SINCE Nadine Samonte plays twin sisters in TV5’s “The Sisters,”  she was presented at the grand presscon as her twin selves and writers thought they’re seeing double. It turns out Nadine’s younger sister was just made up to look like her.

So how does it feel being given the big buildup by TV5? “Sobrang saya po and I’m so excited,” she says. “I’m thankful to GMA7 for all the breaks they gave me but I felt it’s time for me to move on. I want to grow with TV5. While they’re growing, I’ll grow with them. Binigyan nila ako ng ganito kalaking project. Mahirap gawin as I play two roles and we tape four times a week, but ganado ako, high ang energy ko to give my best para masuklian ang pagtitiwala nila.”

Nadine even turned 'dramatic' about the whole thing. She cried as she thanked TV executives, especially Perci Intalan for giving her the big break.

“The Sisters” is replacing “Babaeng Hampaslupa” that did very well. “May pressure but I’m confident na we’ll also rate well dahil sa suporta ng management and all my co-stars. Ang ganda rin kasi ng story based sa novel ni Rod Santiago. Na-film na raw ito before pero maraming binago, but this time, we stick to the original story at 'yun na nga, both characters ng mabait na si Cristina at ng luka-lukang si Bella, ako pareho ang gumaganap.”

Supporting Nadine are Zoren Legaspi and Lotlot de Leon as her parents, Eddie Garcia as the governor, Susan Africa as the governor's social clim-bing wife and newcomer Victor Silayan as their son, Rio Locsin as Zoren’s sister who plays villain to them, Alicia Alonzo as the family yaya, Eula Caballero as Alicia’s grandchild paired with Victor, Edgar Allan Guzman as Nadine’s gay best friend, and Wendell Ramos, Leandro Munoz and James Blanco as her three leading men, directed by Joyce Bernal.

GLAIZA LOVES TO ROCK 'N ROLL

GLAIZA De Castro is the busiest Cinemalaya actress as she’s in three films. She’s a dedicated teacher paired with Marvin Agustin in the Directors Showcase entry, “Patikul” by Joel Lamangan. In the story, she’s a new graduate who has on-the-job training in a funeral parlor paired with Carlo Aquino in the New Breed entry, “I-Libings,” directed by Rommel Sales. And she’s in the closing film, “Rakenrol,”  as the lead singer of a band called Hapipaks paired with Jason Abalos and Diether Ocampo, directed by Quark Henares. On TV, she plays Binayaan in “Amaya,” the half-sister of Marian Rivera who her mom, Lani Mercado, thinks is Amaya. “Maraming nag-aabang kung kailan mabubuko ni Ms. Lani na I’m not really her daughter but a fake Amaya. I get to sing in my role as Binayaan.”

She’s so thankful that “Rakenrol” is finally in the can after five years in the making.

“When I auditioned for it, Direk Quark asked me to sing a rock song,” she recalls.

Quark says big name stars auditioned for the role of Irene and Glaiza was the last one. “I don’t know her but someone said give her a try. The others sang mga Alicia Keys. When she sang a song from Velvet Underground, an obscure 60s band managed by Andy Warhol, I was blown away. Siya na si Irene,” says Quark.

“Since then, ang dami nang nangyari,” says Glaiza. “I was worried: itutuloy pa kaya namin ang movie na to?  I left ABS, lumipat ako sa GMA, I did villain roles, nagbida ako sa ‘Grazilda,’ now I’m in ‘Amaya.’ Nang ipatawag ako to resume the shoot, I was so happy as I really love my role as Irene, the vocalist of Hapipaks. I get to sing four original songs. Sana maglabas sila ng original motion picture soundtrack. Hindi naman ako nahirapan balikan ang role ko after some years as I can relate talaga kay Irene. I have new energy and enthusiasm to continue the role at nang finally, mapanood ko na, wow, ang ganda lumabas. We’re all proud of this movie that opens nationwide on August 10.”

COOKING KIDS WANT TO BE ‘ARTISTAS'

WHO will be the first champion in GMA7’s “Amazing Cooking Kids”? The finale will be held tomorrow and only three contestants remain: Duday, Angel and Ronin Leviste.

They’ve gone through many challenges from baking and mincing to blind tasting, but guess what their ultimate goal is: they all want to be an “artista” after the contest. Before the finals, you’ll see them bond with their families, with no less than Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos supporting Ronin since his dad Mark Leviste is the vice governor. They also visit boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and bring him his favorite tinola. He gives them a pep talk to energize them for their final cooking challenge: a full course world class Filipino meal they themselves will conceptualize and cook. Find out who’d win tomorrow, just before “Eat Bulaga”. You can also join their Favorite Cooking Kid Promo on Face­book and win exciting prizes at GMA Network Fan Page (www.facebook.com/GMANetwork). Just Favorite Cooking Kid Tabfor the details.

RAQUEL FINDS HARD TO BE 'NICE'

RAQUEL Villavicencio is an award-winning scriptwriter who also acts. She now has two entries in the Cinemalaya Filmfest.

She’s the martyr wife of Tirso Cruz III in “Bisperas” and a rich balikbayan in “Nino”, the feature film debut of theatre director Loy Arcenas.

“It’s hard to play a martyr role kasi di ako ganun in real life,” she says. “Direk Jeff Jeturian kept reminding me to drop the palaban attitude and be very submissive. I want peace for our family but I’m just about to explode as I suspect my domineering husband mortgaged our house and lot at pinatalo sa sugal. It happens on Christmas eve so pilit na pilit ang celebration namin ng Pasko sa dami ng family problems. In ‘Nino,’ anak ako from the U.S. ni Tony Mabesa. He’s in coma at galit sa’kin ang sister niya, Fides Asencio, as I want to sell our old house in Pandacan. ‘Nino’ ang title kasi they dress up a boy to look like a Sto. Niño to perform a miracle on my dying father.”

“Bisperas (Intruders)” is Jeturian’s first film after the acclaimed “Kubrador.” He’s also known for “Sana Pag-ibig Na,” “Tuhog,” “Pila Balde,” and “Bridal Shower.”

“It took a long time for me to find a material that I really like,” he says. “’Bisperas’ is a drama on a middle class family which is different as most indie films deal with poor families. Jennifer Sevilla, Julia Clarete and Edgar Allan Guzman are their children. On Christmas eve, they go home after midnight mass to discover their home was robbed, triggering a series of incidents where their grudges with each other surface. It shows the hypocrisy of so called Christians kasi after showing cruelty to each other, they all return to church the next day and receive Holy Communion from the lay minister father as if nothing happened.”

NEW SINGING CONTEST

GMA7 launches its new reality searching for the biggest phenomenon in the music industry in “Protege: The Battle for the Big Break,” open to all music artists - solo performers, duos, trios or groups with a maximum of 5 members, with no age limit. Ogie Alcasid is the Journey Host of Protégé while Dingdong Dantes is the Gala Presenter. Protégé taps the professional guidance of celebrity mentors (Janno Gibbs, Jaya, Jay-R, Rachelle Ann Go, Aiza Seguerra, Joey Generoso of SIDE A, Imelda Papin, Claire dela Fuente, Rey Valera and Gloc 9) who would scour the whole country to find genuine and rare singing aspirants. The nationwide auditions will be held on the following dates and venues: SM Naga (today, July 15); SM Cebu (July 17); SM Iloilo (July 22); SM Batangas (July 24); NE Pacific Mall Cabanatuan (July 29); SM Pampanga (July 31); SM Davao (August 5); CSI Mall Dagupan (August 7); SM Cagayan de Oro (August 10); and SM Mall of Asia Music Hall (August 13), from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.  Bring the certified true copy and photocopy of your birth certificate and two photos (1 full body and 1 close-up).  Those below 18 need a written consent from their parents, and original and photocopy of their parent's valid ID in order to qualify for the auditions.

AWARD-WINNING EXHIBIT IN TARLAC

VETERANS Bank brings its multi-award-winning World War II exhibit to SM City Tarlac and will be on display until July 19, 2011 showing hundres of vintage photos, artifacts and memorabilia culled from historians, veterans and museums.

A project of Veterans Bank, SM City Tarlac and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, it’s open to the public and entrance is free. It was opened by Tarlac Vice-Governor Pearl Angeli Pacada, Tarlac City Mayor Ace Manalang, Concepcion Tarlac Mayor Noel Villanueva, Cmdr. Felix Miguel VFP Regional VP and PVB President & CEO Ricardo A. Balbido Jr.  The opening was timed with the declaration made by Gen. Douglas MacArthur 66 years ago last June 30th that the Liberation campaign of the Philippines was officially over. 

Through the exhibit, the Bank hopes to educate the public especially the youth about the sacrifices and victories of our Filipino WWII heroes. The “War of our Fathers” exhibit has been shown in more than 40 places nationwide, viewed by thousands of people. In 2009, the exhibit thru UNESCO was invited to be shown at the Nanjing Museum in Nanjing, China to showcase the Philippine WWII experience beside the Rape of Nanking exhibit in the museum. On year 6, the roving exhibit is scheduled to visit more places in the country to continue its mission of fostering nationalism and pride of being Filipino among the youth and to keep alive the memories of bravery and heroism of the Filipino Freedom Fighters.