Will Jules, Assunta get OK for Batasan wedding?

Curtain-raisers:

* From San Francisco, Gretchen Barretto texted to Funfare the good news that her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco had a successful throat operation and that they’ll be back end of this month and she’ll do TV guestings.

* Last Sunday’s The Buzz unveiled the identity of Pops Fernandez’s new boyfriend(?) who’s a commercial model, much younger than she is. I hope Pops doesn’t start crying again on national television once the media dissects her latest "romance." Remember, it was she who broke the news.

* Several people were asking if it was right for Zsa Zsa Padilla to be at the Asian Hospital during that headline-making confrontation between Alma Moreno, the estranged wife, and Kris Aquino, the you-know-what, over lover boy Joey Marquez. The unanimous answer is, sorry to Zsa Zsa, a big no. It wasn’t only "not nice" or "unethical" (as if showbiz guys bother with ethics, ‘no?), it was improper because once upon a time Zsa Zsa… well, you know what she did to Alma who lost Dolphy to Zsa Zsa.

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Will the planned wedding in Batasan of Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma and Assunta de Rossi push through in Jan., 2004?

"Sam (Assunta’s nickname) and I are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be," Jules told Funfare during a phone chat yesterday. "It all depends on the House Committee on Rules whether or not it will give us the go-signal. The draft of our formal letter of request is with me, ready to be sent to the Committee anytime now."

The whole idea actually started as a joke. One time, members of the Committee on Rules, headed by Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, "roasted" Jules about Assunta and Jules took the opportunity to ask his honorable colleagues permission if he and Assunta could get married at the Batasan, a "first" if and when, after all dozens of other social events (such as necrological services) have been held there. Jules’ colleagues started laughing and laughing, especially after he told them that, if and when, they’d have a chance to kiss the bride (what a bonus, ‘no?). Rep. Gonzales agreed in principle, saying "yes," prompting Jules to write a formal letter of request.

"The Filipino people will not spend a single cent for it," assured Jules, "because I promise to pay for the electric and water bills for that day and the maintenance of the place. Besides, it will not get in the way of any work at the Batasan because the wedding is scheduled during the Christmas recess."

Jules and Assunta are eyeing the Session Hall as venue but if it’s not possible, according to Jules, they’ll settle for the garden. "The carouaje is now being prepared," disclosed Jules. "The Sarao people are now conceptualizing it. A top industrial designer is helping in constructing the carouaje."

Asked about the persistent rumor that Assunta and he are now civilly married, Jules said no.

"All our papers for the civil marriage are now ready, though," he confirmed, "except for a ‘certificate of singleness’ from the National Statistics Office which I am asked to submit to the Italian Embassy (Assunta being an Italian citizen)."

Celso Kid in two US cinema books

Quiet for while a spell, a mellowed Celso Ad. Castillo is now putting to can his latest work, Virgin People III, produced by Leonora "Norie" McCullick (Celso’s townmate from Siniloan, Laguna) and topbilling Barbara Milano, Allona Amor and Monina Perez.

That’s the first good news about Celso. The other is that he’ll be included in two cinema books, one entitled Fear Without Frontier by Chris Fujiwara, and the other is untitled just yet by Steven Jay Schneider, a New Yorker who teaches at the Emerson College in California.

The Funfare source didn’t say what the content or thrust is of Fujiwara’s books but he said that Schneider will chronicle Celso’s rise to prominence through his classic films which include Asedillo, Burlesque Queen, Nympha, Daluyong at Habat, Tagulan sa Tagaraw and many others.

Celso was traced to Siniloan, where he has been in "seclusion" these past years, through his son Chris, now living in California and starting his own career as an important director.

After and besides Virgin People III, let’s hope that Celso will do other movies in the enduring tradition of especially his earlier works. The industry can’t afford to overlook such a huge talent as Celso Kid, can it?

Get well soon, Wilson!

Wilson Tieng, president and executive producer of Solar Films, underwent a successful kidney-transplant surgery recently at the Chinese General Hospital, handled by doctors Jose Garcia, Eric Yap, Ruby Go, Ben Purugganan and Wilson Tan de Guzman.

Now recuperating at home, Wilson’s morale is greatly boosted by get-well cards and flowers he has been receiving from friends and colleagues – and most important of all, their prayers.

Said Wilson, "First, I thank the Lord for my second life. Second, I thank my doctors who treated me well before, during and after the surgery. Third, I thank everybody who has been praying and is praying for me."

Wilson has lost several pounds, weighing only almost one half of his usual heavyweight self. But he’ll be back on his feet before long, as good as new, just wait and see.