• After the parade of foreign artists during the recent Valentine season (with the Incubus doing a post-Valentine concert), guess who’s coming next to do a concert in Manila sometime in October – yes, Britney Spears! The concert is now being cooked up by the same group which was behind Mandy Moore’s concert last year at the Araneta Coliseum.
• Don’t believe the wild rumor that Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid were injured in a car accident in San Francisco, California, one of the itinerary of the duo’s US concert tour. Regine and Ogie are safe and sound and singing beautiful music together (oops! no "meaning" there, huh!).
• Gladys Reyes suffered a "blighted ovum" and is now recovering at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Metro Manila. There’s something wrong with Gladys’ ovary. She and husband Christopher Roxas cried and cried over their first baby which would have been born eight months from now. Okay, Gladys and Christopher, try again!
"Idol ko si Dad," Jolo told movie writers during his 16th birthday bash last March 15. "Bilib ako sa kanya. My Tito Jawo is also my idol; pero mas idol ko ang Daddy ko siempre."
Jolo is, in fact, a carbon copy of his father, from his chinky-eyed smile to his body language (very transparent, I should say) to his thick eyebrows to his, ehem, love for girls.
Like Bong, Jolo is starting early where love is concerned. His girlfriend is Grace, 14-year-old daughter of Rosanna Roces, whom he adores to high heavens. The kids (they still are, aren’t they?) have been going steady for three months now, although they first met six years ago (when they were that high) on the set of a movie that starred Bong and Rosanna.
"I visit her at their home (on Commonweath Avenue, Quezon City) three or four times a week," said Jolo who’s a high school sophomore at the Kennedy Center for International Studies in Alabang, Metro Manila. "I still have to formally introduce Grace to my parents," smiled Jolo, second of Bong and Lani Mercado’s six children. "I’m sure they’ll like her."
His parents and those of Grace have been reminding the young sweethearts to take their time and not to neglect their studies.
"We talk on the phone all the time. Sometimes, we go to Starbucks with friends. What did she give me for my birthday? Oh, nothing. I didn’t ask for anything. I just asked her to give me her undying love."
When Jolo visits Grace, he brings her chocolates and doughnuts for Rosanna.
"That’s what Tita Osang wants – for me to visit Grace at home and not for us to meet somewhere else. I respect her and her parents. I always tell Tita Osang, ‘Don’t worry. Hindi ko po lolokohin ang anak n’yo."
Does he get, aside from fatherly reminders, any "pointers" from Papa Bong as far as handling girls is concerned?
"No. My Dad just tells me to be careful. Like my Dad, I’m the jealolus type. I get restless when I call and Grace is not home."
Just like his Dad (who gave him a three-year-old Navigator as birthday gift; he has his own driver), Jolo wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, starting with doing movies (he has done a few, including an Agimat movie with his Dad for which he got a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2002 Metro Filmfest) and TV shows (he was with his Dad in the GMA sitcom Idol Ko si Kap). Eventually, said Jolo, he’ll venture into politics. His Dad served as Governor of Cavite and as chairman of the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB).
The current campaign is serving as a "dry run" for future politician Jolo who pinchhits for his Dad at least twice a week in campaign sorties.
"I still get nervous but I’m learning fast," Jolo said. "I just think that Dad must win and I don’t get nervous anymore."
"She looked happy," said Angeli of G., one of her talents. "She served us drinks. There were mainstream movie industry people at the place while G. was serving us. She also showed us a mini-magazine (distributed in L.A.) which featured her in a fashion spread."
Angeli reported that G. is now rehearsing for a new musical called Days When Cocaine Was King, about a rock band in the ’70s, where G. plays the lead character Juanita, a salsa dancer.
"I get to act with a Spanish accent and do a lot of dancing," G. excitedly told Angeli. "The play will open on April 22 at the Renegade Theater in North Hollywood and it will run for six straight weeks."
G. would love to fly to San Francisco to perform at the 10th anniversary show of the ABS-CBN Global Limited at the Cow Palace on Saturday, April 3 (to be beamed "live" on ASAP Mania, Sunday, April 4, Manila Time) – if she gets invited, that is. She can fly to Sanfo April 2 for the rehearsal and fly back to L.A. morning of April 4.
G. Tongi is coming for a month-long summer break in May. She hopes to do a movie – if there’s any offer – and TV guestings.
Melissa Frye, 2003 Best Model Philippines winner was proclaimed first runner-up in the 2003 Best Model of the World contest held at the Maslak Princess Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey last March 6. This 20-year old model hails from Olongapo and was studying Computer Engineering before she won the local modeling contest. Melissa, who is 5' 11" tall and measures 34-25-36, is the only daughter of Narcisa Andales and Kevin Frye who is based in Japan. She has three brothers.
At the presscon held before she left for Turkey, I encouraged her to join the Bb. Pilipinas search because she has the makings of a future international beauty titlist. Aside from her height, beautiful face, nice figure and long shapely legs, she has a good command of English and is quite smart. That combination is hard to come by nowadays. Depending on the angle from which you are looking at her, Melissa looks like Melanie Marquez, Sarah Jane Paez and per some SAGA staff, Jaclyn Jose.
Melissa isn't sure yet about her plans. Since she has family members in the United States, she might decide to set up base there. She has a brother in Seattle and her grandmother is in Montana. One of her aunts, Teresa Frye, was a model in the US and was one of those who encouraged her to pursue a modeling career.
Congratulations to Melissa and Robby Carmona of Saga Events + Models who organized the local Best Model search.
Joey told Funfare that FAM is ready to launch its first discovery, 17-year-old Denmark Sevilla, a native of Meycauayan, Bulacan and a Nursing freshman at Our Lady of Fatima University. Joey saw Denmark in campus during the Mr. and Ms. Nursing 2004 contest where Denmark was declared second runner-up and Mr. Photogenic.
"I saw star potential in him," said Joey. "He has the ‘X’ factor that made him stand out among the contestants. He has flawless skin. Do you know what soap he uses? Perla. Yes, the laundry soap."
Denmark dreams of becoming a movie superhero. Otherwise, said Joey, "he’ll be the cutest doctor in town, maybe happy with his own family."
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)