Yaya & Angelina fail to make the grade

It’s definite: Ara Mina will be trying her hand at politics next year. She plans to run for councilor in the second district of Quezon City. What’s not certain yet is what party she’ll be joining.

Ara is already preparing the groundwork for her campaign. She has set up the Ara Mina Foundation for her charity work. The group will focus on helping kids with Down syndrome and sleep disorders.

Ara only finished high school, so to beef up her educational credentials, her handlers advised her to take up short courses.

Once she begins to campaign in earnest, does that mean that she would take a respite from showbiz?

Ara has long been linked to world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao (they even starred together in a forgettable movie, “Anak Ni Kumander.” The rumors have practically faded, only to be replaced by another one linking her to another VIP: Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who has recently been endorsed as the running mate of administration candidate, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Ara says the buzz may have grown from her efforts to help her friend Rochelle Barrameda seek the help of Puno concerning the murder of Rochelle’s sister, Ruby Rose. “I try to help somebody, and I myself get into trouble,” laments Ara.

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Ruffa Gutierrez developed a mild case of bronchitis and laryngitis after watching the concert of Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano the other Saturday at the Mall of Asia. Ruffa says the heat at MOA must have affected her. Her doctor prescribed antibiotics and cough syrup for the next seven days. “No coffee (green tea) & no alcohol (water/pineapple juice),” tweeted the actress/TV host.

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“Yaya and Angelina” failed to make the grade with the Cinema Evaluation Board, which had given “Kimmy Dora” a grade of A just weeks earlier. Indeed, the Michael V-Ogie Alcasid starrer isn’t half as funny as Eugene Domingo’s laugh-a-line vehicle. Michael and Ogie may have the chemistry in their segment in “Bubble Gang,” but it was not in evidence in the film version. The laughs are few and far between, and the timing of the jokes is way off.

The story line of “Yaya and Angelina” is shaky at best. Perhaps Michael should have let somebody else write the screenplay so he could concentrate on his onscreen antics.

Ogie meanwhile is hobbled literally and figuratively by his character because he has to walk on his knees to appear shorter. For long shots, a double has to stand in.

I’m sure even the most loyal fans of Michael and Ogie will find it hard getting their funnybone tickled by “Yaya and Angelina.”

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Sunshine Dizon got a big scare last week after a van plowed into her car and three other vehicles parked outside a shop of Fanny Serrano in Quezon City.

Sunshine had just climbed into her Hyundai Starex to rest after her taping when it got hit by the Toyota Regius of another actress, Shirley Fuentes, driven by Bonifacio Claud.. The Regius also smashed into an Isuzu Crosswind, a Mitsubishi Lancer and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

“I thought I was going to die,” said the shaken but otherwise unhurt Sunshine.

The driver of the Regius claimed that his foot got stuck between the accelerator and the brake. Police are still investigating the case.

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Tickets for the “This Is It” film docu of Michael Jackson are not yet on sale, but dozens of fans began lining up last week for a chance to make sure they don’t miss out.

The film, which showcases footage of the pop icon rehearsing for his concert in London, will be screened at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on October 25. Tickets will be sold beginning today. As a bonus, the first 500 fans will get commemorative lenticular tickets designed by Michael himself.

Jackson died following cardiac arrest on June 25.