ALL ABOUT DUBAI......THE MOVIE

[mhie]

Tiyempo
by Chit Ramos
Sept. 22, 2005.

JOHN LLOYD, ninamnam ang halik ni Claudine

ISANG katulad ni Claudine Barretto ang tipo ng babae ni JOHN LLOYD Cruz.

"She has the mystery, na hinahanap ko sa isang babae. Kung wala siguro siyang Raymart Santiago ngayon, I think I will easily fall in love with her," ani Loydi.

Kahit tapos na ang pelikulang "Dubai," that particular mys-tery haunted Lloydi (his pet name). "Na love-at-first sight ako sa kanya. Umiiyak pa siya nang tanungin ko kung ano ang dahilan at kung may maitu-tulong ako sa kanya. Binitiwan niya yung mga linya, which made me love her."

Matagal nang crush ni Lloydi ang dalagang malapit nang ikasal. "I saw her billboard of ‘Folded and Hang.’ ‘Yung tanned siya. Ang seksi-seksi niya at ang ganda-ganda. Grabe ang epekto noon sa akin. Hindi ako nangarap na maging leading man niya, because I know then that it was a remote possibility. Pero, it was there at the back of my mind. Kaya nang ibalita sa akin ang project na ito, natulala ako. Hindi ako naniwala hang-gang mapunta kami sa Dubaiat nagso-shooting na.’

Ayaw sanang banggitin ni Lloydi ang kissing scene nila ni Claudine. Pero, hindi siya pinayagang manahimik lang ng mga kausap niya. "I want to keep it to myself sana, dahil, nahihiya ako sa kanya. One more thing, gusto kong sarilinin ang very tender moment na iyon.’

******************************

Idol


Marami naman ang nagtanong kung bakit napipi yata siya (Lloydi) when asked by Boy Abunda kung ano ang masasabi niya kay Aga Muhlach in just one word.

"Nahihirapan kasi akong sabihin sa kanya kung ano man iyon on-cam. I’d rather say it in person, because l have lots in mind for ‘Da Man.’ Gusto kong sabihin na ‘tao rin pala siya.’ You know what I mean siguro?

"’Yung ini-idolo mo kapag na-kasama mo pala, eh, puede rin palang makausap. Maging kaibi-gan. ‘Yung magbibigay generous-ly ng mga pointers kung paano ko dapat i-handle ang career ko.

"It was really an overwhelming experience. He is really too good to be true! Napakasipag din niya. ‘Yung passion niya, hindi maawat. Pagod na pagod kaming lahat, pero siya, hindi. Nahahawa tuloy kami, nagagaya sa kanyang hindi marunong magpahinga."

[mhie]

MALAYA ENTERTAINMENT
STUDIO WHISPERS
ETHEL RAMOS
SEPT. 22, 2005


JOHN LLOYD learns from Aga to make acting a passion

There’s an aura of confidence about JOHN LLOYD Cruz these days. The young actor himself admits that he has just recently mustered this. And he says he owes it all to Aga Muhlach, with whom he is appearing for the first time in “Dubai.” The movie also stars Claudine Barretto.

JOHN LLOYD confesses that he has always admired, if not idolized Aga, who personified everything he wants to be as a person and as an actor. This JOHN LLOYD has felt even before he met the guy.

"Napakaliit ng mundo ng showbiz," states JOHN LLOYD, "kaya you get to know about someone bago mo pa man ito makilala. Kahit pa ‘di mo inaasahang one day soon ay magiging katrabaho o magiging friend mo siya.

"With Aga, I found not just a brother but a friend as well," he continues. "One who understands me, one who respects me. He is one who is responsible for opening my eyes to the fact that acting is not just work but a passion. No wonder he is such a good performer."

Aga may seem quiet but he can be madaldal, according to JOHN LLOYD. Nevertheless the younger star has never heard the much-awarded actor say anything bad against anyone. "Sabi pa nga niya sa akin, I might as well keep my mouth shut kung wala rin lang akong masabing mabuti tungkol sa isang tao. Which is true, ‘di ba?"


JOHN LLOYD liked the script of "Dubai" the moment he read it. Funny, but his initial interpretation of the role changed tremendously when he faced the camera, thanks to Direk Rory Quintos, whose patience, understanding and support made not just him but Aga and Claudine, too, give "more than expected" to their roles.

We asked JOHN LLOYD how he would rate his performance in "Dubai."

"Compared to that of Aga’s, I refuse to comment," JOHN LLOYD said. "He is one-of-a kind in this business.

"But I learned much from him. Binanggit niya sa akin, anyone can succeed in any endeavor he ventures into pero, mangyayari lang ito if he helps himself and stay focused. Pray a lot, too, for it can make a big difference, Aga also told me."

[mhie]

ITO ANG L8ST NGAYON! Ni Eric John Salut
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 09/22/2005

Kitang-kita ko ang pagod ni JOHN LLOYD Cruz nang huling makausap ko ito sa Windows Cafe sa The Loop. Nagti-taping si JOHN LLOYD nang araw na yon for Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin. Kahit pagod, hindi mo mariringgang magreklamo ang mahusay na aktor.

Finally ay natapos na niya ang last scenes for Dubai. Kararating lang ni JOHN LLOYD mula sa Dubai. Tinapos nila ni Aga Muhlach ang last scenes nila. Yun ang ending ng pelikula na sinasabing iiyakan mo talaga.

Pagbalik, sabak agad si JOHN LLOYD sa taping ng Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin. May isa pa siyang pelikulang tinatapos kung saan kasama si Bea Alonzo. Ito yung love trilogy ng Star Cinema.

[mhie]

MALAYA ENTERTAINMENT
DREAM FACTORY
MARIO E. BAUTISTA
SEPT. 22, 2005

There’s only one girl for Aga

AGA Muhlach left last Friday for Dubai to shoot the final scene of their movie, “Dubai.” “It’ll just be me, JOHN LLOYD Cruz, Direk Rory Quintos and the cinematographer,” he says. “We’ve already shot an ending for it the first time we went there, but I thought of a better ending and told Direk Rory about it. Nagandahan siya, so we’re now returning there to shoot this scene involving John and I. Maiiyak ang viewers dito.”

For this scene alone, Star Cinema is spending an additional P1 million. "I do a film just once a year so I want it to be really good. Before we shot this, the script had 12 revisions. We even meet sa bahay ko para ayusin ang script at mas gumanda ang flow ng story. My character is based on a real guy Ricky Lee met when they made a research in Dubai. Gusto niya, lahat ng tao sa paligid niya masaya. Takbuhan siya ng lahat for help at hindi marunong tumanggi. In the process, his own life suffers. This is a different kind of OFW movie na pinoproblema ang naiwang pamilya sa Pilipinas. This one shows exactly what happens to them sa life nila in Dubai."

The film will be premiered in various cities in Europe and the U.S. "I will go to the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and London premieres. First time for Star Cinema to premiere a movie in so many venues abroad, kasi kasama rin ang San Francisco, Vancouver, Vienna and Milan."

He’s been married to Charlene Gonzales for four years now. What’s Charlene’s best qualities as a wife?

"Si Charlene ang suwerte sa buhay ko. I can feel her love for me is so real and she never changes. She always thinks of me before making any move or decision. She’s very supportive to my career. When I’m shooting a movie, I usually don’t want to break the mood so when I get home, ayokong magsalita. Sometimes, I’d sleep in another room but she’ll just let me alone, no questions asked. Sometimes nga, I’d check in sa hotel and okay lang sa kanya. She trusts me completely and just visits me the next day with our kids to ask if I’m okay. Other wives would suspect agad na may ginagawa kang kalokohan. But not my wife, sobrang bait niya. The truth is, I’ll have second thoughts bago ako gumawa ng kalokohan kasi hindi ko ipagpapalit ang asawa ko kahit kanino and I’ll never do anything na mababastos siya."

[mhie]

Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 09/22/2005
NITZ MIRALLES

May kissing scene sina JOHN LLOYD Cruz at Claudine Barretto sa Dubai. Take one kinunan ni director Rory Quintos ang eksena. Pinilit alamin sa actor kung ano ang lasa ng halik ni Claudine?

"Walang taste but, it was soft. Medyo matagal ang eksena, may time to feel it. Parang nag-linger. Walang ilangan after the take and she was very professional. She wanted us to rehearse bago kunan ang eksena," kuwento ni JOHN LLOYD.

Nagpahayag lang ng takot si JOHN LLOYD sa malaking expectation ng tao sa kanya. Sana raw, hindi niya ma-disappoint ang mga ito’t, like the rest of the cast, ginawa niya ng buong husay ang kanyang trabaho.

Sa September 28 na ang regular showing ng movie na majority ng scenes ay kinunan sa Dubai.

[mhie]

Philippine Daily Inquirer
Dollywood
By Dolly Anne Carvajal
Sept. 22, 2005

‘Catching up with my old friend, Aga Muhlach


IT’S ALWAYS A JOY TO SEE AGA MUHLACH. Except for becoming even more gorgeous through the years, “Morning” (his pet name) has not changed a bit. Since I spent most of my teenage years hanging out with his cousin Liezl (Martinez), I practically watched him grow up. When we met for lunch recently, I brought along an old photo of ours (taken way before his “Bagets” days). We both had a good laugh recapturing memories. Aga remembers every little thing. He is such a “totoong tao” that I sometimes forget how famous he is. That eye and heart for detail Aga also made evident in his latest movie “Dubai.” He revealed, “We had 12 revisions of the script. I gave my creative input to the story. I wanted to make sure that every scene will leave its mark. It’s not your typical love triangle. There are no cutesy scenes. The characters blurt out what they really feel. No more beating around the bush.” Based on the film’s full trailer I must say that the whole gamut of emotions Aga showed are so real.

You can almost taste them! Since he has limited himself to do only 1 movie a year, you can be sure that he gave his all to “Dubai.” Aga says, “I am eager to hear what critics will say about the film. I am confident that they will like what they see.”


‘My wife, my life’

I asked Aga if he sees himself in the character (Raffy, an OFW supporting a brother) he portrays in the movie. He says, “Just like Raffy, I give and give and give. But I don’t spoil my siblings. Instead of just giving them food, I taught them how to fish, so to speak. Even with my son Igi, I support him in his education but I don’t give him gas or gimmick money. I want to teach him discipline. Frankly, I got shocked when he decided to get a place of his own. So I told him, ginawa niya ‘yun dapat kaya niyang panindigan.”

What if he ever gets trapped in a love triangle with his brother and a woman in real life, just like in “Dubai?” Aga quipped, “I will always give way to my brother. If I were still single kahit ilang girlfriend ko pa ang gusto niya, kaniyang kaniya na. But now that I’m married, no way will I give up my wife for my brother or for anybody. My wife is my life!”

Isn’t he wary of newcomers, like his co-star JOHN LLOYD Cruz? “I’m still here. All-praise ako for JOHN LLOYD. All newcomers should be like him. Binibigyan niyang pansin ang pag-arte.Di siya nagiinarte! I have a road to follow; JOHN LLOYD has his own. Even when I turn 50, I will still be Aga Muhlach.” Then he flashed his signature bedimpled smile. Even if he has matured as an actor, he still looks as “bagets” as ever.

[mhie]

MANILA BULLETIN
Celebrity World
Crispina Belen
Sept. 23, 2005


Claudine, JOHN LLOYD are brilliant actors – Aga Muhlach
Claudine Barretto and JOHN LLOYD Cruz are two equally good, if not brilliant performers, Aga Muhlach, the country’s premier leading man, had to contend with in "Dubai," their first movie together. Aga said all three of them have truly equally good roles, so much so, they have to sometimes put themselves to the limit, with, of course, the brilliant supervision of their director, Rory Quintos.


So, how did they all fare in "Dubai?" we asked Aga.

"We did our best. And the result is an empowering film about love. Love between a man and a woman. And love, too, between siblings.

"Moviegoers will realize, after watching this movie, how intensely one can love his own flesh and blood. John and I are siblings in Dubai."

"In this movie," Aga continues, "We might as well be representing all siblings the world over. And that’s how far siblings will go to prove their love for each other. Even to the extent of giving up one’s girlfriend."

The story and script of "Dubai," produced by Star Cinema, is a collaboration between two noted scriptwriters, Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella–Salvador. It is a composite story of Filipinos working in Dubai.

"I salute them," said Aga of the OFW, (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Dubai. "They who have to leave home to enable them to give comfort, if not luxury, to their families.

"We, their countrymen, who are back home share their earnings. They provide us with the dollars we need. They are the true heroes of our time."

[mhie]

FROM ABS-CBN INTERACTIVE

[mhie]

FROM ABS-CBN INTERACTIVE

[mhie]

FROM ABS-CBN INTERACTIVE