ANNOUNCEMENT The Webmasters of this site have started to update some pages and links. Feel free to check them out. Thank you. GRAND FANS Christmas Party on Dec 15, 2004 with the Diamond Star.... for details please contact Alodia Soriano (0927) 922-6437 or Marie Umali (0917) 664-8948 MARICEL: AT PEACE WITH HERSELF & THE WORLD 07.26.2004 The Philippine Star Maricel Soriano was not expecting an award when she graced the recently-concluded Film Academy of the Philippine Awards Night held at the CCP. Maricel was having the time of her life with colleagues and friends, when her name was finally called in the Best Actress category for her magnificent performance in Viva Films’ Filipinas (which has already won for her the Best Actress plum in last December’s Metro Manila Film Festival). She admits she was nervous on her way to the podium not having any idea what to say in her speech. "But I prayed and asked the Lord to guide me and the speech turned out okay. I thanked Him first of course, then the award giving body, my co-star, my producer and director. I also thanked my friends and supporters who loved me all these years. I’d like to believe that I was able to say everything I had to say that night. I was really happy," said the woman who knows her life is a shower of blessings from God. Marya, lovely in her Inno Sotto baby pink terno, was escorted by eldest son Marron whose outfit was also by Inno. Marron’s two month-vacation from military school in California ends this month. He leaves again first week of August. "I was in a table with Marron and my niece Meryll Soriano during the awards night. It felt good to be with my son. He enjoyed it. Tien had to stay home. He has classes early the next day and he couldn’t afford to stay up late. He has to be asleep by 8 p.m.," the doting mother says. Maricel has practically won in every award-winning body in the country. Proof of it is her long line of trophies totalling 15 citations. "But I have not won in Urian, not once," she said with a smile adding, "it would be nice to look forward to that. Para makumpleto," she said. That night, Maricel said several movie producers mentioned possible projects for her in their outfits. "Direk Maryo (delos Reyes) and the producer of Magnifico, Mrs. Violet Sevilla told me they are interested to do a movie with me. And Mother Lily too. She said we’ll be doing a movie soon. I just entrust everything up to Wyngard (Tracy, her manager). He knows what’s best for me in that aspect," she added. Maricel is still awaiting Wyngard’s go signal on which movie project will be up for her next. Meantime, she just did advance tapings for Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis for ABS-CBN. "Mr. M (Johnny Manahan, the director) is leaving for a vacation and Buboy (Cesar Montano, her leading man) will be leaving for Bohol for a movie shoot. "We taped around three to four advance episodes, which means I have more free time to be with the kids. I’m more hands on now, as in I get to inspect Tien’s assignments as much as I can. And I enjoy the time we have with Marron, before he leaves for abroad again. I really enjoy the opportunity to bond with them." Maricel said Marron is kind of possessive with her time. "He always texts me what time I’ll finish when I am in the studio taping. And he instructs me to go right home after the taping so we can watch out favorite programs. Parang boyfriend," she laughs. Maricel is truly a picture of joy and contentment. And because we know that that peace comes from the Lord, we know, too that the reason for that is because Maricel has given back all the glory of her new life to God. 04.10.04 MARICEL SORIANO about the movie The Passion of the Christ. “I was crying the whole time that I was watching the film. I didn’t think I will be able to see it through. It was a very powerful movie that has made me recall all the things, the wrongdoings that I have committed in my lifetime. I realized just how feeble, compared to what Jesus suffered, all that I have suffered in my life. While watching the film, I was asking for forgiveness and I was praying. I went home immediately after watching it and had that melancholy mood for the next two days, just praying and meditating. That was how powerful that movie was for me. I don’t think I could bear the same agony in my heart if I watch it again.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARICEL! 02/25 Marya, sinurpresa nina Dolphy, Cesar at Tien-Tien! Pero si Nida Blanca, hanap-hanap pa rin sila! Pakape-kape pa si Maricel Soriano sa paligid ng ABS-CBN nu‘ng Lunes ng gabi habang binabasa ang iskrip ng sitcom na Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis nila ni Cesar Montano. Walang kamalay-malay si Marya, na may surpresang ihinanda sa kanya ang pamunuan ng Dos, kasama ang buong staff at crew ng sitcom nila ni Cesar. Habang nagkakape si Marya, abala naman ang buong staff ng show nila sa pag-aayos ng entablado na pagdadausan ng special para sa kanya. Isang simpleng stage ‘yon, na parang nagbabalik sa mga ala-ala ni Marya sa programa niyang Maricel noon. May malaking video screen din sa tabi para naman sa mga videos na kinalap pa mula sa iba’t ibang pelikula niya noon pati na rin sa mga programa niya sa telebisyon. Pero, habang nagkakape rin si Marya, kasama ang mga kaibigan, abala na rin ang mga kasamahan niyang artista sa pagbibihis ng damit at pagmi-make-up. Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas, nagulat na lang si Marya dahil sa kainitan ng kape na hinihigop niya ay biglang sumulpot ang Daddy niya, si Mang Dolphy, na naka-puruntong lang at lumang damit. Pero, wala pa ring ideya si Marya sa nagaganap, at kahit dumating na rin sa harap niya si Cesar, at magkasama sina Dolphy at Cesar na niyaya siyang pumasok na sa studio para mag-take na, hindi pa rin alam ni Marya ang nagaganap. Sa studio 10 ng Dos, napansin ni Marya ang napakaraming lobo sa paligid. Pero, marahil ay inisip na lang niya na kakailanganin ‘yon sa mga eksena, deadma pa rin si Marya. Medyo nakaramdam na lang si Marya nang kakaibang drama nang mapansin niya na walang humpay ang pagtutok ng kamera kahit saan siya magpunta. Nandun si Carlos Agassi para sa Victim, nandu’n din si Mario Dumauwal para sa TV Patrol, at ang staff ng The Buzz. Sa pagpasok ni Marya sa studio 10, nabulgar na ang lahat-lahat sa kanya, dahil bumulaga ang napakaraming tao. Ilang minuto pa ay sinimulan na ang programa. Lumabas sina Mahal at Mura, kumanta at sumayaw, ganun din sina Smokey Manaloto at Vhong Navarro, na nagsuot ng seksing damit na pambabae, na animo ay miyembro sila ng Viva Hot Babes. Siyempre, ang awiting Bulaklak ng Viva Hot Babes ang binanatan nila, na ikinaloka ni Marya. Walang humpay na halakhak ang ginawa ni Marya, dahil sa malalaking bilbil ni Smokey, at ang malalaking tela na inilagay niya sa kanyang dibdib, na mukhang boobs. Siyempre, nag-appear din si Ai Ai delas Alas, na sinayaw ang mga paboritong sayaw ni Marya noong kabataan niya. Ipinakita rin ang iba’t ibang eksena na sumasayaw si Marya sa kanyang mga pelikula. May mga interview rin sa mga kaibigan ni Marya, at halos lahat sila ay sinabi ang kabaitan nito, at ang hilig sa pagti-text tuwing madaling araw ng tungkol sa iba’t ibang linya sa Biblia. Pero para sa akin, humaplos sa puso ng lahat ang awitin ni Mang Dolphy. Hindi ko matandaan ang title ng kinanta ni Mang Dolphy, pero may kinalaman ‘yon sa kanilang pinagdaanan ni Marya. Habang kumakanta si Dolphy, ipinalalabas din ang mga video na magkasama sina Dolphy at Marya. Siyempre, ang John en Marsha na unang pinagsamahan ng dalawa.