Franco, Ayen expecting baby

Several issues ago, Funfare reported that Franco Laurel and his wife, Ayen Munji, were planning to finally have their own baby later this year. Well, the good news is that Ayen is already six weeks pregnant, due to deliver either on the last week of October or first week of November.

"Actually," Ayen told Funfare during a brief phone chat yesterday, "my pregnancy came way ahead of our schedule. Franco and I wanted talaga to have the baby by July because of our busy schedule these days promoting our albums. But then, here it is."

They are celebrating their first wedding anniversary on Monday, March 18.

Ayen learned that she was pregnant two weeks ago in Cebu during their album promo mall tour. "I was ‘delayed’ so I took the home pregnancy test," recalled Ayen. "Positive."

Yesterday, Ayen was supposed to meet the press regarding her self-titled album (produced by her own company, SK Records, and released by Viva Records) but the presscon was moved to Friday (March 15) and was subsequently cancelled because Ayen was "sick." Yes, it was "morning sickness."

"I was told by my doctor to take it easy," said Ayen who experienced some "spotting" last Saturday. "It’s again a delicate pregnancy, like the time I was infanticipating for my two children (Yela, 11, and Kiko, 7, by her ex-husband... yes, ‘The Prince’). I can’t eat; I’m throwing up all the time, especially if I smell something I don’t like. Si Franco nga," Ayen added with a laugh, "parang ayokong maamoy. I’m always sleepy and I feel so tamad."

Just the same, Ayen is pushing through with the launching of her album’s MTV as scheduled – April 7 on A.S.A.P.

For the sake of friendship

Now it can be told: Bong Revilla was supposed to enter his starrer with Assunta de Rossi, Ang Kilabot (formerly titled Ang Kilabot at ang Kimbot, produced by Bong and his sibling’s own company, Seven Stars Productions, released by Imus Productions, the company owned by their father, Sen. Ramon Revilla), at the Manila filmfest in June, but he decided against it when he learned that his friend, Rudy Fernandez, also has an entry, Maverick Films’ Diskarte (with Ara Mina as Rudy’s leading lady).

"Kahit papano," said Bong, "magkakasakitan ang aming pelikula sa box office, kaya I decided to back out. I value my friendship with Daboy (Rudy)."

Obviously, events in the past several months have taught Bong some lessons.

"It’s not only making money that counts," he added. "Besides, the movie industry hasn’t completely recovered until now, kaya dapat magtulungan at magbigayan."

It’s a good thing that Bong’s and Rudy’s TV shows are shown on the same station (GMA 7) so they have different timelots. Rudy’s show, Kassangga airs early in the week while Bong’s show, Idol Ko Si Kap, airs on weekends.

Early this year, Jinggoy Estrada publicly forgave Bong who cut his political ties from the Estradas during the EDSA II in January. He and Rudy, along with Phillip Salvador, used to be barkadas with Jinggoy (who is still Rudy and Phillip’s buddies)

"Mas maganda ang walang kagalit," said Bong. "Mas magaan ang pakiramdam."

Jose Mari Chan as impresario

Most people know that Jose Mari Chan wears three hats: that of a songwriter, a sugar businessman and that of a singer-concert performer. Well, in 1981, while living in the US, he tried on a fourth hat: that of being an impresario when he produced the first concert of Michael Johnson (And I Always Love You) in Manila. Eleven years later, Joe Mari has taken that dusty fourth hat out of his closet and is bringing in a young Korean lady classical pianist to Manila.

Her name is Min Kwon who is based in Austria. The concert, entitled An Evening of Classical Romance, will be held at the Francisco Santiago Hall of the Equitable PCI Bank Tower 1 on Makati Avenue on Friday, March 15, at 8 p.m.

Joe Mari first met Min Kwon last year on board the Crystal Symphony cruise up the Baltic Sea and was impressed and fascinated with her talent. As a member of the MCO Foundation, this is Joe Mari’s first production venture in classical music and he is excited to present this charming, articulate and gifted young lady pianist to the Filipino audience. (For tickets you, may call Judy or Lilibeth at 817-1551 or the MCO offices at 813-3849.)

Joe Mari has just returned from a very successful concert at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Chicago where he launched the US release of his new CD, A Heart’s Journey, now on its way to platinum.