AI AI De las Alas got her second Box Office Queen Award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation last Tuesday night for “Tanging Ina Mo: Last Na ‘To”. Her first one was for the first “Tanging Ina” movie in 2003. She also got two Comedy Box Office Queen Awards for “Cute ng Ina Mo” in 2007 and “Best Friends Forever” and “Tanging Pamilya” in 2009. How important is this to her?

“Very important,” she says. “Gusto ko kasing nilalagyan ako ng korona, eh. At ang korona ko, mas malaki pa sa tiara ng misis ni Prince William. Gusto ko nga sana, 'yung kasinlaki ng mga nananalong Miss Universe, kaya lang, sobra palang bigat sa ulo niyon. And take note, ang mga kasama kong tumanggap ng awards noong Tuesday, the likes of Kim Chiu and Bea Alonzo kaya feeling ko, magkakasing-edad lang kami. Pero ang totoo, late bloomer na ako nang magbida kaya ako na pinakamashonda (pinakamatanda) sa mga binigyan ng awards. Sabi sa Star Cinema, mahigit P1 billion na raw ang kinita ng movies ko with them kasi maski sa abroad, hit ito, kaya ang beauty ko ngayon, one billion peso actress ang drama. O kaya n'yo yon?”

Her career remains on a roll. She’s a judge in “Pilipinas Got Talent,” is also in “Maria la del Barrio” and will go to China in June to tape her new soap with Kim Chiu, “Binondo Girl”. In July, she’s in a U.S. concert tour with Pops Fernandez. What happened to her romance with Aljur Abrenica? “Ayun, he greeted me Happy Mother’s Day. How sad, parang madir lang pala’ng turing niya sa’kin, walang pagnanasa sa Flawless kong beauty.”

Why did Flawless get Ai Ai as their newest endorser? “She’s perfect for our ‘Ageless and Sexy Promise’ campaign as she maintained her youthful looks even if she’s now a mom of three teeners,” says Flawless boss Rubby Sy. “It’s like she has discovered the key to staying young, as seen in her billboards.”

What Flawless products does she use? “I use their Age Defying products like Flawless Age Defy Cream that removes wrinkles, Skin Protect Cream against sun damage, Collagen Soap to firm up the skin, and Skin Lift tablets every night to make me  look young. I also have Age Defy Facials to clean my face,” says Ai Ai.

DENNIS, MARIAN'S NEW ‘LOVE’

DENNIS Trillo just returned from Hawaii where he did a show with Iza Calzado and his manager Popoy Caritativo for GMA Pinoy TV. It was his first trip to the land of pearly shells and aloha so he was quite excited to see its beautiful beaches. So what’s next for him in GMA7 after his last show, “Dwarfina,” just concluded?

“Wala pa,” he says. “But okay lang since I’ll be busy with two new movies. I’ll play a special role in ‘Temptation Island’ as the boyfriend of Marian Rivera, but my scenes are just in Manila, hindi ako kasama ng cast doon sa island. I’m also starting ‘My Neighbor’s Wife’ as the husband of Lovi Poe, along with Carla Abellana and Jake Cuenca, directed by Jun Lana.”

His ex-GF Jennylyn Mercado’s birthday concert came and went but the threat to reveal a “pasabog” about why they broke up didn’t happen. Jen’s actual birthday is on Sunday, May 15. Would he greet her? “Yes, why not?” he says. “Pag nagkita kami, babatiin ko siya. I wish her well. Siyempre, birthday niya 'yun, e.”

NEW ACTRESSES ON TV5

THE Kapatid Network is really building up its own stable of  stars starting with their young actresses: Alex Gonzaga, Eula Caballero, Ritz Azul, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Arci Muñoz, and Danita Paner who are all hosts of their Sunday afternoon show, “Fantastik.”  Alex maybe considered the most senior as she’s now in two daily shows: the toprated “Babaeng Hampaslupa” and “Juicy Express.” Eula, who’s in “Bagets,” is the youngest of the six at 15 and the grand winner of "Star Factor,"  TV5’s first-ever star search. Ritz is a "Star Factor" runnerup and now stars in “Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak” along with Arci Muñoz. Jasmine Curtis-Smith will also star in her own show, “Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum” with JC De Vera.  Danita starred with JC in “My Driver Sweet Lover” and is now paired with Oyo Sotto in the thriller, “Bangis.”

We first met Eula at the Star Factor auditions in Cebu where she cried while being interviewed by the panel of jurors. She said her parents asked her to break up with her boyfriend as she’s only 15. Direk Joey Reyes consoled her by saying he also cried when his parents asked him to break up from his own BF when he was 15. Her full name is Lou Eula May Caballero Simo and was born on May 23, 1995. She’s a high school senior at University of San Carlos in Cebu but she’s on leave now. She says being in showbiz has taught her to be more independent and responsible. You can twit her at imeulacaballero.

Ritz was born on January 11, 1994 in Sta. Rita, Pampanga where she’s now the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson. Her full name is Ritz Ann Riggie Alzul (which TV5 simplified to Azul) and she’s taking up accountancy at Lyceum. She wants to be a lawyer someday. She’s happy with the generally positive reviews she’s getting for her performance in “Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak.” You can email her at ritz_ alzul @yahoo.com.

As everyone knows, Jasmine is the younger sister of Anne Curtis. Born in Australia on April 6, 1994, she’s now a high school senior at Loyola College in Melbourne. She wants to take up theatre arts or film in college. You can follow her on twitter as @jascurtissmith.

Arci’s full name is Ramona Cecilia Muñoz. Managed by Annabelle Rama, she was discovered when she joined GMA’s "StarStruck IV."  Born on January 12, 1989, she’s taking up theatre arts at UP Diliman. A rocker at heart, she used to be the member of a band called Philia, a Greek word meaning brotherly love. She writes songs and hopes to go back to singing with her bandmates one of these days as she really loves music.

Danita Paner was born on April 12, 1989 and also started as a singer as singing is her first love. She studied at OB Montessori Greenhills and Reedley International. She and JC De Vera do not hide their going steady at the moment. You can follow her at twitter on @danita paner.

MIKAEL AVOIDS SEX VIDEO ISSUE

MIKAEL Daez is one of the luckiest newcomers in town. He didn’t have to go through the rigors of joining a reality show as the likes of Enzo Pineda and Rocco Nacino did in StarStruck and yet he’s now playing lead roles in both the big and small screen. He’s Solenn Heussaff’s leading man in “Temptation Island” and is paired with Marian Rivera in “Amaya.” Stardom was given to him on a silver platter. Last Wednesday, he signed an exclusive contract with GMA network for two years with option to renew, guaranteeing him two big shows a year. “I’m really so blessed so I promise I won’t waste these wonderful opportunities they’re giving me,” he says. “I also want to thank the people I work with as they’re all very helpful to a newcomer like me, lalo ang co-stars ko in ‘Temptation Island’ who give me acting tips. The ‘Temptation Island’ offer was a complete surprise. Natutulog ako, then my manager, Jonas Gaffud, called me: Do you want to do a movie? I said, when? Now, you have to go to Ilocos as the shoot starts na. T

hey chose me to replace Paulo Avelino who got sick. Sabi nga nila, it’s my fate na sa ’kin mapunta 'yung role.”

What’s this rumor about his having a sex video? “Can’t we just talk about ‘Temptation Island’? Kasi pag ganyang intriga, ayokong patulan so I’d rather not talk about such things. As my manager, Jonas Gaffud, said, wag na lang pansinin. I’d rather focus on my work, on my acting.”

How’s his kissing scene with Solenn? “It’s very passionate as it’s meant to be our replacement for food. We’re marooned in an island, walang food, so 'yung kiss ang kapalit ng food. It helped that kilala ko na si Solenn before pa as we’re both Penshoppe endorsers and we've done a pictorial together.”

Does he feel any rivalry with the other hunks in the cast, Aljur Abrenica and Tom Rodriguez? “No, naging friends kami agad. We share our diet and workout programs. Sa Ilocos, magkasama kaming mag-exercise. Masaya ang atmosphere sa set along with Marian Rivera, Rufa Mae Quinto, Lovi Poe and John Lapus.”

How does he feel disrobing before the camera? “As long as it’s part ng work, that’s just fine, walang malisya. Even in ‘Amaya’, I just wear a bahag or loin cloth. But all the guys in the cast, ganun ang suot, so okay lang.”

KUYA FIDEL HAS BLESSING FROM KUYA BODGIE

ONE of TV5’s talented young hosts is Abner Delina Jr., better known as Kuya Fidel in the new version of “Batibot” now aired on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. He’s from Cadiz, Negros and came to Manila as a theatre arts scholar at De La Salle. He then became a part of theatre groups like Tanghalang Pilipino at CCP and PETA and performed in musicals like ‘Lola Basyang,’ ‘Batang Rizal’ and ‘Post Office.’

He auditioned for “Batibot” and was lucky enough to be hired as the new version of Kuya Bodgie. “I know he’s a tough act to follow so I talked to Kuya Bodgie himself and asked for his guidance,” he says. “So far, okay naman ang pagtanggap sa’kin ng viewers and when I go out in public, maraming tumatawag sa’kin ng Kuya Fidel. I’m happy and proud to be part of ‘Batibot’ in educating our new generation of viewers.”

DEBATE ON RH

IN line with its stand to present the most pressing issues of the day, GMA News TV is mounting “Reproductive Health (RH) Bill: The Grand Debate,” with representatives from the government, religious groups and the women’s  sector debating on the controversial House Bill Number 4244 or the “Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2011,” otherwise known as the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. This will see lawmakers versus lawmakers, women versus women and church people versus church people as they tackle the pros and cons of the RH Bill. The special aims to educate the general public and satisfy their need for information about this issue. The public can also participate in an online debate on Twitter by sharing their opinions using the hash tags #proRH or #antiRH and by visiting www.gmanews.tv, “RH Bill: The Grand Debate” is hosted by respected broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco and assisted by GMA News TV personalities, Pia Arcangel and RJ Ledesma, the two being former debaters in their college days. This will air soon on GMA News TV Channel 11.