WHAT'S NEXT FOR TEEJAY MARQUEZ?

No doubt Teejay Marquez has made a milestone in his showbiz career by penetrating the Indonesian showbiz scene via his dubsmash videos which went viral in 2016.  He may not be a big star there but certainly he has made a mark and gained droves of fans in the Southeast Asian country of nearly 300 million population.  

He has done a movie called "Dubsmash: The Movie" and appeared in several TV shows.  He is also made it to the cast of Indonesia's version of Taiwanese hit soap "Meteor Garden" titled "Siapa Takut Katij Cinta ("Who's Afraid of Love").  Looking at the meet and greet event for STKC cast in Jakarta earlier this year, there's no doubt that he has indeed gained a tremendous following in Indonesia with his charm and good looks, but sad to say, not quite, in his home country.  

Before he embark his showbiz career in Indonesia, Teejay did several projects in his former home studio GMA 7 but in 2015, he transferred to ABS-CBN and  appeared in supporting roles in a few soap operas.  His stint on Kapamiliya network was somewhat cut short when he decided to go to Indonesia. 

He announced earlier this week on his Facebook account that he'd met with ABS-CBN big bosses and the possibility of having a teleserye with Kapamilya Network.  Apart from his talent agency in Indonesia, Teejay is managed in the Philippines by ALV Talent Circuit headed by Arnold Vegrafia.   He is currently in the country and will soon star in a movie to be directed by Adolf Alix, Jr.

41st GAWAD URIAN NOMINEES REVEALED

"Respeto," a movie about a struggling rapper who dreams of hip-hop stardom leads the 41st Gawad Urian Awards with 12 nominations including Best Film, Best Director for Treb Motreras II and Best Actor for Abra. 

As expected Indie films dominated the list of nominees, mostly coming from independent film festivals like Cinemalaya, QCinema and One Cinema Originals however many of these films have yet to be released for commercial run.   An ordinary movie fan remarked "It's strange... but I have never heard most of the films nominated."  True enough, only those film enthusiasts who religiously attend local film festivals are well-informed about the nominated films.

Only "Kita Kita" survived among the mainstream movies which incidentally, is the 2nd highest grossing film for 2017, next to Vice Ganda monster hit "Gandarapiddo: The Revenger Squad."  Blockbuster mainstream films like "Unexpectedly Yours," "Love You to the Stars and Back," "Seven Sundays" failed to merit a single nomination.  Urian also snobbed 2017 MMFF Best Director winner Paul Soriano (for "Siargao") and Iza Calzado's performance in "Bliss" where Calzado won the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Performer at the 12th Osaka Film Festival last year. 

"Balanginga: Howling Wilderness" received 10 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director for Khavn de la Cruz.  The movie, set in Samar in the early 1900 follows the journey of a young boy and his grandfather as they fled Balanginga to escape the horrors of American occupation of the Philippines.

"Birdshot" and "Boy Intsik" received 6 nominations each including best picture.

This year's "Natatanging Gawad Urian" award will be given to Wilson Raval, musical director of "Vanishing Tribe" who has scored 40 feature films to his credit including Lino Brocka's "Jaguar" and most of Ismael Bernal films. Recipient of this award last year was movie icon Vilma Santos-Recto.

I have only watch 3 films among the nominated films.  These are "Birdshot," "Respeto," "Kita-Kita," and "Bagahe."

Here's the full list of Nominees:

BEST FILM: Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Bhoy Intsik The Chanters Respeto Tu Pug Imatuy	BEST DIRECTOR: Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, Kita Kita Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Joel Lamangan, Bhoy Intsik James Robin M. Mayo, The Chanters Treb Monteras II, Respeto Mikhail Red, Birdshot
BEST ACTRESS Joanna Ampil, Ang Larawan Angeli Bayani, Bagahe Alessandra de Rossi, Kita Kita Gloria Diaz, Si Chedeng at Si Apple Dexter Doria, Paki Jally Nae Gilbaliga, The Chanters Agot Isidro, Changing Partners Elizabeth Oropesa, Si Chedeng at Si Apple Bela Padilla, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella Angellie Nicholle Sanoy, Bomba Malona Sulatan, Tu Pug Imatuy	BEST ACTOR Abra, Respeto Nonie Buencamino, Smaller and Smaller Circles Timothy Castillo, Neomanila Noel Comia Jr, Kiko Boksingero Allen Dizon, Bomba RS Francisco, Bhoy Intsik Jojit Lorenzo, Changing Partners Empoy Marquez, Kita Kita Sandino Martin, Changing Partners Justine Samson, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR John Arcilla, Birdshot Robert Arevalo, Ang Larawan Romulo Caballero, The Chanters Dido de la Paz, Respeto Pio del Rio, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Nor Domingo, Respeto Ronwaldo Martin, Bhoy Intsik Jess Mendoza, Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig Arnold Reyes, Birdshot	BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Yayo Aguila, Kiko Boksingero Angeli Bayani, Maestra Shamaine Buencamino, Paki Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Siargao Chai Fonacier, Respeto Nathalie Hart, Historiographika Errata Odette Khan, Bar Boys Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Ang Larawan Gloria Sevilla, Maestra
BEST SCREENPLAY Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, Kita Kita Ronald C. Carballo, Bhoy Intsik Njel de Mesa, Alberto Monteras II, Respeto Christopher Gozum, Dapol Tan Payawar Na Tayug 1931 Jerry Gracio, Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Andrian Legaspi, John Bedia, The Chanters Arnel Mardoquio, Tu Pug Imatuy Kip Oebanda, Bar Boys	BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Ike Avellana, Respeto Albert Banzon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Mycko David, Birdshot Mycko David, Neomanila Bryan Jimenez, Arbi Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy TM Malones, Baconaua JA Tadena, Smaller and Smaller Circles
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Bagwani Ampalayo, Tu Pug Imatuy Popo Diaz, Respeto Gino Gonzales, Ang Larawan Marielle Hizon, Baconaua Ericson Navarro, Smaller and Smaller Circles Daniel Red, Neomanila Thesa Tang, Kita Kita Marija Vicente, Timmy Harn, Zeus Bascon, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness	BEST EDITING Lawrence Ang, Respeto Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Lawrence Fajardo, Ang Larawan Jay Halili, Smaller and Smaller Circles Marya Ignacio, Kita Kita Marya Ignacio, Changing Partners Carlo Francisco Manatad, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness John Anthony Wong, Bhoy Intsik
BEST MUSIC Arnel Barbarona, Tu Pug Imatuy Ryan Cayabyab, Ang Larawan Vincent de Jesus, Changing Partners Jay Durias, Respeto Erwin Fajardo, The Chanters Khavn de la Cruz, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Lutgardo Labad and Odoni Pestelos, Smaller and Smaller Circles	BEST SOUND KC Caballero, Ang Larawan Aian Caro, Birdshot Corrine de San Jose, Respeto Stephen Lopez, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Mikko Quizon, Changing Partners Jeff Sabayle, Tu Pug Imatuy Immanuel Verona, The Chanters
BEST DOCUMENTARY Jose S. Buenconsejo, Seven Dances of Life JL Burgos, Han-Ayan Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat, History of the Underground Ramona Diaz, Motherland Phyllis Grande, Haunted: A Last Visit to the Red House Nawruz Paguidopon, God BLISS Our Home Dempster Samarista, Bundok Banahaw, Sacred and Profane Victor Delotavo Tagaro and Toshihiko Uriu, Yield	BEST SHORT FILM Glenn Barit, Aliens Ata Christian Candelaria, Sa Saiyang Isla Carl Adrian Chavez, Sorry for the Inconvenience Kiri Dalena, Gikan Sa Ngitngit Nga Kinailadman          (From the Dark Depths) Keith Deligero, Babylon Kyle Fermindoza, Manggagarab Dennis Hubag, Empyreus TM Malones, Bawod Carlo Francisco Manatad, Jodilerks Dela Cruz,         Employee of the Month Roanna Mercado, Piko Maje Papin and Ef Orpiada Jr, Lutab Joseph Vincent "Xeph" Suarez, Si Astri Maka Si       Tambulah (Astri And Tambulah) Edmund Telmo, Redempsyon Kim Timan, Caramel Child

TOP 10 PRETTIEST FILIPINA CELEBRITIES U25

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the prettiest of them all?  

There are just too many beautiful actresses and celebrities in the Philippines and it's quite hard to trim down to just ten. One way of selecting is to group them according to age bracket.  The following list covers only celebrities with ages ranging from 15 to 25. These young and beautiful celebrities do not just have their pretty faces to boot but they are confident, sexy, dynamic and have achieved a fair level of celebrity status based on glamour, beauty and success ratios.  The list includes eight TV and movie personalities, one top model and one up-and-coming newbie in showbiz.   

Here's the top 10, in random order:

Liza Soberano, 20

Liza is always on top of everyone's list.  The pretty Filipina-American actress rose to prominence after playing the protagonist Maria Agnes in the popular teleserye "Forevermore" opposite loveteam Enrique Gil and since then her career has leveled up notches ahead of her contemporaries.  Her last film "My Ex and Why's was a certified blockbuster.  Liza has been tapped to play "Darna," a popular Filipino fictional super hero and this might just elevate her to superstar status.

Jessy Mendiola, 25

Kapamilya Actress Jessy Mendiola was voted "2016 sexiest woman" in the Philippines by readers of popular Men's magazine, FHM Philippines.  Jessy starred in about 10 feature films and has appeared in various television series ("Maria Mercedes," "You're My Home)" and gag show "Banana Sunday."

Julia Baretto, 21

Julia is definitely one of the prettiest actresses of her generation.  With 2 blockbusters under her belt ("Vince and Kath and James" and "Love You to the Stars and Back"), Julia has proven that she has what it takes to be a big star and she is here to stay in showbiz just like her well-known aunts Gretchen and Claudine Baretto. 

Julia Montes (22) - the "Going Bulilit" graduate and star of "Mara-Clara" has come a long way.  She is often referred to as the Daytime Drama Queen due to her successive daytime hit teleseryes (such as "Doble Kara," "Walang Hanggan" etc.).  Julia returns to the small screen with another explosive drama titled "Asintado."

Maureen Wroblewitz is a 19 year old Filipino-German fashion model, best known for winning the 5th Cycle of Asia's Next Top Model where she represented the Philippines.  She has graced Asia's top fashion magazines and appeared in local TV commercials and print ads.

Yassi Pressman (22) - Viva Contract star. She is currently in the cast of top rated action tv series "Ang Probinsyano."  Her career has blossomed since she transferred to ABS-CBN.  Yassi is also a top notch dancer.

Janella Salvador, 19, made her breakthrough debut role in "Be Careful with My Heart" and has appeared in about 5 feature films.  Janella was picked by Disney to sing the themesong of "Moana"  ("How Far I'll Go") along with other singers from South East Asian region for their respective country's market.

Kate Valdez (17) is a GMA Artist and has appeared in popular tv series like "Destiny Rose" and "Encantada."  She's one of the most promisng Kapuso star.

Sofia Andres, 19, is currently managed by Star Magic.  Sofia has appeared in various tv series ("Pusong Ligaw," "Forevermore") and a few feature films ("She's Dating a Gangster," "Bloody Crayons") and landed a leading role in Regal Films' "Mama's Girl."  She is also in the cast of a new ABS-CBN tv series "Bagani" topbilled by Liza Soberano. 

And last but not the least is 15 year old Chantal Videla.   Even though her name does not ring a bell, it's hard not to include her.  Her beauty gives a breath of fresh air. This up-and-coming sweetheart will surely be blessed on the A-list in due time.  Chantal is currently managed by Star Magic and sources says she might be co-managed by Liza Soberano's manager Ogie Diaz.  Chantal had a taste of spotlight at the age of 10 being one of the models of SM Kids and she has also done TVC for Eskinol.  She's recently featured in Chalk Magazine.

I might have missed some of the popular celebrities.  The inclusion of Chantal Videla may not please fans but it's hard not to include her and blown away by her pristinely radiant beauty.