Priscilla coming home after all

Here’s a piece of good news that should make you (especially lovers of boldies) sigh with relief: No, Priscilla Almeda is not staying in the States for good, after all; and, yes, she’s coming back maybe in March or April next year after giving birth in January to her love child by her live-in lover, Shoff Ricoblanco, a native of Aklan now based in New Jersey where he works as a radiologist at a hospital.

The rejoinder was relayed to Funfare by somebody close to Priscilla in reaction to the story last Tuesday (Sept. 4) that Priscilla might remain in the States even after she gives birth because it’s only there where she has found the respect she never felt back home (due largely, I’m sure, to her image as a bold star).

"Priscilla is staying with Shoff and his family, it’s true," added Priscilla’s confidante, "and Shoff’s family loves her very much, treating her like their own daughter. She’s pampered with regular shopping. The Ricoblanco family owns a house in Connecticut and the whole family had just spent a weekend there."

So it’s doubtful, as Funfare reported (quoting a New York DPA), that Priscilla would apply for "welfare" for free milk for her baby. Also, according to the confidante, Priscilla’s tummy is getting bigger and bigger so she can’t possibly be "asking some new-found friends for work, presumably singing stints," because Shoff and his family won’t allow her.

Well and good, then. How lucky of Priscilla to have found such a kind second family.

The New York DPA was, however, right in describing Shoff as "a hunk, very sexy with his long hair, and very cute," no wonder Priscilla fell head over heels for him the first time their paths crossed at a bar. After she met Shoff, the DPA said, "Priscilla forgot all the other guys courting her – and there were many of them!"

Absent during the promo for her last movie shown recently, Syota ng Bayan, Priscilla will also be sorely missed by her fans in the next three weeks during the promo/publicity for her other movie, Huwag Kang Kikibo, Ako ang Hihipo, which will be shown early next month. Approved by the Armida Siguion-Reyna MTRCB, Huwag Kang Kikibo is directed by Gil M. Portes (currently in Toronto for the filmfest there where his film Markova: Comfort Gay and Joel Lamangan’s Deathrow are being shown) from a screenplay by Doy del Mundo.

The movie’s title used to be Huwag Kang Kikibo, Diyos ang Hihipo but "Diyos" had to be replaced with "Ako" to avoid hurting the sensibilities of some sectors of our society. Don’t attribute any connotation to the word hihipo, though. You see, the movie is about a cult whose head, played by Raymond Bagatsing ("In one of his best performances," according to direk Gil), draws people from far and wide under his spell, one of them the innocent barrio lass (Priscilla) who eventually takes over as the cult head. Of course, I’m not jumping to the conclusion lest I spoil the suspense. See for yourself how the "changing of the guards" happens.

Huwag Kang Kikibo is the last movie of Priscilla as a dalaga. The next movies she hopes to do when she comes back next year will be, well, "post-natal," showcasing Priscilla in all her "unwed motherhood" glory.

Will Michelle also make news in Turkey?

Turkey is becoming a popular showcase for Filipino beauty, thanks to Ruffa Gutierrez who has brought Turkey to the consciousness of the masa because her boyfriend, Yilmaz Bektas, happens to be from there (Istanbul).

Other Filipino beauty queens (Ruffa, in case you’ve forgotten, is a Bb. Pilipinas title-holder and a 1993 Miss World Second Princess) have been wowing Turkey (and the rest of the world) by winning titles in that romantic place, including Joanna Maria Peñalosa who won the Face of the Net award in the Miss World Internet contest held last year in Istanbul where Maricar Balagtas also bagged the Miss Globe International title early this year.

Any day now, Michelle Cueva Reyes (2001 Bb. Pilipinas batchmate of Maricar, both of them being runners-up to Zorayda Andam, the top winner as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe) will fly to Turkey to represent the country in the Anatolia Miss Tourism-International 2001 to be held in Ankara.

Michelle, 24, is the dusky beauty whom everybody thought would win one of the three major titles at stake in the 2001 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant.

A registered nurse who loves babies, she works at the Nursery-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the UST Hospital. She has been a staff nurse of the hospital since she passed the board examination two years ago.

Her family, based in Bicol, is engaged in the business of furniture making and has taught Michelle the value of work and love for children.

Michelle is the eldest in a brood of six. Being the eldest made her a favorite of her grandmother since she helps the family in bringing up her siblings.

Despite being busy in her work schedule, sometimes taking the graveyard shift at the hospital, Michelle was persuaded by a talent scout to try out for the screening which eventually led her to become one of the crown jewels of the Bb. Pilipinas organization as 1st runner-up in this year’s edition of Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant.

Although her height is one of her best assets, it is her sweet smile, graciousness and long legs that have made her a favorite choice by fashion designers who described her as "a beauty with a perfect body symmetry."

Michelle is well aware of her new role as a Philippine delegate to the Miss Tourism-International in Turkey. She also knew the distinction of other Filipina beauties who have figured very well in beauty contests in that exotic European country.

Lani is now Concert Queen

When Lani Misalucha was asked during a presscon three weeks ago if she could fill up the enormous Araneta Coliseum (capacity: 17,000) and if she was ready to take on the intimidating Big Dome, she didn’t buckle a bit when she answered with a smile and an unmistakable air of confidence, "I should be — oh, yes, I am!"

What prophetic words, those.

Tonight when she mounts the stage of the Big Dome in her first solo concert called Lani Misalucha: The Crossover Live Tour, she will be facing an SRO crowd, bigger than the one that showed up when she performed as "guest" of Zsa Zsa Padilla in a concert where Lani inadvertently stole the show from the main star when she sang one song on her back, much to the audience’s delightful approval, prompting people to call her – what else? – The Reclining Diva.

Will Lani do "it" again? Maybe she will, but definitely not in her opening number which will show her in a fabulous gown specially designed by Rajo Laurel. But knowing Lani, I’m sure she has some "surprises" underneath that gown, just wait and see.

No doubt Lani is currently the reigning Concert Queen, with her show tonight sold out several days earlier.

"She’s the most versatile singer today," said a music aficionado, "and nobody can compare with her."

(Performing as Lani’s special guests are Martin Nievera, Side A’s Joey Generoso and upcoming singer Malik, with Louie Ocampo as musical director.)