Much ado about Diana’s bikini

Curtain-raisers:

• No, there wasn’t anything serious between Annabelle Rama and Korina Sanchez as hinted at in Funfare the other day. It was just a little misunderstanding long ironed out. Annabelle and Korina are now the best of friends. They’re even partners in a beauty-products business.

• Rey Maliuanag has called Funfare’s attention to an error in a recent column about Mel Chionglo being the director who launched the late Claudine Zobel to stardom in Sinner or Saint. "In fact," said Rey, "it was Elwood Perez who did so, in Shame (also produced by Regal like Sinner)." Speaking of direk Elwood, he should be back in harness directing one of the current soaps, shouldn’t he?

• Joey Gosiengfiao reports that Regal Films’ new release, Two Timer (starring Ara Mina, Wendell Ramos, Krista Ranillo and Albert Martinez – yes, his face is back on the movie’s ad layouts after his manager, Shirley Kwan, sent a letter of complaint to Regal) grossed more than P3.5 million when it opened last Wednesday. Good for the industry, no?

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Thanks (but no thanks) to Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, that 30-minute otherwise "harmless" cover pictorial for FHM magazine with a bikini-clad Diana Zubiri on top of a flyover on EDSA, Mandaluyong City, has snowballed into a national controversy. It would have been over and done with in a jiffy, consigned to public memory as one of those, well, "welcome breathers," but the Honorable Mayor opted to file a case of "grave scandal" against Diana and FHM editor Eric Ramos (who, I suspect, must be screaming in triumphant glee for the free publicity his magazine is getting).

The Honorable Mayor said that he did give a permit for the pictorial on condition that Diana would wear shorts and not a pair of, as he now perceived it, "scandalous" bikinis while pretending to hitchhike at the flyover.

If you ask me, the Honorable Mayor is stirring up much ado about Diana’s bikini which, judging from the TV newscasters, didn’t create any "grave scandal" at all but instead drew amusement from – and provided free entertainment to – passersby. On GMA’s Debate the other night, the Honorable Mayor was saying, among other things, that he was concerned with the kids (minors) who might have been passing over the flyover at that moment. Oh, come on, "concerned" with the kids? My foot!

I wonder, though, how the Honorable Mayor would feel when he sees that mad women, stark naked and full of mud and dirt, wandering in the streets not only of Mandaluyong City but around Metro Manila. Would he have been "scandalized" and felt as much "concern" for the children? Would he charge the same woman with, uh, "grave scandal"?

I guess (and you might agree) that what is more "gravely scandalous" is the indifference and callousness of government/public officials who pretend not to see all those homeless kids roaming the streets, sleeping under bridges, making homes out of cold pavements and knocking on car windows begging for a few centavos more.

Maybe because they see God’s lesser children day in and day out, government/public officials must have become immuned to those pitiful sights, and that, I daresay, is more "gravely scandalous" than the 30-minute bikini exposure of an aspiring bold star trying to get her share of public attention – and getting it, thanks (but no thanks) again to one mayor who should be focusing his time and attention and concern to more important and more pressing problems.

Diana got what she wanted – publicity. If that’s what the Honorable Mayor also wanted, then he, too, got it. For that, he has Diana to thank for and not to charge with a "grave scandal" case. Come on, Mayor Benhur, stop making a mountain out of a molehill!

Changing lanes?

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, isn’t it? It’s true whether you’re talking about careers – or romance.

Otherwise, why is Raymart Santiago, a GMA talent (but not for long? Stay tuned!) attracted to Claudine Barretto (now his girlfriend?), an ABS-CBN talent? Remember Gabby Concepcion (of Regal Films) falling for Sharon Cuneta (who belonged to the opposite camp, Viva Films)? There’s also my dear Kris Aquino (the newest STAR columnist) of ABS-CBN hooking up with Joey Marquez of GMA.

Don’t look now but the newest item in town is made up of two people from rival channels – Jomari Yllana of GMA and Tintin Arnaldo of ABS-CBN. Happily(?) estranged from his wife, Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez, Jomari seems to be (badly?) smitten by the sweet Tintin with whom he’s seen more and more often, the last time being at a happening in Libis, Quezon City.

It’s the Romeo & Juliet syndrome all over again – you know, what’s "forbidden" can prove very irresistible.

Von Arroyo, sex symbol

In his shows here and Japan, Von Arroyo has made it a point to wear sexy clothes, baring his slightly hairy chest, because, according to him, "that’s what my audience is demanding."

Small but terrible, Von has the voice, all right, but "my audience" wants him to spice up his singing with sexy motions in sexy clothes. Wish granted.

That’s what "my audience" will get when Von mounts his concert called Unzipped on Nov. 14, 8 p.m. at the Virgin Cafe (Tomas Morato), with special guests Roselle Nava and Geneva Cruz, directed by Joey Alonzo (with Lorrie Ilustre as musical director).

Will Von "unzip" something during the show?

"Find out for yourselves," he said.

What’s up

• Jam with the country’s top show bands this month as The Brick Road unleashes its line-up of band concerts. On Nov. 9, catch Passage Band as they perform today’s top hits. Time to go back to the oldies as Q&A performs on Nov. 15. Laugh your hearts out as Fat Session gears up on Nov. 16. The Big Deal Band jams it up on Nov. 23 while Limited Edition performs on the 29th. Groove to the music of the Merchants of Groove as they woe the audience on Nov. 30. All shows start at 7 p.m. with special performances from the top stand-up comedy acts from Giggles Bar and Restaurant. Front act band provided by Padi’s Point. The Brick Road is located at the East Wing Carpark of Sta. Lucia Grand Mall.

• Zonta Club of Makati & Environs Foundation, Inc. presents Charito Bazaar 2002 and "Breast Cancer Screening and Consultation" on Nov. 10, Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center, McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City. One-hundred Free Mammogram Certificates will be given to qualified women aged 40 years old and above. "Charity Bazaar 2002" is presented in cooperation with Rustan’s and sponsored by Unilever Philippines. Tape Inc., PLDT, Land Mark Management and Services. Bantez Development Corp., and Zuellig Foundation, Philippines.