LOVI Poe is celebrating her 23rd birthday on Saturday, February 11. “I’ll just have a small dinner with my family and close friends,” she says. “Ang gift ko sa sarili ko, I want to get some new expensive shoes para magamit ko rin sa role ko as a rich girl in ‘Legacy’. My wish is tuluy-tuloy lang sana ang magandang takbo ng career ko ngayon.”

She got an advanced birthday gift when Splash Direct Sales got her to be their endorser for their Extraderm products. She signed a contract with them at Edsa Shang and she was surprised when they presented her with a cake and everyone sang the birthday song for her. “I’m glad to be part of the Splash family. I used to be insecure because of my morena skin, but now I know you have to be comfortable with whatever skin tone you have. Ang importante lang, makinis ka and your skin glows.”

So why did Splash get her? “We chose her because she has a dynamic personality,” says general manager Glenda Pingol. “We studied so many possible endorsers. We felt siya'ng pinakamaganda and perfect as our brand ambassadress now that we offer Extraderm only through exclusive direct sales. She’ll be on our ads and catalogues.”

Lovi denies having reconciled with Ronald Singson. “Yes, nagkita kami sa Cebu and in a party, but it doesn’t mean nagbalikan kami. I’m so focused with my work now. I was so surprised nga when he suddenly turned up sa birthday celebration ko in ‘Party Pilipinas’ last Sunday.”

We heard she walked out of the show because of that. “Nagulat din ako,” says her manager Leo Dominguez. “Biglang nawala, di nagpaalam sa ’kin.”

“I was shocked kasi,” says Lovi. “Yung mga taga-GMA raw ang nag-invite sa kanya para mas madrama ang celebration ko. Nasabi niyang liligawan niya uli ako and I said tuloy, ‘sobrang panliligaw naman ito.’ I’ll be back on Sunday sa ‘Party Pilipinas’ kasi nag-apologize na sila at mahal ko naman talaga ang show.

“But really, I’m happy kahit I’m loveless now. My focus now is only my career as I’ve realized it’s the one that truly makes me happy. Nothing can distract me from it. I’m so glad dahil puro positive ang feedback sa acting ko in ‘Legacy’ at ginagaya pa ng ibang fans ang lines ko. When I had my fans day sa SM Manila last Sunday, lahat sila, gustung-gusto ang performance ko.”

DINGDONG HOOKED ON MARIAN'S COOKING

MARIAN Rivera looked radiant in her revealing red and black outfit at the launch of “My Beloved.”  “This was designed by Pam Quinones,” she says. “Sexy ba?”

We tell her yes and she looks like she’s seducing Dingdong Dantes. “Naku, hindi na kailangan. Hooked na siya sa pagluluto ko. He needs special dishes kasi to maintain his physique and I cook only vegetables and fish dishes for him. Sarap na sarap siya.”

How’s it to be reunited with him? “Masarap talaga ang pakiramdam kapag kami ang magkasama sa trabaho. But all of us sa set, masaya lagi. Ang mga kasama ko, sina Katrina Halili and Jennica Garcia, mga nakasama ko na before, so magaan ang trabaho. Si Katrina, nakakatawa, the last time we worked together was in ‘Marimar’ pa five years ago. Ngayon, may eksenang aawayin niya ako, sabi sa ’kin, ‘Ianne, anong gagawin ko?’ Sabi ko naman, ‘Ay bakla, sabunutan mo ko.’ Eh, kulang, so sabi ko, ‘More pa.’  Tawa kami ng tawa sa set. Also, my role here is lighter compared to ‘Amaya’ na ang lalalim pa ng Tagalog sa lines ko at maraming physical scenes. Dito, I play Sharina. Sister ko si Jennica at lumaki kami sa aunt namin, si Chanda Romero, na inaapi kami. Ilang beses na ako dapat mamatay, pero nabibigo 'yung sundo ko, si Dingdong nga who plays Arlan. Wala silang feelings pero dahil hinalikan ko nang sunduin niya ako, na-in love siya sa ’kin at pinarusahan siya. Ginawa siyang tao. We meet again with him as Benjie, a bad guy working with Paolo Contis na magnanakaw. As Benjie, girlfriend niya si Katrina, pero na-in love siya sa ’kin. Nandun ang conflict.”

Who does Dong look when he has long hair? “Si Orlando Bloom as Legolas, di ba? Naku, maraming ibang mai-in love sa kanya rito.”

KRISTOFFER DOESN'T WANT TO FORCE IT WITH JOYCE

KRISTOFFER Martin revealed that the character he plays in “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” will die as the soap ends tomorrow. “Just like in ‘Munting Heredera’, I’ll be shot to death,” he says. “Lagi na lang akong nababaril.”

He admits his role in ‘Munting Heredera’ was more challenging. “Ang dami kong drama scenes du’n. Dito sa ‘Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin’, may times na three days na, hindi pa ko uli lumilitaw kaya 'yung fans ko, tinatanong na ako kung anong nangyari sa ’kin. Mas focused kasi kina Barbie Forteza at Joyce Ching ang story. Pero okay lang. Sana sa susunod, mas meaty naman 'yung role na ibigay sa’kin.”

So what’s next for him and Joyce? “Wala pa. But we’re still in ‘Party Pilipinas’ and in ‘Tween Hearts’ na up to April pa raw. Pag wala pang bagong show, I intend to go back to school in June para matapos ko ang management course ko.”

He sings quite well in ‘Party Pilipinas’. What are his chances of cutting his own album? “Sana nga, mabigyan ako ng chance.

Gusto ko talaga, but it’s all up to GMA if they’d give me the chance to do an album. I’m willing naman to wait for the right time.”

With regard to the real score between him and Joyce, he says they just remain good friends. “Kung kami na talaga, we’ll admit it kasi makakatulong daw 'yun sa love team namin. But ayaw naming pilitin. We’re both still very young naman at 16.”

MATET SAYS NORA'S VOICE HAS IMPROVED

MATET De Leon plays Bianca King’s best friend in “Broken Vow.” She’s happy her manager, Malou Choa Fagar of TAPE, is giving her one show after another at GMA7, even if ABS-CBN also just had an offer for her. “Sabi ni Ma’am Malou, sa GMA na lang muna ako kasi nga sunud-sunod ang trabaho ko rito,” she says. “Sabi ko naman, opo, dito na lang ako.”

How’s her mom, Nora Aunor, who’s in the U.S. for the treatment of her vocal chords? “Okay naman. Her voice raw has improved kahit di pa siya na-surgery. An oral procedure was just performed on her at maganda agad ang resulta. Mas luminaw na at di na siya paos. Sana nga magtuloy-tuloy, para matuloy rin ang planned big concert niya rito in May.”

ANGELIKA WORKS HARDER TO BE GOOD

ANGELIKA De La Cruz is happy to be playing a good character this time in “Biritera.”  “Yes, after doing villain roles in ‘Dwarfina’ and ‘Futbolilits,’  buti’t mabait naman ako this time,” she says. “Ako'ng kinikilalang ina ni Roseanne Magan, ang batang biritera rito. Pero niloloko ko si Direk Maryo de los Reyes, sabi ko, mas nage-effort ako ngayon maging mabait dahil nasanay na kong magkontrabida. Tapos, pinaitim pa ako rito so I put on dark makeup.”

She had scenes with Claudine Barretto who guested in the show. How is it? “We’ve been friends since our ABS days at na-maintain namin 'yun so it’s nice to work with each other again. Kaya lang, two days lang siya nag-taping so, bitin. Sana, masundan.”

Her son, Gabby, will be three in March, any plans for a new baby? “Huwag muna. I just signed a new contract with GMA for two years. Tatapusin ko muna 'yun.”