Vina lands new shows, wins case against former loverVINA Morales is given a second wind in her career on Net 25. She used to just play supporting roles in ABS-CBN soaps.

Now, she’ll play a lead role opposite former boyfriend Robin Padilla in the sitcom which, we must admit, has a very contemporary and millennial title, “Kesaya-saya.”

Aside from TV5, it’s good that another TV station is going full blast now that ABS-CBN is out of circulation on free TV and that is Net25, the official station of the Iglesia ni Cristo which is best known for the “Moments” show of Gladys Reyes.

Aside from the sitcom, we heard Vina is getting another show in Net 25. She will be the host of a talent show that has another contemporary and millennial title, “Tagisan ng Galing”, while Robin will also host a livelihood show with a similarly millennial title, “Kaagapay sa Hanapbuhay”. They will eventually also make teleseryes and even full length movies. Our best wishes!

Meantime, in her Instagram account, Vina wrote: “PWEDE PAKIGISING PO AKO? Parang nananaginip ata ako. God is great. Sa tagal po ng panahon ngayon lang po matutuloy ang tambalan namin ni @robinhoodpadilla sa telebisyon sa @net25tv po. Sa mga ROVINA na naghintay ng mga lampas tatlong dekada. Mapapanuod nyo na po kami ni Bin sa telebisyon! Sis @marieltpadilla hugs to you… Yan ha, tuloy tuloy na ang kilig onscreen. Salamat po sa @net25tv family sa pagkakataon na eto. For more details po, Please visit Net25’s FB Page NOW! KESAYASAYA wahhhhhh, at isa pa, Bisaya din po ako dito. Aguyyy”

Pilita Corrales will play her mom in the sitcom and they’ll be supported by other Iglesia ni Cristo actors. Vina is truly so happy these days because a libel case filed against her by Cedric Lee, the father of her lovechild, Ceana, has been dismissed in Caloocan. Lee has actually filed six libel cases against her and, so far, five have been dismissed. Only one reamains, the one filed in San Juan in 2013.

Vina ended her relationship with Lee, also involved in the cases filed by Vhong Navarro against him and Deniece Cornejo, in 2009. While she was abroad, Lee took their daughter and she filed a kidnapping case against him. In retaliation, he then filed libel cases against her. A court in Mandaluyong convicted Lee of kidnapping and failing to return their daughter in 2018.

Vina says she has not had any communication with Lee for several years now. But if ever, would she admit daughter Ceana to visit her dad? “There’s a virus circulating now,” she says. “Bawal lumabas ang mga bata dahil sa pandemic.’’

What if Lee would contact their daughter even on the phone? “As of now, hindi sila nag-uusap. But eventually, it will be up to my daughter kung gusto niyang kausapin ang father niya o hindi. I will let her make the decision for herself at hindi ko siya pangungunahan.”

Paolo gets breaks he deserves

PAOLO Contis obviously profited well from the good feedback he got for his fine performance in the drama flick, “Through Night and Day” when it was rediscovered by viewers of Netflix. We’ve always maintained that he’s one of our better actors. It’s just too bad he got so identified with comedy through ‘Bubble Gang’ and also with villain roles

We’re glad he’s now shooting a new movie for Viva and also playing a lead role in GMA-7’s new drama anthology, “I Can See You”, with Yasmien Kurdi and Andrea Torres as his leading ladies. It’s very noticeable that he has lost weight lately, unlike before when we’d see him in “All Out Sundays” looking chubby and chunky. What happened?

“Pinangatawanan ko ang pagpapayat kasi masyadong bumibigat ang timbang ko,” he says. “Nahihirapan akong yumuko to tie my shoes. E kasi noong quarantine, wala kang ginagawa dahil walang tapings, kain ka pa ng kain. So lolobo ka talaga. Now, it’s so hard to diet.”

He has stopped eating a lot. “The first thing I did is to resort to juicing. Puro juice lang muna, so dusa, kasi ang sarap kayang kumain. In one week, six days, puro juice lang ako at isang araw lang ako kumakain ng totoong food. Napapanindigan ko naman.”

He also now does some exercises. “Sinasabayan ko ng jogging, around our village lang. Sa panahon ngayon ng pandemya, it’s really important to stay healthy and strengthen our immune system, para mas lumakas ang resistencia ng katawan natin laban sa virus.”

So how is it taping his “I Can See You” episode? “Okay naman, kasi na-miss ko rin talagang umakting. We shot on location in Laguna, sa Cavinti and sa Caliraya Lake in Lumban. Walang virus cases doon, but we still practice the usual safety protocols and restrictions to make sure walang mai-infect sa amin.”

What’s the story all about? “The title of our episode is ‘The Promise’. I play a man who’s grieving over the death of his wife, si Yasmien Kurdi, then I met Andrea Torres pero may mahiwagang mangyayari sa amin kasi, sasapian ni Yasmien si Andrea. Abangan nyo dahil naiiba ‘yung story nito.”

Paolo has also found a new career as talk show host in GMA Artist Center’s online show, “Just In, Kumustahan on Line”. His recent interview with now U.S. based former actor Leandro Munoz registered a lot of hits after he admitted he has a daughter who’s now a transman. Paolo is so relaxed as a host.

“Talagang parang nangungumusta lang ang style ng pagi-interview ko,” he says. “Ayokong nape-pressure ‘yung celebrity na kausap ko, para mas makapag-open up siya to the viewers.