BEA Binene and Barbie Forteza are definitely the foremost rivals as the top GMA Tween Star. Last Tuesday, we attended the launch of Bea’s new telefantasya, “Alice Bungisngis and Her Magic Walis,” at lunchtime on GMA’s huge Studio 7. After that, we joined the final press visit at Subic Yacht Club for Barbie’s “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” that ends next week.

Bea feels lucky to play the title role no less in “Alice Bungisngis,” the daughter of Anna Roces and Janno Gibbs who gets separated from her parents after they were put under a spell by the witch Jean Garcia. Alice grows up in an orphanage where she finds a friend in an enchanted broom, originally a boy played by the very cute new child actor Marc Justin Alvarez who helps her when she’s in trouble. She later figures in a love triangle with two brothers, Jake Vargas and Derrick Monasterio.

Bea wears a different kind of wig as Alice. “My real hair is braided first then they attach the curly hair on it to give me a different look. Mahirap at matagal gawin.”

They’ll start airing on Monday replacing “Daldalita,” which is rating high. “Nakaka-pressure nga po kasi they told us all the shows aired on the 6 p.m. slot, from ‘Bantatay’ and ‘Magic Palayok’ to ‘Futbolilits’ are all topraters. So sana naman, mataas din ang rating namin.”

Although she’s in a love team with Jake Vargas, how come we heard that it’s Lexi Fernandez who’s Jake’s real squeeze? “We’re friends pero hindi po ako nakikialam sa personal life ni Jake. Basta I’ll always be here for him as a friend.”

BARBIE: DI AKO NAIINGGIT

BARBIE Forteza’s “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” will end next week and will be replaced by Kylie Padilla’s “The Good Daughter.” Is it true she’s envious of Bea who not only plays the title role but whose show is also on evening primetime whereas her show is in the afternoon? “Hindi po ako inggitera,” she says. “We Tween Stars support each other at masaya lahat, dahil pare-pareho kaming nabibigyan ng projects. Galing na rin po ako sa primetime in ‘Pilyang Kerubin’ and ‘First Time’. Although they say na we’re rivals, hindi po namin yun iniisip and we just do our work. Happy nga po ako for Bea kasi bagay sa kanya ang ‘Alice Bungisngis’ dahil bungisngis talaga siya.”

The scene they’re taping when we visited them is the climax of the show. Just as they thought that Sheryl Cruz as the evil Amara Luna is dead, it turns out she’s still alive and while Barbie’s birthday is being celebrated, she abducts Barbie and puts a bomb on her, making things very tense for everyone concerned. Both Barbie and partner Joshua Dionisio were in formal wear in that party scene and they do look good together. What’s their next show after “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin”?

“We don’t know yet,” says Barbie. “What I heard is that 'yung movie namin nina Derrick and Lexi, ‘The Road’, will be shown in the U.S. Sana, mapili akong mapadala roon para makarating naman ako sa America, kaya lang, wala pa akong visa.”

Joshua was not with her in that movie. What if GMA pairs her with another actor for her next show? “If I’d be made to choose, si Joshua pa rin ang gusto ko kasi we’re already so comfortable with each other sa kahit anong eksena ipagawa sa amin. But then, siyempre, ang GMA ang masusunod diyan. Basta as of now, Joshua and I are still together in ‘Tween Hearts’ every Sunday that got another extension until April.”

JOHN LLOYD SUFFERS UTMOST SHAME FROM LADY DIRECTOR

NO doubt Director Cathy Molina is Star Cinema’s foremost maker of rom-coms, especially those starring John Lloyd Cruz, like “Very Special Love,” “You Changed My Life” and “My Amnesia Girl.”  Now, she’s at it again in “Unofficially Yours,” a film about one-night stands, starring Lloydie with Angel Locsin in their most daring film to date.

“I love this movie as my first time to direct a project na sexy in the truest sense of the word,” she says. “May sensitive love scenes and I’m glad both lead actors are very cooperative. Lloydie here believes in love and traditional relationships. Si Angel ang takot. She just wants a casual relationship with no commitment. For her character, I did a lot of research. Sa mga lalaki, walang problema. It’s among women na nahirapan ako kasi hindi sila basta aamin that they engage in casual sex. But there’s someone working at a call center who agreed to be interviewed at siya ang naging peg ng character ni Angel dito. Most of those who engage in it come from broken families.”

How sexy are the love scenes? “I required na kailangan talaga, nakahubad sila. In ‘Amnesia Girl’, may scene si Lloydie na pinaghubad ko siya in a pictorial.  Sabi niya noon, ‘Sagad na itong kahihiyang itong pinagawa mo sa ’kin, ha.’ Yun pala, mas sasagad pa  raw ang pinagawa ko sa kanya rito. Si Lloydie kasi, ayaw maglagay ng plaster kasi masakit daw, so nagbabalot lang siya ng kumot at kapag take na, tatanggalin na niya. Si Angel, naka-bra at panty lang. Bilib ako sa kanya, wala siyang kiyeme, doing everything I asked her to do. Inalagaan naman siya nang husto ni Lloydie in their scenes together. Such a gentleman. Kung hindi take, hindi siya tumitingin kay Angel para di ma-conscious ito. Tumitingin lang siya kapag take na.”

DOUBLE WEDDING

TWO GMA7 shows, “Daldalita” and “Munting Heredera,” will have their final episodes tonight. Both are topbilled by very talented 7-year old child actresses, Jillian Ward as Daldalita and Mona Louise Ray as Munting Heredera. Now that their respective shows have ended, will they be willing to work with each other in a future show on GMA7?

“Sa ’kin po, okay lang,” says Jillian. “Friend ko naman si Mona.”

“Ganun din po ako,” says Mona. “Para maglalaro kami ni Jillian pag walang take.”

In “Daldalita,” Jillian is happily reunited with her aunt Manilyn Reynes with the help of Raymart Santiago as Tanzan, but Rufa Mae Quinto and Marc Abaya continue to conspire against her so she and her long lost dad, Ogie Alcasid, won’t meet again. Rufa Mae is desperate to marry Ogie but with the help of Daldalita’s animal friends, her evil plans will be thwarted on her wedding day. In the end, Rufa Mae will end up with Tanzan in the jungle and Daldalita’s animal friends will be TV superstars.

In “Munting Heredera,” find out how the two nastiest villains on TV, Gabby Eigenmann as Desmond and Neil Ryan Sese as Simeon, will be punished for their evil deeds. Gabby will try to blow up the Montereal family with a bomb, but his plan backfires on him. As for Simeon, he finally realizes that Camille Prats as Sandra will never be his just as when he is cornered by cops. There will be a double wedding for Lola Ana (Gloria Romero) and Enrique (Robert Arevalo), and for Camille and Mark Anthony Fernandez.

CAMILLE ENJOYS HOSTING ‘WILTIME'

CAMILLE Villar is the youngest child and only daughter of Sen. Manny Villar and former Rep. Cynthia Villar. Now a host of “Wiltime Big Time” on TV5, she was so simple when we interviewed her. No make up at all, no expensive jewelry or bags and accessories even if you know she could very well afford them. She’s also warm and friendly. You also won’t believe that she’s 27 as she looks so much younger than her age. What’s her secret?

“I don’t know. It’s must be in my genes,” she laughs. How does her parents and two older brothers, Mark and Manuel, treat her now that she’s a TV host? “The same. Wala namang dapat ipagbago.”

Does their dad talk about the ongoing impeachment trial? “We don’t ask him what’s happening in the Senate when we have dinner together as we know he has so many other things to attend to. We just focus on our family.”

Camille finished business management at the Ateneo and now heads Brittany, the division of her dad’s real estate company that develops luxury homes in Alabang, Laguna and Tagaytay. She’s so busy as it is, so co-hosting Willie Revillame’s show is a pleasant diversion for her. What about acting?

“Naku, kung itong hosting lang, pinag-aaralan ko pa, I have to be good at it muna. Nahihiya na nga ako sa mga kasamahan ko dahil madalas ako magkamali. I have no illusion na may talent akong umarte o sumayaw o kumanta. Happy naman ako sa ‘Wiltime Big Time’ kasi it gives me the chance to help people, especially the poor old folks who join the show. I feel so blessed to be given the chance na mapasaya sila.”

Is it true Willie is courting her? “Naku, three years ago pa kami natsitsismis when he helped my dad sa campaign. But it’s definitely not true, he’s just a family friend.”

We heard TV5 is also offering her to be Paolo Bediones’ co-host in the local version of “Extreme Make Over Home Edition”, which is perfect for her since she’s a real estate expert.

KIDS FROM BROKEN HOMES

STUDIES show that kids coming from broken homes often grow up with plenty of hang-ups about relationships. Tomorrow, GMA7’s morning show for kids, “Tropang Potchi”, will deal with this sensitive topic and how it affects children coming from dysfunctional families. Regular hosts Julian, Sabrina, Miggy, Liane, Bianca and Lenlen will meet friend Enzo at Potchi’s house. Enzo’s parents have just separated and he feels distraught and depressed about this, making him plan to leave their home and skip school. The kids advise him not to do so and they seek the help of a family life and child development expert.  Will Enzo change his mind?  What should children do when confronted with the same problem?  How can parents help their children after their separation?

Julian and Liane will also take viewers on a road trip to Tagaytay City to experience adventures other than the usual picnic and horse rides in the Philippines’  second summer capital (next to Baguio City).  There, the two will visit various farms like the Bee Farm, Rose Farm and the Animal Farm, tomorrow at 9 a.m. on GMA7.