JUST A THOUGHT: “Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.” – Brion Dyson
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FROM TV TO MOVIES: A TV actor’s popularity is usually anchored on a running series, a regular TV show. Now that he’s without a daily series, Richard Yap says he’s not losing sleep whether or not he has remained popular to the public eye. He shot to fame in a rather belated manner through soap series, Be Careful with My Heart.
‘I am not worried sick if one day I wake up and I’m no longer popular,’ he said during a media event recently.
He’s thankful that at this point in his life, the 40s, he got to taste the trappings of stardom. Of course, Richard isn’t letting grass grow under his feet.
He’s channeling his TV stardom to the big screen by way of frequent incursions therein. He recently co-starred with Jody Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion in Achy Breaky Hearts.
This time around, he plays leading man to Jean Garcia in“MANO PO 7 CHINOY,’ Regal Entertainment’s early Christmas offeringopening on December 14.
“Mano Po” is the country’s biggest film franchise in drama. It has featured some of our brightest stars, like Susan Roces, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Lorna Tolentino, Maricel Soriano, ZsaZsa Padilla, Kris Aquino.
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BIGGEST BREAK IN FAMILY DRAMA: ‘Chinoy’ marks Richard Yap’s biggest break in a family drama.
He plays a business tycoon who is overly protective of his loved ones, including his wife (played by Jean Garcia), and kids (Enchong Dee, Janella Salvador and Jana Agoncillo).
First-time cast members in the millennial version of “MP” are Jean, Enchong, Janella, Jana.
The movie also stars Jake Cuenca, Jessy Mendiola, Marlo Mortel and Kean Cipriano.
Enchong is the troublesome son who rebels against his dad.
Janella is the daughter who wins the heart of her music teacher (Kean Ciriano).
Jake, meanwhile, portrays the role of Jean’s secret lover.
Jessy is Enchong’s girlfriend whom he meets at a rehabilitation center.
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SHOT IN TAIWAN: Shot partly in Taiwan, “MP7” tackles conflicts in a Chinese-Pinay marriage, and shows Chinese traditions and practices never-before seen in previous “Mano Po” installments.
‘MP7” is directed by Ian Lorenos, the man behind such films as “The Leaving,” for which LJ Reyes won a best supporting actress award, and “Alagwa,” which gave Jericho Rosales a Gawad Urian best actor trophy. (NESTOR CUARTERO)