•It’s back to work for Charlene•It’s ‘double victory’ for Korina

When you tune in to ABS-CBN at 10:30 on Saturday (June 8) morning, you might miss Tessie Tomas as host of the show Feel At Home but will surely and happily welcome Charlene Gonzales as the new "lady of the home," reformatted and retitled Feel at Home with Charlene. The two ladies are coming from and going in different directions, with Charlene breaking a one-year respite from showbiz after she gave birth to her and Aga Muhlach’s twins, Antonio Andres and Atasha Aaron, and Tessie taking a break and going on a trip to England with her British husband, marine biologist and singer-composer Roger Pullin.

Perhaps expecting fans who have been missing her to ask how she’s able to slim down to her present whistle-bait "Miss Universe" figure in so short a time, Charlene will reveal in one of the portions of Feel at Home her "secret" – and Aga’s, too.

"I’ve lost 65 pounds so far," smiled the sexy Charlene who hardly looks like a mother, "while Aga has lost 20 pounds. How did we do it? Diet. We also play badminton and basketball, almost always together, in Ayala Alabang where we live. How long did it take us to shed those excess poundage? Three months. Now I’m down to my ideal weight (for her 5’6" frame), just a few pounds over 100."

Charlene breastfed their twins for only two weeks. The little Muhlachs are healthy and strong and very energetic, looking far bigger than other kids their age (seven months, born on Nov. 5 last year). Charlene and Aga celebrated their first wedding anniversary last May 28 with a quiet dinner for two. She summed up their one year together in one word: "Masaya!" (It shows all over her.)

Asked if she and Aga are having any difficulty in their adjustment period, Charlene said that, on the contrary, everything was easy and breezy since, having known each other very closely as friends before they got married, they automatically jibed as husband and wife.

"At night," said Charlene, "Aga loves to watch TV and I love to read. There’s no conflict here. I love to cook (Italian food, Filipino food – name it and she cooks it!) and he loves to eat. Aga is easy to please when it comes to food. He eats anything."

You guessed it: On her show, Charlene will dish out not only housekeeping tips but also cooking techniques, child care, information on shopping bargains and the best eating places, just about anything that will make televiewers "feel at home" whether in or out of the house.

Have she and Aga fought since they got married, maybe over petty things that usually bug newly-weds like them?

"Fortunately," said Charlene, "we are both the non-confrontational type. We don’t fight; we talk. Besides, there’s no reason for us to fight."

They have even ironed out future kinks in their schedules. Charlene will tape for Feel at Home two days every week. Aga stars in the new ABS-CBN sitcom OK Fine Whatever (with, among others, Rica Peralejo) and in a Star Cinema movie with Claudine Barretto.

"When Aga is working, I should be at home taking care of the babies (who have their own set of yayas). When I’m at work naman, it’s Aga’s turn to stay home. We see to it that we’re not out of the house at the same time."

You’re right: Time management is also one of the topics Charlene will discuss in one of her show’s episodes.

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When you tune in these days to ABS-CBN’s early-evening newscast TV Patrol, you will notice that, even when she’s reporting the grimmest news, Korina Sanchez looks at peace with herself and the world, unlike early this year when you could sense that something was bothering her somehow.

The good news is that, as you must have read in the papers or heard in newscasts, a "thorn" has been extracted from Korina’s chest with the recent decision of the Makati Fiscal’s Office on that controversial case filed against her by her maid of less than three months, one Bernadita Incocencio who accused Korina of "inflicting physical injuries on her." The resolution, penned by Makati City Prosecutor Albert Kalalo, read in part: It is therefore safe to assume that "the injuries alleged to have been caused by respondents Korina Sanchez and Paul Aquino are not compatible with the injuries sustained by the complainant… Injuries sustained by the complainant were the result of her act of throwing herself on the floor with her arms and feet swinging and flailing…"

The dismissal of the case is a resounding victory for Korina who has vowed to file appropriate charges against the maid for besmirching her reputation not only as a private person but also as a media personality.

Another reason why Korina is grinning from ear to ear nowadays is the survey on radio habits and preferences conducted by UAI which placed her as No. 1 Favorite AM Radio Personality (followed by, in order of preference, Sen. Noli de Castro, Mike Enriquez, Joe Taruc, Rey Langit, Ka Totoy, Ernie Baron, Leyte Rep. Ted Failon, Mel Tiangco and Tiya Dely).

The respondents (Manila and suburbs) were asked why they prefer Korina (mornings on DZMM) and they graded her very high on the following points: Magaling magbalita, malinaw kasi magsalita, walang pinapanigang pulitiko, prangka, walang kinatatakutan/walang takot sa komentaryo and matapang magbalita.

Oh, well, what else can we say but, "Keep up the good work, Korina! Right on!"

Lea back for concert

Lea Salonga arrived yesterday from the States to do a repeat of her successful Broadway concert on June 19 at the PICC Plenary Hall.

Lea came home after her well-received performance at the Tony Awards in New York last Sunday, where she sang during the tribute to Richard Rodgers.

In October, Lea will star in the Broadway production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song which she also did in Los Angeles last year.

While here, Lea will also launch and promote the "live" album of her Broadway concert, released by BMG Records Pilipinas.

Lea’s concert is being produced by Bayo, the garment line she is endorsing. She will be joined by the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, to be conducted by her brother Gerard who is also the musical director.

Lea’s repertoire will consist of Broadway songs that most people are acquainted with, like Maybe from Annie, Fallin’ and I Still Believe in Love from They’re Playing Our Song, and selections from Flower Drum Song, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.

The concert is directed by Bobby Garcia. Special guests are Michael de Mesa, Calvin Millado and Carlo Orosa.