RICH Asuncion really looks ravishing in her sexy photos for FHM’s May issue. How did she prepare for it? “Pinaghandaan ko talaga 'yan through diet and exercise,” she says. “I eat brown rice and wheat bread lang, then I run, do jumping rope, badminton and volleyball.”

Is it true her dad was present at the pictorial? “Yes, kasi condition niya 'yun. Natuwa naman akong gusto niya akong bantayan. Pinakita ko sa kanya 'yung mga isusuot kong bikini and there was one na sabi ko, Pa, tingnan mo itong swimsuit na ito, hindi ko talaga kayang suotin. Actually, ilang beses na akong inalok ng FHM but I said no kasi I felt di pa ako ready talaga. Tapos, last end of February, inalok nila uli ako. I said di papayag ang dad ko but they said, ‘Kakausapin namin ang daddy mo’, and they did. Pumayag nga siya on the condition na sasamahan niya ako sa photo shoot. May auntie akong madre na ayaw rin, pero hindi namin  pinaalam sa kanya. Kelan lang namin pinaalam sa kanya. Nagulat siya but she said, sige na, parang yun lang daw ito nu’ng nag-join ako sa Bb. Pilipinas na nag-swimsuit din ako. Ang pictorial ko naman, hindi kasing-sexy at daring gaya ng sa iba. So far, positive naman ang feedback, hindi raw vulgar or bastos and I’m glad we were able to achieve that.”

Some folks say she looks fairer in the photos. Did she take glutathione? “Naku, hindi. Takot ako sa injection, hinihimatay ako, so no gluta talaga. Morena talaga ako at kung mukhang mas kuminis, siguro inayos nila yung pictorial. Nangyayari naman talaga 'yun sa photos na inilalabas sa magazines, di ba?”

Is her going sexy a preparation for her role in GMA-7’s new show, “Sisid,”  where she plays villain to Jackie Rice? “Yes, preparation ito for my sexy contravida role. Paninindigan ko na ito. Sana nga, mas bumongga na ang career ko ngayon. Okay naman sa ’kin magpa-sexy basta hindi bastusin. Maski sa ‘Little Star’ noon, pinag-swimsuit na rin ako. Dito sa ‘Sisid, I enjoy doing it kasi magka-same age kami ni Jackie at bago mag-take, tinatanong ko muna siya: O, sasabunutan kita rito, okay ba sa’yo?”

When she guested in “Showbiz Central,” she invited viewers to watch “Sisid”: “Marami pong nagseseksihang babae doon at mga abs ng mga lalaking nakapekpek shorts.” Host John Lapus quickly called her attention about describing the shorts. “Ay sorry po, gusto ko lang sabihin na nagseseksihan kami roon. Sorry po talaga.” She laughed when we reminded her about this. “Nabigla lang talaga ako. Kasi very casual naman sabihin 'yung ganung shorts ngayon, di ba? Wala akong malisya.”

Is it true she and rumored ex-BF Aljur Abrenica avoided each  other when they guested in “Startalk”? “Hindi naman kami nag-iwasan. Hindi na namin nabati ang isa’t isa kasi nang dumating siya, paalis na ako, so nagkasalisi kami.”

BUSY GMA7

GMA7 is a veritable beehive of activity these days. They have two to three presscons each day. Monday was the farewell presscon of “Alakdana” at lunch and the launching presscon of “Blusang Itim” in the evening. Mother Lily also had a separate presscon for Marian Rivera as Red Cross endorser. Tuesday is the GMA Artist Center solo presscon for Luane Dy of “Unang Hirit” and “I Heart You Pare” for lunch and the launch of the new kiddie show “My Chubby World” at dinner. Wednesday, there were two presscons at lunch: “Kitchen Superstar” with Marvin Agustin and the show’s finalists and the GMA Artist Center solo presscon for Rich Asuncion and her FHM cover pictorial.

At 2 p.m., it’s the contract signing for Mikael Daez, Marian Rivera’s new leading man in “Amaya.” Then there’s the separate press visit to Pagsanjan on the set of “Amaya” to interview Marian herself. Before this, there was also a press visit on the other set of “Amaya” in Subic to interview the other male members of the cast like Gardo Versoza, Daniel Fernando, AJ Dee and Mon Confiado. Really, May is a busy, busy month for the Kapuso network.

STARS' CHILDREN RISE

AT the presscon of the remake of “Blusang Itim,” we realized how long we’ve been writing in showbiz.  The show launches new stars who are all offspring of other actors: Kylie Padilla, Frank Magalona and Winwyn Marquez. We also saw their parents being launched in the past: Alma Moreno (mother of Wynwyn) in 1976 in “Ligaw na Bulaklak” and “Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16,” the late Francis Magalona (father of Frank) in “Bagets 2” in 1985, and Robin Padilla (dad of Kylie) in 1989 in “Hindi Pahuhuli ng Buhay.”

Frank is more mestizo and looks more like his mom, Pia Arroyo. At 5’10”, he’s also taller than his dad. He’s 23 and just finished fine arts from U.P. “I also wanted to go into showbiz before but I decided to focus on my studies first,” he says. “Last month, GMA7 called up my mom to ask if I’d want to audition for ‘Blusang Itim’ and I did. Now, I’m also into acting like my other siblings, Maxene, Saab and Elmo.”

He plays Angelo, the role played by Richard Gomez in the original movie. Kylie plays Jessa, the ugly girl who becomes beautiful when she wears the mysterious “Blusang Itim,”  first played by Snooky Serna. Winwyn plays the role of the villain, Vicky, which was portrayed then by Lani Mercado. Unlike her mom Alma who’s mestiza, Winwyn is a dusky morena beauty. She’s also taller at 5’7” and measures 34-24-34. She wants to join a beauty pageant after she finishes college. She’s now a junior majoring in marketing and management in San Beda College. Does she think she can surpass her mom’s success in showbiz?

“My mom was very successful and a real big star,” she says. “I doubt kung mahihigitan ko ang narating niya. She’s really my idol at sana, mapantayan ko man lang siya.”

What advice did she get from Alma and from her dad, Joey Marquez? “Pareho nilang sinabi na dapat, pag uma-acting ako, may paghuhugutan ako ng emosyon para maging credible ako. Both of them are very supportive sa pagpasok kong ito sa showbiz.”

LUANE WANTS TO REACH OUT TO DAD

LUANE Dy is one of the most visible Kapuso newcomers. She’s seen every morning as a segment host in “Unang Hirit” and in the evening as Nikki, the contravida to Dingdong Dantes and Iza Calzado in “I Heart You Pare.” She also delivers the showbiz news in “24 Oras” on weekends. So what does she like more: hosting or acting? “Both,” she says. “I’m really enjoying being a part of ‘I Heart You Pare’. Ang dami ng galit sa ’kin ngayon, lalo sa Twitter, which means credible akong villain.”

Born on January 25, 1986 in Cauayan, Isabela, Luane is Luzia Jannie Dy in real life and the second of three kids. Her dad, William, is a cousin of the current Isabela governor and Ian Dy, the mayor ex-BF of Heart Evangelista, is also her cousin. “I lived a very sheltered life in a farm in Isabela until I was 14. My parents broke up at kami ng older brother ko and younger sister joined my mom and we lived in Quezon City. Since then, wala na kaming communication with our dad. I was in second year college taking up accountancy in FEU when I first joined showbiz sa ABS. I sent my younger sister to college. She’s now 21 and is also working. Our older brother naman is 29 at may trabaho na rin.”

Doesn’t she feel like communicating with her dad? “I do. Kaya lang, when my Kuya got in touch with him, napagalitan pa. We think he resents that we chose to be with our mom when they separated.”

She’s now on with cager turned actor Carlo Gonzales. “We met through common friends tapos nagkasama kami sa ‘I Heart You Pare’ starting last November, but it was only in January that we became officially on.”

What does she like in him? “Mabait siya. He cooks for me. Masarap siya magluto, lalo yung kanyang salpicao and beef stew. Also, he’s the male version of me. We both love to eat and sketch portraits.”

So what happens to her in “I Heart U Pare”? “My dad, Chinggoy Alonzo, is forcing me  to marry Ian Veneracion so lumayas na lang ako and I live with my friend, Mimay, si Gretchen Espina, so there’ll be peace in the family. Dingdong Dantes agrees to marry  me but on our wedding day, he’ll realize he loves Tonette kahit galit siya sa alter ego nito, si Tonia, na siyang nakasagasa before sa brother niya.”

WILLIE RETURNS

THE Kapatid Network is not to be left behind. They’ll also launch several new  shows this weekend, led by “Wil Time Bigtime” of Willie Revillame starting this Saturday at 5 p.m. From the producers of primetime show, “Willing Willie,”  TV5 responds to the tremendous public clamor for the return of Willie’s show but with a new title. Apart from fun and prizes, “Wil Time Bigtime” introduces new games that will utilize a LED (light-emitting diodes) floor and new software technology for a whole new TV experience.

“This brand new approach in local game shows is definitely a visual treat for all Filipino viewers. While brainstorming for new segments, we’re keeping in mind that these new innovations on TV shall be incorporated in all the mechanics of the games to make sure that we offer something new for everyone,” said Jay Montelibano, business unit head of “Wil Time Bigtime” that will also be shown weeknights at 6:30 p.m.

Aside from this, two youth-oriented shows will also premiere this weekend on TV5, “Iskul Bukol” (based on the long-running 80s comedy show of Tito, Vic and Joey) and “Bagets, Just Got Lucky” (based on the hit 1984 movie.)