IT'S ALMOST sure that ''Miss Saigon'' will open at the CCP during the third quarter of the year. There are talks that last year's biggest musical ''Rama at Sita'' might stage a repeat. Atlantis Productions is staging the rock opera ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' and will embark on the controversial play ''Corpus Christi'' towards the end of the year.

Singapore Theatre Repertory has signified their intent to bring the local ''Rent'' cast to perform in Singapore come April, and negotiations are underway to bring ''They're Playing Our Song'' to Manila.

In a few days, the curtains will rise for Atlantis Productions' ''How I Learned to Drive,'' a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Paula Vogel, which won major awards in the 1997 New York Theater season. To run from Jan. 21 to 30 at the GSIS Theater, the play stars Nathalie Everett, Richard Cunanan, Carlo Ledesma, Tami Monsod and Chari Arespacochaga.

Tony Espejo's Gantimpala Theater opens its season with a fresh take on the Shakespearean classic ''Twelfth Night.'' The play runs for two weekends starting on Jan. 14 at the AFP Theater.

Miriam Quiambao makes her stage debut in a religious two-act play, Ricky Gallardo's ''Akusado (Trial of the Century),'' a drama about a class suit filed by people in pain against God. It is a project of the Ligaya ng Panginoon Community in cooperation with the Word of Joy Foundation. ''Akusado'' is slated at the CCP Little Theater on Jan. 21 and 22 and will move to the GSIS Theater on Feb. 25 to 27.

The millennium fever still rages, and many of our stars are capitalizing on the hottest word of the past few months.

Singer Anna Dizon has been dubbed the singing star of the new millennium. She launched an album late last year, and it has been certified gold amid a lot of controversy related to how far she can go to drum up publicity for her career.

Then there are the Millennium Boys of film director Maryo J. delos Reyes with their revealing poses in a full-color millennium calendar. The 12 hunks include Anton Bernardo, Poppo Lontoc, Dante Gomez, Yul Servo and Marcus Madrigal.

Presidential son Jinggoy Estrada calls his new production outfit Millennium Cinema, with ex-Viva, ex-Star Cinema executive producer Eric Cuatico calling the shots. The film outfit's first venture, ''Agimat'' starring Bong Revilla Jr., placed third in the Metro Manila filmfest's box-office race. Their opener for the year 2000 is a Fernando Poe Jr. starrer, ''Ang Dalubhasa.''

In the coming days, we're sure that more ''new millennium'' titles will be given and proclaimed. Who will be the baby of the new millennium--Jackie and Beaver's baby, Richard and Lucy's firstborn, JV and Patty's love child? Will Guia Gomez change her fair lady title to become the lola of the new millennium?

We're also sure that female singers will outdo each other get tagged the Millennium Diva, and sexy starlets will fight for the tile, Sex Goddess of the New Millennium.

Gary Estrada doesn't deny that he has political ambitions even if he still has a thriving show biz career. Gary plays the lover of Piel Morena in ''Senswal.''

''I might be running for an elective position in the next elections. I'm not yet sure what position to seek,'' Gary says.

Since he usually stays in his farm in Quezon province, he is most likely to seek a congressional seat there.

Director Jerry Sineneng has the flair for directing feel-good movies because he loves working with young stars.

''I want to be young at heart and it always feels good to be with young people! Kenkuyan to death! But when they need to work, they're really serious--like Jolina, Marvin, Judy Ann, Spencer Reyes and Jericho Rosales.''

What do they do when they're on the set?

''Jolina likes listening to CDs. Halos lahat ng klaseng music pinapatugtog niya. Jolina brings hundreds of headbands, clips and ribbons, kaya natutuwa akong mamili sa mga costumes niya.