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.

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.