Panaghoy star tries modeling

Don’t look now but Rebecca Lusterio, who has remained a probinsyana despite her entry into showbiz, is now a model. Over the weekend, she was star model at a fashion show held in her native Bohol, showcasing the creations of Boholano designer Henry Baron.

Introduced in Muro-Ami a few years ago, the same film which won for her a Best Child Actress from Famas and Metro Manila Film Festival, Rebecca was discovered by her fellow Boholano Cesar Montano who then cast her in his own production, Panaghoy sa Suba, for which she won the Best Supporting Actress award in last December’s Metro Manila Filmfest.

Panaghoy was shot entirely in Bohol where Rebecca still lives. She was raised in Balicasag Island in Panglao where she continues to help her parents earn a living by selling seashells.

"She’s a young lady now," reports Funfare’s Bohol correspondent Leo Udtohan. "Henry Baron noticed Rebecca’s natural beauty. That’s why he got her to star in his fashion show called Love of Nature. Rebecca, called Bikay by her family and friends, is a fourth year high school student at the Saint Augustine Academy in Panglao."

It’s Rebecca’s debut as a "ramp model."

"She has remained unaffected," added Leo who is Rebecca’s friend. "She’s not conscious that she’s an actress. Hindi siya nahihiyang magtinda ng seashells."

Special guests at Henry Baron’s fashion show were Robert Malengreau, director-general of the Brussels International Film Festival, and Minnie Solomon Crouse, who was behind the Bring Home a Friend project of the DOT during President Fidel Ramos’ term.

"Malengreau asked Cesar Montano for permission to show Panaghoy at the Brussels Filmfest," said Leo.

Remember Manding Claro And Nenita Vidal?

Here’s an interesting rejoinder from Celia Claro Calma, 68, eldest sister of Manding Claro who was LVN Pictures’ most popular teen idol in the ’50s:

I’ve been wanting to write you since last February but never got the chance to until now. I would like to express my sadness over your column dated Feb. 12, 2005, entitled Loveteams Make the World Go Round. I was quite disappointed that it did not feature my brother Manding Claro and his loveteam-mate Nenita Vidal (deceased). While you did mention in that particular column that the stars were just some of the many loveteams in Philippine Movies, I still longed to see my brother and his screen partner in your column.

Courtesy of Aurora Bautista-Tribdino, an avid Manding-Nenita fan, I am enclosing copies of Manding and Nenita’s pictures. I hope you can use them in your column.

By the way, according to German Moreno when he recently guested on Ariel Ureta’s My Favorite Show, there’s a plan to have a local version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Eastwood City. If ever, I hope they won’t forget to include the footprints of my brother.

Ryan Cayabyab’s Appeal

Thieves broke into the old house of Ryan Cayabyab’s father and took with them, among other valuables, 1,000 copies of Ryan’s musical Misa, several hundred copies of Mi Ultimo Adios and other pieces of his works including a cappella arrangements like Da Coconut Nut, Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang, Kailan, Tunay na Ligaya and Paraisong Parisukat; and copies of Pahilaga and Tocatta for piano. Also taken were several others whose titles escape Ryan at the moment.

"In case you come across these stolen works being sold outside of Bookwagon and The Music Studio," appeals Ryan, "please inform me." (Please call Ryan Cayabyab the Music Studio at tel. no. 843-8040.)

"I am already resigned to the loss," added Ryan. "If it will make some people happy, well and good. More so if it can buy (the thieves) a good meal for their hard-up families."

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)