ANGEL Locsin feels sad as “Imortal” is now on its last three weeks with its last taping day on Tuesday. They’re taping day and night as  leading man John Lloyd Cruz is leaving soon to join the Star Magic tour in the U.S. After that, Lloydie will take a much deserved 3-week vacation before starting his movie with the Kanto Boys of Billy Crawford, Luis Manzano and Vhong Navarro.

As for Angel, she’ll focus on finishing her movie with Aga Muhlach, now titled “In the Name of Love,” which is due to be shown on May 11.

“It’s a blessing to be a part of a big project like ‘Imortal’,” she says. “We’re supposed to run for 26 weeks but since it’s a hit, it was extended to 30 weeks and now, it’s about to end. It’s one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever done. All the action scenes, pinaghirapan namin as we have no doubles.  I’d like to thank Directors Jerry Sineneng, Lester Pimentel and Richard Somes for coming up with truly fantastic ideas that hooked viewers to the show. I also want to thank all viewers na tumutok sa show. Humanda sila sa huling laban ng mga bampira at lobo. As Lia, I will regain my memory and recall our love ni Lloydie as Mateo. We will fight for our love and for peace between our warring families but a new prophecy will threaten all of us. Kakaibang ending ang naghihintay sa viewers and not the usual ones they’re used to. Our positioning is end of the world na ‘to. Ubusan ng lahi.”

Is she and Azkal’s Phil Younghusband now playing beautiful music together? “We’ve gone out but only as friends. Right now, I’m just so busy to focus on anything else. Right after the film with Aga, I’m starting the 20th anniversary presentation of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, a new movie with Bea Alonzo and me, directed by Lauren Dyogi to be shown in September. Then there’s also a project that I will do in Indonesia with Indonesian actors.”

STAR CINEMA’S LONG LINE UP

ABS-CBN exec Mico del Rosario says that even on the internet, “Imortal” is a hit. Their website that features “Anino’t Panaginip” webisodes revealing hidden chapters of the show and an online game called Pangil has had 12 million hits. “Imortal” merchandise items like t-shirts and tumblers are also selling well.

Meanwhile, he adds that Star Cinema will be real busy this year.

They’re now busy with Vic Sotto’s “Pak, Pak, My Dr. Kwak,” o be followed by the Aga-Angel film by Olivia Lamasan and then “Forever and a Day” with KC Concepcion and Sam Milby, megged by Cathy Molina. Other projects lined up for the rest of the year are a rom-com starring Toni Gonzaga-Zanjoe Marudo and Eugene Domingo-Wendell Ramos, “Kakasal, Kakalas” directed by Joey Reyes, “Maalaala Mo Kaya, the Movie” with Angel-Bea, the Kanto Boys movie, a new Ai Ai de las Alas comedy, a Piolo Pascual-Angelica Panganiban romance, a comedy with Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, and their Metro filmfest presentation that’s still under wraps.

For its new sister company doing indie films, they have already completed a horror film starring Erich Gonzales and Derek Ramsay megged by Richard Somes, and a rom-com, “Busted,” with Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli, directed by Enrico Santos.

For its TV production unit headed by Malou Santos, they’re working on four new shows: “Maria la del Barrio” with Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee, “Guns and Roses” with Robin Padilla, Bea Alonzo, Diether Ocampo, Empress Schuck and Ejay Falcon; “Alta” with Gretchen Barretto, Angelica Panganiban, KC Concepcion, Luis Manzano and Zanjoe Marudo; and “Atom,” a family drama with a touch of sci-fi for kids.

SUY HAS NEW ALBUM

NORA Aunor confidante Albert Sunga is the marketing manager-publicist of acoustic singer Dorothy Galvez, better known as Suy. He  arranged   Suy’s first show abroad on May 14 in the Pinoy Musik Festival in New Jersey. “First time ko sa U.S kaya excited ako,” says Suy. We told Albert he should arrange for Suy to sing with Ate Guy.

“Sana nga, kaya lang, baka nandito na si Ate Guy sa Pilipinas that time,” he says. “But Suy will return sa U.S. on August 20 and 21 for the Philippine Fiesta in Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, NJ so baka puwede na silang magkita roon ni Ate Guy.”

Last year, Suy launched her first album, “Simply Suy” for Ivory Records and it spawned hits like “More than Words” and “Simple Lang.” In her new album, “Suy Under Covers,”  she does acoustic versions of very new songs from today’s singers like Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” with a music video that reveals she’s addressing the song to her ailing mother now undergoing dialysis, played by Gloria Sevilla in the MTV. The album was launched on the day of Bruno’s Manila concert and Albert said he personally invited the Fil-Am singer to be in Suy’s album launch but he was busy rehearsing for the show. Suy also does her version of Justin Bieber’s “Pray,” Katie Perry’s “Fireworks” and ”Teenage Dream,”  Beyonce’s “Halo,”  “Dynamite,” “Empire State of Mind Part 2,”  “Mine,” “Need You Now,”  “Ridin’ Solo,” “Speak Now,”  “Cooler than Me,” “Sweet Dreams,”  “Smile” and “The Only Exception.”

Her album will be launched in “ASAP” today  then she’ll guest in “Music Uplate” on Tuesday. Suy sings every Wednesday night at Panggo’s Grille on Morato Avenue QC but on April 15, Friday, she’ll have a very special show, “Acoustic Night with the Acoustic Gem,”  in the same venue. On May 10, she’ll have a concert at the Parke Rizal in Tayabas, Quezon with co-Ivory artists Shane Tarun and Kristoff Medina. For booking, call Albert at 0919-570-5892 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORA: ‘WAG NIYO AKONG HUSGAHAN’

GERMAN ‘Kuya Germs’ Moreno got Nora Aunor’s trophy when she won as one of Philippine Cinema’s icons in the recent Golden Screen Awards. He then interviewed her on the phone in his radio show as arranged by devoted Noranian Albert Sunga. Although Albert says she’d be home by May, looks like her fans will have to wait some more before she finally comes home. Nora said she doesn’t know yet when she’ll return.

“Basta uuwi ako kasi gustung-gusto kong makita ang mga kapatid at mga anak ko,” she said.

She says her singing voice is okay but she needs therapy and should stop smoking. “Mahirap tigilan,” she added. She admits going to the casino every now and then, but she never borrows or ask money from fellow Pinoys just to gamble. “Hindi ako nangungutang para mag-casino.

Meron naman akong natatanggap.”

Is she really a caregiver. “If it’s true, masama ba mag-caregiver?  Pero kung mas malaki pa sa’kin ang bubuhatin, makakaya ko ba ‘yan. May mga tao lang talagang di titigil hanggang di nasisiraan ang kanilang kapwa. Alam ko namang may mga pagkakamali din ako. Tao lang naman po akong nagkakamali tulad ng iba pang normal na tao. Pero sana, huwag nila akong husgahan ng ganun-ganon na lang. Wala akong kalaban-laban.”

So Ate Guy, you better come home soon so you can defend yourself directly and answer all allegations against you. This will also be a test case if all your Noranians will still be there to support  any film, TV show or concert that you’d do.

‘MATUTUNAW AKO SA HIYA’

POKWANG is just too happy to be given the chance to work with Vic Sotto in “Pak, Pak, My Dr. Kwak.”  “First time ko to work with him and nakakatuwa as it gave me the chance na makabati si Joey de Leon who is a guest star in our movie,” she says. “First shooting day namin, naiyak ako sa sobrang excitement nang makita ko si Bossing kasi dati magkalaban yung ‘Eat Bulaga’ nila at ‘Wowowee’ namin, di ba?

Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit at siya pang nagsabi sa’kin, ‘Wag ka nang umiyak. Buti naman at pinagbigyan mo kami.’ Sobrang bait niya, grabe. Sina Jose (Manalo) at Wally (Bayola) pa ang nagsabi sa ’king gusto niya talaga akong makatrabaho. Parang gusto kong matunaw nang mga sandaling ‘yun. Tapos, siya pang nag-request na bigyan ako ng sarili kong tent sa set na may aircon. Kung ano kinakain niya, yun din ang kinakain naming lahat. Wala siyang kaere-ere. Ang ganda pa ng role ko as Pining Garcia, the cousin of his late wife na may asawang Hapon pero nilayasan ako. Natira si Bossing sa bahay ko’t inaakit ko siya, pero ayaw ako patulan. Masaya siyang katrabaho, pati sina Jose and Wally who play his sidekicks na ngayon ko rin lang nakasama. Hindi ko ma-describe ang saya namin sa set. Basta ngayong tapos na shooting, feeling namin, bitin kami kasi natapos na yung pagsasama namin na lahat, very supportive, kaya marami akong natutuhan sa kanila.” After this, Pokwang is said to be ready for her own launching film.

Both Viva Entertainment and Star Cinema think she’s ripe to follow in the footsteps of Ai Ai de las Alas and Eugene Domingo as a solo comedienne.