• Willie as Korina’s co-host? • Penis Talks to be ‘banned’? • Kris, Alma: Reversal of roles

Curtain-raisers:

• Could it be true that the stars of a teleserye were caught in a compromising "borrowed" moment inside a room during a shooting? No, they were not doing the full act but just half of it – with the same passion and intensity. The intruder was pleasantly shocked when he saw the couple in an airtight embrace, their lips inextricably locked. They must simply be rehearsing their love scene for all we know. Now, if they look convincing as lovers in the teleserye, it’s because they were, well, "well-rehearsed."

• A foreign beauty loves the Philippines no doubt because she has found fame (not to say fortune) and recognition here, something she didn’t find in her home country. But somebody overheard her say, "I hate the Philippines because of what it did to my marriage."

• Could it be true that the nude photo of a sexy drama-actor is being passed around via the cellphone? It could have been "doctored" just like similar alleged (nude) photos of other actors (including Diether Ocampo and Piolo Pascual). But what is "un-doctored" is the sizzling cellphone-video footage of that actor with a sexy actress, presumably pirated from an unshown skin flick.

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The biggest surprise in last Sunday’s birthday edition of Korina Sanchez’s ABS-CBN show Rated K were not the guest appearances of Korina’s beloved Sen. Mar Roxas and FPJ’s love son Ronian (with Anna Marin). Neither was it the 200 TV sets Korina gave away to her 200-strong audience (members of which were carefully chosen and deemed to be deserving of the gifts) a la Oprah who gifted each and every member of her audience brand-new cars recently.

The surprise (as far as this Rated K follower is concerned) is that Korina blended beautifully well with guest co-host Willie Revillame whose galawgaw ways proved to be a perfect foil to Korina’s prim-and-proper style. Opposites do attract, don’t they?

Now, could it be true that Willie might be hired as Korina’s permanent co-host as ABS-CBN’s blunt answer to GMA’s Mel & Joey tandem of Mel Tiangco and Joey de Leon (on the same timeslot as Rated K)? Stay tuned.

If and when, would Rated K pave the way for Willie’s return to MTB Ang Saya-Saya (perhaps, according to persistent rumors, together with fellow MTB-"expelled" co-host Randy Santiago)?

Asked by Funfare about that possibility, Willie said, "If ever, I think the show (MTB) has to be reformatted."

If and when, that is.

Meanwhile, Willie has just returned from Hong Kong where he and Randy performed on a show for Globe’s abot-kamay/door-to-door campaign.

He’s scheduled anytime soon to fly to Japan with Almira Muhlach-Alvarez to help convince Pinoy TNTs (Tago Nang Tago) to heed the call of the government to return home before a Dec. 2 deadline or risk being handcuffed and deported.

There are more than 40,000 Pinoy TNTs (15,000 entertainers and 25,000 in other jobs) in Japan. The Japanese Immigration office granted all TNTs (not just Pinoys) a two-year amnesty that ends on Dec. 2.

"If they come home before Dec. 2," said Willie, "they can always reapply for another visa. But if they continue to hide and they are caught, they will be arrested, sent back home and banned for life from entering Japan."

Willie and Almira will visit nightclubs in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto and try to convince the TNT Pinoy entertainers to obey the law.

"I will also deliver a special message from Vice President Noli de Castro," said Willie.

It’s dangerous times for Pinoy TNTs in Japan, according to "legal" Pinoys there. Immigration agents show up in nightclubs and on the spot ask Pinoys (and other nationals) for their papers. If they can’t show any, that’s the end of their happy days in the Land of the Rising Sun.

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"If the Vagina can, why can’t the Penis?"

Talk, that is.

That’s direk Joel Lamangan talking in response to a rumor that a certain women’s "morality" group in San Juan is asking SJ Mayor JV Ejercito to "ban" All About Men: Penis Talks which played to SRO audiences at the Music Museum the other weekend (with more playdates this weekend; see related story in Butch Francisco’s Starbytes on Page C-4).

"Vagina Monologues ran uninterrupted for weeks in several venues around the country," added direk Joel. "Why stop Penis Talks from doing the same? There’s discrimination here. The freedom of the Penis to talk is being suppressed."

What allegedly scandalized the "moralists" were (as usual) the nude scenes in Penis Talks.

"What’s wrong with nude scenes?" asked direk Joel. "Several plays have been staged here with nude scenes (such as Incubus, etc.). Penis Talks is being staged not in a public venue but in a private one and most of those who watch it are adults...intelligent people who must have also patronized Vagina Monologues. Besides, the admission prices (P2,000, Pl,500 and Pl,000) are prohibitive as far as minors are concerned."

Before the "moralists" raise a howl over a "harmless" stage play, I suggest that they look around and mind those poor and hungry street children and other underprivileged (a handful of them have lost their sanity and are wandering naked in the Metropolis) who are undoubtedly victims of a government that looks the other way around.

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The last time Kris Aquino and Alma Moreno met face-to-face was more than two years ago at a hospital where the man between them – Joey Marquez, or have you forgotten too soon? – was confined due to an irregular heartbeat. Alma hurled harsh and hurting words at Kris who, bless her, opted to remain mum.

The other Sunday on The Buzz, the two women met again and exchanged only good words. That’s showbiz for you. Mortal enemies today, best friends tomorrow.

What brought the two "Mrs. Joey Marquez" together? ABS-CBN’s soap Hiram, that is. Alma will soon be in the cast as the "bad" girl and Kris as the "good" girl – a reversal of roles? Alma will make hell out of Kris’s life – in the teleserye.

Will there be a slapping scene (with Kris at the receiving end)? Will old wounds come into play during their confrontation scenes? Will art imitate life? Don’t blink or you might miss something.

It was Kris herself who called Alma for the role. On The Buzz, they have apparently buried the hatchet – not on each other’s back – and they looked liked long-lost friends.

During their one-on-one, Kris was stumped when Alma asked her pointblank if she still love(s) Joey.

"I won’t lie," said Kris. "But I can say that it’s over between us. Joey has a new girlfriend."

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