Mutya 2004: A bevy of showbiz lookalikes

We had fun beauty-watching last Tuesday noon at the poolside of the Sulo Hotel where the 24 candidates of the 2004 Mutya ng Pilipinas contest were presented to press photographers (who chose the Miss Photogenic awardee, to be announced on pageant night).

If you’ve been following ABC 5’s Buhay Beauty Queen, which introduced a new concept in the search for a beauty queen, you must be familiar by now with the 24 beauties. The number has been winnowed down from a total of 40 during the BBQ telecast slightly patterned after American Idol – you know, the elimination process was done right before the eyes of televiewers who must have felt like members of the board of judges doing their own elimination process.

That was good idea. Come grand-finals night (Sunday, July 11, at the AFP Theater, to be telecast by ABC 5 starting at 9 p.m.), the contestants shall have shed their camera-shyness/nervousness and gotten used to parading (with that familiar wide smile plastered on their faces) before any crowd. Hopefully, no more fumbling, no more stumbling over their little speeches, no more of the usual booboos that clutter this kind of search. Hopefully.

The 24 Mutya aspirants seemed to be a good batch. The girls didn’t just look good, they also sounded good. They answered questions from the press very clearly – that is, clear opinions expressed without, you know, beating around the bush and with good grammar. See (and hear) for yourselves when you watch the pageant on Sunday. The girls have something between their ears.

Our group had more fun picking out familiar faces in the batch; familiar in the sense that they are deadringers/lookalikes of some actress. Have fun yourselves and let’s see how keen your vision is as you try to pinpoint the lookalikes ("clones"?) of the following stars: Pops Fernandez, Nancy Castigleone, Tetchie Agbayani, Pilar Pilapil, Bianca Lapuz, Barbra Streisand, Tintin Bersola, Lani Misalucha, Alice Crisostomo (the very first Mutya ng Pilipinas, l970), Heart Evangelista, Toni Daya (one-time Bb. Pilipinas-Toursim), Jessa Zaragoza and Jennylyn Mercado.

There you are. Happy "hunting"!

‘Safe’ Hideaways

Singapore or Hong Kong or Bangkok or any of the local fun places have become "risky" for showbiz couples who are not supposed to be seen together (dangerous liaisons, you know). Filipinos are all over the world, so showbiz people who want to, ehem, play the field seem to have nowhere to hie off to, unless they are indiscreet or they don’t care at all if the whole world gets to know about their... shenanigans?

A Funfare DPA has come up with a list of 10 countries (all starting with the letter "S") where stars may conduct their risky business with a slim chance of getting "caught." Here they are (countries where there are not that many nosey Pinoys – yet):

1. Shanghai
2. Sri Lanka
3. Somalia
4. Senegal
5. Swaziland
6. Surinam
7. South Africa
8. Slovenia
9. Seychelles
10. Sudan

The nearest and most convenient is, of course, Shanghai.

In connection with this, the showbiz un-couple reported to have been recently "caught in the act" (just having dinner together) by the pregnant wife of the actor should have been more cautious (if they couldn’t have a tryst in any of the 10 countries just mentioned). A restaurant in El Pueblo at Ortigas Center is not "safe." Any moment, while you’re in the middle of your soup or dessert, the rightful (not necessarily legal) partner might make an unannounced (naturally!) appearance and make a scene.

Also, bringing your actress girlfriend to the set of your movie at a nearby province is a wrong move. Very obvious, especially if the actress is not a member of the cast. Here or there, the walls have ears and the windows have eyes, even if all your car doors and windows (presumably tinted) are tightly closed.

A word of caution for playful showbiz guys:
If you can’t help it, be careful.
If you can’t be careful, be discreet.
If you can’t be discreet, be casual.
If you can’t be casual, behave.
If you can’t behave, pray (it works!).
Rubbing elbows with the stars

Designing partners Miguel Leyva and Francis Libiran, better known as Miguel/Francisco of Njork, attended late last year the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, a strictly invitational event. The two worked as staff with full access to all shows, thus enabling them to meet and introduce themselves to editors, writers, photographers and stars in the international fashion scene.

"At first," said Miguel and Francisco, "we were so intimidated; we thought those bigwigs would ignore us. They didn’t. In fact, they were so nice and friendly. We showed them our collection (120 all in all, presented at the Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati before we left) and they liked it."

Miguel and Francisco added that their New York experience was just "too exciting and too important" not to be shared with Funfare readers. So here are some photos from that experience.

Incidentally, it was Njork which designed the beautiful gown of Tintin Bersola when she and Julius Babao got married last January.

What’s Up?

• For a relaxing, music-filled evening, try listening to Jed Madela Monday nights at Hard Rock Cafe Makati, Tuesday nights at Silver Kettle on Makati Avenue (Makati City) and Friday nights at Aruba (Libis, Quezon City).

• Calling alumni of the Philippine Tong Ho Institute to their general homecoming at the PTHI grounds on Oct. 9, 8 p.m. For particulars, call Yolanda Yap at 0917-6200528, (6342)7103257 or (6342)7102975; or Fatima Sia at 0917-7911833 or (632)8926266.

• A colorful and multi-level trade fair billed as Expo 2004 sa Lopez, Quezon will be held on Aug. 19, 20 and 21 on campus during the grand alumni homecoming of the Lopez National Comprehensive High School. For particulars, call Leovino Datario at 0918-7663118, Boy Villasanta at 0918-9418253 or Nancy Florido Ramos at 0917-8119962.

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