Why is Geneva going to the US?

In a suspicion-oriented field like showbiz, when an actress goes abroad not for a concert or for a shooting, intending to stay there for a few months, everybody jumps to the conclusion that she might be keeping a date with the stork far from the madding and snooping crowd and from the reach of especially nosey movie writers.

That’s why if Geneva Cruz pushes through with her plan to go to the States first week of December for a vacation, showbiz rumor-mongers will start speculating that she might be going there for reasons other than to rest and enjoy herself, especially since only four or five months ago, Geneva was rumored to be pregnant. She denied the rumor, saying that it was her older sister Aubrey, based in San Francisco, who’s infanticipating.

The pregnant yarn created a minor controversy, making Geneva’s boyfriend KC Montero terribly worried because it might get him into trouble with his home studio (MTV) which is reportedly strict on its contract stars’ "moral" life. Until now, in fact, KC has yet to admit that he and Geneva are indeed going steady, never mind if (their) actions speak louder than words.

Anyway, Geneva really doesn’t have to worry about going into a serious relationship with anybody. After all, she’s legally free, her marriage to Paco Arespacochaga (now back in the States with his brand-new second wife Tinny) having been annulled.

Even if Geneva did announce when the pregnancy rumor broke out that she was going to the States in December to visit her Ate Aubrey, she can’t stop tongues from wagging and that’s what she should be prepared for – unless she comes back soon (as in after only a month?)

Mark Lapid in his dad’s footsteps

Even now that he’s being promoted to stardom in his latest movie, Megabuilt Films’ Dugong Aso, Mark Lapid admits that he can’t promise anybody, not even himself, that he can equal, if not surpass, the achievements of his father, Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid, as everybody is expecting Mark to.

"Ang taas-taas niya," said Mark, Lito’s son with his wife Marissa. "Mahirap pantayan. If I can achieve even only one third or one half of what my Dad has done, I’d be very happy."

But Mark is trying his very best, don’t worry.

"I have to prove worthy of my Dad’s name. Before I started shooting Dugong Aso," revealed Mark, "I trained really hard para naman hindi ako mapahiya sa Dad ko at sa mga manonood."

Gov. Lito himself directed Dugong Aso and on the set, he treated Mark just like everybody else; Mark got no special attention or special treatment. "Because he’s the movie’s director," admitted Mark, "I have to work doubly hard because if I failed, it would reflect badly on my Dad."

In Dugong Aso, his fifth movie (after Largado, Mahal Kita Kahit Sino Ka Pa, Expert and the unreleased Sundalo), Mark has Kristine Hermosa as leading lady. But he denied that it was him who handpicked Kristine. "When I was taken in," said Mark, "the producer (Raoul Cruz) had already chosen Kristine."

Maybe it’s Mark’s way of denying rumors that he’s keeping an eye on Kristine (Jericho Rosales’ rumored girlfriend), much to the reported uneasiness of Mark’s girlfriend, Darlene Carbungco (reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia and fourth runner-up in the recent Miss Asia-Pacific Quest won by Miss Peru).

"It’s not true that Darlene has been watching over me on the set. It’s not like her to do that. She trusts me as much as I trust her."

Mark, 22, and Darlene, 20, have been going steady for three years now. They are schoolmates (but not classmates) at Angeles University (in Pampanga) where they first met, she taking up Nursing and he, Management.

After she won as Mutya, Darlene got some movie offers but she hasn’t accepted any. Is it true that Mark is stopping her from joining showbiz?

"It’s up to Darlene, really," said Mark. "But if I have my way, I don’t want her to. Our family has been in showbiz for years at alam ko ang kalakaran sa showbiz. I’m afraid for her. But the final decision will have to come from her."

Asked what pointers his dad has been giving him, Mark said, "He always reminds me to be humble and not to take drugs. Mild smoking, mild drinking, okay lang. But taking drugs is a big no-no."

And what about as far as girls are concerned?

"Hindi nakikialam sa love life ko ang Dad ko."

The good thing about recycling

Keen beauty-pageant followers have been telling Funfare, with a triumphant ring in their voices, that Nigeria’s Agbani Darego, chosen Miss World (2001) over the weekend in Sun City, South Africa, is not a greenhorn (unlike her first runner-up Miss Aruba) to beauty contests. The truth is that the cool Nigerian beauty was one of the 10 semi-finalists at the recent Miss Universe Pageant in Puerto Rico, where Miss Puerto Rico bagged the title.

One of Funfare’s beauty experts checked his Miss U tapes and he did confirm the good news, adding that Miss Nicaragua, Ligia Arguello Roa, one of the same Miss World contest’s Magic 5 finalists, also competed with the Nigerian beauty in the same Miss U contest but she didn’t make it even to the semis.

See, "recycling" can produce positive results, as I’ve always been saying. Different contests have different criteria; what the judges of, say, Miss U, find "winnable" may not be so as far as judges of other contests, say, Miss World or Miss International, are concerned.

Several countries practise "recycling" – with good results. Maybe Madame Stella Marquez Araneta, the moving force behind the country’s major beauty-contest organizer, the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc., should seriously give "recycling" a serious thought. All she and company have to do is review the roster of Bb. Pilipinas beauties (to as far back as only two years ago) and they’ll find many gems (of purest ray serene).

If Nigeria and other countries are doing it, why don’t we?

What’s up

• Hair Asia’s Evelyn Alvaran-Cruz is reminding those concerned that Hair Asia’s competitor’s briefing (for the Salon Spectacular 2001, slated Nov. 28 at the World Trade Center on Roxas Blvd.) will be held this afternoon, 2 to 4 o’clock, at the WTC. A free seminar in make-up application, hairstyling and coloring techiniques will be conducted by top hairstylists and make-up artists.