Actor in hospital due to drug overdose

Curtain-raisers: * It’s the kind of item that you are reluctant to write but has to be written anyway if only to knock some sense back to the head of this young actor who doesn’t know what bright, bright future he’s wasting if he continues to be "ecstatic" – you know, by taking Ecstasy. The bad news is that he has landed in a hospital with a fellow Ecstasy-user due to overdose. This item will give no tell-tale clues at all, except to say that the young actor is miles ahead of his contemporaries but, if he doesn’t wake up soon enough, he might lag miles behind everybody else. Hoy, gising!

* Yes, Sheryl Cruz and husband Norman John Bustos would like very much to come home to pay their last respects to Sheryl’s father, Ricky Belmonte, who will be buried tomorrow morning at the Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque City, but Sheryl has been advised by her doctor against traveling because it would be bad for her four-month-old baby whom Sheryl is still breastfeeding. Instead, Sheryl and Norman will host a memorial mass for Ricky at the same church in San Francisco, California, where they were married in 1997.

* At the special preview of Rent at the GSIS Theater last Wednesday night, director Bobby Garcia went onstage in an unscripted "surprise act" and stopped the show five minutes before it was supposed to end. The reason? Some people in the audience were using their cellphones which interferred with the sound system, often turning the performers’ lines and songs into disturbing static sounds. Really now, there oughta be a law against using cellphones in theaters, moviehouses, and such public places of worship as churches.

Mighty Mike

In the more than one year that he has been hosting the controversial GMA show Imbestigador that exposes criminal activities and anomalies in all levels of society (business, politics, showbiz, etc.), host Mike Enriquez hasn’t been dragged to court on libel charges, all right, but he has been getting his own share of death threats. That puts him on the same league as the unlamented former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who used to eat death threats for breakfast and fellow crusading and fearless TV hosts like the Tulfo Brothers (Ramon of Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo, Erwin of Mission: X and Raffy of Philippines’ Most Wanted).

There have been juicy offers, too, such as big amounts of money ("Name your price, kahit magkano") to stop Mike and his team from pursuing a hot lead, but Mike has remained "un-tempted."

"I don’t let myself be bothered by the death threats and the juicy offers," said Mike, married to Baby Yumping these past 24 years (they are childless). "I just go on with my work."

Nevertheless, Mike doesn’t want to take chances so he goes around with two "inconspicuous" bodyguards. Also to be very sure (and safe), his wife has to change her lifestyle a bit, meaning she has been staying indoors (meaning at home) rather than be out shopping or partying. In these dangerous times, you can never tell, you know.

Because he is highly recognizable and highly visible, Mike has to take extra precautions, too, especially now that Imbestigador has moved from its old timeslot to a new one (Saturday at 5:30 effective this afternoon, taking the timeslot of Brigada Siete which folded up last week).

"I expect to get more death threats," said Mike (whose nice eyeglasses are provided by Vivian Sarabia, the Caretaker of Stars’ Eyes). "On its new timeslot, mas marami ang manonood ng Imbestigador. We are also reinforcing the segments kaya mas maraming masasagasaan at mas maraming masasaktan, mas maraming magagalit, kaya mas marami rin ang magbabanta sa amin."

Believe it or not, but Imbestigador’s team of segment producers is made up mostly of women.

No, according to Mike, "We don’t apprehend criminals or arrest suspects; neither do we file cases in court. All we do is call the attention of the proper authorities to criminal elements and other anomalies. So far, our record is good. We get instant response and reaction. Some cops that we have exposed on the show have been dismissed and/or apprehended."

Isn’t Mike affected by, uh, the "competition"?

"Not at all," he said. "In fact, I wish there’d be more of this kind of show para mas maraming kriminal ang mahuhuli."

Effective this afternoon, Imbestigador will be pitted against Magandang Gabi, Bayan, the ABS-CBN show hosted by now-Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro.

By the way, isn’t Mike planning to run (maybe also for Senator) in 2004?

"No, I’m not," said Mike firmly. "I‘m not interested in running for any public office."

(Famous last words?)

Tessie reacts

Here’s a reaction letter from Tessie Tomas to the Funfare item calling her attention to her "uncalled for" comment about Marissa Sanchez:

Dear Ricky,

Hi! As you know I am an avid reader of your column. Allow me to clarify my remark about Marissa Sanchez during my recent presscon. My complete answer to the question of what I think of young comediennes like Marissa was: "Ah, comedienne ba siya? Akala ko singer!" In all honesty, I have known Marissa as a terrific singer because I watch ASAP. Sorry for my ignorance, but I have not had the chance to watch Pwedeng-Pwede. I have no idea of the comic role she plays on that show. Now I know better. By the way, she was not able to guest on my show Feel at Home because the taping was cancelled, just to set the record straight.

My apologies to Marissa. I never meant to offend nor belittle her. I hope this issue will be laid to rest. More power to your column, Ricky, and thanks for giving me a chance to air my side.

Sincerely,

– TESSIE TOMAS

(Note: Tessie told Funfare that she has also sent a letter of apology with a bunch of flowers to Marissa whom, Tessie said, she’s inviting to her show Teysi at Twenti, at the Music Museum this coming week. All’s well that ends well?)