ZOE TAY. Her DICHOTOMY between the GLAM PUSS + ANGEL personas. The QUEEN still REIGNS!

Beautiful women?

Let's check this one out.

ZOE TAY from SINGAPORE.

Our team is trying to find the appropriate superlatives:

She is a

Woman of style.

Beautifully clad,

Attractively staid.

Fashion icon.

Understated actress.

She's one soulful contradiction

MAKING HER STATEMENT .....

Roll on, buddy.

ZOE TAY IS STILL SINGAPORE'S TOPMOST GLAM PUSS.

Queen of Caldecott Hill SINGAPORE.

She has been, FOR MORE THAN ONE DECADE.

Passe, you said?

We beg to differ.

She basked in the limelight during her hey days as a top fashion model - long before she metamorphosized her transition into a stunning actress.

We dare say that there's not one female artiste in MediaCorp Singapore that can photograph as well as ZOE TAY does.

She crosses diverse roles on print, from the sublime to the sultry, the alluring housewife to the vixen.

She's the ANGEL. She's the DEMON.

There's this X-factor in her all her pictures, go ask any glitterati and paparazzi.

ZOE shines. Non-plussed at best.

Maybe only Miss FANN WONG comes close

But that's another story.

We adored ZOE years ago.

And we still have the hoots for her NOW.

She is one actress that has withstood the test of time.

She's still sparkling at 40, gloriously attractive all these years,

Some of her once-upon-a-time tarty fans have switched camps,

And may be unkind with their snide remarks about her.

But no matter -

To each his own and spite is adherent in most things we do,

Just like this song A CERTAIN SMILE -

We'll still go on carrying this torch for her.

A certain smile, a certain face
Can lead an unsuspecting heart
On a merry chase
A fleeting glance can say
So many lovely things
Suddenly you know why my heart sings

You love awhile and when love goes
You try to hide the tears inside
With a cheerful pose

But in the hush of night
Exactly like a bitter sweet refrain
Comes that certain smile
To haunt your heart again

ZOE TAY, the Glam Puss Dichotomy revisited and personified once more.

THIS QUEEN STILL REIGNS DESPITE CHALLENGERS FROM A STEADY STREAM OF SUCCESSORS-IN-WAITING.

There are simply, too many copy-cats,

Talking about FASHIONISTAS -

Our team researched into myriad of pictures of ASIAN BEAUTIES and am captivated by the perennial elegance and allure of:

In HONG KONG, BRIGETTE LIN CHING HSIA, LILY HO and JENNY HU reign supreme, past and present.

In SINGAPORE, our unanimous votes go to ZOE TAY, JACELYN TAY and PHYLLIS QUEK.

In THAILAND? PENPAK SIRIKUL and SINJAI PLENPANICH.

In the PHILIPPINES we are wowed by HEART EVANGELISTA and ANNE CURTIS.

These are BRANDS, not mere products, irreplaceable and will endear and glow- as long as the aura of glimmer still shimmers.

Kudos.

JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA when the bubble bursts. A lesson on LOVE and BREAKING UP.

Another celebrity break-up?

This one is from the PHILIPPINES and is about a once-upon-a-time "undying devotion" that has gone awry.

Regarding the star line-up above, I am sure many in MALAYSIA (JERICHO has a huge fan following there) are familiar with JERICHO ROSALES (a.k.a. ECHO) and HEART EVANGELISTA.

So you'd have no problem to identify the faces of Hollywood's new actress BRIANA EVIGAN (of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS fame) and CARMEN SOO (Malaysia's model/actress).

IN ASIAN TINSELTOWN, it's hard to rule out what is "real" from what is "reel".

It's also difficult (though not impossible) for an artiste to find true friends in this dog-eat-dog industry of make-believe, rivalries and petty jealousies.

Your fellow artiste may congratulate and wish you well on a plum role that has just landed on your lap, but how sincere are his good wishes? Sweet words do not maketh a friend.

It is safe to say that every not-so-popular actor is longing for his rival to "topple" from grace so that he can take over the reins, well, hopefully.

The entertainment world is full of manipulators - the media machines and the television stations, and the "feuding" artistes will just be fodders to more gossip to boost sales and ratings.

Of course, as in every business, company politics are rampant, and MORE so in the the entertainment circle where creeps and "plastic" people are always lurking around.

So it comes as NO SURPRISE that when JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA (Philippine on-screen and off-screen sweethearts) called their 3-year old relationship quits officially in May 2008, the television stations played up the split to garner more ratings by interviewing the hapless artistes on national television to a point where it was impossible for either of them to take on another recourse.

Or is it the other way around, where the stars are using the media to devise a "prime-time publicity blitz" for themselves as some form of promotional gimmick?

JERICHO ROSALES comes from a humble background and his is a poor boy-to-successful-rich-actor as compared to born-rich HEART EVANGELISTA. This may not be a match made in heaven as HEART's wealthy parents have always objected to the relationship.

It has also been rumoured that JERICHO has fathered a child years back, but nobody can attest to this "hiccup in the grapevine".

Both JERICHO and HEART are under the management of MANILA GENESIS, but HEART has moved on to greener pastures by signing up with GMA-7.

Bad boy JERICHO (a born again Christian) has been espied to be two-timing HEART by having flings with upcoming American Actress BRIANA EVIGAN and Malaysian actress CARMEN SOO which caused HEART to put a damper on their relationship (or this is just a timely excuse for a fresh start in a career move)?

SO WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE BUBBLE BURSTS ..... WHEN LOVE DIES?

I totally agree with fellow blogger THESS BACSAL when she said

"If the heart is the place where loves come from, then where does love go when it dies?

But does love ever really die?

If someone has hurt us in the past, is there a need to shut off the feelings we have for him or for her, so that we may feel better?

The years that two persons been together is something that can never be thrown away nor forgotten.

Love never dies.

In fact, you will always care about that one special person, but on a different degree of loving.

You will always be concerned for his or her welfare.

You will never wish ill of that person no matter how much they made you cry, or left your heart to bleed".

For JERICHO, the world is a stage and life goes on.

For HEART, hell knows no fury like a woman scorned.

For us, it's a lesson about LOVE that we should learn from their breakup, that love needs to be nurtured, and to stay faithful in top form to the one we care about.

And never to take our soulmate for granted.

'Cos sometimes, true love may not come this way again.

DID SOMEONE SAY THAT LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU ARE SORRY?

JEWELS from the PHILIPPINES. PINOY STARS that will always SHINE.

Now, let's explore the PHILIPPINE CINEMA LANDSCAPE and unearth some treasures here.

Ah, these are some of the gems that surely glitter :

SHARON CUNETA.

She's one of the finest actresses of all times, in the Philippines.

And her name spells box office magic.

She still shines, after all these years, after more than two decades in the Pinoy entertainment.

She has gone from strength to strength, without even a breath of scandal.

She has risen from popular star to megastar over the years, and her torch is continually blazing the trail.

She is SHARON CUNETA, effervescent philippine actress, singer and host extraordinaire.

She has tons of accolades to her show business status, yet she remains very much the down-to-earth, demure, soft-spoken, benevolent woman, full of warmth.

Yes, she has piled on some pounds, but look at her sparkling eyes - they speak volumes.

Everybody adore here - her family, friends and fans.

Her latest successful film THE CAREGIVER is one touching tale on the travail of an overseas worker who sacrifices her teaching position for a much better paying job as a nurse in London, so as to be with her no good, self-indulgent husband.

This is definitely another feature that's going to garner her another best actress recognition.

Viva, SHARON !!

JERICHO ROSALES

My Pinoy friends are fast to claim that JERICHO's popularity is fast dimming on the Philippine entertainment track.

Of course, there will be many die-hards who will beg to differ.

Yet there's always the prospect of overseas fame to make up for this loss since he is currently wrapping up a drama series shot in Malaysia and the Philippines.

You win some, you lose some.

Why?

JERICHO is the perennial bad boy, and there are simply too many rumors of her dalliance with a really gorgeous Malaysian female artiste -CARMEN SOO, better known as a beautiful model than as an accomplished actress.

Then the famous break-up with HEART EVANGELISTA, his off screen sweetheart of three years is getting him bad vibes everywhere.

Poor JERICHO, let's see if his new ABS-CBN and DOUBLE VISION joint soap opera is going to "lift him up above all these problems".

For sure, JERICHO is perceived as a better and larger-than-life actor in the cinema than on television.

Let's see how ratings fare when this soap series finally hit the small screen. The previous two Philippine-Malaysian collaborations had left much to be desired.

Maybe the JERICHO ROSALES and CARMEN SOO formula will save the day this time as JERICHO has a huge following in Malaysia.

With all the bad press lately, JERICHO certainly deserves a break.

Best of luck, JERICHO.

COCO MARTIN

COCO MARTIN caught my attention when I watched him on Daybreak, Tambolista and the Masseur.

He is due to bare his frontal in a forthcoming art house flick called SERBIS.

And he's not even batting an eyelid as this is ART and it is his profession.

The great thing about COCO is that he is bold, daring and adventurous.

And is experimental when it comes to a diversity of film roles, following in the footsteps of EWAN McGREGOR.

I would not call COCO MARTIN handsome in the real sense of the word, but he has that immense charisma and his charm just seeps into you in all his movies.

Let's say COCO is cute, la ... lest I get slaughtered by his fans.

It's a lot better than being a pretty boy pin-up with no talent.

COCO MARTIN is one star that will shine ever so brightly in the years to come, if he is fully dedicated to horning his craft.

We shall see, so stay tuned, folks.

JOEM BASCON (for the BIG SCREEN)

Once in a long while, a shining star will illuminate in the far horizon.

Such is the case of JOEM BASCON.

“You’ve to watch out for our big screen’s newbie JOEM BASCON,” film director ADOLF ALIX JR enthused. “This guy’s going places.”

Going where?

Of course, with ADOLF’s films doing the international film festival circuits, the name JOEM BASCON would soon and surely, be a recognized name outside of the Philippines as well.

JOEM oozes:

• Star quality


• Screen presence


• Disarming smile that reeks playfulness.


• Kind-of-younger-brother version of PIOLO PASCUAL. Strong semblance of youth and innocence and will give PIOLO a run for his money.

JOEM has already collaborated with film director ADOLF in two of his features, BATANES and ADELA.

And there’s one soon-to-shot Asian feature called KALAYAAN starring alongside THAI actor ANANDA EVERINGHAM of SHUTTER fame, co-produced by KEN CHU from F4.

With his mentor ADOLF ALIX JR grooming him for regional stardom, what more would a big screen newbie wish for?

A shining star?

Light up your torch in Asia soon, JOEM !!

JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA when the BUBBLE bursts. A lesson on LOVE and BREAKING UP.

Another celebrity break-up?

This one's from PHILIPPINES and it's about a fairy tale that has gone awry.

Regarding the line-up above, I am sure many in MALAYSIA (JERICHO has a huge fan following there) are familiar with JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA.

Hence you'd have no problem to identify the faces of Hollywood's new actress BRIANA EVIGAN (of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS fame) and CARMEN SOO (Malaysia's model/actress).

IN ASIAN TINSELTOWN, it's hard to differentiate what is "real" from what is "reel".

It's also difficult (though not impossible) for an artiste to find true friends in this dog-eat-dog industry of rivalries and petty jealousies.

Yeah, your fellow artiste may congratulate

you on a plum role that has just landed on your lap, but how sincere are his good wishes?

Sweet words do not maketh a friend.

It's also safe to say that NOT every every actor is longing for his rival to "topple" from grace so that he can take over the reins.

The entertainment world is full of manipulators - the media machines and the television stations, and the "feuding" artistes will just be fodder to fuel more gossip to boost sales and ratings.

Of course, as in every business, company politics are rampant, MORE so in the the entertainment circle where "plastic" people are always lurking around.

So it comes as NO SURPRISE that, when JERICHO ROSALES and HEART EVANGELISTA (Philippine on-screen and off-screen sweethearts) called their 3-year old relationship quits officially in May 2008, the television stations played up the split to garner more ratings by interviewing the hapless artistes on national television, to a point where it was impossible for either of them to take on another recourse.

Or is it the other way around, where the stars are using the media to devise a "prime-time publicity blitz" for themselves as a form of promotional gimmick?

JERICHO ROSALES comes from a humble background and his is a poor boy-to-successful-actor as compared to born-rich HEART EVANGELISTA.

This may not be a match made in heaven as HEART's wealthy parents have always objected to the relationship.

It has also been rumoured that JERICHO has fathered a child years back, but nobody can attest to this "hiccup in the grapevine".

Both JERICHO and HEART are under the management of MANILA GENESIS, but HEART has moved on to greener pastures by signing up with GMA-7.

Bad boy JERICHO (a born again Christian) has been espied to be two-timing HEART by having flings with upcoming American Actress BRIANA EVIGAN and Malaysian actress CARMEN SOO which caused HEART to put a damper on their relationship (or this is just a timely excuse for a fresh start in a career move)?

SO WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE BUBBLE BURSTS ..... WHEN LOVE DIES?

I totally agree with fellow blogger THESS BACSAL when she said

"If the heart is the place where loves come from, then where does love go when it dies?

But does love ever really die?

If someone has hurt us in the past, is there a need to shut off the feelings we have for him or for her, so that we may feel better?

The years that a couple spent together is something that can never be thrown away nor forgotten.

Love never dies.

In fact, you will always care about that one special person, but on a different degree of loving.

You will always be concerned for his or her welfare.

You will never wish ill of that person no matter how much they made you cry, or left your heart to bleed".

For JERICHO, the world is a stage and life goes on.

For HEART, hell knows no fury like a woman scorned.

For us, it's a lesson about LOVE that we should learn from their breakup, that love needs to be nurtured, and to stay faithful in top form to the one we care about.

And never to take our soulmate for granted.

'Cos sometimes, true love may not come this way again.

DID SOMEONE SAY THAT LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU ARE SORRY?