GABBY Concepcion is busy on TV with “P.S. I Love You” on TV5 (that will replace “Utol Kong Hoodlum” and shown after “Glamorosa” starting Monday) and in films with Regal’s “Yesterday Today, and Tomorrow.” He stresses that the new “P.S. I Love You” is not a remake of the movie he did with ex-wife Sharon Cuneta in 1982. “Iba ang story. I’m paired with Dina Bonnevie and there are two younger pairs with us, Alex Gonzaga, who plays my daughter, with Kean Cipriano, and AJ Muhlach with Nadine Lustre. Sa ‘Yesterday, Today’ naman, ex-husband ako ni Maricel Soriano but I’m about to remarry Carla Abellana.”

Has he heard from daughter KC? “Yes, she greeted me on my birthday (Nov. 3). I’m so proud of her. She was invited to the affair of U.S. Pres. Clinton then she sang the theme song of the SEA Games in Indonesia with two other Asian stars.”

How’s KC after the rumored breakup with Piolo Pascual? “We don’t talk about that. Hindi naman ako nakikialam, unless she asks for my advice. Private issue 'yan between them and I trust her judgment. Si Piolo naman, never kong nakausap. I don’t really know him as we’ve never worked sa movie man o sa TV. Nagkita lang kami sa pictorial ng Star Magic but we don’t even do small talk. Sa tingin ko, okay naman sila.”

But it looks like Gabby is wrong. In her recent tweet, KC Concepcion wrote: “I still love you, that’s a fact. But a million apologies can‘t bring me back.” This line borrowed from “The Notebook” is apparently meant for someone who hurt her so much. Who’s that? Your guess is as good as ours.

ERIK ON A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

ERIK Santos is understandably on tenterhooks as his first musical play, “The Little Mermaid,”  where he plays the Prince, opens tonight at Meralco Theatre. Now a member of the prestigious Star Magic Family,  Erik started his career in 2003 after winning in “Star in a Million” to become the Prince of Pop. But he only went into acting last year in a “Maalaala Mo Kaya” drama episode shot in Macau. Now, he tries acting professionally on stage in the Disney musical that’s a certified hit in Broadway. Produced by Atlantis Productions and directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, Erik is so excited. “This is definitely a new and different kind of experience for me so I hope my supporters will all watch its run up to December 11.”

He himself will produce a special celebrity screening on November 25.

But this doesn’t mean Erik’s going fulltime into theatre musicals as he also ventures into other types of music genres especially in his performances on ASAP Rocks. In his latest album, “Awit Para Sa ‘Yo”, he also explores writing his own songs. He’s overwhelmed by the huge success of his carrier single “Kulang Ako Kung Wala Ka” that dominates the radio airwaves for more than two months now. Its music video also topped MYX for a month. Another hit single titled “Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita” is also composed by Jonathan Manalo. Erik is also busy preparing for the repeat of his concert “PowER IKons” on November 30, 2011, 8p.m. at Music Museum with guests Rachelle Ann Go, Bugoy Drilon and Nikki Gil. Get your “Little Mermaid” and “Power Ikons” tickets at Ticketworld at 891-9999.

MARLON WILLING TO DO UNDERWEAR ADS

SHIRLEY  Pizarro called for a solo presscon for racer Marlon Stockinger. Why? Is he joining showbiz? “No, gusto lang nilang mas makilala siya ng tao, ng masa,” she says.

Marlon certainly has matinee idol good looks and admits people say he looks like a young Albert Martinez. Born at Makati Medical on April 4, 1991, he’s the eldest of three kids, with a Pinay mom and a German-Swiss dad who’s into financing and tuna business. “They met here in a Manila through common friends. It was love at first sight daw for them,” he says.

He grew up at the Syquia Apartments on Roxas Blvd. and studied at the British School. He started racing as a hobby at 9 with go karts then moved on to senior classes and has since raced in Macau, Monza, Silverstone. “I started college but the racing took over,” he says.

He has landed on the top 5 overall in the GP3 series held in Barcelona. Monaco will be next for him and his aim is to be a Formula One racer. He’s not averse to showbiz but he’s prioritizing racing now. “There were offers na before, but I want to focus on racing muna, then later on, if the door is still open for me, then I’m willing to try it. But I have to prepare for it. I know what artistas do and it’s hard, from all day shoots and dealing with the fans. I’ve worked with Marian Rivera and Lovi Poe in a fashion pictorial and they’re both very nice. I’m glad I got to work with them kahit pictorial lang.”

What does he like in racing? “It gives you a great high, especially when you win and then you want to race more and more and again and again.”

A lot of athletes now do underwear modelling on the side. Is he willing to do this? “It’s not surprising kasi, as an athlete, people know you keep fit and you have the body. If it’s related to racing, why not? If it’s done tastefully, I’ll do it. Even David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have done underwear ads.”

VILMA BETTER THAN MERYL

GOV. Vilma Santos is back to work after a two-week vacation in Thailand and Malaysia with husband Sen. Ralph Recto and son Ryan Christian. It’s her birthday treat to herself. “It’s tiring kasi lakad lang kami ng lakad but it’s all worth it,” she says. “We all deserve the break. In Thailand, we went to Phuket and in Malaysia, sa Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands.”

Before she left, Gov. Vi taped for the final episode of “100 Days to Heaven.”  She’ll soon resume shooting her new Star Cinema movie, “The Healing”, directed by Chito Roño for a March release. Since the film concerns a faith healer, much of it will be shot in Lipa, Batangas where there are faith healers. A suspense-thriller, her co-stars include Kim Chiu, Maria Isabel Lopez, Mark Gil and Martin del Rosario. Her fans believe she’s the local counterpart of Hollywood’s much respected Meryl Streep, but we daresay she has more accomplishments than Ms. Streep (who only has two Oscar awards) not only in acting but also in public service. Meryl is also older at 62 while Ate Vi is only 58.

DEREK NOT KEEN ON BOX-OFFICE KING TAG

DEREK RAMSAY remains humble even if he stars in two of the year’s biggest blockbusters: “No Other Woman” and “Praybeyt Benjamin.” Star Cinema says the first earned P181.6 million while the latter has raked in P320 million and it’s still showing. We doubt if any entry in the forthcoming Metro filmfest can still top the earnings of “Benjamin” so it’s most likely that Derek will be crowned Box Office King next year. And since Vice Ganda plays the title role and, even if he’s an admitted gay, he remains to be male, so it’s most probable that they’ll both tie as Box Office Kings.

Derek dismisses conclusions that he has eclipsed other box office actors of Star Cinema, like Piolo Pascual (who hasn’t had a hit for a long time) and John Lloyd Cruz. “Hindi naman,” he says. “Sinuwerte lang siguro kong napasama sa mga pelikulang tinangkilik ng tao.”

His acting in “No Other Woman” as a philandering husband torn between wife Cristine Reyes and mistress Anne Curtis also got praises, with some writers saying it’s obvious that he’s not all brawn with his hunky body as he also gave an honest and sincere performance.

Joji Dingcong, his manager, says: “I’ve known from the start that he can develop into a serious actor kasi malalim na tao si Derek. He has no inhibitions in shedding off his clothes to do delicate bed scenes, but when it comes to acting, marami rin siyang ipapakita. He grew up with a well-to-do family with his British dad, but as a teenager  he ran away from home and lived in a congested slum area in Tatalon where he learned how to speak Tagalog fluently.”

“Experience is the best teacher,” adds Derek. “My adventures when I was younger certainly helped me become more familiar with a lot of emotions that I now put into good use as an actor.”

Some say that aside from being a Box Office King, he might also win an acting award for “No Other Woman.” “I don’t want to entertain any ideas. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.”