Netizens were surprised after a different voice actor dubbed the first promo video of GMA Network for the year 2025.

According to some sources, GMA Network was slowly shifting to its new voice-over announcer, Weng Dela Peña, after Al Torres’s rumored retirement after 3 decades of working as Kapuso.

Dela Peña worked at Super Radyo DZBB before becoming the new voice of GMA Network.

Torres’ retirement was rumored since he left the country with his family and decided to live in Canada in 2010.

However, despite being in Canada, Torres’ work at the Kapuso Network was extended for another 14 years.

The sudden shift of GMA’s voice-over announcer received a mixed reaction from the netizens.

“Kaya pala nanibago ako sa vo nila sa gma, mas sanay ako dun kay al torres since naririnig ko ung voiceover nya since i was a kid. pati rin kaya sa signin and signoff sya na rin ung vo?” netizen Ghill said.

“Ganun talaga hindi naman habang buhay sya ang voice over ng GMA, darating talaga sa punto na mag reretire na. BAKA na abot na ni mr. Al yung madatory age para mag retiro,” netizen Ryan commented.

As of writing, Dela Peña kept his silence and refused to answer some inquiries about his new task.

ACT-CIS Party-list Representative and senatorial candidate Erwin Tulfo was in hot water after several documents about his alleged attempt to maintain his US Citizenship by using a fake identity circulated on social media.

The document, which appeared from the US Embassy in Manila, was about notification of passport cancellation to a particular ‘Erick Sylvester Tulfo,’ who was later discovered to be Erwin Tulfo.

“An investigation revealed that Erick Sylvester Tulfo, born on December 30, 1965, in Hawaii is not your true identity. Evidence suggests that you are Erwin Teshiba Tulfo, born on August 10, 1963, in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines,” the letter read.

According to the document, Tulfo used Erich Sylvester Tulfo’s identity to gain his US Passport on May 24, 1991 and then renewed his passport using the same name twice, on August 2001 and August 2021.

However, Tulfo failed to renew his passport in 2021 due to the investigation conducted by the US Embassy.

Tulfo’s citizenship was already in question even before he became a lawmaker.

It can be recalled that in 2022, the Commission on Appointments didn’t approve his appointment as the Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary because of his past legal problems and alleged US citizenship.

He also reportedly served in the US Army under Erick Sylvester Tulfo’s identity.

However, his camp insisted that Tulfo never applied for naturalization in the US.

Veteran talent manager, columnist, and showbiz reporter Lolit Solis announced her retirement after several decades of serving the entertainment industry.

In her last Instagram post, Lolit said she would stop posting social media columns on December 31, stating that she was already mentally tired.

“Mentally tired na ako talaga at parang ayaw ko na talaga muna sagarin ang utak ko at savor my semi retired position. No need to prove anything or be transparent on how I feel. Para ngang kung minsan sawsawera pa ang dating ko,” said Lolit.

She also thanked the celebrities and showbiz figures who became part of her journey.

“It’s about time I retire dahil ako na lang sa barkada namin ang natitira. I feel empty kung minsan at hindi ko na ma grasp ang mga nangyayari. Time to stop while still enjoying. Goodbye, and Thank You very much for the friendship and patronage. All my LOVE. Babu and bongga,” she said.

Lolit started her career on showbiz in 1966 and was considered as one of the pillars of entertainment reporting in the country.

However, she was also a controversial figure and survived career-ending issues like her involvement on the 1994 Manila Film Festival cheating.

 

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Xander Ford couldn’t hide his disappointment and aired his grievance on his social media page after his child didn’t receive any gifts last Christmas.

In his post, Xander called out his friends who volunteered to become godfathers and godmothers of his child Xeres, saying that they didn’t even receive a cent from them.

“Ganto pala ang pakiramdam na walang natangap kahit piso sa mga dating kaibigan na nagsabi “Ako ninong/ninang ng anak mo, ah mag tatampo ako pag hindi,” he said.

“Sa panahon ngayun nakakahiya nang lumapit at bumati sa mga yun kasi dikanaman nila papansinin pero pag may blessing na dumating sayo kahit dimo kumbidahin andyan bigla tapos mauuna pang mag congrats sayo,” he added.

Xander’s son was also set to celebrate his second birthday on December 29.

It can be recalled that Xander went viral last year after he called out one of the godparents of his child for not shouldering the P349,000 they spent on the Christening of Xeres.

“Sa mga kaibigan ko diyan na mga influencer, sa mga nasa showbiz na kaibigan ko, nananawagan po ako sa inyo na sana kahit hindi kayo nakapunta sa binyag ng anak ko, tulungan niyo nalang po sana ako na kahit mabawi ko lang ‘yung para sa amin,” ani Xander.

The organizers of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) finally explained why they flashed Eugene Domingo on the screen of the event’s last production number, where deceased showbiz icons were also shown.

Some netizens, who were already disappointed with the alleged lack of recognition received by Eugene during the Gabi ng Parangal event, said that the said production number was the final nail in the coffin of disrespect for the veteran comedian.

It can be recalled that some netizens said that the performance by Eugene on his MMFF entry, Barber’s Tales was worthy of a nomination from MMFF, but they were surprised that their expectations didn’t happen.

“Why did the MMFF flash Eugene Domingo’s photo during the in memoriam section ??!?!?!?!? she’s literally in the audience,” netizen Jean said.

why did the mmff flash eugene domingo’s photo during the in memoriam section ??!?!?!?!? she’s literally in the audience pic.twitter.com/423YODc4ns

— jean starkey (@kaiseunghan) December 27, 2024

MMFF EXPLAINS EUGENE DOMINGO’S APPEARANCE ON THE LAST PRODUCTION NUMBER

According to MMFF organizers, the segment was a tribute to MMFF Icons and not an In Memoriam segment, saying that the presentation was not exclusively for artists who passed away.

As of writing, Eugene has yet to give her comment on her inclusion in the segment.