Guess who the

Curtain-raisers:

* Now that she's infanticipating, Mrs. Richard Gomez (nee Lucy Torres) is craving for Manggang hilaw and melon. So if you see somebody who looks like Richard Gomez buying these stuffs at the Uni-Mart in Greenhills, it must be him!

* Viva Films should re-release The Jessica Alfaro Story. Who knows, it might draw in more crowds than it did two years ago when it was first shown. Also, who knows, it might revive the moribund career of Alice Dixson who plays the title role.

* Is it true that the current apple of Gary Estrada's eye is, don't look now, Judy Ann Santos? Bagay?

This debonair TV host should henceforth be known as the "Babad King" because he often (ma)lingers at the workplace of not just one but two beautiful actresses (one very eligible and the other separated from her actor-husband).

Maybe the guy is trying to make up his mind who between the two is "it," that's why he's courting both, doing so by "loitering" around the sets of the projects the two actresses are doing.

The single girl is dubbing for her latest movie and, you guessed it, "Babad King" also watches over her.

The separated actress is taping her regular TV series and, you guessed it, "Babad King" also watches over her.

What if, just if, the two actresses both say "yes" to him? He would be rowing between two rivers (as in mamamangka sa dalawang ilog), wouldn't he?

The guy broke up a few months ago with his TV-host girlfriend, so he must be feeling very lonesome.

These past few weeks, there has been a spate of rumors that Korina Sanchez and Ted Failon might quit Pulso (Aksyon/Balita), the months-old newscast on ABS-CBN that took over The World Tonight.

True or false?

Without batting an eyelash nor blinking, the Funfare DPA at ABS-CBN said, "True na true!" with a resounding ring.

Oh, well, maybe we should take his word for it for the time being since Funfare is aware that a revamp will soon take place at ABS-CBN's Public Affairs Department.

The same Funfare DPA (who goes around ABS-CBN wearing thick glasses) said that Dong Puno and Gel Santos-Relos might step into the shoes that Korina and Ted will soon, well, step out of. (Gel has been pinchhitting for Korina, in case you haven't noticed.)

Okay, our pulso ng bayan for today revolves around this question: Sangayon ba kayo na palitan nina Dong Puno at Gel Santos-Relos sina Korina Sanchez at Ted Failon?

Tawag na, tawag agad!

I'm sure that Willie Revillame won't like the following, uh, "friendly reminder" because he seems to be afflicted (not incurably, though) with hubris. He might even tongue-lash at Funfare or make snide remarks in today's edition of MTB (but who cares, anyway?).

This "friendly reminder" should have been included in Funfare's list of "less of" for the new millennium but it's never too late to make habol, is it?

Anyway, dear Willie, a lot of people notice that you've become too "airy" for comfort, including people who are part of MTB who, of course, just quiet about it, keeping their ill feelings to themselves. Even the ABS-CBN higher-ups (top honchos) are also starting to notice it but they're taking a "just wait and see" attitude. You know how fishermen catch the, well, "big" fish. They let the line roll on and on and on, until ... oops! Huli ka!

You are, no doubt about it, a big plus in MTB's popularity, alongside co-hosts Randy Santiago and John Estrada, and it will do you a lot of good not to let it go to your head. If you will, please refrain from making insinuations against the MTRCB, or saying that, yes, indeed, the management has warned you against touching the Calendar Girls contestants but then, you announce proudly, "Nobody can stop me from fantasizing...!" Aray ko po!

In Greek mythology, Icarus makes his own (wax) wings and he thinks he can fly so high, until he falls to earth with a loud thud.

That's the lesson for you today, Dear Willie!

Funfare welcomes Nanette Medved back where she belongs -- in the country and in showbiz.

Nanette is the leading lady of FPJ in Millennium Cinema's Ang Dalubhasa which FPJ himself (under his "directorial" name Ronwaldo Reyes) is directing. FPJ plays a brain surgeon who quits medical practice when a young patient (played by Cris Villonco who also sings the movie's theme song, Ikaw) dies while he's operating on her. Nanette plays the socialite who makes the surgeon's heart beat faster.

At yesterday's presscon for Ang Dalubhasa at Bistro Lorenzo, everybody was gushing over Nanette's figure which hasn't changed at all even now that she's married (to Chris Po of Century Tuna, whom Nanette married in South Africa last year).

Ang Dalubhasa is Nanette's third movie with FPJ, a potential blockbuster which should usher back Nanette into showbiz mainstream.

That Nanette is very happy is obvious all over her face. She graduated last year summa cum laude from Babson College (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) with a degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Chris, also an honor student, graduated likewise from a Boston university at about the same time.