‘Wheel of Fortune’ turns well for Rustom

First, a clarification:

It’s not true that Paradise, the Baywatch-type TV show Rustom Padilla (with, among others, Romnick Sarmenta and veejays from other parts of Asia) did for a Singapore network, was rudely interrupted after only a few episodes. So it’s not right to say "win some, lose some" now that Rustom has bagged the hosting job for Wheel of Fortune, one of the three gameshows ABC 5 is launching next week. (Wheel of Fortune back-to-back with Family Feud, hosted by Ogie Alcasid, airs Monday through Saturday, starting Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. respectively; while The Price is Right, hosted by Dawn Zulueta, airs every Sunday at 7 p.m., starting Nov. 25.)

"Actually," said Rustom (who’s also in the cast of the Regal megamovie The Lost Treasure of Gen. Yamashita intended for this December’s Metro Filmfest), "Paradise’s one-season (13 weeks) run was completed. One season lang talaga ’yon. My two-year contract with the Singapore company is good for two years and it includes, besides Paradise, modeling, pictorials and other projects."

Hosting a gameshow, specifically Wheel of Fortune, is a dream come true for Rustom who recalled having seen it the first time while he was a high-school student in Baguio City.

"I was intrigued by the way the puzzle was formed," said Rustom, "step by step, sinusundan ko rin, as if I was one of the contestants. Yeah, madalas nabubuo ko ’yung puzzle so even then, even before I was tapped to host the show, I already felt like a winner."

Like Ogie and Dawn, Rustom was screen-tested how he would fare and fit the "mold" and, judging from the test VTR, he passed the "audition" with flying colors.

Acting as Rustom’s co-host is "import" Victoria London (the counterpart of Vanna White in the US edition of Wheel of Fortune; Family Feud and The Price Is Right are also top-raters in the US) who will wear designer gowns (she won’t wear a gown twice) by Danny Franco. Mutliply one gown six times (a week) and then multiply the product 24 (times a month) and Victoria will be wearing no less than 288 different gowns in one year.

Will she get the gowns as "bonus"?

"Well," smiled Victoria, "I might get to keep my favorites."

Okay now, do you want to be a millionaire (that is, if you don’t happen to be the weakest link)? Are you sure na korek na korek ka diyan? Can you solve the puzzle? Game ka na ba? All right, spin that wheel!

Best friends, worst enemies

How come the best of friends usually become the worst of enemies once they fight?

I can never figure that out especially in the case of Annabelle Rama and Daisy Romualdez, bosom buddies turned bitter enemies. I don’t even care to find out what has caused the seemingly unbridgeable rift in their long friendship.

Anyway, the so far "silent war" between Annabelle and Daisy (both Bisaya, the former from Cebu and the latter, from Romblon) is headed for the worst now that Annabelle has decided to include Daisy’s stranged adopted daughter and niece Tina Paner in the line-up of performers in the two shows Annabelle is mounting on Dec. 7 and 8 at the Country Waffles (Greenhills) where she put up two very successful shows (The Way They Are, topbilled by Pilita Corrales and Rico J. Puno, with Jinky Llamanzares and Yam Ledesma as guest performers) three weeks ago.

Called Songs and Laughter Unlimited, the Dec. 7 show features Jessa Zaragoza and Mitch Valdez, again with Jinky and Yam as guest performers; while the Dec. 8 show will topbill Dulce and Allan K., along with Jinky, Yam, Selina Sevilla and, that’s it, Tina Paner.

Now, did Annabelle deliberately hire Tina (now managed by Cornelia "Angge" Lee) to spite Daisy?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

According to Annabelle, she saw Daisy with four girls, including Annabelle’s former "talent" Miya Nolasco (the two severed their ties after an ugly fight), at Bistro Lorenzo several days ago and Annabelle concluded that Daisy was finalizing a "deal" with Miya to "get back at me."

"So there and then," said Annabelle, "I called up Angge at kinuha ko si Tina para sa aking show."

Tit for tat?

Contacted by Funfare, Daisy said that she was never at Bistro or anywhere else with Miya, denying that she is now Miya’s manager.

"It’s up to her (Annabelle) kung tama o mali ang ginawa niya," said Daisy who herself is producing several shows, including Music and Laughter, starring Nanette Inventor, on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the NE Mall (owned by Letty Uy) in Nueva Ecija; Christmas in November (with Dulce, Jun Polistico and Danita Paner on Nov. 27 at Hotel Rembrandt (with Nestor Cuartero as director); and Nora Aunor’s Casino Filipino show on Dec. 21.

As far as Funfare is concerned, old friends should iron out their differences and, yes, be friends again. Otherwise, in the case of Annabelle and Daisy, if cooler heads (or "sanity") don’t prevail, a "clash of titans" is bound to erupt.

Peñafrancia celebration

Guests in formal attire gathered on Sept. 14 at the home of Max and Edith Ricketts in San Diego’s picturesque Blossom Valley to honor the patron saint of Bicolandia, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. San-Diego-based sons Alex and Jason and grandsons Jamie and James were on hand for the celebration. Absent were sons Ronnie and Topher, who were busy in Manila promoting Mano Mano II.

Coming in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Washington D.C. and New York, the evening began with a Mass presided by Father Chito Valenciano. Soprano Diane Caywood led the prayerful candlelit garden assembly in singing Let There Be Peace on Earth, followed by The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

An elegant, lake-view formal catered dinner followed the Mass. Edith brightened dinner by modeling several dramatic creations of her favorite couturier, Pitoy Moreno. Next year in the spring, Pitoy might have a cultural fashion show tour in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Dinner was followed by a musicale that featured tenors Luigi Leuvano and Michael Ruhl, and sopranos Diane Caywood and Edith Ricketts. Concert pianist Audrey Tooley and violinist Erica Williams provided accompaniment.

Starlight dancing was orchestrated by fashionable disc jockey Peter Tucker and dynamic Carmi Ramirez. Broadway’s Debbie Sim sang several show-stopping numbers.