And now, is it Aiko and Herbert?

Curtain-raisers:

• Could it be true that two goodlooking actors, obviously tipsy, were caught kissing inside a car at the parking lot of The NBC Tent during a recent glamorous event there? Could they have been, uh, rehearsing a movie love scene, with one of them standing in as the, ehem, leading actress?

• Could it be true that Tanya Garcia (of GMA’s popular soap Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga) is going steady with the dashing mayor of a Leyte town? Sana ay siya na nga?

• Yes, it’s true: Joel Torre and his wife Cristy have put up a Manukan Grille (Bacolod Inasal Gid Ya!) at #4 Granada St., Ortigas Ext., Quezon City (beside Ferino’s Bibingka). Wanna try the Bacolod goodies? Call 721-9025 for reservation. Manukan Grille opened only over the weekend (May 3).

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I’ve been somewhat "lucky" these days, crossing paths with couples who’d rather keep a little privacy even if they’re seen together in public. First, it was KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual. Guess who I bumped into a few days later (also by welcome accident) – yes, Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and Q.C. Councilor Aiko Melendez!

The chance encounter happened last Sunday (May 4) at the parking lot of Katre (accent on the last syllable) Restaurant off Tomas Morato Avenue, Q.C., during the birthday bash of celebrity designer Paul Cabral.

Aiko came with bosom buddy Carmina Villarroel but they didn’t stay long. They still had lakad, you know.

Was Vice Herbert "hiding" in the dark while waiting for Aiko? Paul invited him upstairs but Vice Herbert begged off. He dropped by just to fetch Aiko with whom he went bar-hopping with Carmina (escorted by Eric Quizon).

If you’ve been following showbiz goings-on, you should know that there’s a persistent rumor that Vice and Konsehala are an "item," although neither of them has denied nor confirmed anything – yet. In fact, the joke goes that Aiko has been "demoted" because she was once romantically linked (no truth to it, though) with Q.C. Mayor Sonny Belmonte. They tease Aiko: From the Mayor to the Vice Mayor. Aiko takes it all with a good-natured smile.

Herbert has two love children (by two different women), all right, but he’s eligible, not having married anybody yet. Aiko is separated from Jomari Yllana (by whom she has a son, Andre, and against whom she has filed an annulment case).

Well, if they are, indeed, an "item," well and good. It goes to show that showbiz and politics have ceased to be strange bedfellows. Vice Herbert and Konsehala Aiko must be seeing each other not only during sessions at the Q.C. Hall but also during the weekly tapings for ABS-CBN sitcom Klasmeyts (Coed Na).

Good luck to both of them. They deserve to be happy, don’t they?

Tina’s daughter

In answer to requests from Funfare readers, I’m putting out the photos of Tina Paner and her two-month-old daughter Luisiane Kristiel (by husband Luigi). Tina and Luigi are now living in Barcelona, Spain, where Luigi’s parents came from.

Tina is enjoying her private life away from the madding crowd, even if she hasn’t really given up her singing career. She and Luigi got married in civil rites early last year. They plan to get married in church here, maybe before Christmas during their first homecoming.

Tina’s mom, Daisy Romualdez, is as excited as any lola.

Daisy first saw her apo’s pictures on The Buzz last Sunday. Oh, how she cried!

Welcome home, Jose Llana!

By this time, the name Jose Llana should ring a dozen bells. Yes, he’s the same guy who was Lea Salonga’s leading man in the Broadway presentation of Flower Drum Song (which closed prematurely a few weeks ago).

The good news is that Jose is arriving this weekend to do an album for Viva Records and to topbill three concerts (also produced by Viva), first on May 31 solo at the Gourmet’s in Silang, Cavite; then on June 20 at the CCP with Cris Villonco and Ryan Cayabyab; and finally on July 10 and 11, joining the cast of Lagi Kitang Mamahalin, a tribute to National Artists Lucio San Pedro, Levi Celerio and Atang dela Rama (it’s a repeat of last October’s hit musical revue but with some changes in the cast due to conflicting schedules).

Here’s a backgrounder on Jose Llana:

Jose burst his way into the American theater industry in 1996 by being cast as Lun Tha in the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I, starring opposite Lou Diamond Phillips. This began a thriving and versatile career for the then 19-year-old, landing him on the cover of Theater Week magazine as one of the "New Faces of ’96."

After a successful run at The King and I, Jose was hand-chosen by director George Wolfe to lead the revival cast of On the Town as Gabey in the Public Theater’s New York Shakespeare Festival, winning rave reviews for his singing and dancing, making musical theater history by being the first actor to play the role as well as dance Dream Gabey in the famous ballet.

The next step for this versatile singer was R&B and Rock and Roll as he doo-wopped and shimmied his way into Broadway’s Street Corner Symphony, a Motown Revue that brought soul back to the Great White Way. From there Jose joined the Broadway cast of the ground breaking show, Rent, claiming his own stake in the show’s central heart character Angel.

As a performer and collaborator, Jose has helped forge the way for many new works and pieces. Off-Broadway he was heralded by The New York Times as the "vocal alter ego" of composer Adam Guettel in Saturn Returns: A Concert at The Public Theater spawning a concept album. Chicago papers praised his "vocal beauty" and "show stopping song" in the World Premier of Ballad of Little Jo at the famous Steppenworlf Theater Company. And finally, Jose was again hand-picked, this time by Producer Cameron Mackintosh to lead the American cast of the musical Martin Guerre, garnering rave reviews across the country in a tour that brought him to the delighted eyes and eyes of numerous American cities.

Away from the stage, Jose has made his mark in American Television as well by playing a role in the HBO’s Third Season Premier of Sex and the City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The Emmy-winning episode had Jose playing Damion opposite stand-up comic Margaret Cho in a scene-stealing fashion show. American television audiences may also recognize Jose from his year-long stint as a spokesperson for the electronics store chain Circuit City, appearing in commercials for them which ran all over the country.

In the world of music, Jose has lent his voice for many award-winning albums. Whether they be for cast albums like The King and I or Saturn Returns or for charity albums like Broadway Sings Paul Simon or Broadway Romances Manhattan, Jose’s vocal talents have brought a special "tonal beauty" to all of them.

In October 2002, Jose reached one of the many pinnacles of his thriving career. He found himself back on Broadway in Flower Drum Song, this time starring opposite a fellow Filipino, Lea Salonga. Together, they led the cast in the history making all-Asian-American revival production. His "hip and assured performance" strengthened Jose’s place as one of Broadway’s finest Leading Men. It was this production that brought Jose back to his roots and heritage.

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