Sharon hopes to get pregnant in 2002

Curtain-raisers:

• Lara Fabregas (Mrs. Raymond Bagatsing) was rushed to the Makati Med early yesterday morning for an emergency surgery due to ectopic pregnancy. Lara and Raymond were married last July in Indian rites (in keeping with Raymond’s being half-Indian).

• Still at Makati Med is Vandolph who, along with his non-showbiz girlfriend (reportedly from a prominent political family in the North), was moved Monday night by helicopter (the girl was transferred by car due to her delicate condition) from a hospital in Pangasinan where they were seriously injured in a car accident. No, contrary to reports, Vandolph’s arms and legs haven’t been amputated. He underwent a six-hour surgery yesterday on his extremities (while his girlfriend is in coma, given a 50/50 chance of survival). Vandolph’s head is swollen due to internal injuries. Funfare is asking readers to pray for his and the girlfriend’s recovery.

• Was it Mo Twister’s declaration of "war" against the movie press when he accused the media last Sunday on The Buzz of printing "lies" about and against him and girlfriend Janette McBride (who’s quitting showbiz and resuming her studies in Australia)? Mo made that sweeping accusation even as he admitted that, yes, indeed, he and Janette had themselves tattooed while on vacation in Boracay during the long weekend first week of this month. Funfare reported that Mo and Janette were kissing in public and even if Mo denied it, Funfare stands by its story. To Mo and Janette, the usual advice: If you don’t want to be written about in that light, please behave when you’re in public. If you can’t, kiss when nobody’s looking.

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In her post-natal movie, Viva Films’ 20th-anniversary presentation Pagdating ng Panahon (inspired by the hit song of Aiza Seguerra who is not included in the cast), her third team-up with Robin Padilla, Sharon Cuneta will pleasantly surprise her movie fans by being very slim and, that’s it, very sexy, looking far slimmer than she did in December last year after she gave birth to her and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s first child, Frankie.

It’s the second time Sharon is pulling this feat, the first having been in 1999 when she beat a battle with the bulge (made more serious by hypothyroidism which makes the sufferer gain weight because of slowed-down metabolism).

"It’s easier for me to shed poundage this time because I’ve already mastered the ‘technique’," said Sharon who denied that she has had liposuction or been taking diet pills. "I palpitate when I take diet pills," admitted Sharon, "but I do take vitamins."

Discipline and will power ("which you can’t find in any how-to reducing book") have been the key to Sharon’s triumph over the bulge. Well, you see, if you set your mind to it...

Avoiding rice and fats and sweets (but Equal is okay), Sharon has been limiting herself to a mostly fruit diet – a small plateful of suha and wheat bread for breakfast, fruits for lunch and moderate amount of seafood (steamed crab or fish) for dinner. She also works out on the treadmill right at home and, anytime now, is planning to take up Taebo with a gym instructor (also at home).

"Ten more pounds to go," said Sharon, "and I’ll be okay already," refusing to reveal how light, or how heavy, she is at present.

Late next year, Sharon hopes to get pregnant again, wishing for a boy next time since she and Kiko have two daughters (KC Concepcion, aside from Frankie who’s turning a year old next month).

As she did when she got pregnant with Frankie, Sharon might have to take another "vacation" from showbiz (but she’ll continue hosting her self-titled show on ABS-CBN even until her eighth month of pregnancy) and again be "domesticated."

Mareng Winnie not leaving GMA?

Is Mareng Winnie (Monsod) quitting her show Debate on GMA and jumping ober da bakod to rival station ABS-CBN which is said to be offering her an offer too juicy to refuse?

"So far," said Mareng Winnie over lunch with the movie press yesterday, "I haven’t received any offer from any other station. But let me tell you that I’m happy the way things are going."

She’s doing TV for GMA and radio for ABS-CBN’s sister company DZMM where she hosts a daily early-morning program with Cito Beltran. That’s getting the best of both worlds, isn’t it?

"Basta," said Mareng Winnie, "I don’t want to be caught in the network war."

There’s also a rumor that she’s being offered a juicy post by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and that’s another reason that might make her quit Debate. No such offer yet, so far, according to Mareng Winnie who reminded everybody that there’s a one-year ban (from accepting any government position) on those who ran in the elections (Mareng Winnie did last May 14, for Senator).

As it is, Mareng Winnie is happy with Pareng Oca and Debate which is celebrating its third anniversary on Nov. 29 (watch for an explosive episode to mark the milestone).