MANINGNING, the heroine on ABS-CBN’s afternoon drama Prinsesa ng Banyera, is loving and caring toward her family and friends. Since childhood, she has been the darling of the fish port, thus earning her the title “Prinsesa ng Banyera.” She is beautiful and sweet-looking—but she can be tough as well. Underneath that toughness is a sincere, kindhearted, practical and honest woman. Maningning is the rose among the thorns, the thorns being the equally tough men who are her dear and precious friends. Besides her younger brother Habagat (Dino Imperial), the men close to her are Eric (TJ Trinidad), Armand (Ping Medina), Bukol (Ketchup Eusebio) and Octopus (Micah Muñoz).  

Kristine Hermosa plays Maningning. Kristine and Maningning have a lot in common. Like Maningning, Tin, as Kristine is fondly called, is humble, loyal and simple. Despite her celebrity and her stunning beauty, she would be the last person to boast. Her simplicity is manifested in her almost zero beauty regimen. She likes to keep it simple and without really trying, taking sexy to a whole different level.  Tin loves to wear jeans and feels confident and comfortable in them. To quote a fan who believes that Tin has one of the most beautiful faces in showbiz, she is described as “cute ang nose, rosy cheeks, cleft chin, brown eyes, small ears, well-shaped eyebrows, luscious lips that are very feminine even without lipstick.  On Prinsesa ng Banyera, she wears no makeup but perfect pa rin ang beauty.” Unlike most young women, Tin is a homebody who prefers to relax at home with her friends and family. She loves to draw and write poetry.  Tin is also one who treasures friendship.

The similarities between Kristine and Maningning may be one of the reasons why viewers remain faithful to the show. Now at the tail-end of its second season, Prinsesa ng Banyera will continue to air on ABS-CBN’s afternoon block for a third season. The conclusion of Season Two promises a very romantic encounter between Tin and TJ Trinidad. For sure, their loyal fans will be thrilled! According to Rizza Ebriega, the show’s production manager, “Prinsesa ng Banyera will always follow the love story of Maningning and Eric. But more than a love story, Prinsesa ng Banyera is the definitive Filipino drama for it discusses, among others, love for family.” Rizza also shares that in the show, discussion between the actors and the production and creative team is held regularly to ensure that the vision of the show is retained. After a healthy exchange of opinions, the whole team, especially lead star Kristine, works hard to make the show a worthwhile TV experience. “We are a family in Prinsesa ng Banyera—from the cast to the crew to the production team. With the success of the show, we are all grateful. And, together, we all hope that our Kapamilya at home will always be with us,” adds Ebriega.

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BORACAY was transformed recently into one big Del Monte Fit ’n Right Camp with a lineup of fit, firm, fab activities participated in by the famous, with hot models offering cold Fit ’n Right juice drinks to everyone.

To wake up fit, mornings started with trainers leading yoga and body-slam sessions—a combination of boxing, capoeira and aerobics hi-lo—on the beach. The session was joined in by stars like Carla Humphries and Victor Basa. 

To be firm for any challenge while having fun, afternoons were spent playing celebrity dodgeball.  Some of those who participated in were JC Cuadrado, Sherwin Ordoñez and Denise Laurel, while the nights turned fab with different concerts and parties. During the first night, 3,000 Boracay vacationers swarmed to the back-to-back show of Itchyworms and Tribu Manila. 

Saturday was the biggest night of all. A whopping 5,000 people crammed around the open stage to watch the six finalists and the celebrities. High-energy production numbers were led by Rayver Cruz, Maja Salvador, Wendy Valdez, Bangs Garcia, Carla Humphries, Jake Cuenca, Roxanne Guinoo, G Force, Kamikazee and Itchyworms. The show was hosted by Mariel Rodriguez, TJ Trinidad, Rafael Rossel and Victor Basa, while the Fit ’n Right council was made up of Paolo Villaroel, Precious Lara Quigaman and Zanjoe Marudo.  In the end, Joanne Ignacio and JR Marfori were awarded as this year’s Got 2B Fit Ultimate Male and Female winners.

The fun did not end there. A Fit ’n Right party was held at the Juice Bar with celebrities, Fit ’n Right challengers and fun-loving Boracay guests until the wee hours of the morning.

Italians do it better

BEFORE it celebrates its centennial in 2010, Italian menswear giant Ermenegildo Zegna has set its sharp sights on maintaining an average annual-revenue increase of at least 10 percent, hoping to reach €1 billion in sales in the process. How the Philippines as one of its emerging markets will figure in this goal remains a confounding and beautiful question.

The Blossoms of May

ON the significance of the Flores de Mayo, Abe Floirendo writes in Sagala: The Queen of Philippine Festivals: “The greater reason, however, for the endurance of these festivities is the undiminished veneration of the Virgin and the Holy Cross, the bedrock of the faith, and the social and cultural anchor of the Maytime Santacruzan and the Flores de Mayo.”

Gab Fab: Kristine’s ‘Prinsesa’ off to a third season

MANINGNING, the heroine on ABS-CBN’s afternoon drama Prinsesa ng Banyera, is loving and caring toward her family and friends. Since childhood, she has been the darling of the fish port, thus earning her the title “Prinsesa ng Banyera.”

How the mighty have fallen

I THOUGHT Francis Ford Coppola was being cranky last fall when he badmouthed Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro—the stars of Coppola’s immortal Godfather films—for taking parts for the money and losing their passion for doing great work.