Ferdinand Marcos' Australian daughter was axed from reality show

(SPOT.ph) Ferdinand Marcos' Australian daughter Analisa Hegyesi, 40, has claimed that she was axed from the Australian home makeover reality show The Renovators after she told the producers her father's identity last week, reports PEP.ph.

The interior designer told The Telegraph that she made it to the final cut after months of auditioning only to be removed after revealing her father was Marcos. "The thing is that I've had to juggle my business and clients to make time for the show after I was asked to audition and then chosen from hundreds of people around Australia."

She added, "I was chosen on my own merits but then I was dropped due to aspects of my private life which I will not discuss... I was told there was a fear, too, attention would be paid to me and not the show and other contestants."

The Telegraph cited an insider at the production company Shine Australia who said the staff thought it was harsh and unfair to axe Hegyesi for the "the sins of her father." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Channel 10, which will air The Renovators, said Hegyesi's removal was routine and that they have not finalized the cast.

Hegyesi was born to former Sydney swimwear and Playboy model Evelin Hegyesi, who was involved with Marcos in the 1970s, when the late strongman already had three children with wife Imelda. The model was 19 when she met Marcos, according to PEP.ph.

In 2004, Hegyesi and her mother were accused of having ties to Marcos' secret bank accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein that supposedly contained ill-gotten wealth, reports PEP.ph.

For more on this story, log on to PEP.ph and The Telegraph.

Aga Muhlach now a "Kapatid TV 5" star

(UPDATE) TV5 has formally welcomed Aga Muhlach as its newest and certified Kapatid.

The contract signing was held on Wednesday, March 30, at TV5's corporate office at the Marajo Towers, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.  A press conference at Anabelle's restaurant along Tomas Morato, Quezon City immediately followed to formally launch Aga as a Kapatid to members of the press.

Aga signed a three-year, non-exclusive contract with TV5. During the press conference, Aga revealed that he already has three programs line up. One of the projects may start in June, second may be in August or September and one may be launched next year. TV5 Head of Creative and Entertainment Production Perci Intalan added that Aga will appear in an international franchise reality show.

"Yung projects na gagawin namin are all being lined up now. We've been meeting about it for the past months. May tatlong napakaganda at napakalaking programang gagawin ko na hindi ko pa nagagawa and dito ko lahat magagawa so I'm really excited," said Aga. He also clarified that he won't be hosting the reality show "The Amazing Race" as previously re7ported. "The franchise reality show that we've been working on is even better than that. It's different because sa Amazing Race it's just the contestant, sila yung bida pero dito parang buong madla kasama mo, participating. Dito kasi the viewers from all over will participate. [It's going to be an] Interactive show. Definitely not "Amazing Race."

Now that Aga has officially transferred to TV5, he considers the network his new home, more so he's home for good.

"I signed up for three years and siguro after three years then another three years. I really plan to stay with TV5 cause I'm here now and mahirap naman magpalipat-lipat. You only do it once. This is it.It's really gonna be big for me this year because of first the movies that I've been doing for the past two years are all coming out this year and with TV5, with the shows that I'm coming up with. Exciting talaga," he said.

Aside from his new shows, Aga revealed he may also be co-producing he's own shows.

Why Aga moved

During the press conference Aga revealed why he decided to switch networks. Though grateful to ABS-CBN, Aga admitted he felt a little bit dissatisfied with how his career was handled before in the Kapamilya network.

"No offense to them [ABS-CBN], hindi naman lahat ng lumilipat [ng istasyon] laging may problema. Well sa akin naman hindi ko naman kadikit sa buhay ang problema or ang  pagka gulo o skandalo o ano man. This is just as simple as hindi ako nagpaalam kundi nagsabi lang ako that I'm going. I'm moving. It's nothing parang I just wanted something different really and TV5 was offering all these things sa akin," Aga said.

"Mahirap sumagot basta-basta ng ganyan kasi first, the last thing I wanna do is to say something bad about ABS-CBN, which is kung saan ako nanggaling, san ako tumanda, san ako lumaki. And I will always be grateful to them. I just realized that I wanted something new. Bagong atensyon, bagong pakikitungo. Tapos yung mga plano nila, parang iba ang plano nung kabila, parang iba ang direction nila, and with TV5's direction, feeling ko lang dun ko gusto pumunta because they would listen and all they wanna do is just work, come up with good shows. And of course ratings are important but right now before we think of ratings let's do good shows, let's enjoy it and let's see. So it's just like that first. Feeling ko yun ang tama. Because if we it's gonna be the ratings game parang sayang. There's pressure sa lahat ng artists and it's very important that Studios or networks or film companies should take care of their artists at the end of the day because it's their artists that bring in money sa kanila. So parang ganun lang yun. hindi naman kami parang robot na punta ka dito, punta ko don. Of course I can't deny it there's little dissatisfaction when I told them that I was moving out, I told them I'm not gonna point fingers anymore. There's no need. It's useless because nobody's perfect. May mga taong may pagkakamali, probably siguro ako rin. No bad blood. All is good. As a matter of fact even if I'm with TV5 I'm still doing my Star Cinema movie."

TV5 Head of Creative and Entertainment Production Perci Intalan added that the network took its time while negotiating Aga's transfer to the Kapatid network.

I think that [negotiation] actually went smoothly. The only thing that we waited for was maayos muna what kind of projects Aga will do para we know hindi masyado maaga ang pag-announce. Hindi masyado nalalayo dun sa kung kelan palalabas yung mga programs. Aga was busy working with the films and actually nag relax din habang iniisip niya nagmumuni-muni exactly what it is he wants to do. Ang maganda nga a month ago or a month and a half ago, when we met yun na, ang dami-daming ideas ni Aga on what he wants to do. That's exactly how we do things in TV5 eh we like to involve the artists and find out what it is that would get them excited rather than impose on them what shows we think they should do. We do a dialogue first. And so far that formula has worked for us beautifully in the projects that we had kaya may ownership yung mga stars dun sa mga shows kasi they were involved in the early stage pa lang and that's what we were able to do in the past months or so," said Perci. "One thing that we have to respect is it's a very big decision for Aga with all the years that he's been with ABS-CBN, we know and we undestand that it's a big leap of faith to transfer networks especially to us na we're a new network. We really appreciate it in a big way kaya hindi rin namin minadali now we're talking about the shows very very carefully and deliberately kasi we know this is a big step for him."

Meanwhile Aga denied the Willie Revillame was also responsible for his transfer to TV5 but he admitted that Willie indeed gave him a car.

"Wala naman siyang kinalaman sa paglipat ko. Tska yung pagreregalo niya naman, dapat lang yun. [jokes] Wala naman yun. Naglambing lang ako sa kanya. Sa amin ni Willie sa tagal din naman ng pinagsamahan namin...Hindi naman vintage car yun kotseng yun. Lambingan lang namin yun. Nun pa kami ganun. Kahit nung wala pang trabaho si Willie lahat naman ng kotse ko ginagamit nun. Sa amin that's nothing."

More artists transferring to TV5?

Aga also hinted that more artists may soon be transferring to TV5.

"It's really nice of TV5 na yung mga nababanggit kong tipong makakasama ko na kahit wala pa sa TV5, papunta pa lang. Pinagbibigyan ako ng TV5 sa directors actors, tema ng gagawin ko. So kahit yung mga gusto kong makasama nga, wala pa dito e mapupunta na rin dito. Parang naghahanap ka ng makakasama mo. Of course sa Tv5 kita mo na mga kasama mo. But then minsan meron kang project na parang ito ang babagay diyan or si ganito. Kunin natin siya, kunin natin yun. I'm not saying it's gonna happen. It's not even pirating. It's like 'hey I have a project, I want you here. You wanna do it? Parang ganun."

But how about his wife, ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" co-host Charlene Gonzales? Will she be transferring too?

"Well hindi naman siguro, hindi naman kailangan like I think she's happy naman with 'The Buzz' pero we're open to that."

Aside from his upcoming projects with TV5, Aga's movie with Angel Locsin under Star Cinema might be released on May 11 while his movie with Regine Velasquez may be shown on October or November. He also expressed that he may be doing a movie with TV5's film arm, Studio5.

"With my two movies na lalabas, I really want to focus and concentrate sa TV this year and the next couple of years. And the movie I'm probably gonna do next year is with Studio 5 and Star Cinema if they're gonna offer me."

Overall, Aga Muhlach's first press conference as a certified Kapatid was filled with hope and excitement.

"I've been looking forward to this since last year pa and now it's here, it's happened already. Moving on. It's the big one."

Courtesy of Yahoo! Philippines

Lloyd Zaragoza wants justice for John Apacible

Last week, model-actor Lloyd Zaragoza  topped the Yahoo! Philippines trending list as users queried his name in relation to the death of his good friend, actor John Apacible last March 19. In his interview with ABS-CBN's "SNN" last week, Lloyd became emotional while talking about John, his co-star in the primetime drama "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin," who he said was one of his inspirations to pursue show business.

In an exclusive interview with Yahoo! OMG! Philippines last Monday, March 28, Lloyd graciously recalled his fondest memories of John.

"I met him when I was 15 or 16 sa teleserye magkasama kami. Back then, I'm a skinny guy, malaki tiyan, bata may buhok pa. Wala pang tattoo. Totoy pa. Tapos I saw this big guy. Ako kasi ugali ko I don't mingle with them if I don't know them. I just sit down wait for my turn eh siya 'Parekoy, John Apacible pala.' Tapos from then on nagtetext kami, nagkikita kami sa mga trabaho. Tapos matagal kami di nagkita eh. Pagkita niya sa akin mamang mama na ako. Tapos nagkita kami sa teleserye ng MInsan Lang kita Iibigin kasi I'm one of the casts, siya rin. Militar siya ako rebel. Niyakap niya akong mahigpit. 'Hanga ako sa yo pre. Biruin mo yun. Buhay nga naman. Sobrang proud ako sa 'yo," Lloyd began.

"Parang after ten years nagkita kami, kami pa rin magkakwentuhan sa soap, walang pinagbago kasi knowing that guy, hindi siya mapapel. Pag may kwentuhan yung mga big stars sa isang table tahimik lang yun. Kasi mahiyaing tao yun. So ako naman, ganun din ako eh. Hindi ako yung nakikisawsaw. Tahimik lang kami. Kasi yung pinagkwekwentuhan namin tungkol sa gym, pagiging athletic, diet kasi he told me once na he's planning to join the Iron Man thing. He's convincing me to do that as well para new experience. So I was so devastated when I heard the news na all of a sudden patay siya. Sana nabangga na lang siya ng kotse eh kasi alam kong mabubuhay pa yun eh. Warrior yun eh. Alam mo feeling ko magka tribo kami kasi pareho kami ng paniniwala, ng gusto, vision pag dating sa health. Isa sa mga tao na nagkakaintindihan kami," he added.

According to reports, John's family will no longer file a case against his assailant, his own uncle Armand Rustia. Armand is also reportedly out on bail.

Though obviously saddedned by the decision of John's family, Lloyd respects the situation. However he said that if he were to do it his way, he would have wanted to give John the justice he deserves.

"Ako mahirap ng mag comment when it comes to that. Kasi napaka lungkot isipin na kamag-anak pa eh. Wala ako dun para mag comment pero nagpapakatotoo lang ako talagang bakit si Tito pa. Hindi ko alam eh. Siguro kahit si John kahit wala na siya dito yun ang tanong din niya. Hindi siya matatahimik. Well may mga ibang tao na sinasabi na 'Hope he's happy' sa akin hindi happy si John sigurado ko sa 'yo yan. Kakwentuhan niya yung mga anak niya eh before he died, may request yung anak niya na 'Dad gusto ko ng digicam na Nikon. '[Sabi ni John] kahit hindi kaya ni Daddy yan kakayanin niya.' Tapos yung son niya si John Jr. kinukwento niya na nagyayakapan pa sila nag wrewrestling wrestling pa. '[sabi ni John] Tulog ka sa bahay mamaya para may ka wrestlingan ako parang kinukwento nila na sobrang lambing niya [John] nung gabi na yun eh yun pala parang nagpapaalam na," he continued.

"I went in sa mismong burol, di ko na nakayanan talaga. Ako takot ako sa mga ganun eh pero yung tipong kahit magparamdam sa akin okay lang kasi alam ko pareho kami ng ugali eh, nakikita ko yung sarili ko sa kanya. Talagang nahalikan ko pa yung ataul iyak ako ng iyak. They invited me to say something for John dun sa bahay so ako sana magkaroon ng hustisya yun lang ang sa akin. Kung ano man yun, di ko alam kung anong nangyari eh pero gusto ko lang magkaroon ng hustisya para kay kuya John."

Lloyd also said he hopes that people won't think that he's using John's death just to be noticed.

"Ako I'm not expecting anything na gagamitin ko siya or something kasi ako nagpapakatotoo lang ako. Medyo napaiyak ako [nung interview with SNN]. Mabait siya sa akin eh tska isa sa mga tao na tumulong na isang example siya kasi. Like right now isa akong matatag na tao kasi sa mga pagsubok, isa siya sa mga nagbibigay sa akin ng advice," he said. "Sabi nga ng Mama ko 'Ano ba yang trending trending na yan? Sabi ko I'll ask my brother kasi ako hindi ako gaano ma computer. Wala sa plano ko yung gagawin ko 'to para mapunta sa Yahoo! para mapag-usapan. Wala eh kasi ako kung ano yung tanong mo yun ang isasagot ko kasi yun ang totoo. And I wanna thank those people who searched. Nagbigay ng oras para sa akin."

Getting to know Lloyd

Aside from being one of the cast members of "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin," Lloyd is also one of the familiar faces in television because of his commercials with a popular pizza restaurant. Aside from being an actor and a model, few people know that Lloyd also shares the same passion as his sister Jessa Zaragoza: singing.

"It all started when I saw her [Jessa Zaragoza] performing onstage nung mga 15 ako o 16 [years old]. Sabi ko gusto ko ng ganyan, respeto. Of course sabi ko 'Naku may kita.' Hindi pala ganun kasi sinubukan kong kumanta hindi pala lumalabas yun pag hindi mo talaga niyakap yung musika. So I learned the hard way na yun after a while parang sinasabi nila 'Yang si Lloyd di pa hinog yan.' [Nung] pumwesto ako sa banda 'dun nakarinig ako na 'Bro pakiusap lang. Dito sa banda hindi mukha ang binibayadan sa yo.' Yung nagsabi sa akin 'nun I'm thanking him na nasabi niya 'yun kasi pinersonal ko yun na ginawa kong inspirtion. Lalo akong nanggigil na matuto," explained Lloyd.

"Ako I sing for a living ever since bago mag Greenwich. Nalibot ko na halos lahat ng bars sa Malate, sa QC sa Makati with my band until now sila pa rin yung kasama ko."

Lloyd is also known for the numerous tattoos in his body. But, in spite of the 'bad boy' image, Lloyd revealed he is living a healthy lifestyle.

"I'm very thankful nga na puro tattoo ako pero hindi ako naninigarilyo. Nagulat nga yung Ortho kasi nagpa cleaning ako last week sabi niya 'Bat wala kang pasta?' Kininditan ko siya sabi ko 'kala mo ha may tattoo lahat may bisyo ha' sabi ko 'hindi puro gatas to.' Ako I'm not encouraging people to get tattoo pero for me it's a self expression eh pero ako pag tatanungin pag bata wala pa sasabihin ko think twice thrice before getting it kasi ako nandito na yung tattoo ko eh pag-isipan nila ng marami kasi permanent na yan. Ako eh I'm so thankful lang na yung Greenwich nakita ako at naniniwal sa kin till now."

He also said his tattoos somehow limits his acting roles but he still remains grateful for all the blessings he's receiving.

"Ako I'm not expecting anything. Kung anong dumating kung ano mang yan kung kasama sa lead or hindi tatanggapin ko lang. Puro tattoos eh. Meron namang kumukuha so far. Sa Studio 23 sa Yamaha I do host the show every 8:30 am Sunday so naghohost din ako. Lahat pinapasukan ko dancing na lang hindi medyo mahirap eh," said Lloyd, laughing.

"So I'm thankful sa Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, isa ako sa cast, giving me a break. Kasama ko nga yung talagang mga big stars. Nakakataba ng puso na kasama ako. Of course sa Greenwich, mga boss talagang sobrang parang kapatid ko na, my family, my manager na si Mama Ogie na Tatay ko na Nanay ko pa, supporting me all the way giving me yung mga pangaral. I'm so blessed right now na family ko they're in good health. I have my own place. Dati marami akong pinagdaanan talaga. Yung mga tipong pareho sa mga tao na nagsusurvive. Ngayon at least kahit papano may napundar ako. Gusto ko ikwento sa kanila yung napagdaaanan ko para kahit papano mabigyan sila ng inspiration. Kunwari medyo mahirap yung mga pinagdadaaanan mo ngayon, basta alagaan mo lang sarili mo, tiwala sa Diyos yun ang importante. Sana kahit madami nangyayari sa mundo sa ibang bansa what going on right now. Sana have faith magmahalan tayo kasi sa huli tayo tayo rin magtutulungan. No pain no gain yan ang sabi ni John. Sa lahat ng pagsubok sa lahat ng hirap, may harvest time yan so don't give up kaya natin yan."

On April 2, Saturday, 8pm, Lloyd will be having his first concert at Area 5, (Old Ratsky) Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

"It's a show for a cause for Breast Cancer Patients from Kasuso Foundation na I'm happy that my manager Mama Ogie Diaz gave me a chance to showcase my talent and to help people na rin of course yun ang gusto ko talaga makatulong din sa tao and I'm glad na maraming susuporta. Natuwa nga ako sa director ng Greenwich nung ininvite ko si Direk To sabi niya 'Weh kumakanta ka? Wag ka nga ganyan binibiro mo ako eh' 'Direk manuod ka may concert talaga ako.' The Greenwich team will watch, yung mga kasama ko sa Greenwich of course Ms. Kay Brosas will be there to support me, my special guest and yung mga cast ng 'Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin,' pupunta rin sila to support," he said.

Time for Willie to leave the Philippine television?

Image via WikipediaI join the countless concerned citizens who expressed disgust at the way Willie Revillame treated six-year-old Jan Jan Suan on his show "Willing Willie" on TV5. I urge the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to go beyond their press releases and not let Willie get away with it.

Why am I not surprised at Willie's latest act of impropriety? He is a recidivist who has never learned from his previous mistakes. In 1999, "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" was suspended by MTRCB because of the way Willie and co-hosts Randy Santiago and John Estrada behaved with the Calendar Beauty contestants.

In 2003, Willie was back on the air with "Masayang Tanghali Bayan" but it wasn't long before his arrogance got him into trouble again. I was a member of an MTRCB committee that recommended his suspension for uttering a sexually suggestive joke at the expense of the height-challenged comedian, Mahal. Before ABS-CBN could impose the penalty, Willie voluntarily resigned.

Two years later, the Kapamilya network conveniently forgot his past transgressions when its noontime show was floundering against GMA-7's "Eat Bulaga." They resurrected Willie's career through another noontime show "Wowowee" and true enough, ABS-CBN's ratings improved. To no one's surprise, Willie would get into trouble once again because of his sense of importance. First, he asked, nay commanded, ABS-CBN  to fire DZMM show biz commentator Jobert Sucaldito for criticizing his show and threatened to resign if the network chose Jobert over him. At the same time, he was lambasted  for complaining about the insertion of the coverage of Cory's funeral into his program.

The network had no choice but to ask Willie to go on leave. Despite the unresolved legal problems at ABS-CBN, however, TV 5 managed to sign Willie to an early evening show called "Willing Willie.' Again viewership must have been the primary consideration.

Despite his checkered past, Willie attracted big ratings. After only five months, history repeats itself. Once again, Willie has crossed the line.

This time, it's because he subjected a six-year-old boy to ridicule by allowing him to perform a macho dance that you only see in gay bars. Despite Jan Jan's tears, Willie egged the boy to keep dancing. The complaints started as a whisper on social media but pretty soon, the objections got louder and louder prompting several government agencies to step in. Willie was forced to apologize.

But Willie's apology was no apology at all. When one apologizes, a person admits his mistake and promises not do it again. Willie continued to justify what he did. He says he didn't realize what the number was about.  If so, he should have stopped the number and moved on to another segment. Instead, he encouraged the boy to keep on dancing despite his tears. He explained that the boy's parents did not object to Jan Jan's dancing on the show. That's no excuse. Ultimately, it was Willie's judgment that mattered.

Willie continued to stress that everything they do in the show is designed to help the poor. He issues his own threat that if the advertisers who have been urged by various groups to leave his show, his followers will boycott their products. That's what I call delusions of grandeur.

Willie has proven time and again that he cannot change his ways. It's time to take Willie off the air. TV5 chairman Manny Pangilinan did the honorable thing when he apologized for his plagiarized speech at the Ateneo and offered to resign from the Board of Trustees. Getting rid of Willie is a no-brainer.

Disclaimer: The views and observations of the author do not represent the position of Yahoo! Southeast Asia on the issue or topic being discussed.