MAYBE Manny Valera should warn his talent Nina Jose to just keep silent about the issue linking her to Vic Sotto. One writer even quoted her as saying she won’t back down in case a jealous Pauleen Luna (said to be Vic’s new inamorata) would confront her about it. She might be accused of just using Vic and Pauleen to be talked about and gain more publicity mileage.

TV5 might also be blamed as urging her to do this for the promo of her new show with them, “Valiente.”  Nina co-stars with Vic’s son in the show, Oyo Sotto, where they play brother and sister. Oyo is very vocal in saying he doesn’t approve of his dad’s affair with Pauleen because she’s even younger than Oyo. Pauleen is 23 while Oyo is 28. The same goes for Nina.

Actually, the one who’s profiting from all this is Vic. If he’s a girl, “haba ng hair niya,”  considering that two much younger chicks are fighting over him.

JOMARI DEFENDS SELF FROM BAD TALK

WHAT can Jomari Yllana say now that ex-wife Aiko Melendez, who’s with the recently concluded “Reputasyon,”  has moved to TV5 and he’s back in ABS-CBN in the new soap “E-Boy,”  that will replace “Ikaw ay Pag-ibig” starting January 30. Aiko is in the cast of the David Archuleta mini-series, “Nandito Ako.”

“O, huwag nyo sabihing ako ang dahilan kaya umalis siya ng ABS as we’re okay, wala kaming problema,” he says. “Like me, freelancer naman siya so she’s free to work kunsaan may trabaho for her.”

How about the rumor that Ronald Singson (they used to be partners producing concerts of foreign artists) is sore at him for not visiting him in jail in Hong Kong? “He denied that already on TV kasi nga I visited him. Maayos kami, no problem between us, kaya huwag na sana intrigahin. I’m very happy for him na nakabalik na siya sa family niya. Hindi pa kami nagkikita since he came back but I hope to see him soon.”

In “E-Boy,” he plays Miguel, the brother of Ariel Rivera as Gabriel with whom he’s engaged in sibling rivalry. The show stars child actor Bugoy Cariño in the title role of the robot who becomes a real boy later on.

“Bugoy is so talented, magaling talaga, and he deserves this break. Lahat ng generations, represented in this show. The older ones are sina Jaime Fabregas, Pen Medina, and Chinggoy Alonzo, then kami nina Ariel, Agot Isidro, Valerie Concepcion, tapos the teenagers led by Arjo Atayde na anak ni Sylvia Sanchez, Akiko Solon and Brian Santos, then the child stars with Bugoy, Maliksi Morales, Deydey Amansec and others. Kaya masaya kami, kulitan sa set. This is not just for kids but for the whole family.”

WHAT'S HOT ON 'SC'

FOR the Chinese new year presentation of “Showbiz Central,” they had a dragon dance right inside the studio during their opening sequence. Hosts Pia Guanio, Raymond Gutierrez, Jennylyn Mercado and John Lapus were in the studio while Rufa Mae Quinto was in Don Bosco Church in Makati reporting live about the baptism of the son of Ogie and Regine Alcasid, Baby Nathan James.

The first segment is a new one, “Showbiz Paspas: Scenes, Scoops and Scandals.”  Each host has a special report. Pia reported about the new sex video of Janelle Manahan and the late Ramgen Revilla now being circulated. Janelle says she’s not worried about this as she’s more focused on the murder and frustrated murder cases she filed against Ramgen’s siblings.

Raymond reported about Camille Prats’ efforts to move on after her husband passed away, Jennylyn Mercado reported on Mark Herras’ efforts to be an action star with Cesar Montano in “Hitman,” and Sweet reported on Jake Vargas going into business with a computer shop in Olongapo City.

There’s also a report about Jennylyn Mercado going scuba diving with BF Luis Manzano, Gladys Guevarra feeling sad that her dad died in an accident with them not being able to settle their differences, Bianca King’s mother being happy or “boto kay” Dennis Trillo, and a behind-the-scenes report on the first taping day of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera for “My Beloved.” Jay Perillo took the lie detector test and he denied he’s now courting Iwa Moto after Kris Bernal, saying they’re just friends.

CO-STARS MAKE CHILD ACTRESS CRY

MONA Lousie Ray, the child actress who plays “Munting Heredera,”  cried during their thanksgiving party while thanking everyone involved in the show. She got so many gifts from her co-stars and one of them is a cuddly Pomeranian puppy named Lassie from Mark Anthony Fernandez who plays her dad. “He also gave me a cellphone,” she added. “Lahat sila, tinulungan din ako sa acting ko kaya salamat sa lahat.”

Gloria Romero, who should win an award for her masterful portrayal of Lola Ana, says GMA7 is offering a new show right away. “Pero meron ding offer ang ABS. Feeling ko, nililigawan nila akong dalawa, kaya lang I want to rest muna kasi nine months kami halos araw-araw nagte-taping for ‘Munting Heredera,’  so pahinga naman muna ako. Hindi na ako bata at 74. After I’ve rested then I’ll decide what I’d do next.”

TWO NEW DARING ACTORS

TWO new actors are introduced in the sexy indie film “Bola”: Kenneth Salva and Jacob Miller. Both of them have nude scenes but Jacob is more daring as he does full frontal nudity. Did he hesitate to do that scene?

“When I auditioned, they told me what they expect from me, so alam ko naman kung ano 'yung pinasok ko,” he says.

The son of a Canadian dad and a Pinay mom, he was born on January 22, 1990. “I’m the breadwinner in our family,” he says. “I have a brother sa dad ko then our mom had two more kids sa second husband niya, but hiwalay na rin sila kasi nagda-drugs. Being the eldest, I have to earn for all of us. Di na ko nakapag-college at nagtrabaho ako sa NAIA cargo. Since I’m tall, nakuha akong player ng basketball team nila and that came in handy when I auditioned for ‘Bola’ kasi we’re basketball players in the story. I play Brat, a hustler who offers himself to gays to earn money.”

Managed by columnist Gorgy Rula, Kenneth is also 22, born and raised in Davao. He’s a third year major in information technology when he decided to work in Manila. “I’m the 3rd of five kids,” he says. “Yung eldest namin, married na and 'yung second, nasa college din. Sa ’kin sila ngayon umaasa. Gusto ko, mag-ipon muna then I’d go back to college.”

How far did he go in “Bola”? “Sa audition pa lang, I told them hanggang butt exposure lang.”

He delivers the most controversial line in the movie: “Lahat naman ng sikat na basketball players, may experience sa gay.”

Kenneth plays the lead role of Lester, an aspiring cager who’s befriended by a gay designer, Arnell Ignacio, who finances his schooling so he can be a member of the college basketball team. His girlfriend, Sofia Valdez, is a model who works with Arnell. He has three hot nude love scenes with Sofia and an extended kissing scene with Arnell. “The ones with Sofia, no problem. Kay Arnell, natulala ako after kissing him. Wala kasi akong experience sa gay.”

We’ve seen the movie and Jacob turns out to be the more natural actor, especially in that scene where he cries after his lover, Simon Ibarra, got back all the expensive presents given to him earlier. Kenneth is so obviously a newcomer as he’s ill at ease and conscious in front of the camera. Both of them now play angels who appear with Dingdong Dantes in GMA7’s new soap, “My Beloved”.

P2M CELEBRITY POKER TOURNEY

BOOTS Anson Roa, Mowelfund head, announces that they’ve organized a Celebrity Poker Tournament with a guaranteed prize money of P2,000,000. Professional poker players and aficionados from the entertainment and business sector have been invited to participate. The proceeds goes to Mowelfund beneficiaries and the Mowelfund Film Institute [MFI] Educational Program. This will be held at Midas Touch Poker Sports Club at  3:00 p.m. from January 24-29, 2012. (Tuesday to Sunday) at #7 Captain Henry Javier Street, Barangay Oranbo, Pasig City, to be presided by showbiz and sports personalities headed by Phillip Salvador.