Darna Pilot Episode Tops Ratings

Darna, the GMA-7 fantaserye starring Marian Rivera, generated a massive 44.1% to lead all programs, according to the latest overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households.

It has a significant margin of 11.8% over second-placer Tayong Dalawa, which posted a rating of 32.3 percent.

How did the pilot episode Marian’s Darna fare against the premiere episode of Angel Locsin’s Darna, which was shown in 2005?

Angel’s Darna still rated better with 47.1%, or a three% margin compared to Marian’s Darna.

When Angel’s Darna was airing, GMA-7 was dominating the ratings game in Mega Manila. Angel’s Darna made history when it reached 52.1% on its fourth episode, where Angel appeared in a Darna costume for the first time.

That figure was the highest rating achieved by any GMA-7 show at that time. It was only broken in 2008 when the final episode of Marimar, starring by Marian and Dingdong Dantes, achieved 52.6%

It should also be taken into account that Marian’s Darna is being broadcasted at a time when ABS-CBN is giving a very strong competition in the ratings game. Also, Darna is competing against May Bukas Pa, considered the No. 1 program of the Kapamilya network, which also topped the primetime race for a number of times.

On Aug 10, May Bukas Pa dropped to sixth place with 24.6%. Aside from May Bukas Pa, Darna’s pilot episode, which ran for over an hour, was also pitted against Only You, which came in seventh place with 24.5%.

Rounding up the top five are GMA-7’s24 Oras (31.9%) and Rosalinda (28%), and ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol World (27%).

Wowowee Host Willie Revillame Draws Criticism Over Comment on Ex President Cory’s Wake Live Feed

Are we still surprised to hear that Willie Revillame is rude and arrogant?

For all his millions, he still hasn't learned that "it's not what you say, it's how you say it." His millions also failed to teach him manners and sensitivity.

While a live feed of ABS-CBN’s special coverage of the transfer of Cory’s remains from La Salle Greenhills gym to the Manila Cathedral was airing during the noontime show’s Willie of Fortune segment, Revillame demanded that the live video be removed.

Revillame bitchily snapped “Di po maganda. Nagsasaya kami dito habang nagluluksa ang sambayanang Pilipino. ‘Di ko magagampanan ang pagpapatawa habang ipinapakita ang libing ng dating president."

In response, the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (AFIMA) urged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to teach the host a lesson.

Willie Revilla, probably sensing his popularity and his source of income being threatened, explained that he meant no disrespect by his comment. “Ang feeling ko hindi magandang ipinapakita ‘yon habang kami’y nagsasaya... Sa sitwasyon na ito, kung may nasaktan ako, I’m sorry. Sa pamilya Aquino, alam ng buong pamilya Aquino [na] wala akong masamang intention doon."

A temporary suspension from the MTRCB will not, in any way, affect Willie Revillame. Hit Willie where he will be hurt the most – through the ads being shown in his show. The bulk of Willie’s income comes from companies who give him millions for just mentioning their products on his show. Without these ads, his arrogance will dry up pretty fast.

Let’s write to advertisers to boycott his show or we will boycott their products if they don’t. To make Willie’s downfall a sure thing, stop watching his show. Low ratings mean very little ads.

Somebody tell Willie that Wowowee has no social or historical significance whatsoever. Capitalizing on the sob stories of your contestants and giving them a prize for leaving their dignity in tatters on nationwide TV don’t give you relevance, Willie – merely an opportunist hiding behind the name of charity to endear yourself to people.

Somebody also give a little history lesson to Willie. He or his show will never be more important than Cory or the Aquino clan to The Powers That Be of ABS-CBN. Without Cory Aquino, there is no ABS-CBN, Meralco. The Lopezes owe a great deal to Cory Aquino for giving back to them their holdings and assets that were sequestered during the Marcos regime.

Pwede ba, Willie is the most powerful figure in entertainment only in PEP’s subjective list. In real life, isa siyang bastos at arogante na nagpapanggap na TV host.

YUCK!

Controversy Surrounds National Artist Nominations

Artists are protesting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s decision to confer the national artist award to an official of the agency that screens the nominees for the prestigious title, and a movie director whose nomination had been rejected twice.

Critics said Cecille Guidote Alvarez should have had the delicadeza to refuse because she is the executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which administers the award together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Alvarez heads the NCAA secretariat that receives nominations for national artists.

Mrs. Arroyo recently conferred the award to seven individuals: Manuel Conde for cinema; Federico Aguilar Alcuaz for visual arts; Lazaro Francisco for literature; Francisco “Bobby" Mañoza for architecture; Jose "Pitoy" Moreno for fashion; Magno Jose Carlo Caparas for visual arts and film; and Alvarez for theater.

Caparas’ nomination was twice rejected by two NCAA panels. Caparas was first proposed as a nominee for literature, but the committee rejected him. He was again proposed as nominee for visual artist but the panel again turned him down. The title conferred to Caparas “appeared to have duplicated" that of Conde.

Film Academy of the Philippines director general Leo Martinez was also surprised how Caparas landed on the elite list. "He was obviously added by Malacañang," Martinez said on Spot.ph. Caparas, a comics writer who later turned to film making, is known to be a vocal supporter of Mrs. Arroyo.


The NCAA and CCP panel only submitted four names to Mrs. Arroyo: Conde, Alcuaz, Lazaro, and Ramon Santos, who was nominated as national artist for music. Santos was not included in Mrs. Arroyo’s list of awardees.

National artist for visual arts Benedicto Reyes Cabrera said “There used to be prestige. Well, since the presidency of Ramos there has been an understanding that the President can add one choice … there was Carlos Quirino (historical literature) , Alejandro " Anding ‘ Roces (literature) , Abdulmari Asia Imao (visual arts). But this time (Mrs. Arroyo) added four."

“They might as well just appoint (their own choices) and not go through the whole process. I will boycott the awards. I will not march. I will not mention any names but we heard that there was one very influential person who helped manipulate the results," Cabrera said.

Ex-President Corazon C. Aquino Passes Away (1933-2009)

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, icon of people power in the Philippines and around the world, passed away at 3:18 a.m. Saturday, her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III, said. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest.

The 76-year-old Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year and was treated with chemotherapy. Last May, she underwent surgery to remove parts of her colon and was brought to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) in June due to loss of appetite. She never left the hospital, as her declining condition sparked a wave of emotion in the country and prompted the widespread appearance of yellow ribbons - on trees, car antennas, and even the Web.

He added that they chose a private funeral arrangement for the late president rather than avail of a state funeral in Malacañang.

After being confined for barely two months at the MMC, Mrs. Aquino passed away early Saturday morning surrounded by her children.

Dressed in her signature yellow, Mrs. Aquino rallied the middle class in a series of protests culminating in the 1986 people power revolt that toppled the 20-year regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos and swept her to the presidency.

She blamed the Marcos government for the assassination of her husband, opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was gunned down at the Manila airport upon returning from exile in 1983.

The former housewife reluctantly took over as Marcos’ main challenger, becoming an international icon of democracy after her victory sparked a wave of pro-democracy movements around the world. Time Magazine named Mrs. Aquino its Woman of the Year in 1986.

After her presidency, Mrs. Aquino retired to private life. She took an active interest in painting, with flowers and women as subjects, and joined various art exhibits to raise funds for her advocacies: the Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation, PinoyMe, ASA Foundation, and People Power People.

But she remained an influential figure in Philippine politics, lending her presence to political causes that needed her iconic stature.


Amid an overcast sky and a light downpour, Aquino’s remains arrived at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City to a shower of yellow confetti.

Aquino is dressed in a yellow Paul Cabral dress embellished with Swarovzki crystal beads. Although visibly thinner, the former President looked serene.

In Aquino's hand is a rosary with pink beads and gold chain. Spokesperson for the Aquino family Lourdes "Deedee" Siytangco clarified that the rosary was not the one given by Sister Lucia, one of the three shepherd children who supposedly saw the Virgin Mary at Fatima in Portugal.

"That one is blue," Siytangco said, referring to Lucia's rosary.

The two-day viewing will be closed for three hours from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Sunday and Monday to give way to maintenance work.

From La Salle, Mrs. Aquino’s remains will be brought to the Manila Cathedral where overnight vigils and requiem masses are scheduled. A necrological Mass will be held Tuesday night.

After a 9 a.m. Mass Wednesday, Mrs. Aquino’s body will be brought to the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque for interment. No details have been disclosed yet to media about the funeral procession route.

Senator Aquino said that his mother will be buried beside the remains of his father, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., assassinated upon his arrival in Manila from the United States on August 21, 1983.

The Aquino family has also set up a memorial site at the historic EDSA Shrine called "The Dedication Garden for Tita Cory," where supporters can leave their flowers and notes for the former head of state.

Blind Items: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Aktres-pulitiko Na Nabuntis ng Pulitiko sa isang Siyudad, nagtago abroad para manganak

Ayon sa tsismis, isang aktres-pulitiko ang nasa ibang bansa dahil nagdadalantao ito. Nakapanganak na ang aktres at ang itinuturong ama ng anak ay ang isang mataas nga pulitiko sa syudad na pinagseserbisyuhan ng aktres-pulitiko.

Kalat na ang balita sa buong munisipyo na nanganak na ang aktres sa anak ng mataas na opisyal.

Clue: Major problem ang sitwasyon ngayon ng aktres at ng mataas na pulitiko sa isang siyudad, major problem.

My guess: Marjorie Baretto and Rechom Echiverri


Seksing Aktres, Ibinuyangyang ang Kaloob-looban ng Puday sa Sex Video Nila ng Ex-BF na singer

Ayon sa source, Matindi ang mga shots na nakita nya sa naglalagablab na pagse-sex ng seksing aktres at ang kanyang ex boyfriend. Pati ang pinakaloob na part ng flower nya pinabayaan nyang kunan nung lalaki.

Anong panama sa kanya ni _____ (ang modelong nakasex sa isang pinagpipistahan pa ring sex video nila ng isang doctor?) Magaling lang na hinete yung isang yun, pero sa pag-eemote, kabog na kabog siya ni seksi aktres.

Clue: Todo na ‘to. Walang border-border kahit sa South.

My Guess: Rufa Mae Quinto and Duncan Ramos