Amid the troubles facing his marriage, Cesar Montano is attempting to come clean.

A few weeks after reports on yet another affair with an upcoming starlet, Cesar has reportedly surfaced to put the matter to rest.

“I love my family and I will not do anything to destroy my family,” he was quoted as saying on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

RELATED: Third party issue rocks Cesar-Sunshine marriage

In separate reports, Cesar also indicated that he wants his children to grow up together with their mom and dad.

“Gusto kong lumaki ang mga anak ko na magkasama kami ni Sunshine,” Cesar was further quoted as saying.

An easy apology?

It seems Cesar has handled this controversy as nothing more than preparing for his next showbiz project.

It all seems so ordinary.

Rumors about an adulterous affair involving the co-star of a current project might be devastating for other celebrities.

ALSO READ: Did Sunshine kick Cesar out of their conjugal home?

But for Cesar, whose current controversy links him with fellow cast

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I was standing by the parking lot gate of saGuijo in Makati last Friday, Feb. 8, and found myself part of a queue of people that covered the entire street.

It was the second night of the Kamikazee-Queso-Houndz tour.

I couldn’t attend their first one last Feb. 4 because 70’s Bistro was packed to the brim. People started arriving early and by 8:30 p.m., the bar would no longer allow anyone in.

Jay Contreras of Kamikazee in a sea of cameras. Photo by Niña Sandejas.

READ AND VIEW PHOTOS: 30,000 fans jam Muziklaban finals

So you could imagine the scene at saGuijo, a much smaller venue than 70’s Bistro, and on a Friday night at that.

Sound muffled by packed crowd

People spilled out to the streets and caused traffic. You could no longer hear the music from inside the bar because the sound had gotten so muffled by the number of people that packed the place.

The Kamikazee-Queso-Houndz tour was collective effort by the three bands. Greyhoundz and Queso are the fathers of the local rock metal scene while Kamikazee has openly said that it considers Queso their

Read More »from Kamikazee-Queso-Greyhoundz gig is the craziest ever

Cris Villonco as Viola and Cesar in 'D'Wonder Twins of Boac. (Photo from PETA's Facebook page)Cris Villonco may have played the biggest roles on the local stage—Maria Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” Maria Clara in “Noli Me Tangere,” Ophelia in “Hamlet” and the child Cossette in “Les Miserables”—but her involvement with the Philippine Educational Theater Association or PETA has been elusive.

"I never worked with PETA and it had been my goal to do at least one," said the multi-talented 29-year-old who, 13 years ago, sang at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican for a jubilee mass officiated by then Pope John Paul II.

PETA is known for stage performances with nationalist themes. The catch phrase “pang-PETA” refers to a person’s good or serious acting (whether uttered in a sarcastic tone or not).

ALSO READ: Why Toni G. isn’t settling down—yet

Playing the co-lead in PETA’s ongoing play, "D Wonder Twins of Boac," an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night," Villonco has now crossed the goal off her list.

Cross-dressing in the Swinging Sixties

The period comedy, written

Read More »from Groovy! Cris Villonco lives her theater dream

Marc Abaya of KJWAN proves rock and beer do mix. Red Horse Muziklaban 2012 (Photo by Niña Sandejas)For 14 years, Red Horse Beer has hosted the largest amateur band competition in the country. Last February 2, 2013 the 2012 Red Horse Muziklaban Grand Finals was its biggest yet, with 30,000 jamming the corner of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay.

The five finalists that were selected out of thousands of applicants throughout the year shared the main stage with the main Red Horse Beer bands.

ALSO READ: The spit and the bittersweet at Big Night Out in Singapore

The judges that evening held their fate and the bands leveled up to the the rock stars that preceded them—Slapshock,  Razorback, Greyhoundz, Kjwan and WilaBaliw.

Music and alcohol: there’s a potion for rock and roll.

Missing in action

30,000 people turned up for the Red Horse Muziklaban 2012 finals. (Photo by Niña Sandejas)

Missing members (and musical chairs) seemed to be the theme of the night.

Slapshock made the event emotional as they formally announced the homecoming of their guitarist Jerry Basco back in their line-up.

Niño Avenido of Greyhoundz and WilaBaliw also played with Razorback that evening since

Read More »from 30,000 rock fans jam Muziklaban finals

Mother Lily Monteverde (Marlo Cueto, NPPA Images)

Her voice, her laughter is unmistakable.

When you enter her lavish residence in Greenhills, San Juan and she flashes that winsome smile, you instantly feel part of the family that’s been considered royalty for more than half a century of Philippine entertainment.

Best of all, you instantly feel as if you’re talking to your mother.

RELATED: Mother Lily’s strength carries family through operation

Well, in fact, she is one everyone looks up to as a mother, given that special title only she can own: Mother Lily, the industry's endearment to Lily Chu-Monteverde, film producer and businesswoman.

Deserving of accolades and love

And, when I encountered Mother up close, I realized she is one person who deserves the accolades and respect—and the warmth and love—from all the hundreds of showbiz personalities she helped through the years.

Meeting her more than three years ago for a cover story in the Sunday Inquirer Magazine was an experience that went beyond meeting an entertainment legend.

Read More »from Is Mother Lily a fool for love?

It was a cool night at Fort Canning, where 6,000 people were gathered to watch see three massive bands for the 2013 Big Night Out in Singapore.

The triple lineup was opened by Seattle-based Band of Horses who warmed up the crowd with the first song “For Annabelle,” followed, ironically, by their single, “First Song.”

There was still a hint of sun during Band of Horses’ set and their backdrop of a forest blended well with the venue, giving the crowd a feeling of oneness with the band: not playing for the audience but with the audience.

Bittersweet

Bassist Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses. Big Night Out 2013 (Photo by Niña Sandejas) The group played some crowd favorites like “The Great Salt Lake,” “Knock Knock,” “Ode to LRC” and “No One’s Gonna Love You.” Their last song, “The Funeral,” left a bittersweet twinge in the heart as the band played just as the sun was setting.

READ AND VIEW PHOTOS: I travel for music

With the darkness came Vampire Weekend, who played upbeat songs that the crowd danced to, coupled with the awesome light show.

The set began with the energetic

Read More »from The spit, the bittersweet and a light show at Big Night Out 2013

Call him uncouth, unconventional, uncontrolled.

Yet, you can also him thespian, actor, artist, performer.

Therein lies the rub. How can Baron Geisler, one of the best actors yet most controversial personality of his generation, find the place he deserves in the industry?

RELATED: Manager says Baron Geisler is depressed again

How can he put his past behind and move forward? How will he make the industry he both impressed and incensed take him seriously and become the respectable and talented artist people should recognize?

‘Acts of lasciviousness’ and ‘malicious mischief’

If only his “sins” aren’t too glaring.

Who could forget his run-ins with Cherry Pie Picache, Yasmien Kurdi (touched her behind), Yayo Aguila and Julia Clarete? And the charges of “unjust vexation” and “acts of lasciviousness” that kept him off the showbiz radar for a while?

And more recently, getting detained for “physical injuries,” “malicious mischief” and “child abuse” for beating up a neighbor in front of his wife

Read More »from Erasing the ‘sins’ of Baron Geisler

As a music photographer and fan, I go where the music takes me.

I remember the first time I left the country to watch a gig. It was in 2006 and I tagged along with a group that flew to Singapore to watch Franz Ferdinand. It seemed like a fun idea.

Though it wasn’t part of the plan, the same group headed for Bangkok to attend a music fest that featured Oasis, Ian Brown and other big-name acts. I didn’t go but later wished I did.

Where the music takes me

2010: The third time I saw MUSE.One month later, I received an invitation to watch Pat Metheny. Despite budget constraints, Francis Brew and I found ways to be able to return to Singapore. Pat Metheny is a jazz legend and even if I wasn't a musician, I learned a lot during the workshop he conducted before his gig.

RELATED: The girl at the rock show

Soon after that, we found ourselves being invited to interview musicians abroad or take photos of their gigs. I've seen MUSE three times, interviewed Kasabian in Kuala Lumpur, taken photos of Red Hot Chili Peppers in Hong

Read More »from I travel for music