Jinggoy can run as ‘independent’

Will he or won’t he? Run for Senator even as an "independent," that is.

I’m talking about Jinggoy Estrada who said that he had no "hard feelings" even when he was left out as one of the Senatorial bets under the FPJ-Loren Legarda tandem.

"I respect the decision of my Ninong Ronnie (Poe)," said Jinggoy.

The former San Juan mayor has until today, deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy, to make up his mind what position he will run for. If not for Senator, could it be for Mayor again of San Juan (in which case he’ll be competing with half-brother J.V. Ejercito, the incumbent) or for Congressman (also of San Juan)?

"You’ll know before the day ends," Jinggoy told Funfare in a brief phone chat.

But if Golden Lions couple Donna Villa and Carlo J. Caparas would have their way, Jinggoy should run for Senator even as an "independent."

"He can easily win," said Donna, "because of the Erap factor. His father (former President Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada) is known as Ama ng Masa so that makes Jinggoy Anak ng Masa. Jinggoy is ‘winnable.’ Look at Noli de Castro (President GMA’s running-mate). He ran for Senator as an independent in 2001 and he was a topnotcher. Gringo Honasan also ran for Senator as an independent and he won."

Anyway, whatever position Jinggoy will run for, according to Donna, "Carlo and I will be behind him; we will support him all the way."

Yes, that’s what friends are for!

‘S.T.’ Senator’s B-day Gifts To The Public

Sen. Manny Villar, known as the "S.T." (Sipag at Tiyaga and not Sex Trip) Senator, celebrated his birthday recently by inaugurating the P400-million 14-kilometer Las Piñas-Muntinlupa-Laguna-Cavite (LPMLC) Link Road which connects Metro Manila to Cavite, that will benefit, among others, the local movie industry.

"Movie stars and production staff would be able to arrive at shooting locations in the south on time with traffic expected to be decongested," said Villar.

Other major projects Villar inaugurated on his birthday included a new level of the Las Piñas District Hospital (soon to be known as the Las Piñas Medical Center).

He also distributed lot certificates to some 2,000 indigent residents of Barangay CAA in Las Piñas, a project he called Pabahay sa Pasko, and led the ground-breaking ceremonies for the construction of l2 classroom buildings in his home province, Iloilo; and conducted medical missions in Tondo, Manila, where he grew up.

Not many people know that Villar has a showbiz side. Former LVN actress Evelyn Villar is his aunt.

Natalie Imbruglia’s Designer A Pinay

Did you know that the lady who designed the wedding gown of pop princess Natalie Imbruglia is a Filipino, Monique Lhuillier (who, if I’m not mistaken, also designed the gown of Lea Salonga who’s getting married to Robert Chien Jan. 10 in L.A.)?

Here’s a report from reader Aileen Nyulaszi:

Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns and pop princess Natalie Imbruglia were married in a secret ceremony at a tropical resort.

The couple, engaged earlier this year, were surrounded by family and close friends in a secluded tropical location in Australia, a spokesman said.

Guests described the ceremony as a "beautifully moving, non traditional, spiritual ceremony."

Imbruglia wore a silk chiffon v-necked gown, with a hand draped layered handkerchief hem, designed by Beverley Hills designer,Monique Lhuillier.

She wore a neckpiece which she co-designed with Los Angeles-based designer Kaviar and Kind and shoes by Jimmy Choo Couture.

Natalie was attended by her five-year-old niece Ella.

Johns wore a vintage pale blue suit.

Following the ceremony, guests feasted on a banquet of locally grown produce, in a room filled with cascades of fresh daisies, for the wedding breakfast.

Guests were entertained by a live, orchestral soundscape which was composed especially for the event. Internationally renowned DJ, Paul Mac completed the entertainment.

The spokesman refused to reveal where the wedding was held, but it believed the glamour couple were married at the exclusive Thala Beach Lodge, at Oak Beach, near Port Douglas.

A spokesman for the resort said the resort had been closed for renovations but a large white marquee could be seen on the lawn inside.

The 85-room resort has shut its doors to the public for the next two days but wedding guests were seen being loaded into buses outside a Cairns hotel for the journey to the resort.

Marketed as a member of the "small Luxury Hotels of the World", Thala Beach Lodge room prices range from $336 a night to $2,165 for the honeymoon suite.

The lodge is situated on 145 acres and fronts onto two kilometres of sandy beach.

Johns, 24, and Imbruglia, 28, flew into Cairns airport and were driven off the tarmac in a gold limousine.

The newlyweds will release a wedding photograph for sale with proceeds going toward a favoured charity of the couple.

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