What’s Leandro up to?

Just because he has been keeping a low profile ("By choice," he said) since the showing late last year of the megahit romance-drama Kahit Isang Saglit (also starring Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual), some people thought that Leandro Muñoz has taken a leave from showbiz (especially since he hasn’t been seen on TV after the long-winding ABS-CBN soap Saan Ka Man Naroroon ended several weeks ago, even if he is a regular member of the cast of the Sunday mid-afternoon soap Tabing Ilog).

The truth is that, according to Leandro’s mom Pat Garcia-Muñoz (in a call from Taiwan where she’s teaching at an exclusive school), "He has been very busy lately, so busy that he has almost no time to rest."

"Two weeks ago," said Leandro when contacted by Funfare, "I did shows in several cities in Japan. Oh, yes, I sang on those shows. I can sing, when the need arises."

From Leandro, Funfare also learned that he’s about to start shooting his fourth movie, also by Star Cinema, following three blockbusters (that is, Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko and Anak, aside from Kahit Isang Saglit), with Jolina Magdangal and the new guy in the Close-Up commercial (also Leandro’s springboard to showbiz), Rafael Russell.

A source at ABS-CBN also told Funfare that Leandro is included in the cast of a new ABS-CBN sitcom (inspired by the US series The Practice), untitled just yet, which will topbill Richard Gomez, Eric Quizon and Sharmaine Arnaiz. All of them will play lawyers.

"That’s why I’ve been reading up on lawyers," said Leandro who finished not Law but Business Management at San Beda College. "I’ve also been watching shows about lawyers, like Ally McBeal and others."

Maricar’s Turkish suitor

Several issues ago, Funfare mentioned in passing that Maricar Balagtas, 2001 Miss Globe International, was being relentlessly pursued by a dashing Turkish guy who was one of the judges in the contest held in Istanbul, Turkey.

That harmless little item drew a lot of inquiries from Funfare readers who were wondering who that guy might be. Could he be the Turkish (Yilmaz Bektas) who is Ruffa Gutierrez’s boyfriend (and soon-to-be husband?)? No, he’s not. He’s another guy altogether.

"After Maricar came home, bringing the first ever Miss Globe International title for the Philippines," said a Funfare DPA who roams around Araneta Center, "the Turkish guy couldn’t stop calling the Bb. Pilipinas office, asking for Maricar’s phone number at home (in Bulacan). As per the Bb. Pilipinas rules, however, phone numbers of winners (even the candidates) are confidential, so the poor guy must have been losing sleep unable to talk to Maricar."

Being a dalagang Pilipina from humble beginnings (her father is a tricycle driver), Maricar is unmoved by the guy’s persistence.

Incidentally, if I were the ad agency handling the account of Globe, I would get Maricar as endorser. Imagine, a Miss Globe International no less telling the whole world to buy our product!

Hello, Globe, are you listening?

Just call her Mari

Make way for new singer Mari (short for Marideth Placencia), who is "imported" from London where she grew up and had her early education.

At a mini-presscon at Dulcinea (Tomas Morato), the movie writers were treated to a sampling of Mari’s singing (her album is being released by Star Records) and everybody was convinced that she’s the sound-alike of Jaya.

Mari has performed at the Buckingham Palace (for Prince Charles) and at the Philippine Embassy in London a few years ago during the state visit of former President Cory Aquino. Yes, Mari started singing at an early age.

Among her awards and citations are: Tawag ng Tanghalan (London) champion (at age 9), Kanobe competition champion (at 11), Miss Teen Philippines (London, at 15) and bronze medalist at the Asia Music Festival 2000 in Shanghai.

Her parents (who own a restaurant in London) are Marcelino Placencia and Edith Nallos. Marcelino used to work as a personal butler at the German Embassy in London. The family is here to support Mari’s bid for stardom on home ground. Mari sings regularly at the Calesa Bar of Hyatt Hotel.