ELLEN Adarna says she’s surprised as to why some writers seem to want to see Sam Pinto and her fighting over who’s the more popular FHM cover between them. “Tinext nga ako ni Sam,” she says. “Sabi niya, nag-aaway ba tayo? I said, huwag na lang pansinin.”

Is it true she drew more fans during her autograph-signing session? “I don’t know, hindi ko naman nakita 'yung fans na luminya kay Sam.” But it’s the FHM people who say this. “Kung totoo, di sige.” Would she really like to be No. 1 this year, replacing Sam? “I’d be a hypocrite naman if I’d say no. Sino ba'ng may ayaw maging sexiest Pinay? Lahat siguro, gusto. Pero wala sa isip ko na kailangan, ako maging number one. But kung ibibigay, di sige, salamat.”

How does she feel when she’s compared to Sam? “Very proud. Siya 'yung current number 1, di ba?” Who’s sexier between them? “I think siya. She’s tall, 5’1” lang ako, e.” What’s her vital stats? “34-26-33. Hindi ko alam 'yung sa kanya.”

She comes from a rich family in Cebu that owns a chain of motels and a construction company. Her parents are against her joining showbiz. “Noon, ayaw nila, but now, tanggap na nila.”

How about her siblings? “Okay lang sa kanila, but lahat sila, hindi mahilig sa showbiz, eh. So they don’t watch me in ‘Bubble Gang’ or ‘Survivor’ or even in my new show na ‘Alice Bungisngis and Her Wonder Walis’.”

It’s obvious she and her BF Filo left “Survivor Philippines” because of their aversion to Maria Isabel Lopez. “Ayoko umalis, but then, kung si Filo lang ang aalis at maiiwan akong mag-isa, tiyak malulungkot lang ako, so I left na rin. But no regrets.”

Has she and Maribel talked since then? “No, wala naman kaming dapat pag-usapan, eh. But we’re supposed to be doing an indie film soon for Direk Topel Lee.”

So what would she do then? “Trabaho naman 'yun, eh di trabaho lang. Magkikita rin kami lahat sa final night ng ‘Survivor’ on February 10.”

Who does she think should win? “Maey or Betong kasi magkakasama kami in one tribe kaya naging close kami. Kung sa other tribe, I want KC Montero to win kasi hindi siya dirty maglaro.”

MARK NO COMPLAINT ABOUT BILLING

SOME folks are urging Mark Herras to complain about his billing in “Hitman” since he is billed below the title whereas newcomer Sam Pinto is billed prominently and much ahead of him. Compared to Sam, he has had starring roles before in the films he did with Jennylyn Mercado and he’s certainly much more senior than her.

But Mark says is not a big issue for him. “I trust Kuya Buboy (Cesar Montano) kung saan nila ako ilalagay,” he says. “I have a good role in ‘Hitman’, pero support pa rin. Si Sam, siya ang leading lady kaya dapat lang kasama siya ni Kuya Buboy sa top billing.”

He’s just happy to be part of the movie. “I’m hoping this will open doors for me para mas mabigyan ako ng more challenging roles, kahit may pagkakontrabida basta markado, like my role here as Alvin. Feeling ko, nagpaka-aktor ako rito and I want to thank Kuya Phillip Salvador dahil he served as my acting coach na tinulungan ako in interpreting my role, lalo roon sa eksenang may mahaba akong monologue. Natuwa ako nang i-congratulate nila ako ni Kuya Buboy after the take. First time ko rin dito to do action scenes na nakikipagbarilan ako. Ninerbiyos ako noong una kasi hindi naman ako sanay humawak at magpaputok ng baril, but with their guidance nagawa ko rin ng tama. I feel so lucky na makatrabaho ang magagaling na senior actors like them, pati si Kuya Ricky Davao na siyang crime lord dito.”

On TV, Mark is all set to start taping the new soap “Hiram na Puso” with Kris Bernal soon on GMA7. He is also joining the mall tour of “Hitman” on February 12 at SM Southmall and February 19 at Trinoma, 5 p.m. The movie opens on February 22 with premiere night at SM Megamall on February 21.

JILLIAN SAVING FOR OWN HOUSE

JILLIAN Ward will celebrate her 7th birthday on February 23. “Sayang po, hindi umabot sa taping ng ‘Daldalita’ para nagka-party sana ako sa set,” she says.

The show will have its last taping day this coming weekend and her co-stars promised to her that they’ll still attend her birthday party. That is, if she’s going to have one. Right now, Jillian said she’d rather go to Hong Kong Disneyland to spend her birthday there. “Baka maubos po ang ipon naming money kung magpapa-party pa ko,” she said. “Sabi ko kay Mommy, 'yung ipon ko, pampatayo namin ng sarili naming house.”

“Daldalita” is on its last few weeks and Raymart Santiago is the special guest as Tanzan, “ang taong gubat”along with his pet monkey, Goy. They will save Jillian when she gets lost in the forest. They will also join forces with the crocodiles Aligaytor and Crocoday and the wild boar Ramon. They are all captured by a group of hunters who want to take Tanzan to be sold in Manila. They all end up in a carnival or “peryahan.”  Ogie Alcasid as Mateo finally learns the truth that Jillian is his long lost daughter Lolita but he thought she’s already dead after being eaten by a crocodile.

SLAPSHOCK'S NEW ALBUM

ONE of our most durable rock bands is Slapshock, whose first hit was “Agent Orange” and is now celebrating their 15th anniversary with a new album, “Kalibre Kinse,”  their 7th studio album recorded in their own studio.

“We have a lot to be thankful for dahil sa kabila ng changes sa music industry, we’re still here,” says vocalist Jamir Garcia. “Marami kaming bandang kasabay na wala na ngayon. In our case, we’re still the same members, same record label na PolyEast Records, same sponsors.”

Aside from him, the other members who remain are Chi Evora on drums, Lean Ansing on guitars and Lee Nadela on bass. How come they didn’t disband like the others? “Nagkaroon din kami ng burnout, but we just rested for several months then got together again. We’ve remained solid kasi walang nag-member sa amin sa ibang side band and our earnings are all still divided equally among all of us.”

They also didn’t compromise their craft for fame or commercialism. “May TV station na kumukuha sa ’kin to be part of their Sunday show but I didn’t want to leave Slapshock and sing with their own singers. We don’t dream naman to be really big, we’re just happy having our own loyal fans na devoted to our kind of music. When we did our last album, ‘Karinyo Brutal,’  we were as loud and screaming as before and we realized yun pa rin ang gusto ng fans namin.  Now, in ‘Kalibre Kinse,’  our first single, ‘Ngayon Na’, is hard and heavy pa rock at tanggap pa rin ng aming fans. Its music video went to the top of the MYX charts. Our other songs in our new album, gusto rin ng fans namin, like “Reset,” “Deliryo,” “Asal Demonyo,” “Burn In Hell,” “In The Line Of Fire,” “Langit,” “Under The Needle,” “Heartless,” “Salamin” and ‘All Hope Is Gone’. Sa Malaysia pa ginawa ang mixing nito, then digitally mastered in San Francisco, USA.”

GOOD ACTOR, GOOD DIRECTOR

RICKY Davao is establishing a name for himself as a director with the success of “Sisid” and, now, “Kokak.”  With senior GMA7 directors like Joel Lamangan and Mac Alejandre now with TV5, we’re sure the Kapuso network will give him more directorial jobs.

But he has not turned his back on acting. He’s still in “Kung Aagawin Mo ang Langit” and has just finished two movies, “My Cactus Heart” and “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon.”

“Siyempre, hanggang mapagsasabay ko ang acting and directing, gagawin ko dahil magkaibang satisfaction naman ang nakukuha from each of these fields,” he says. “Mas malaki ang talent fee ko as an actor but I enjoy the creative aspect of directing where you’re in control of running the whole show. Just like in ‘Kokak,’  nasisiyahan ako kapag sinasabi sa ’kin ng viewers na excited silang manood ng aming show. This week, it really gets more thrilling kasi matutuklasan ng kontrabidang si Vaness del Moral as Elizabeth ang secret ni Sarah Lahbati as Kara, ang pinakamagandang frog sa balat ng lupa. Reunited naman si Sarah with her parents, Jessa Zaragoza and Gary Estrada, pero problema nga kasi kasal na si Jessa kay Gian Magdangal so gusto niya, umalis na lang si Gary sa mansion ni Gian pero ayaw ni Sarah dahil gusto pa niyang makasama ang ama.”