Victim of text intrigue

It looks like the world of media can be as vicious as showbiz when it comes to intrigues. For several weeks now, anonymous text messages have been circulating alleging that a popular ABS-CBN broadcast personality is having an affair with a billionaire businessman. ABS-CBN is arguably the country’s largest broadcasting network so it’s not unlikely that it also has the biggest number of intrigues. There’s also a lot of professional jealousy going on among its talents. As it turns out, the object of those nasty text messages was Karen Davila, one of the anchors of TV Patrol World. Karen is married to ABS-CBN news director DJ Sta. Ana and they have one son, David. Sources close to the couple suspect the rumors were started by someone within the network itself. Spybiz had also received text and email messages but these were ignored because they were unverifiable. The awful intrigue has forced Karen and DJ to go on a short leave for Honolulu to take off the heat created by the ugly rumors. In fairness to Karen, she is a hardworking broadcast journalist who takes her work very seriously and people who get to meet her like her open and friendly personality. Of course, people remember Karen Davila when she cried and apologized to Susan Roces, the widow of the late Fernando Poe Jr., who berated the network for what she felt was unfair coverage during the 2004 elections.

Ditch those inane TV shows

One of our Spybiz readers told us that he was forced to watch local fare on television instead of cable due to the blackout during the onslaught of typhoon Milenyo. According to the reader, this show – which we will not mention since Spybiz is friendly with both big networks – featured the same, tired old formula and has not changed over the past 30 years. It had the same inane plot with the same stupid gags that have become a staple for these silly comedy shows that are still the regular fare on television. It’s about time the TV networks revolutionized their programming and come up with better, more intelligent shows. They should ditch those senseless comedies that are insulting to viewers. Mass can follow class if TV networks put out more intelligent programs.

Rage-inciting Milenyo

Speaking of Milenyo, Spybiz was flooded with email from irate readers lambasting the inaction of some local leaders when the typhoon was raging. Southern Manila denizens were terribly envious of Quezon City residents because power was restored early the next day while they had to suffer for close to a week. One reader was particularly angry at a mayor who has a penchant for putting up tarpaulin streamers showing him with celebrities like boxing champs and beauty queens posted along a main road in the South and other strategic areas. Others complained of flooded streets because of antiquated drainage systems, making it terribly difficult for both commuters and pedestrians to navigate the streets even after the super typhoon has left the country.

Idle patrol cars

Spybiz sources revealed that several patrol cars are just languishing inside the Camp Crame compound in plain sight of every MRT commuter passing the EDSA-Santolan route. Those who have seen the cars are wondering why these mobiles are not utilized to chase after criminals especially those whose favorite targets are residents of Cubao and nearby areas in Quezon City. Do they plan to make the cars rusty with inaction, or is it because there is no gasoline to make them chase after criminals, the sources asked.

Spy tidbiz: Profit first, fitness last

A lady who just wants to keep fit and healthy reported about the deceitful practice being perpetrated by this fitness center. When the lady first joined, she was assured that if she went abroad, she would not be charged monthly membership dues until she comes back. The gym member left the country and it was obvious she would not be able to use the facilities, so she duly informed the fitness center. To her surprise, the gym kept charging the monthly dues to her credit card while she was away. When she asked for a refund, they still kept billing her so she just had to cancel out her credit card to stop the monthly charges. The woman’s unfortunate experience with the fitness center’s duplicity is definitely a very unhealthy case of "Profit First, Fitness Last."

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