Lipgloss is a loose adaptation of the hit TV series Gossip Girl ( and so don’t fret about it, LOL, it’s just a loose adaptation ) and follows the lives of the students of an ultra-exclusive high school through the school’s “unofficial” blog. Most of the stars of Lipgloss are newcomers and some are under-exposed talents of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. Kevin Lapena is the main male lead named, Edge. Kevin Lapena is 18 years old. A college sophomore in De La Salle University, majoring in Applied Corporate Management. Kevin Lapena graduated high school from Don Bosco Makati. I had a chance to talk with Kevin Lapena and asked him how did he start in Philippine Showbiz and how he feels about getting a plum role in Lipgloss. Kevin Lapena said, “I am new to the industry, as a whole. Lipgloss is my first show and stint in acting. This is my first time actually to start going to vtr’s for commercials and fortunately i ended up doing one with Judy Ann (Santos). And in those times of my auditioning, my uncle, Lorenzo Mara, (also in the Lipgloss cast) made me audition for the show. ‘for fun lang’ daw. And fortunately, i didnt just get in the show, i got a lead role.”

I asked Kevin Lapena how he is in real life, showbiz aside. Kevin said, “I’m really into sports and fitness. I’m part of the DLSU Dragon Boat Team. I’m into mixed martial arts, mainly grappling and kick boxing, and i also play basketball. I swim and box too as part of my work out.”

Kevin Lapena plans for his showbiz career? “As of now, I’m just doing lipgloss and stuff for TV5 like Take5 and Philippines’ Scariest Challenge, but hopefully i’ll get to do more projects soon.”

Also headlining Lipgloss are Star Magic’s Rodjun Cruz, brother of Rayver Cruz, playing the main antagonist Jake; Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Season 1 housemate Fred Payawan as Jake’s younger brother Jiggo and Mikee Lee as the resident bad boy Maui; first Little Big Star winner (and whom Charice Pempengco lost to) Sam Concepcion as the moderator of the website Lipgloss as Kyle.

In real-life, these boys are all from exclusive schools. Rodjun Cruz is from De La Salle high school, Fred Payawan is from Colegio San Agustin, now of De La Salle, and Mikee of Ateneo from elementary to college.

Playing the two female leads are Saab Magalona as Meg and Maxine Eigenmann as Abby. Saab is the younger sister of Maxene Magalona and the second eldest daughter of Francis Magalona and Pia Arroyo; Maxine’s famous dad is Mark Gil.

Three other three new girls are Cheska Ortega playing Ziggy, the younger sister of Edge, who is formerly from Poveda and had to transfer to Reedley International School because Poveda did not allow her to be on showbiz; Charina Suzara, playing the wannabe rich girl Julivee, is a student of OB Montessori; and Mary Grace Perido, the loner skating champ Louise, is from San Agustin College in Cavite.

Another Star Magic talent Miki Hahn plays the bad girl Steph. She is the only member of the cast who stopped schooling after finishing high school.

Also in the cast are Lorenzo Mara, Rachel Lobangco, Lloyd Samartino, and Ricardo Cepeda. Lipgloss is directed by Cris Pablo and Aleah Eugenio. Lipgloss shines every Saturday, at 5 p.m.

AJ Perez was hailed as the Cutest Boy of the Philippines or so it seemed in the annual poll of Candy Magazine, a magazine geared for teens and tweens alike. In its 100 Candy Cuties for September, AJ Perez tops the initial list. The poll lasts until the end of the year. Last year’s initial Candy Cutest is Dino Imperial but was eventually overtaken by Pinoy Gossip Girl Sam Concepcion.

Sam Concepcion is Gossip Girl in the Philippine edition, or something to that effect, lol..No, our Hollywood fave Gossip Girl is not about to be tagalized or with exactly the same characters and story ala My Girl. After all, the CW show Gossip Girl is a hit in itself here. What i am talking about is a new tv show based loosely on Gossip Girl called Lipgloss. LIPGLOSS is about the triumphs and travails of the students of upscale Linden High, and how their personal and muddled relationships, misfortunes, heartbreaks and dreams beyond their “glossy” images are revealed through their website by an anonymous blogger. Hearttrob Sam Concepcion plays Kyle, a geeky freshman who has a nose for both mischief and gadgets; he also turns out to be the secret moderator of LIPGLOSS.

Cheska Ortega plays Ziggy, a freshman obsessed with breaking into the upper crust of popularity. Louise is Mary Grace Perido, one of the more sought after fresh talents today. Miki Hahn is the campus “mean girl”. Mikee Lee and Fred Payawan (yes, the controversial in this blog, Fred Payawan) play Maui and Jiggo respectively.

Meg is Saab Magalona, now coming into her own as a deep actress. As Meg, Saab is both sassy, refreshing and loyal, determined to ride and conquer the roller coaster of teen emotions and true love. Elegant beauty Maxine Eigenmann plays Abby, on and off bratty and bitchy best friend of Meg. Her vengeful side is unmasked when she discovers that Jake, her boyfriend played by Rodjun Cruz, has feelings for her best friend. Edge is played by dragon-boat enthusiast Kevin Lapena, nephew of actor Lorenzo Mara. He plays the pseudo-deep guy crazy in love with the popular Meg.

Lipgloss airs every Saturday, 5pm on TV 5, the newly relaunched ABC5. LIPGLOSS brings together the bunch of freshest faces and talents that is sure to rock Saturday night primetime.

The September issue of Candy Magazine presents the 2007 Candy Cuties. Candy Cuties are Candy Magazine’s list of today’s hottest male stars. Topping the list is Dino Imperial who is also in the cover of Candy mag’s September issue.

Fellow Candy cover boys Sam Concepcion is in the 2nd spot, and Gerald Anderson in 4th place.

Other celebrities making it to the Candy Cuties list are ABS-CBN talents Joem Bascon, Marvin Raymundo, and Jon Avila.

Starstruck 4 hunk Aljur Abrenica, Fil-British football players James Younghusband and Philip Younghusband, Philippine Idol finalist Gian Magdangal, MTV VJ hunt finalist Reuben Uy, Miggy Chavez of Chicosci, former Wazzup Wazzup tadjock Eri Neeman, PBB Season 2 alumni Robert Woods, Mickey Perz, and Bodie Cruz, singer Miguel Escueta, and Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros star Nathan Lopez.

The Candy Cuties will all be at this year’s Candy Fair which will be held at the NBC Tent on September 22, 2007 from 1PM to 9PM.

Performances by Silent Sanctuary, Menaya, Chicosci, and Spongecola.

Feedbacks from High School Musical, the musical play (duh..), ongoing until July 15 at the Meralco Theater is that PJ Valerio upstages lead role actor Sam Concepcion.

Reportedly, PJ Valerio had done more justice to his role compared to Sam Concepcion.

“Opinion po `yun ng ibang nakapanood, ako po, I just did what is best
for me at kung napansin po, salamat, but I have no intention na
lampasan o talunin si Sam, he’s a good friend of mine, says PJ Valerio.

PJ Valerio, Paul John Ruprecht in real-life, a Filipino-German teenager from San Diego, California is slowly fulfilling his dream of a showbiz career.

PJ was discovered by a handler at ABS-CBN and made to join the first season of the Star In A Million singing contest, where he made it to the Top 30. It was his mom, a Filipina from Candelaria, Quezon, who suggested that he audition for the show.

PJ’s musical tastes run the gamut from rock to alternative to ballads, he loves Simple Plan, Blink 182, Linkin Park, Kamikazee, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano.

Rhian Ramos was once linked to him but Rhian Ramos denied that they ever dated.

PJ’s crush now is Ms. Earth Canada 2006, Riza Santos who is reportedly dating Mark Bau­tista.