Why Miriam’s wedding wasn’t on Extra Challenge

Except for a very limited feature on GMA’s All About You (which she was hosting) last Sunday, Jan. 10, the wedding of Miriam Quiambao and Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli in Boracay was not seen by the public whose curiosity had been whetted by the pre-wedding publicity. The wonder of it all was that not even a glimpse of the couple was seen on (also GMA’s) Extra Challenge which Miriam co-hosted with Paolo Bediones. Why? There’s a story behind it. Stand by.

Yes! Associate Editor and STAR contributor Blaise Gacoscos uncovered the reason why – and there lies the rub. I’m puzzled why celebrities openly and publicly talk about their marriage/wedding, only to shut the door on the media on the day of the event, saying that they want it to be "private." If that’s what they want, they should keep it "private" from the very start and not breath a word about it. Period.

In Miriam’s case, according to Blaise, there was an initial report that Claudio wanted "privacy" during the wedding, that’s why Miriam’s own show, Extra Challenge, didn’t cover it even if at first the show was given the go-signal.

Miriam was quoted by Blaise as saying that the Extra Challenge group went to Boracay to shoot the episode of Phoemela Baranda, who replaced Miriam as co-host, and in order for her and Paolo "to bond" and for them to be able to attend the wedding.

But some kinks cropped up somewhere along the way.

Here’s the rest of Blaise’s story:

My source said that two days before the Jan. 9 wedding, the Extra Challenge staff and crew left Manila for Boracay to do a three-day special coverage. Between 9:30 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, day before the wedding, Extra Challenge director Rico Gutierrez received a text message from Miriam, saying something to this effect: Hindi na kayo magko-cover. Please call me.

That same morning, Paolo was set to do an exclusive interview with Miriam and Claudio but the interview was cancelled at the last minute.

My source said that Miriam was "caught in between." Miriam dearly loveed Extra Challenge and an exclusive feature on her wedding would have upped the show’s rating. But then, she also love(s) her husband dearly and she wouldn’t do anything to offend him.

In the end, Miriam opted to protect the feelings of Claudio over helping improve the rating of Extra Challenge.

Still and all, Miriam tried her best to convince Claudio to change his mind. How could Claudio say no to his future wife?

Claudio changed his mind too late – 30 minutes before he and Miriam marched down the aisle. Claudio said "yes" to the coverage of the church ceremony and the reception on the condition that only one cameraman be allowed to enter the highly-restricted premises.

Guess how the disappointed Extra Challenge people reacted – they put one over Miriam and Claudio by saying "no," never mind.

Instead, Extra Challenge did an entirely different story to fill up the episode reserved for Miriam and Claudio’s wedding.

Moral lesson?

I’ve said it earlier in this story: If stars want privacy, they should refrain from breaking anything to the public themselves, especially if it’s about as private an event as a wedding.

(Note: Watch for Blaise’s exclusive coverage of the wedding both for The STAR and for Yes! magazine.)

Will Jimboy Sue Mahal?

In case you haven’t noticed, if (some) local stars are not trying to claw each other’s face or pull each other’s hair on national television, they’re threatening to file charges against each other – only to kiss and make up in the long run on, you guessed it, on national television.

Ai Ai delas Alas is threatening to file charges against her neighbor Mystica over an incident involving their sons while Mystica is threatening to also file charges not only against Ai Ai but also against movie writers who took Mystica to task for "spoiling" her son.

The newest "aggrieved party" to threaten to file "oral defamation" charges is Jimboy, with his former "girlfriend" Mahal as "defendant."

What!?! Is this where love – or was it kabaliwan? – has ended up?

Jimboy is said to be "hurt" by the lyrics of Mahal’s song, part of which goes, Piolo, Piolo, I love you; Aga, Aga, I like you; Jimboy, Jimboy, I hate you... E, kasi niloloko mo ako. The song also insinuates that Jimboy prefers boys to girls, prompting some showbiz jesters to call him "Jimgirl" instead. Foul?

Let’s see if any of the charges – Ai Ai vs. Mystica, Mystica vs. Ai Ai and vs. some reporters; Jimboy vs. Mahal – will stick.

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