Coosome twosome in ‘People Asia’

Love is definitely in the air with the February 2002 issue of People Asia magazine, with Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales on the cover. And judging from the unconscious action during the shoot of Kristine and Jericho, then the love team is not only for reel – it’s definitely for real! The production team put together by the magazine for the shoot could see the obvious chemistry and fun the two shared off camera, from the furtive smiles down to the way they shared food. "Wow, nagsusubuan pa," remarked one of the production team members. Jericho absolutely refused to touch his food unless Kristine was ready to eat, too.

Another love team – and this is definitely for real and for keeps – is that of Senator Franklin Drilon and his wife Mila. While waiting for the senator to arrive, the People Asia team was treated to a fine display of Mrs. Drilon’s hospitality, who made sure that everyone felt relaxed and ate from the array of fruits and the delicious ice cream fruit cake she served. There was a tense moment, though, when last-minute changes in the senator’s hectic schedule almost necessitated a rescheduling, but he managed to arrive just when the team was wrapping up the solo of Mrs. Drilon.

"Sweetheart, may ipakikilala ako sa iyo," Mrs. Drilon said, ushering in her husband to the makeup room. "Kilala mo pa siya? Si Arman," she said, pointing to Arman Montero, the hairstylist. The senator stared, and then he burst out laughing. "Arman, luko-luko, anong ginawa mo sa buhok mo?" he guffawed. As it turned out, Arman, who used to do the senator’s hair, was a "skinhead." The person the senator saw, which got him into a laughing fit, had red, curly hair. That unguarded moment gave a glimpse of the big man’s secret: he is genuine and down-to-earth.

Speaking of love affairs, TV viewers unquestionably have a "love affair " with television soaps’ "Queens of Mean" – the women who make life miserable for the heroines. Viewers may hate the characters played by Isabel Rivas, Jean Garcia, Julia Clarete and Eula Valdez – the most popular villainesses on TV today – but without them, there would be no drama, no excitement. Getting them together was quite another story, though. It took almost a month before everyone could have a common free day for the shoot. And when the date came, such was the trepidation of the assigned writer that he was expecting great balls of fire to spew from the well-curved mouths of the ladies at the (or so he thought) impertinent questions he had to ask. But the ladies, especially Isabel Rivas, turned out to be far from the vicious vixens they portray on television.