PNOY'S lovelife is grist for the rumor mill

The rumor mill is on overdrive with stories about President Noynoy Aquino and his stylist Liz Uy. I guess there can be no denying now that there is something going on between them. The big question is, how far into the relationship are they?

Boy Abunda claims that PNoy, 50, and Liz, 28 are at the "getting to know each other" stage. They date, they go out on dinners, that kind of thing.

Presidential sis Ballsy Aquino has it that it's a non-exclusive arrangement and that PNoy is dating other women.

One rumor goes as far as saying that the two are already engaged (it was supposed to have been announced by Liz herself via Twitter) and a wedding date has been set: October 11, 2011. Why October 11? It's the day PNoy's parents got married.

Ballsy also let on that her brother and Shalani Soledad had indeed broken up.

Liz found the wedding buzz "funny." "You can't always believe what you read," she tweeted.

John Lloyd Cruz, Liz's former boyfriend, was surprised by the rumor that she and PNoy have already set a wedding date. Lloydie said he'll believe it only when he receives the wedding invitation.

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Segueing to Shalani, many had been surprised when it was announced that she was going to be Willie Revillame's co-host in "Willing Willie." Some questioned her motive for entering the world of entertainment. Indeed, it was so out of character for someone who is shy and retreating to be suddenly thrust into the limelight.

Her first foray into TV hosting was far from impressive. But who knows, given time, she might still pull off a surprise. 

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Noranians will have to wait a little longer before they could get a glimpse of their idol.

The great Nora Aunor was supposed to have returned to the Philippines this month, but according to her friend, German Moreno, that's not going to happen.

"She really wants to return on the second or third week of November, but she still has some papers to fix," Kuya Germs was quoted as saying. He refused to go into details, saying, "Let's just leave it at that."

One reason for the delay in Nora's homecoming is that she's still waiting for word about her work here. La Aunor is said to have laid down the following terms for her employment: that her employer pays for her plane fare, that she be provided with a place to stay, and that she be assigned a service vehicle.

Kuya Germs said he understands Nora's demands. "How can she go back if she's got nowhere to stay? How will she go to her tapings and appointments if she has no car?"

Kuya Germs said there are TV networks that are keen on getting Guy, but he refused to name them.

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Two Filipino indie films have scored big in film festivals abroad.

"Baseco Bakal Boys," which exposes the lives of children who dive in Manila Bay to retrieve metal scraps, took home the Best Film Award at the 2010 Asian Connection Film Festival in Lyon, France.

It is not the first plum the film, directed by Ralston Jover, has won. The 2009 Cinemalaya entry has seven other awards under its belt.

Placing second at the Asian Connection filmfest was "Piercing" by Liu Jian of China, while "Mother is a Whore," by Lee Sang-woo of South Korea, was third.

Over at the 37th Brussels International Film Festival, another Pinoy indie, "Donor," won two awards. The movie, directed by Mark Meily, was named Best Film, and Meryll Soriano, the Best Actress for her role as a woman who had to donate a kidney to be able to lift her life from misery.