PEOPLE IN ENTERTAINMENT : Ruben Blades for President?

Although he told Nuestro Tiempo that he is not in the running, Ruben Blades was the preferred choice in a 1994 presidential preference poll of 1,200 Panama voters. The Panamanian Blades heads the new political party Papa Egoro (meaning Mother Earth in an indigenous language). “Basically I’d like Panama to recover its faith,” he said. “I believe we have it, but that political circumstances of the last four, five, six years has created a tremendous national doubt as to our own capacity in resolving our problems. I hope to find the return of that national faith.”

Get ready for an exciting concert season. The Universal Amphitheatre will present Ana Gabriel (June 26-27), Juan Gabriel (Oct. 1-3), Salsa Festival starring Celiz Cruz and other guests (Oct. 16), Vicente Fernandez and Alejandro Fernandez (Nov. 20-21), and Julio Iglesias (Nov. 24 and 26). The Greek Theatre’s 1993 lineup includes Vikki Carr (May 14), Gipsy Kings (June 24-25), Latin Rock ‘n’ Soul (June 27), Jose Carreras (July 1) and, celebrating their 20th anniversary, Los Lobos (June 12). The Hollywood Bowl will offer Latin jazz with Tito Puente, Ruben Blades and Eddie Palmieri (Sept. 14). The Mariachi USA concert will be June 26 at the Bowl.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to host ‘Cine Millonario’ and ‘Sabado Millonario’ and to work with the new Telemundo team,” said Luca Bentivoglio. Bentivoglio also produces and appears in the comedy series “Salvese Quien Pueda.” The son of Italian actor Galeazzo Bentivoglio was born in Rome, raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and graduated from the USC Film School. He produced Univision shows before setting up a production company to make the “Desde Hollywood,” “Tu Musica” and “Fama y Fortuna” series. Bentivoglio, 36, has homes in Miami and Los Angeles. He switched networks after Joaquin Blaya left Univision to head Grupo Telemundo.