AFTER she won in “StarStruck 1,”  Jennylyn Mercado did her first films with Regal, like “Say That You Love Me,” “So Happy Together” and “Blue Moon,” all with ka-love team Mark Herras. She then did films with other companies like “Resiklo,”  “One Night Only” and “Working Girls.”

Now that her contract with Viva has expired, she returns to Regal solo and just signed a 3-picture contract with Mother Lily and daughter Roselle Monteverde.

“I love Jennylyn as I consider her an original Regal baby,” says Mother Lily. “This is her homecoming with us.” What’s her first project with them? “We’ve lined up two movies for her,” says Roselle. “One is a horror film about twins. The other one is a mature drama, tentatively titled ‘Brides and Lovers,’  written by Rody Vera with Joel Lamangan directing. It’s about two girls, the best of friends, who become enemies because of their rivalry over one man. Jen’s friend will be Lovi Poe.”

Who’ll play the guy? “Wala pang final. We’re considering Dennis Trillo kung okay lang kay Jen, or Luis Manzano, who’s now linked to her.”

“Okay na kami ni Dennis, so okay lang sa ’kin to work with him,” says Jen. “As for Luis, baka hindi puwede kasi sa kabila siya.”

“Luis is actually managed by June Torrejon,” says Mother Lily. “I’ve talked to June and she said Luis has no contract with ABS. We’ll see if he’d agree to do a movie with Luis.”

Is it okay for Jen to do sexy roles now? “Oo naman. 25 na ako in May, so graduate na ako sa teenybopper roles, but may limitations pa rin.”

Will Luis allow her to go sexy? “We don’t meddle with each other’s career. He trusts my judgment.”

What does she like in him? “His sense of humor. Masaya talaga siyang kasama. Kahit wala ka sa mood, lalambingin ka niya. He’s a very positive person.”

How come she’s not doing any soap with GMA7 and just hosts “Showbiz Central” and “Party Pilipinas”? “Nami-miss ko nga ang acting. But I was told I’ll do a new drama sa second quarter of 2012, so abangan na lang.”

DRA. BELO NOT GOING BACK TO HAYDEN

DR. Vicki Belo is back from the U.S. and confirmed to friends that she’ll never go back to Hayden Kho. Meantime, Hayden Kho declared he’s quitting Twitter and showbiz, but no one believes him since they know how much he loves twitting and how much he really wants to join showbiz.

On Feb. 20, he twitted that he has proof of Dr. Vicki’s infidelity: a letter from her alleged paramour, yoga teacher Al Galang. The next day, he took it back, saying he just did it at the height of his anger and “Vicki did not really have an affair with that guy.”

About Nancy Castig-lione, he said it’s not true they’re having an affair, adding: "Vicki did not cheat on me. I did not cheat on Vicki. And Al and Nancy have nothing to do w/ this."

He said he’d close his Twitter account, but as of this writing, he hasn’t done so. He’s just not twitting anymore. As for Al Galang, who’s runnerup in Mossimo Bikini Summit in 2007, he also denied having any affair with Dr. Belo.

JANNO SWEARS HE'S CHANGED

JANNO Gibbs is glad to be back in a soap playing the dad of Bea Binene in “Alice Bungisngis and Her Magic Walis.”  “Actually, kinukuha nila ako talaga as leading man kasi bagay raw kami ni Bea, kaya lang, kawawa naman si Jake Vargas kung sisirain ko love team kaya sabi ko, father na lang niya,” he jokes.

He really missed acting in a teleserye. “Sa totoo lang, di ba bagay naman kaming mag-ama ni Bea? Pareho kaming cute. Pati si Jake, we’re both petite kaya may laban ang height ko sa kanya. Ang kaibhan lang, mahiyain siya sa chicks. Ako, medyo hindi.”

We remember his wife Bing Loyzaga got jealous of the women linked to him, several times. “Noon yun. Nagbago na ako. Malalaki na daughters namin. The eldest, Alyssa, now works after finishing college. Si Gaby naman, 14 na and in high school.”

Ana Roces plays his wife in “Alice Bungisngis.” “Pareho kaming under the spell ng witch na si Jean Garcia. This week, panay ang bangayan ni Bea who grew up sa ampunan at ni Jake who comes from a rich family.”

POST-WAR MOVIE ACTRESS DIES

OUR condolences to the family of Linda Estrella, an actress in the 40s and 50s best known as the mother of child superstar Tessie Agana who played the title role in the hit “Roberta.” She passed away a few days ago in the U.S. Born on Dec. 3, 1926, her real name is Consuelo Rigotti. Her dad was Italian and her mom was a Bicolana. She had a degree in home economics from the PWU. The founding father of Sampaguita Pictures, Judge Jose Vera, was her uncle. She’s married to a doctor, Adriano Agana, and they moved to the U.S. in the late 50s. She was paired with the top leading men of the time like Rogelio de la Rosa, Pancho Magalona, Fred Montilla and Oscar Moreno. Let’s pray for the repose of her soul.

NEW SINGING CONTEST

FILIPINOS just love to sing so it’s not surprising we have a surfeit of amateur contests like “Search for a Star,”  “Are You the Next Big Star,” “Pinoy Pop Superstar,”  “Star in a Million,”  “The Protegee,”  “Pinoy Dream Academy,”  “Pilipinas Got Talent,” “X Factor” and now on TV5, “Kanta Pilipinas” that will have its series of auditions all over the country starting tomorrow, Friday, February 24, at SM Cagayan De Oro. "Kanta Pilipinas" will provide chosen contestants with mentors in singing, stage performing, personality development, style and fashion to help package them into the next singing sensations. The next auditions will be held in SM Cebu on March 2, SM Davao on March 10, SM Baguio on March 16, SM Iloilo on March 23, SM North EDSA on March 30, and SM Batangas on April 20. "Kanta Pilipinas" is open to male and female singers, 14-30 years old, with Filipino or dual citizenship status.

Acts can be a solo, duo, trio or group with a maximum of five members and they’ll do two-minute acapella performance. Bring a certified true copy and photocopy of birth certificate, plus one closeup and one full body photo. Applicants below 18 years old must submit a signed parental consent and their parent’s valid ID. There will also be online auditions where applicants can upload their performance videos. For more information, visit www.kantapilipinas.com

WASTE OF PEOPLE'S MONEY

WHEN the impeachment trial started a month ago, some folks were alarmed that its TV coverage might affect the ratings of afternoon shows as a lot of people were interested in it. But now, public interest has waned as it proved to be so boring. Its dismal rating is less than .1%. We ourselves are just wishing it’d be soon over as they’re wasting precious public money and all the grand standings of the prosecution, defense and even the senators are such a waste of time. At this point, no effort of the defense can change the perception of people like us that Renato Corona really lied on what he declared in his SALN and income tax reports compared to the wealth he had actually accumulated in various bank deposits, some of which he closed down in a hurry right on the day he was impeached to hide the truth.

We didn’t vote for Pres. Noynoy Aquino but we support his fight against corruption because our justice system really has to be revamped. Admit it or not, it’s commonly acknowledged that hoodlums in robes can be bought by the highest bidder. It’s about time we regain the dignity of the judiciary that Corona himself trampled on when he agreed to be a rushed midnight appointee of the much reviled Gloria Arroyo so he can be her protector.

People are getting impatient as the whole nation is going through this ordeal that’s wasting people’s money. It’s not surprising if it’d intensify in the days to come. They say it might take up to June to finish the trial. By then, people might no longer be interested about the verdict. They just wouldn’t care anymore as, at the rate it’s going, it looks like Corona will eventually be set free as most politicians would just rather preserve the status quo since corruption is now a way of life among them. As chief justice, Corona can then continue to be serving as the lackey of his boss Gloria who he would work hard for to be also set free later. How sad for our country.

TRUMPETS PLAYSHOP OPENS AGAIN

TRUMPETS Playshop is setting up its tents once again at The Podium, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Global City for the coming summer. Playshop started out in 1993 offering acting classes for kids, teens and adults, with award-winning singers Bituin Escalante and Sweet Plantado of The CompanY as two of the first “Playshoppers.”

Now on its 19th year, TRUMPETS Playshop continues producing world-class performers like Christian Bautista, Sam Concepcion and Analin Bantug of West End’s "Miss Saigon." For 2012, TRUMPETS Playshop takes summer to a different league with “Playshop Camp: Express Yourself!” to train you in Musical Theater, Crumping StreetFunk, Poppin’ and Lockin’, Public Speaking, Hosting or Modeling. New classes are The Playshop Dolls and Breakdance. Call 6362842 and 6317252 or drop by TRUMPETS MusicAdemy (5th Level, Shangri-la Plaza Mall) for inquiries, or log on to www.trumpetsplayshop.com