‘You use me, I’ll use you!’

Goodbye, wedding!

Goodbye, elections 2004!

Goodbye, J.C. Castro!

That’s the "goodbye" tune Melissa Mendez is now singing after she broke up with J.C. after living-in with him for one year and a half.

Only last year, Melissa and J.C. were on national television, holding hands as they parried potshots from boldie Camille Roxas who was hurting after J.C. split from her in favor of Melissa.

"I just woke up as if from a deep slumber," said Melissa who accused J.C. of reneging on his promise to marry her last June 24 on his birthday. He begged off, though, saying his "budget" was not enough for a birthday bash and a marriage even if Melissa wanted only a "civil" one which would have cost J.C. no more than P10,000.

"From the start," added Melissa, "my family, relatives and friends were against my relationship with J.C. They were telling me that he was only ‘using’ me."

Because she’s a dozen years J.C.’s senior (he’s 29 and it’s up to you to figure out how old Melisa is), some people were calling Melissa a "sugar mommy" because, as she herself admitted to Funfare, "in the one year and a half that we were together, I spent for our needs; I even spent for his recent birthday and gave him an expensive watch as a gift."

Described by friends as a "sucker for love," Melissa has been going around the second district of Caloocan City where J.C. plans to run for councilor, shaking every hand and singing together in fiestas where J.C. would introduce Melissa as "ang asawa ko" (music to the ears of Melissa who has three children from two past relationships, one of them actor Raymond Keanu).

Somebody close to J.C. came to his defense, saying, "Melissa should stop making an accounting of her expenses on J.C. Nag-enjoy din naman siya sa company ni J.C., di ba? J.C. made her very happy and you can’t put a price tag on the happiness that J.C. has given her."

Now, is it all a case of "you use me, I’ll use you?" You know, "I enjoy what you give me and you enjoy what I give you in return." Tit for tat.

There you are – another showbiz romance down the drain.

From the start, the Melissa-J.C. romance seemed to be doomed, with people close to them predicting that it wouldn’t last long. Well, true enough...

Meanwhile, do I hear somebody laughing...ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha?

She sounds like Camille Roxas to me. Magnifico leaves good impression in Czech Republic

Maryo J. delos Reyes’ highly-praised movie Magnifico, produced by Violett Films, didn’t win any award at the just-concluded 38th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, held at the Czech Republic from July 4 to 12, but it did leave a good impression (especially) among Europeans. Magnifico was the first Filipino film to compete in that filmfest (against l5 other films from around the world) where another Filipino film, Lav Diaz’s Batang West Side, was shown in the "exhibition" category last year.

Madam Violet Sevilla herself headed the Filipino delegation which included direk Maryo, Magnifico stars Jiro Manio (accompanied by his father, Andrew) and Girlie Sevilla (Madam Violet’s daughter), along with Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" who is Magnifico’s international publicist and sales agent.

A common remark from Europeans who saw the movie was: "We’re thankful that you brought Magnifico here. We’ve never seen a Filipino movie and Magnifico gave us an idea what kind of people you are and what kind of country you have."

Others described the movie as "very Christian," interpreting the kind-hearted character (Magnifico) played by Jiro as "a Christ figure who leaves a mark in people."

From the Czech Republic, Madam Violet and company made a side trip to Prague (only two hours away by bus).

Magnifico is scheduled to be shown in more filmfests – in Montreal early next month, in Fukoka (Japan) from Sept. l2 to l9, Pusan (South Korea) in Oct., Calcutta (India) in Nov. and Alba (Italy) sometime in Dec.

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