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A third single, an MMFF entry, and an academic comeback are keeping Yasmien Kurdi busy nowadays. Read up on her latest chika!
A third single, an MMFF entry, and an academic comeback are keeping Yasmien Kurdi busy nowadays. This afternoon drama princess had a breakfast interview with iGMA last week after her stint in "Fanatxt All Stars." Read up on her latest chika! Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Connie M. Tungul and courtesy of GMA Network. A new sound Yasmien’s third single from her sophomore album Love Is All I Need is “Candlelight Romance,” her first song with an “electronica” vibe. Composed by Sandwich guitarist Mong Alcaraz together with drummer Mike Dizon, “Candlelight Romance” tops Yasmien’s favorite songs of the moment, especially since it’s an entry in the SOP Music Video Awards. “’Yung ginawa naming video, it’s not the real (one) talaga. It’s just for the SOP Awards,” Yasmien explains. “Para may ipapakita (pa rin) kami. Sana manalo!” She shares that she has been very hands-on with all the songs from her first (In the Name of Love, 2005) to her second album, both under GMA Records. “Halos lahat naman ng songs, may contribution talaga ako. Sobrang hands on, (from the) final mixing, (hanggang) concept ng videos.” Bahay Kubo Aside from her current Dramarama sa Hapon project, Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig, Yasmien is also part of Bahay Kubo, a drama-comedy for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). She will be with The Diamond Star Maricel Soriano, together with fellow Kapuso Marian Rivera, among others. She notes of her character, “Isa ako sa mga ampon ni Maricel Soriano. Dahlia name ko dito. Tapos gusto ko maging artista na sobrang arte ko lang. Ako 'yung bobo sa aming mga magkakapatid. Minsan, parang, ‘Ano sinabi niya?’ Wala sa topic!” How is it like working with the Diamond Star? “Masarap siyang ka-eksena. We have this scene na sobrang grabe lang ang sampalan! (Nagka-scar nga) ako! I (really) think you should watch the movie. Ang ganda talaga! Nakaka-(aliw) 'yung story, sobrang maiiyak kayo na matatawa! (Kasi) nakakaawa ang isang ina na ampon siya nang ampon, tapos isa-isa silang nawawala.” Aside from playing the inaapi (as Charming in Bakekang and as Lupe in Pasan) and the stereotypical ditz for the MMFF, what else does Yasmien want to portray? “Gusto ko ng role na disturbed. Alam mo 'yung hindi mo malaman-laman 'yung character niya, kasi sobrang disturbed 'yung utak niya? Ayoko ng isang character or personality (lang). Gusto ko, nakakatakot, hindi nakakaawa or nakakainis. Hindi sila maaawa o hindi sila maiinis, pero nakakatakot kasi hindi nila alam 'yung possibilities ng ugali niya. Parang ganoon na character. Nakaka-excite siguro,” she says. Yasmien cites Angelina Jolie’s character in Gia (1998) as a basis for her dream role. “Gusto ko yung ugali ni Angelina Jolie sa Gia. Ang cool-cool noon!” Gia is a television film about the life of supermodel Gia Marie Carangi where Angelina Jolie won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV. Beyond the cam Off-screen, Yasmien hangs out with her closest celebrity buddies such as Lovi Poe, Marco Alcaraz, and of course, JC De Vera. She shares with a smile, “Sigaw nang sigaw si Lovi pag kasama ako ‘yun, e! Nahahawa sa akin!” She spends her free time surfing the Net, noting that she often visits her Forum thread in igma! and chats online with her pals. The young star also stays in touch with her fans via Fanatxt, especially with the KDF (“Kurdinian Defense Force!”) and “Friends of Yasmien,” which she proudly says have been there for her ever since her StarStruck days. Right now, Yasmien is also preparing for her entrance exams on November 18, because she plans to pursue her college education (with a course in International Studies) aside from her showbiz career. “Pinag-iisipan ko kung saang school pa, pero malamang dito lang sa Quezon City, malapit lang sa house ko…Kakausapin ko yung handler ko na ayusin 'yung schedule na hindi dire-diretso para may time ako sa studies,” she explains. Aside from going back to school, is she planning to set up a business any time soon? “Si Mama (ang) nag-aayos ng mga ganoong bagay. Sa ngayon, nagfo-focus muna ako sa career ko, at saka gusto ko munang mag-aral. Gusto kong makapagtapos ng college, so ‘yun muna iniisip ko. Sa mama ko muna 'yung mga business-business.” Visit iGMA regularly for more updates on Yasmien! You can also get in touch with her via Fanatxt by texting YASMIEN to 4627. To receive MMS straight from her phone, text GOMMS YASMIEN ON and send it to 4627. (Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. Each MMS, on the other hand, costs P5.00 for all Networks.) Can’t get enough of Yas? Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig gallery Lupe practices singing in English Yasmien performs the Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig theme song Reviving Guadalupe