Kabayan says ‘yes’ to drug test

Even with the overwhelming (as in "landslide") number of votes (more than 16 million, the highest ever garnered by a local official) he got last May 14, Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro hasn’t gotten used to being addressed as Senator/Senador.

He has, so to speak, one foot in the Senate and the other foot still firmly planted in television.

That’s why when he and wife Arlene de Castro invited the movie press to a thanksgiving lunch last Saturday at Shangri-La Restaurant on West Avenue, Quezon City, the same place where Kabayan also held his movie presscon two months before the elections to clear his name regarding certain issues being hurled at him by his opponents/muckrakers (the payola issue, etc.), everybody was still calling him Noli or Kabayan and he said he preferred it that way because of the ring of familiriaty, you know.

Kabayan has been in the Senate for barely three weeks and he said that he’s getting the hung of it, ably taking his turn at the podium to "interpellate" the controversial Sen. Ping Lacson during his privilege speech defending himself on the laundering charges. Much to many people’s surprise, Kabayan did ask sensible questions and he did not, unlike some of his colleagues (including the one who desperately tried to get publicity mileage by doing – vainly – a Roseller Lim, the legendary and true filibusterer) who are fond of grandstanding, much to the consternation of the already flabbergasted mamamayang Pilipino.

Last week, reacting to a radio blind item that a cabinet member is a cocaine addict, Trade Secretary Mar Roxas submitted himself to a drug test and passed it with flying colors (see, folks, negative!). Asked if he was in favor of the clamor that not only cabinet members but senators and congressmen as well also submit to the same test (despite the objection of Sen. Blas Ople who said that such a test would be "degrading" to public officials… but what’s so "degrading" about it when these officials are not above the law and they should serve as role models for good behavior and not for squandering people’s money!?!), Kabayan said, "Okey sa akin ’yan. I’m willing to submit to such a test. If you’re not hiding anything, bakit ka matatakot?"

Kabayan happily revealed that he had already filed 50 bills, most of which are for the educational benefit of especially the poor.

Meanwhile, he’s still active as host of the ABS-CBN late Saturday afternoon show Magandang Gabi, Bayan which is celebrating its 13th anniversary this month (that’s why the thanksgiving lunch also served as presscon for MGB, thus the presence of segment hosts Julius Babao, Henry Omaga Diaz, and Kabayan and Arlene’s daughter Catherine de Castro).

Asked if he’s entertaining, no matter how remotely, any plans of running for, uh, the Presidency in 2004 (against GMA? Or fellow senator and ABS-CBN colleague Loren Legarda? Or Sen. Ping Lacson?), Kabayan smiled, "Malayo pa ang 2004. Problema muna ng bayan ang dapat asikasuhin."

No, Kabayan isn’t getting any death threats (yet), thank you.

Quipped Henry Omaga Diaz, "Walang death threats, pero marami ang natri-threaten sa kanya."

"Good" sign, isn’t it?

Mayor Vi ‘on leave’

Speaking of death threats, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos (and, for that matter, her husband, Sen. Ralph Recto) isn’t taking death threats against her lightly, so she has decided to go on a two-week leave to sort out her schedule and rework her, uh, "strategy."

Being a hypochondriac, Mayor Vi is vulnerable to anything that puts her health at risk (death threats aren’t good for the health, are they?). She has put many things "on hold," including the shooting of her Star Cinema movie, Dekada ’70, which might be shown in May next year as the company’s Mother’s Day offering instead of in the Metro Filmfest in December.

Mayor Vi has opted to be scarce, too, politely declining interviews (stay tuned, though, for her official statement which will come out in this corner – soon). She was supposed to be the guest of honor at the launching of the Manunuris’ Urian Anthology last Thursday but she begged off (mahirap na nga naman, di ba?) and instead sent her son Luis as proxy.

It’s only now on her second term that Mayor Vi is realizing – with a shock – that politics is, indeed, even more danger-filled than showbiz.

Soon: Salon Spectacular

Funfare bumped into Hair Asia publisher Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz at the newly-opened Bennigan’s Restaurant on Morato Avenue (Q.C.) last Saturday. The good news, according to Evelyn (who’s the "walking advertisement" of her own beauty businesses that include a beauty parlor), is that she is preparing for another big hair event on Nov. 28, two days after her birthday, also to be held at the World Trade Center like previous Hair Asia events.

Called Salon Spectacular, the event is supported by more than 30 sponsors so far which goes to show, said Evelyn, "that Hair Asia has a good track record."

At the Salon Spectacular, which promises to be as star-studded as ever, Evelyn is adding a new feature which is the selection of the 10 Finest Salons (announcement of winners known on the event itself).

Stay tuned for more details – if we bump into Evelyn again by chance before Nov. 28.

Rockin’ Revival drawing crowds

Last Friday evening, two friends and I dropped by at Audiotorium for yet another trip down Memory Lane with the Rockin’ Revival (now performing Friday nights, first at 9:30 then at 11 and the third set at 12 midnight).

Unlike the first time we were there two months ago, Audiotorium was SRO. Bablou Barbero and Cora Sevilla, who are behind the group, said that since stories about the Rockin’ Revival’s gig has been seeing print, more and more people have been flocking to Audiotorium (along West Avenue, Q.C., just two buildings away from Saisaki/Kamayan) for that nostalgic capsule travel back to the beautiful past via songs from the ’60s, ’70s and even further back (The Beatles, the Dave Clark Five, Paul Anka, Elvis Presley, Santana, etc.).

"Old friends from way back, most of them we haven’t seen for ages, keep showing up at Audiotorium," said Butch Sabater, member of the Rockin’ Revival. "It’s turning out to be unexpected reunions every Friday night."

This time, the group did Santana’s Evil Ways (during the request portion) which they failed to do the last time we were there. Maybe they’d include it in their repertoire because Evil Ways got a more than enthusiastic reaction from the crowd that Friday night.

On Aug. 18 (Saturday), the Rockin’ Revival will be performing in a fund-raising concert (for the benefit of the Heart Foundation) called In My Life... Return to Yesterday at Downtown of Hotel Rembrandt (Morato Avenue, Q.C.). Show starts at 9 p.m.

Giselle’s ‘mission’

No, Giselle Sanchez, who got married in December last year to long-time boyfriend Emil Buencamino, isn’t pregnant yet. Not that she and Emil are, well, "controlling" themselves; it’s just that, said Giselle, "Wala pa talaga."

While the stork is busy with other would-be mothers, Giselle is taking advantage of her time by doing shows here and abroad.

She also has a "mission" with the EDSA Shrine Medical Mission of which she’s a volunteer.

Here’s Giselle’s panawagan:

I am calling doctors, especially pediatricians and dermatologists who have time to reach out and share their services for those who cannot afford it. It will only take two hours of their time, from 2 to 4 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays. They can just go to the Edsa Shrine and look for Ma’am Guia. Surely, two hours of your time for your fellowmen once or twice a week will not hurt but bless you even more. Also, those who would like to donate medicines or food for the weekly mission may contact the Edsa Shrine or send it there every Monday and Thursday.