Who’s ‘stalking’ Claudine?

There are stalkers and there are stalkers. And then there’s another kind which has been pestering Claudine Barretto every hour on the hour, day in and day out, on her phone (cell and landline) and at home and wherever Claudine is.

Very irritating and at once very scary, isn’t it?

One time, Claudine was roused from sweet slumber in the dead of night when stones rained on the roof of her house. Before she was fully awake and recovered, Claudine heard the phone ring and guess who was at the other end of the line – a girl telling Claudine with "fright" that her own house was being stoned! Yes, she’s Claudine’s "stalker/tormentor."

Oftentimes, the "stalker/tormentor" would send Claudine threatening text messages, using a pre-paid card (so that the caller’s name isn’t reflected in the receiver’s unit). What Claudine is worried about is if, without her knowing it, the "stalker/tormentor" might cross her path, block her way and, heaven forbid, hurt her physically or splash something toxic at her face.

Claudine – and her boyfriend Raymart Santiago – already have an idea who the "stalker/tormentor" is and they’ve filed a complaint with the police and also notified the NBI.

Now, could the "stalker/tormentor" be somebody once involved with Raymart, a "jilted" lover maybe?

These days when she’s busy promoting Milan, the Star Cinema romance-drama Valentine offering where she co-stars with Piolo Pascual, Claudine isn’t taking any chances. Besides her factotum (alalay), she is always accompanied – and protected – by bodyguards. Mahirap na nga naman, ’no?

Directed by Olivia Lamasan, Milan is opening in Metro Manila on Feb. 11, with a premiere on Feb. 10 at SM Megamall and similar screenings scheduled in San Francisco (California) on Feb. 12, Abu Dhabi on Feb. 19, Dubai on Feb. 21 and Milan on Feb. 22. Claudine and Piolo will grace these events.

Move over, Melanie; Carmi’s taking over!

I nominate Carmi Martin as the new Madame Malapropism, to replace the "reigning" malapropos empress Melanie Marquez.

At the wedding a few days ago of her good friend Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas, Carmi perhaps unwittingly entertained the well-heeled starry guests with her own servings of, that’s it, malapropism (defined by Mr. Webster as "a blunder in speech, through ignorance of a word or meaning," although I suspect that natural comedienne Carmi was doing it on purpose).

While Gladys and Christopher were hopping from table to table to greet guests, Carmi announced, "After the table to table, dinners are ready!"

Earlier, Carmi gave her best wishes and "may you live happily ever after" to the newly-wedded.

Then, she informed everybody that several singers were offering songs for the, ehem, "newly-wedded" by introducing one of them as Kiara (referring to Ciara Sotto).

When it was time to catch the garter, Carmi invited the "single boys" to come forward and, later, for the "catch the bouquet" time, the "single girls" to join the fun.

Keep it up, Carmi! More, more, more!

Incidentally, I should say that the Gladys-Christopher wedding is the first such really glamorous event in showbiz, a truly beautiful, star-filled and storybook-like event that deserves to be called The Wedding of the Year.

To Gladys and Christopher, happy honeymoon!

Cheers to Carlo Orosa

Funfare congratulates Carlo Orosa for being the first foreign singer on Vietnam television:

Here’s the piece of good news:

Carlo proves yet again that Filipino talent knows no bounds nor borders. Fresh from his musical triumph at the 2003 Southeast Asian Games Turnover Ceremonies last December, performing to thousands of fans at the Hanoi Stadium, Carlo returns to Vietnam this February to popular demand. He will enthrall Vietnamese audiences once again, this time on national television, on the country’s most highly rated variety show, VTV3’s Music and Friends.

Carlo appears upon the personal invitation of Vietnam’s leading songbird Mylinh, with whom he sang the SEA Games theme song, World of Tomorrow. Captivated by her Filipino counterpart’s musical performance, Mylinh collaborated with Carlo on an English-language recording of the song, which is now an unprecedented national hit in Vietnam. He will be performing it again, as well as another song, as Mylinh’s special guest in her Music and Friends Artist of the Month concert, as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Needless to say, the multi-talented actor-singer is ecstatic about the overwhelming reception of his music abroad. "I was told that appearing in VTV3 would make me the first foreign singer to perform on national television in Vietnam! I consider that to be such an honor."

The honor and accolades continue to follow Carlo wherever he goes, it seems. After winning local audiences over in his star-turning run as the title role in Trumpets’ most recent musical theater hit, Honk! The Ugly Duckling, he can’t wait to share more of his talents with the rest of the world. Vietnam has certainly welcomed him already, overwhelmingly so, with open arms. Music and Friends airs on VTV3 on Sunday, Feb. 1.

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