Curtain-raisers:
* Congratulations to Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen who, eight months from now, will be the parents of another baby (their first child is one-year old). Gelli underwent a pregnancy test during the weekend. She's positive.
* Reader Jimmy dela Torre (no address given) is calling Funfare's attention to an error in the "conversation" with Von Flores, the Pinoy star in Toronto. The movie Von did with Keanu Reeves was Johnny Mnemonic, not Johnny Demonic as mentioned in that "conversation."
* Additional information (from readers Nina Criño Suchikul and Ceslie Miguel-Bangayan): "You failed to mention Sharon Cuneta among those who have scored a Best Actress grand slam. Sharon won for Madrasta. Gina Alajar is also a Best Supporting Actress grand-slam winner, for Mulanay."
How deep into the private lives of celebrities can incisive host Boy Abunda penetrate in his forthcoming weekly show, Private Conversations with Boy Abunda, which premieres on April 27 (Thursday), 9 to 10 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel Studio 23?
"As deep as I possibly could," Boy threatens.
And knowing him, I bet Boy would do just that -- be a deep-penetrating host who promises to lay bare some of the treasured private "secrets" of his guests (Press Secretary Dong Puno for the premier episode).
Directed by Bobby Garcia (fresh from his directorial stint with Jesus Christ Superstar) and David Celdran (retired from hosting Battle of the Brains), Private Conversations, according to Boy, "Will reveal that despite the glamour and the glitter, celebrities are also human."
Now, can Boy extract anything that we don't know yet from his line-up of guests, including Inno Sotto (his bedroom, uh, "designs"?), Kris Aquino (how she copes with, uh, "lonely nights"?), Speaker Manny Villar (will she make Lolit Solis his, uh, "campaign manager"?), DOT Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta (how come our tourism industry seems to be, uh, "neither here nor there"?) and Senate President Franklin Drilon (is the presidency part of his, uh, "near-future plan"?).
Let's wait and see.
Nanette Medved with husband Chris Po
It might take a little while before Nanette Medved accepts another movie assignment after her "comeback" last January in the FPJ blockbuster Ang Dalubhasa.
You see, Nanette is very happy and very contented in her present world away from showbiz -- that is, as plain Mrs. Chris Po -- putting in harness the business degree she completed summa cum laude at Babson College in Boston (where Chris also graduated with honors from another college) by helping Chris run the business they have put up here.
"Nanette has never been happier in all her life," said the Funfare DPA. "Her whole world revolves around Chris."
When Nanette asked Chris' permission to do Ang Dalubhasa, Chris gave his nod mainly because Nanette's leading man was the FPJ (with whom Nanette has done one or two movies before). Since the showing of Ang Dalubhasa, the first blockbuster of 2000 (followed by, among a few others, the Sharon-Richard starrer Minsan, Minahal Kita), Nanette has been getting more offers which she has very politely been turning down -- until another FPJ co-starrer comes along?
Nanette and Chris have settled down in the Philippines after a few years studying together in Boston. They got married in September last year in South Africa which they chose for the most memorable event of their lives because it's the one place they both fell in love with during their travels together.
Now, is having a baby among Nanette and Chris' immediate plans?
"You don't plan having a baby, do you?" said the Funfare DPA. "It just comes."
As it is, maybe the soon-to-be-wed Sunshine and Cesar might beat Nanette and Chris to a date with the stork. You bet?
Funfare would like to congratulate Ateneo graduate Gary Jimenez, son of the late Jun Jimenez (brother of my dear friend Baby K. Jimenez who's based in L.A.), for having passed the recent bar exams. It was Baby herself who informed me about it in an e-mail she sent from L.A.
Wrote Baby:
"Gary used to be with ACCRA but is now working at Sen. Rene Cayetano's law office (Cayetano Sebastian Dado and Cruz) so he gets exposure with Cayetano in Compañero y Compañera, aired over GMA-7 every Thursday at 11 p.m., with Sen. Cayetano and Angelique Lazo as hosts.
"Every week, there's a dramatization segment at the start of the show featuring the topic for discussion. This week, the topic's on the relationship between in-laws featuring the story of a letter-sender (seeking free legal advice). The taping was done at our hometown in Biñan, Laguna, actually at the Tan Gana compound in St. Francis Homes I, Bo. San Francisco, Biñan, Laguna (owned by my sister-in-law's family). Heading the performers is Tessie V (Villarama, better half of Willie).
"Small world and what a coincidence -- If you may recall, magkababata kami ni Tessie V -- so this film is a bit nostalgic as Tessie gets to film in her own hometown. She plays the mother-in-law role. Director of the show is Oscar Yema."