2003 Angelica’s lucky year

Curtain-raisers:
• Presidential aspirant Bro. Eddie Villanueva has filed his Certificate of Candidacy yesterday. Guess who he is eyeing as running-mate – Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos because she’s "God-fearing." No, Vilma isn’t biting. She’s deadset on running for reelection and will announce her intention today. Any "nominees" as Bro. Eddie’s Vice President? Yes, why not Coney Reyes or Donita Rose or Kuh Ledesma or Gary Valenciano, all devoted followers of Bro. Eddie?

• Congrats to Unitel Films big boss Tony Gloria. His company’s 2003 Metro Filmfest entry, Crying Ladies, was Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB), meaning it’s entitled to a 100 percent tax rebate.

• Funfare welcomes home balikbayan theater actor-dancer Lito Capina who is on a three-month vacation with his folks in San Pablo City. Based in Honolulu for years now, Lito wants to spend quality time with his widowed mother, Elisa. Lito is familiar to local artists visiting Honolulu. He goes out of his way to entertain them and, if they ask him to, guide them on a quick tour of the island.

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2003 is without doubt a very lucky year for Angelica Jones who has finally found her niche in showbiz – as a sexy comedienne (move over, Rufa Mae Quinto!).

Yesterday, Angelica threw a salu-salo at Kamay Kainan (on West Avenue, Quezon City) to thank the movie press and to celebrate her mom’s birthday. The dutiful daughter (ulirang anak) had a big surprise gift for her mom – a brand-new van tied with a red ribbon parked outside the restaurant. Angelica purposely asked her mom to come at around 3:30 p.m., after the van was delivered.

"Some people looked down on us because our car was old," said Angelica, tears of joy welling in her eyes. "So I promised my Mom that I would work hard so we could buy a brand-new car."

Had Angelica agreed to go bold, she would have become a big star sooner. But she has no regrets.

"My patience paid off," she added. "My first movie, Mr. Suave, did well at the box office. My career is going great. It has never been this good." (Angelica’s first movie was with John Rendez as co-star and producer, so forgettable that I don’t even remember what the title was, was never shown.)

A regular cast member of the ABS-CBN Juday-Robin dramedy Basta’t Kasama Kita, Angelica also has a segment on MTB and is a hilarious field reporter for The Buzz’s Tanong ng Bayan portion.

On Jan. 23 next year, she’s mounting Miss Flawless... No Less, her birthday concert, at Ratsky Morato.

Sarah By ‘Insistent Demand’

I knew that Sarah Geronimo has her own following when her first solo concert last September at the Music Museum was "sold out" two weeks before its staging. The repeat a month later was also "sold out." Wow, isn’t it?

The good news is that Sarah, touted as "The Next Regine Velasquez," is having another concert, Live in Antipolo (part of her Sarah Geronimo Popstar on Tour), on Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m. at the Ynarez Gym, Antipolo City. Among her guests are Jay-R, Devotion, Ashley and the grand finalists of Star For a Night (Mark Bautista, Musica Cristobal, Angeli Mae Flores, Florie Mae Lucido and Jason Velasquez).

Seen once as a child star in the Camille Prats starrer Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa, Sarah is in two 2003 Metro Filmfest entries, Viva Films’ Filipinas (as Richard Gomez’s daughter) and in Premiere Productions’ Captain Barbell (as Ogie Alcasid’s little sister). Sarah’s victory as Star For a Night has jumpstarted her movie career, for sure.

Sarah’s Antipolo show is produced by Viva Concerts and sponsored by Nestle Ice Cream, DWDM 95.5 and IFM 93.9, Tickets (P800, P500, P250 and P150) are available at Ticketnet, Video City Antipolo, Ynares Gym and Rejoice Supermarket (Lores, Antipolo). For inquiries, call Viva Cincerts at 887-1125 or 887-5853 local 715,

Joyce Won’t Be Home This Christmas

Like last year when she missed Christmas "at home" (meaning L.A. where her folks are) because she had to help promote her Metro Filmfest entry, Lapu-Lapu (with Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid), Joyce Jimenez won’t be home this Christmas. But she’ll leave on Dec. 28 in time to welcome the New Year with her family.

Besides Pinay Pie (shown mid-2003), Joyce didn’t do any other movie, but she was preoccupied with TV guestings and the making of a music videoke released by BMG Records.

"I’m happy with the current pace of my life," said Joyce. "I have more time for myself and for my studies."

Joyce is a Business Administration freshman at Thames (recognized and accredited by Cambridge University in England), which is near her place in Eastwood City, Quezon City.

"It’s a four-year course and I’m determined to finish it," said Joyce.

When she comes back in January next year, Joyce will work on the opening of a new outlet for her own line of lingerie at SM Manila.

Love life?

"Zero," smiled Joyce.

Do I see eyebrows soaring?

Mention the initials M.P. and Joyce will blush and blush.

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