Ogie why they opted for a white motif. “It’s meant to represent the purity of our love,” he quipped. The highlight of the night had the couple serenading each other with their hit love songs.

Then, I immensely enjoyed the 60th birthday bash of my “friendship” Noel Cabangon at University Hotel. He, his son Gab and even his wife Bheng gamely held an impromptu mini concert.

The birthday boy reminisced about his humble beginnings. Even if he’s already an OPM (Original Pilipino Music) icon, he remains hungry to learn more. That’s why he’s taking up Bachelor of Music Major in Popular Music at Philippine Women’s University.

Noel also plans to do the Camino de Santiago in Europe soon. As he said in his speech, “Growing a year older feels good. And getting a discount card feels better. But getting all your birthday wishes gives me the best feeling. Tuloy ang biyahe.” What I love most about my celebrity friends’ parties is seeing them in their unguarded moments. It shows that these larger-than-life personalities are persons, too.

Kim Molina (left) and Empoy Marquez —VIVA FILMS

In love with a zombie

Welcome the new year with nonstop laugh trip by watching Viva Films’ “My Zombabe” (now showing in cinemas). It is topbilled by Kim Molina and Empoy Marquez, who are dubbed the “deadliest love team of the year.”

In a world infested by zombies, Pong (Empoy) is one of the few left on the planet. He misses his girlfriend, Yasmine (Kim), whom he believes has already perished. But his world is rocked when he discovers Yasmine’s body. Although she shows signs of being a zombie, she hasn’t completely turned into one, and Pong is determined to save her.

To revive her human side, Yasmine must regain her memory. In the past, she ghosted Pong. Once Yasmine gets back to her senses, will she reciprocate his love this time around, or will it be just another “happy never after”?

Here are quotes from Kim (K) and Empoy (E):

K: For a change, I am not paired off with my boyfriend, Jerald Napoles. It made me discover that I could still be me even without Jerald. I am thankful that he allows me to fly with or without him.

E: I cannot compare my team-up with Alessandra de Rossi in “Kita Kita” to my being paired with Kim. They both have different charisma, so the chemistry I have with each one of them is not the same.

K: My takeaway from our film is to value people who love you. Don’t chase love that’s not for you. And don’t hold on to someone or to a dream that’s long gone.

E: Jerald and I are friends, so no jealousy at all even if I’m paired with his girlfriend. When Kim and I were in “Ang Probinsyano” (AP), Jerald was supposed to come in so we will have a love triangle, but it got thwarted. So Kim and I are happy that we have this movie to continue what we started in AP.

K: It’s my dream to do something like Cate Blanchett’s “Blue Jasmine.” Watching that film was a eureka moment for me. It motivated me to hone my craft.

E: I don’t allow pressure to get to me. I make sure to enjoy every project so it won’t seem like work. Once you allow yourself to feel pressured, you will get rattled and lose focus.

Kim Molina (left) and Empoy Marquez —VIVA films

Survival of the shrewdest

It’s survival of the shrewdest in “Ganti Ganti” (streaming on Vivamax). Directed by Mac Alejandre and written by Ricky Lee, it stars Angeli Khang, Sean de Guzman, Yen Durano and Mark Anthony Fernandez.

Angela (Vicky) portrays a battered wife, while Mark (Arthur) plays her sadistic husband. But Sean, as Vicky’s lover Ted, comes to her rescue. Together with Yen (Georgia), who’s a disgruntled employee of Arthur, they plan to murder him.It seems the antagonists and protagonists are clearly outlined, but viewers must expect the unexpected. There are layers to the stories of each character, and their involvement with one another will blow your mind. What you see isn’t what you always get.

Here are quotes from Mac (M), Sean (S), Yen (Y) and MA (Mark):

M: Our film is an execution of three versions of reality. It’s not linear. It’s not a straightforward narrative. It has a bit of the flavor and texture of “Gone Girl.”

S: I don’t seek revenge because it will boomerang 10 times more. I let karma do the work.

Y: I see nothing wrong with revenge if it gives you peace of mind. My career serves as a vengeance to those who don’t believe in me.

MA: The character I play does all the bad things to his submissive wife. Until it gets to a point that his evil ways rub off on his wife.

M: Ricky Lee and I have been friends for over four decades, so we get each other’s drift. He knows that I have mastered the intricacies of relationships (family or lovers), so when he writes a screenplay for me, he adjusts his writing to what suits my forte best.

S: Just like the character I play, there’s nothing I won’t do for my girl. I will be her knight in shining armor.

Y: For me, doing intimate scenes is easier than dramatic ones. It takes aa while for me to “get there” during heavy scenes. My process is still in progress.

MA: Before doing a sexy scene, I ask my costar her limitations and restrictions. Out of respect for her, I follow what she says without letting it affect how I attack my role.

M: We’re all storytellers. Commit to the moment so truth and sincerity can come out. What’s important is what actors show from within, not externally. Sa sining, walang lugi (you don’t get shortchanged in art).