DAVID: I'm Still AJ's Boyfriend

The other day's banner story about Anjanette Abayari having found a "new love" in her native L.A. in the person of Mr. Asia-Universe Jay Gabat (a look-a-like of Anjanette's boyfriend David Bunevacz) elicited a quick reaction not from Anjanette (who's in L.A. as part of her drug rehab following that Guam incident) but from David, calling from his and Anjanette's pad at Crisanta Tower in Pasig City.

"No," David told Funfare, "Jay is not AJ's new boyfriend; I'm still her boyfriend although we're laying low these days. We talk to each other constantly on the phone and we're up-to-date on what we're doing. The truth is that AJ, along with Janelle (Bautista, the dethroned 1999 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe also based in L.A.), was invited to crown the winner, Jay Gabat, of the Mr. Asia-Universe contest (where Janelle sat as one of the judges). AJ was escorted to the affair by Devin (Villarama, one-time actor) and they informed me beforehand about it."

According to David, as far as he knew Jay is engaged to be married to his girlfriend so AJ called him (David) up to have the story clarified, "nakakahiya as it to Jay and his future wife."

Now, could it be true that he was the first to court other girls, including Pops Fernandez and a non-showbiz girl?

Laughed David, "I like Pops very much but so sorry to inform everybody that the rumor linking the two of us is not true. But I've been very vocal about my long-time crush on Pops; I've always been telling people about it from way back. AJ knows about it; I've told Martin (Nievera, Pops' estranged husband) about it. Pero hanggang doon lang: Crush. I admire and like Pops so much, I like everything about her, that when I come face-to-face with her, I'm speechless; I am totally disarmed; I become so helpless that I can't say a word. I am rendered immobile by my great crush on her."

Asked if Anjanette is coming back - soon? - David simply said, "She's coming back definitely, but I can't tell you yet when."

And how does he cope with, ehem, lonely (humid) nights while he and Anjanette are miles and miles apart?

"I'm happy with myself," David laughed some more. "I can assure you that."

You see, there's happiness in solitude.

I just got a copy of the US magazine Entertainment Weekly's Yearbook 2000 special edition (given to me by Jose Mari Chan who just came back from a business/concert trip to Europe and the US) which devoted the whole issue to the "best" and the "worst" (films, TV shows, recordings, etc.) of Year 1999.

It also includes listings of the top movie box-office hits and the most popular albums. Here are the Top 10 moneymakers:

1. Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace - $429.9 million

2. The Sixth Sense - $273.8 million

3. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - $205.4 million

4. The Matrix - $171.4 million

5. Tarzan - $170.7 million

6. Big Daddy - $163.5 million

7. The Mummy - $155.3 million

8. Runaway Bride - $151.6 million

9. The Blair Witch Project - $140.5 million

10. Toy Story 2 - $122.1 million

The Top 10 albums:

1. Millennium (by Backstreet Boys)

2. ...Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)

3. Ricky Martin (Ricky Martin)

4. Come On Over (Shania Twain)

5. Significant Other (Limp Bizkit)

6. FanMail (TLC)

7. Devil Without a Cause (Kid Rock)

8. Supernatural (Santana)

9. Wide Open Spaces (Dixie Chicks)

10. 'N Sync ('N SYNC)

The New Millennium's first batch of Bb. Pilipinas beauties (for Universe, International and World) will be chosen tonight at grand finals at the Araneta Coliseum. Movie producers and directors (talent scouts, too) should keep their eyes wide open for showbiz potentials among the candidates.

Here's a report from Funfare's "beauty expert" quartet Felix Manuel, Joey Caezare, Francis Calubaquib and Gery Yumping:

Twenty seven young, lovely and intelligent Filipinas will vie for three titles at stake: Bb. Pilipinas Universe, to compete in Cyprus in May; Bb. Pilipinas World, to compete in London later this year; and Bb. Pilipinas International to compete in Japan.

The past week was hectic for all the girls whose schedules were fully booked. Several activities had to be compressed due to time constraints, not to mention various TV and public appearances.

Last Feb. 22 the formal press presentation was held at the Dusit Hotel. Despite several unpleasant incidents (the wind was so strong that one of the parasols was blown away), luckily no one was hurt. Another incident was when one of the wooden signages with rollers was when blown away and nearly fell into the pool. The fountains adorning the poolside went berserk due to the wind and got the makeshift stage wet. Photographers had a hard time getting good shots because most of the time the girls' dresses were blown in their faces. There was also a mad scramble for press kits and several press people went home empty handed (thank God that the Bb. staff were professional in handling the snide remarks coming from the disappointed crowd.)

Last Feb. 23, the Annual Charity Day and Parade of Beauties was held at the Araneta Center. A minor accident marred the parade when one candidate was slightly injured when a stick coming from a firecracker (kwitis) fell on her chest.

Among this year's favorites, as voted by pageant aficionados, include several showbiz potentials:

* Nina Ricci Caldo Alagao (No. 14) - This 5'9" stunner is 22 and a model. She is evenly distributed at 35-23-36 and weighs 120 lbs. She enjoys drawing and painting. She is an alumna of UP. Nina gets the nod of most pageant watchers to win the Universe title. She won first runner-up in the Elite Model Philippines search in 1997.

* Gemma Louise Avendaño Heaton (No. 22) - This UST coed stands 5'9" and measures 33-24-35. She's 20 years old, weighs 117 lbs. and enjoys singing and acting. She won the Viva Look of the Year in last year's Elite Model Philippines.

* Joanna Maria M. Peñaloza (No. 12) - This 20-year-old basketball aficionado is 5'9" and measures 34-25-36. She weighs 112 lbs. and keeps fit by hiking and jet skiing.

* Floralice B. Almoro (No. 19) - This exotic 23-year-old stands 5'10" and weighs 114 lbs. She measures 34-23-35 and loves to sing and dance. She keeps fit by kick boxing and scuba diving.

* Maricar Manalaysay Balagtas (No. 20) - This 17-year-old native of Plaridel, Bulacan is 5'8" and weighs 118 lbs. She measures 34-24-35 and is into singing and dancing.

* Ma. Lourdes T. Mendoza (No. 15) - This 5'10" beauty is 120 lbs. and measures 34-24-35. She's 21 and hails from Pampanga. She enjoys swimming and playing golf and tennis.