DINGDONG Dantes says “My Beloved” is one of his most demanding projects ever. “Kasi I have two roles here,” he explains. “As a sundo, someone who fetches dying people here on earth, I’m Arlan. Lahat kaming sundo rito, laging nakahubad, so pinaghandaan ko talaga ang mga eksenang wala akong damit para naman presentable ako on cam. Tapos, naka-hair extensions din kaming lahat ng sundo. Dahil kay Sharina (Marian Rivera) na sinusundo ko pero di ko nagawa dahil na-in love ako sa kanya, naparusahan ako and I’m resurrected on earth as Benjie, kagrupo ng mga magnanakaw headed by Paolo Contis. I meet Marian again and feeling ko, parang kilala ko na siya, pero hindi ko maalala kung paano. Eventually, we fall in love.”

How did he feel when he had to reshoot many scenes after Rhian Ramos left the show? “Siyempre, nanghinayang ako, but then, it’s worth it, mas ganado ako, more inspired, with Marian ang kaeksena ko. Somehow, nakatulong ding na-delay ang showing nito kasi mas napaghandaan ko 'yung two characters ko at mas na-improve ko pa 'yung mga ginawa ko in the scenes na nakunan na before. We’re all confident na magugustuhan ng tao itong ‘My Beloved’ that will start airing tomorrow night.”

What are his plans with Marian on Valentine’s Day? “Actually, may trabaho ako noon as I’m guesting sa ‘Mr. & Mrs. A’ Valentine concert nina Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez sa Big Dome. I’m asking Marian kung gusto niyang manood then pag natapos ng maaga, lalabas na lang kami. But hindi kami puwedeng magpa-late kasi early the next day, may taping kami ng ‘My Beloved’, so hindi puwedeng mapuyat.”

RITA STILL HOPES TO BEAR A CHILD

RITA Avila never got to work with Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta during their younger days so she’s glad to be finally given the chance to work with them in ABS-CBN’s “Walang Hanggan” where they form a love triangle. “Sa cast, si Tita Susan Roces lang at si Coco Martin ang nakatrabaho ko na, all the rest, puro first time,” she adds. “Si Tita Helen Gamboa, laging nagpapakain sa lunch, meryenda, dinner. Ang taping pa naman namin, laging malayo, sa Tagaytay, Pampanga, Tanay, pero masaya kami lahat sa set.”

Her husband, Direk FM Reyes, is busy with “E-Boy.”  They’ve been married for 9 years. “We met on the set of ‘Marinella’ 15 years ago,” says Rita. “He was directing it. Child stars pa noon sina Camille Prats at Shaina Magdayao.”

What did they see in each other? “Intimidated ako sa kanya noon kasi it’s my first soap and I just returned from film studies at York University in Canada. Siya naman, she just won best actress sa Asian TV Festival for a telemovie and when I give instructions, she’s just quiet, no reaction,” says FM. “Akala mo, di nakukuha, but when she’s in front of the camera na, 'yun pala, she got everything right. I was impressed, she’s very smart. She knows her craft. During breaks, I’d see her in one corner, reading. We discovered we both loved to read. That’s how it started.”

“I had a non-showbiz BF then, for the longest time,” says Rita. “But we broke up. I told myself then I won’t have a BF na taga-showbiz din and younger than me. Kinain ko lahat yun kasi si Erick (FM’s real name), taga-showbiz na, 8 years younger than me pa. He also impressed me as he’s a new director, but very good mag-motivate ng artista. He’s intelligent but he’s just quiet, very humble. ”

They remain childless after Rita had a miscarriage then, when she finally gave birth, they lost their baby boy three weeks later due to the infant’s congenital heart defect.

“We were both devastated,” says Rita. “That was five years ago. I was able to recover by surrendering it all to God. But siya, it hit him hard.”

Up to now, FM is still affected when he’s directing a scene about a child dying, like in “E-Boy.” “Napaiyak ako when I directed the scene of Ariel Rivera’s son dying. I felt embarrassed kasi dapat, 'yung personal mong buhay should not get in the way of your job.”

Can’t Rita have kids anymore? “My OB says puwede pa raw as I still ovulate. Friends tell us to just adopt or try in vitro, pero ayaw namin. We just leave it up to the Lord. Kung ibibigay niya, di ibibigay niya.”

“But Rita has many kids na inaalagaan niya,” says FM. “She regularly  goes to two orphanages at marami siyang mga batang tinutulungan doon.”

“So si Lord na ang bahala,” adds Rita. “Kasi when I look at our life naman, masaya naman ang buhay naming mag-asawa with our pet dogs. Andami naming blessings, but siyempre, we’ll be happier if we’d have our own baby.”

Rita is also a writer. She just wrote a children’s book, si “Erick Toothpick at si Ana Taba” to be published soon by St. Paul as a coloring book. “Story namin 'yun ni Erick. As a boy, he’s so payatot. Ako naman, so taba. Other kids bully us. The point of the story is 'wag kang makipag-away kundi suklian mo ng kabutihan lahat ng masamang ginagawa sa’yo.”

DOWN TO MARS, UP WITH FANS

CURRENTLY gaining fans in “Party Pilipinas” is a new boy band called Down to Mars. Tagged as the Elite Power of Seven, it’s composed of seven young men who are either half Pinoy, half Japanese, half Chinese or half Korean, all born and raised here. Aside from “Party Pilipinas,” they’re also seen regularly in “Kusina Master” as the Kusina Warriors who are official tasters of all the dishes cooked by Chef Boy Logro.

Their group leader-spokesman is Kenji (real name: Mark Chua), the eldest of two kids of a Pinay mom and Chinese dad. His mom, Beng Chua, generously gave them their own place in Caloocan where they now all live together. How was the group formed?

“All of us met sa modelling,” he says. “That’s how we became friends.  Then we auditioned sa GMA7 and we’re now managed by GMA Artist Center.”

Why is their group called Down to Mars? “Kasi we’re all down to earth. Mars came from the Planet Mars that represents Men, as opposed to Venus. We specialize on electro pop as our music genre.”

The other members are: Daisuke (pronounced Daiske), 20, the theatre actor who’s the comedian of the group and most pasaway; Vheen, 20, the rapper ramp model; Jeongwon, 20, the pop belter; Jang, 22, the balladeer; Kiro, 19, the talented frat guy; and Sky, 19, the dance floor prince. You can visit their fan page on Facebook that now has 29,000 followers.

'BIRITERA' HITS HIGH NOTES

DIRECTOR Maryo de los Reyes added another feather to his well decorated cap. After the huge success of his “Munting Heredera” on GMA7’s primetime programming, he now scores another hit with “Biritera,” the new soap starring Dennis Trillo, Glaiza de Castro, Angelika de la Cruz and new tot singer Roseanne Magan. The pilot week posted high ratings and those who failed to see it are now requesting to be given the chance to view it so GMA7 is now airing a recap of the show’s first episodes. Entitled “Isa Pang Hirit ng Biritera,”  it will be aired this Sunday morning just before “Party Pilipinas,”  so don’t miss it this time.

GROWN UP CHILD STARS IN NEW SHOW

NOW that ‘Growing Up’ ends in its Sunday afternoon slot, ABS-CBN is introducing a new teen comedy show in its place starting February 19, “LUV U,” which stands for Lamberto Uy Villarama University. It topbills talented "Goin’ Bulilit" graduates who are now tweeners like Myles Ocampo, Angeli Gonzales, Kiray Celis, CJ Navato and Igi Boy Flores. Kiray is so happy that after “Growing Up,”  she’s now also in “Luv U.’ How does she feel that she’s being built up as a young comedian, unlike Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes who are now leading ladies?

“Hindi ko alam kung paano maging sila, basta ako, masaya ako maging ako,” she says. “Kasi maliit daw ako, so masaya ako kasi forever young ako.”

The program also introduces young heartthrob Marco Gumabao, son of former actor turned pastor Dennis Roldan whose real name is Mitchell Gumabao.

“I’m really honored to be part of Kapamilya Comedy’s ‘Luv U.’ This is my first ever project, so I promise to do my best,” says Marco.

Supporting them are Alfred Labatos, Rhap Salazar, Banjo and veteran comedians Joy Viado, Hyubs and Smokey Manaloto, with sizzling hot babe Bangs Garcia as their sexy teacher. "LUV U” is the story of three young girls Camille (Myles), Whitney (Kiray) and April (Angeli), who transferred to Luv U to finish high school and also experience about the highs and lows of young love with JB (Marco), Boom (CJ) and Rocky (Igiboy).

Myles said she’s excited for the project as she herself now enjoys high school life. “The show will make you laugh, but it will also impart valuable insights about life and love that young people can really relate with. Lahat kami, tumatanaw ng utang na loob kay Direk Bobot Mortiz of ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ as he didn’t only train us to be good actors but also instilled in us good values that can be helpful in our careers.”

“Luv U”will be seen after “ASAP Rocks” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to http://twitter.com/abscbndotcom.