Aga Muhlach is excited about the feedback he is getting from friends who is not in showbiz about his first co-starring movie, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, with Sharon Cuneta. They all feel its a must-see movie for people of all ages. For who among us, indeed, has not experienced having a barkada?

Feel pa nila, Aga said, and most likely, theyll see themselves in one of the characters in the movie.

Aga agrees that his role as Vince has a semblance of what happened when just suddenly he discovered he was in love with Charlene (Gonzales), now his wife and mother of their twins, Atasha and Andres. They were friends for seven years. Charlene was also a friend to all, well, almost, of the women linked to her.

He would tell her of his problems, the not-too-personal ones, of course. And instantly he felt good, even if, at times, Charlene would just chose to listen and not make any comment.

For three years, they were together in Okidokidoc, the sitcom topbilled by him on ABS-CBN and which lasted for nearly eight years. He came to know her (Charlene) more, up-close and personal. Yet, he never realized, not until nearly three years ago, that Charlene was the woman he had long been looking for. And with whom he would want to spend the rest of his life with!

Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, produced by Star Cinema and directed by Joey Javier Reyes is the story of a barkada in college who chose to remain friends, through thick and thin, until they were nearly in their 40s.

Pero, sa isang barkada, Aga disclosed. kahit pa close ka sa lahat, may pinaka-close ka among them. Kasi supposedly ni Emmy (Sharon) ang pinakaclose sa aming magkaka-barkada.

But, unlike when he didnt choose to mince words when he discovered he wanted to marry Charlene, in Kung Ako Na Lang Sana he (as Vince) and Sharon (Emmy) decided to keep to themselves what they felt for each other lest it will affect their friendship.

Aga thinks that a team-up (in a movie) between him and Sharon is actually overdue. It could have happened some years back. But they were not only too busy individually; there was no good project for them.

Kung baga sa putahe, Aga revealed, swak na swak ang timpla ng istorya nitong Kung Ako Na Lang Sana para sa amin ni Sharon. We are grateful to direk Joey and Star Cinema for this project.

As you all know, the closest na nakita kami ni Sharon na magkasama sa TV was when I appeared with her in her show, Sharon or, if she does a walk-in role in my show (Ok Fine Whatever), para mag-promote ng aming movies.

Also in the cast of Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, which opens in Metro Manila theaters today, Sept. 24,are Dominic Ochoa, Jennifer Sevilla, Christine Bersola, Shintaro Valdez, Gabe Mercado, Butz Aquino, Chat Silayan and Mickey Ferriols.

Jennifer and Mickey both expressed delight for having been included in the movie. It was such a pleasure working with Aga and Sharon, they said. We really prayed for a chance to work with them. Aside from acting, Jennifer is also into business. She makes uniforms: corporate, medical and other kinds of uniforms, she said. She plans to put up her fashion house someday.

Jennifer has been in showbiz for 22 years, having started when she was only seven years old in Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, produced by Regal Films. Jennifer is a communication arts graduate from UST.

Another notable member of the cast of Kung Ako na Lang Sana is Christine Tintin Bersola. The toprate TV host (she handles public affairs program on ABS-CBN) is making her first full-length movie but in the past she has appeared as extra in several films, among them the Dolzura Cortez movie which starred her favorite actress, Vilma Santos.

Tintin did stage plays during her college days at UP. In one stage play, she played bida with no less than Richard Gomez as her leading man.

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Ashley the Karaoke recording star

It pays to be singing in a karaoke bar! For Ashley, the latest Viva Records young pop idol, it has been a great experience singing in a karaoke bar.

For others, they go and sing in a karaoke to unwind, to remove stress and to relax after a days work. Of course, this is coupled with some bottles of beer.

It was different for Ashley. Only 16 years old, and with a German father and a Filipina mother, Ashley went regularly to a karaoke bar to polish her voice. It is not a karaoke bar as many people know, but it is a karaoke stand actually, a portable recording studio!

You can find any of these portable recording studios in shopping malls, and it was one of them where Ashley went.

She chose some Christmas music and recorded them. For my grandmother, she said. Her grandmother is presently residing in Florida, USA.

The portable recording studio comes out complete with your recorded song in a CD with your own photo and label. And so, Ashley indeed sent to her grandmother her masterpiece!

Somehow, her recorded songs from the portable recording studio Reflection, Hero, and Power of Love reached Viva Records, and without losing a minute, the recording company executives immediately signed a contract with Ashley!

Her first album, Ashley and produced by Viva Records has been out in the market. The carrier song is Tamis ng Unang Halik, a composition of Mon del Rosario and popularized earlier by Tina Paner.

Other songs included in the album are Sa Aking Pag-asa (popularized by Yolly Samson), and Sa Aking Pag-iisa (Donna Cruz).

Two originals in the album are Paligaw-ligaw Tingin by Arnie Medrano, and All You Wanted by Michelle Branch.

Ashley looks so much like Zsa Zsa Padilla. Her mother discovered Ashleys proficiency in singing when the young pop idol was only six years old. They were in a grocery store, Ashley pushing the cart and at the same time singing.

When she was second grade, she joined a singing contest hosted by Regine Velasquez and won first prize with the song Im Telling You. She joined other song festivals and she always won the grand prize up to her second year in high school because after that she was not allowed anymore to participate because she always won. The decision could have been unfair to her.

As such, she vented her singing talent by constantly singing in that portable karaoke studio, recording her songs. In essence, she became a recording star unprofessionally until Viva Records signed her for a recording contract.

Anybody wants to become a recording star? Try first in a portable recording studio, and learn a lot from your personal records! Come up with an album. If nobody discovers you, at least, you have discovered yourself!

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 24, go to Bulletin Chairman Emilio T. Yap, Senator Edgardo Angara, Kokoy Romualdez, actress Jullia Clarete, Mi Enriquez, Baby Alfonso, Emma Yuhuico, Gerry Katigbak, Larry Silva, Malie Gatchalian, Lydia Astudillo, Susan Priscilla Reyes, Mercedes S. David, Eric Y. Martinez, Lorna Viernes, Isabel Tapia Bernal, Zia Quizon, Bulgin Manapat, Noel Valenzuela, Nena Rodriguez, Dr. Gem Reyes, Nonietta Diga, Jose Dizon, Jr., and Ivy Y. Lo of PSBank Fairview...Happy wedding anniversary to Tats and Babic Faustino; and Bong and Cecilia Aquino...Congratulations to Loboc Childrens Choir of Bohol for winning the Gold Award (first prize) in the recently International Choir Festival held in Barcelona, Spain. Ed Naguiat of the UP singing ambassadors texted us the good news. Its the first time the three-time NAMCYA national champion ever joined an international competition. The choirs conductor is Ms. Alma Taldo.