THE first guests of Nomer Lasala in the second season of “Mind Master” are Heart Evangelista
and Daniel Matsunaga. “We just got home yesterday and pinag-guest na kami rito so we said, sige, magtrabaho na tayo,” Heart tells us.

How was their trip to Brasilia? “Kapagod but worth it, sulit talaga. We just stayed in their place in Brasilia. It’s 30 hours going there via Hong Kong, Dubai, Sao Paolo and also the same coming home. I met  all his relatives. Mababait. Inaalagaan nila akong lahat, even his lolo. His mom bakes fresh bread and cake for us every morning. Kain kami ng kain. Ang sasarap ng food nila, lalo na yung steaks. Bale two weeks kami roon. We went to their farm, sarap, simple life.”

Has she seen “Temptation Island”? “Not yet, but balak namin one of these days. May jetlag pa kami. Next week, first anniversary na namin. Ang bilis. One year na kami.”

How does she feel that Lovi Poe is being praised for the role that was originally meant for her? “Okay lang, no problem. I’m happy naman with my own role. I’m just glad it’s a hit.”

Is it true she plans to sue those who wrote about her tiff with Marian Rivera? “We’re still studying it. Siyempre, I want peace din, maayos na, we’re making some moves that I’m not yet at liberty to say kung ano.”

In the “Mind Master” episode that airs on July 24, Nomer asked Heart and Daniel to choose a card each from a stack of cards with specific designs and he correctly guessed what designs they selected. The second set of guests consisted of Geoff Eigenmann and Jay-R on whom Nomer conducted regression exercises going back to their past.

‘AYAW KAMING TANTANAN NG INTRIGA'

SARAH Geronimo is back from her song-and-dance class in the U.S. and denies she’s leaving ABS-CBN for TV5. She’s all set to do her third movie with John Lloyd Cruz after their hits “A Very Special Love” and “You Changed My Life.” By next year, it’s said she’ll also be paired with ABS’ hottest actor, Coco Martin. Sarah is also busy with her provincial tour of her “What Love Is” concert with Martin Nievera until October.

How about the rumor that her parents broke up? “Ewan ko nga kung bakit hindi kami tantanan ng intriga,” she sighs. “Basta thankful kaming intact pa rin ang pamilya namin.”

Is it true she’s threatened by newcomer Angeline Quinto who ABS is pushing allegedly to replace her so she rejected Quinto’s invite to be a guest in her birthday concert yesterday, July 15?. “I did say no but only because concert din namin ni Martin Nievera on the same date sa Cebu Waterfront. Gustuhin ko man, imposible as I’m in Cebu. But we’re now working together in BELOfied: The Belo Essentials Beauty Makeover.”

This is the new Belo campaign where four Pinays will be given beauty services worth P150,000: clothes from Chocolate, hairstyling from Creations Salon and personality lessons from Modern Academy. To join, log on to facebook.com/beloessentials until August 15.

AIKO OPEN TO AMICABLE SETTLEMENT WITH EX-BF

AIKO Melendez says she was hesitant to accept her role as Emilio Garcia’s wife who makes life difficult for Cristine Reyes in ABS-CBN’s “Reputasyon.” “Ayoko nung una kasi kontrabida nga,” she adds. “But after they explained it to me that it’s a different kind of villain at naiiba rin ang story, maganda pa casting, I said, sige, I’ll do it. Na-miss ko rin kasing mag-teleserye.”

The exposure in this daily soap will no doubt help her if she’d run again for public office in 2013. “Naku, wala sa isip ko ang politics ngayon and I’m not even sure kung tatakbo pa ako uli. As of now, I’m just enjoying showbiz again. I asked for a sign and this offer came, so siguro 'yun talaga ang senyales na dito muna ako sa showbiz as acting is a passion for me. But that doesn’t mean I’d stop helping the people of Quezon City. Kahit di ako nanalo sa last election, tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang pagtulong ko sa needy.”

Aiko refuses to talk about ex-BF Patrick Meneses. “Nasa court na ang kaso namin so lawyers na lang ang dapat magsalita tungkol diyan.” What if there’d be an amicable settlement? “Wala namang imposible sa buhay na ito. I’m not closing my doors, especially if it’d do good for both parties concerned.”

HARD TO MISS EVENT

AFTER Laurice Guillen’s “Maskara” officially opened at Cinemalaya last night, the screenings of all the entries start today and we’ll be at the CCP today to watch some of them. Those who are tired of mainstream films should not miss this event. This is our sked: 12:45 p.m.  - “Bahay Bata (Baby Factory)” directed by Ed Roy with Diana Zubiri as a nurse in an overcrowded public maternity hospital who sees moms of all ages delivering babies nonstop. 3:30 p.m. – “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” by Marlon Rivera with Eugene Domingo playing herself in a satire on indie filmmaking with 5 movies within a movie. 6:15 p.m. – “Cuchera” by Joseph Laban with Maria Isabel Lopez as a drug mule running her own transhipment operation between Manila and China, based on the true story of a real life drug mule caught in China. 9 p.m. – “Bisperas” by Jeffrey Jeturian about a family on the verge of a breakdown with Tirso Cruz III, Raquel Villavicencio, Jennifer Sevilla, Julia Clarete and Edgar Allan Guzman.

So far, we’ve seen Joel Lamangan’s “Patikul” with Allen Dizon, Glaiza de Castro, Marvin Agustin and it’s very highly recommended.  In the following days, we also intend to watch “Isda” with Cherry Pie Picache and Bembol Roco, “Ligo Na U, Lapit na Me” with Edgar Allan Guzman and Mercedes Cabral, “Busong” with Alex de Rossi, “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” with Jean Garcia and Rocco Nacino, and “Teoriya” with Alfred Vargas.

‘LIFE IS SHORT'

DIRECTOR Quark Henares said “Rakenrol” took five years to complete as he looked for producers. Why didn’t he ask the help of his mom, Dr. Vicki Belo? Quark’s younger sister, Crystalle, answered ahead of him: “Hindi siya abusado.”

Quark then retorted with a smile: “Bakit? Sino ba ang abusado.” Even the stars of “Rakenrol” Glaiza de Castro, Jason Abalos, Alwyn Uytingco and Ketchup Eusebio laughed.

Crystalle’s face turned red upon realizing the implication of her answer that might refer to their mom’s fiancé, Hayden Kho, whose businesses are said to be all financed by Dr. Belo.

“I don’t mean that,” she says. “Okay, wala na 'kong sinabi.”

“I’ve never really relied on my mom,” says Quark. “My past films were produced by Viva and Regal, but here, meron ngang significant donation ang mom ko.”

Was he serious when he said there’ll be blood if Hayden would fool his mom again? “My mom asked me about it and I told her it’s not my intention to malign anyone. I just want to remind now that everybody is kilig na, teka lang, baka nakalimutan n’yo na what happened before. I think this is the chance for him (Hayden) to prove he’s not a bad person. Sige, we’ll give him another chance but don’t do it again.”

Will he call Hayden Tito? “Baka Papa,” he laughs. Crystalle butts in, also laughing: “Or Papi”. Quark adds: “We’re just the same age.” He admits he won’t be here for his mom’s wedding as he’d be in the U.S. to study. “If they’d do it sa L.A., I might be able to attend. I’ll be the ringbearer.” What can he say about Hayden asking for a pre-nup? “I’m super for it. In fairness to him, he’s the one who brought that up. I think he wants to prove something out of the goodness of his heart. Or it’s his way of atoning for his sins.”

Crystalle became more emotional talking about the wedding. “Sobrang mahal namin si Mommy kaya kunsaan siya masaya, masaya na rin kami ni Kuya. She deserves to be happy. Life is short.”

How’s her relationship with her future stepdad? “Okay naman, we’re civil. But when mom and I are together, we don’t talk about him as she knows maba-bad vibes lang ako. Let’s see what happens after the wedding. It’s only natural for us to be protective of our mom.”

Will they invite Hayden to the premier of “Rakenrol” at the CCP on July 23. “Everyone’s welcome. This is my tribute to the local rock music scene that has a rich heritage from the time of Pepe Smith, The Jerks and The Dawn. We composed original music for the film but we also use the songs of other bands like the E-heads, Sandwich and others as homage to them. When the movie was shown abroad, a lot of foreigners were excited by the music and asked us about it. It’s also my tribute to our dad’s (Atom Henares) former rock station, NU107, that closed down last November. We grew up with it, like it’s the third child of our parents. I even produced the NU Rock Awards.”

LAST TWO DAYS

THE hit original musical “CareDivas” will have its last week today and tomorrow at the PETA Theatre in New Manila sponsored by Boy Abunda and Ladlad Party List. The story of five gay caregivers in Israel, it stars Melvin Lee, Vincent de Jesus, Ricci Chan, Jerald Napoles, Duds Terana, Jason Barcial, Phil Noble, Buddy Caramat, Cecilia Garucho, Paul Holme, DJ Myke Salomon (who’s also in “Aida”) and many more, directed by Maribel Legarda. For tickets, call Backroom at 435-1098 or 928-3121, or Ladla at 584-8029.

CARMINA GIVES AWAY PRIVACY

NOW that her stint as co-host of “Amazing Cooking Kids” has ended, Carmina Villarroel is featured in GMA News TV’s newest docu-reality show, “Follow That Star”, that follows the lives of celebrities in their daily lives.

“I let the camera follow me around as I tackle the newest challenge in my life: to learn how to cook and become a chef someday,” she says.  “I attend three to four classes in the culinary school every week, aside from the tapings for Pepito Manaloto and Day Off.  Aside from that, I’m also a full time mom and a business woman. So I really have to do some serious time management.”

Carmina welcomes Follow That Star inside their home and lets viewers see her, even without makeup, as she transforms from a celebrity to an amazing mom to her twins – Cassandra and Maverick. Find out how she juggles her time to have a balanced life in Follow That Star this Saturday night, July 16, 7.55 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel 11.