Why Jaya is having a baby before getting married

Curtain-raisers:

• Somebody who looked like Bong Revilla was seen in a, according to a Funfare DPA, "serious meeting" with people who looked suspiciously like ABS-CBN executives at the Makati Shangri-La the other night. Did the, ehem, "serious meeting" have any connection with rumors that Bong might jump ober da bakod from GMA (where he topbills the Saturday-night sitcom Hokus-Pokus) to ABS-CBN?

• APO Jim Paredes and his family are definitely migrating to Australia. Also the other night, friends tendered a despedida party for the Paredeses.

• Congratulations to Optical Media Board (OMB) head Edu Manzano who made sure there would be no pirated copies of any of the 10 2005 Metro Filmfest entries during the filmfest run (until today) – and, keep your fingers crossed, beyond. Keep up the good work, Edu!

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When Jaya announced on national television that she’s two months pregnant, she did so with an unmistakable glow in her face (which could mean that her baby would be a girl?).

"That way," Jaya told Funfare in an exclusive interview, "I pre-empted any ugly rumor about my pregnancy."

Especially since Jaya is in that "state of grace" out of wedlock.

But wait, before anybody starts "judging" her, Jaya has a valid explanation.

"My boyfriend and I really planned to get married and have the baby afterwards," said Jaya. "Well, it happened, so..."

The guy is Gary Gotidoc, a divorcee like Jaya, with a 10-year-old son who, according to Jaya’s mom Elizabeth Ramsey (who’s excited to be a grandmother seven times over), "looks like Jaya." Jaya didn’t have a child with her ex-husband, Andrew Buffington, whom she married in the US in 1998.

"It was he who didn’t want to have a baby," said Jaya, "even if I really wanted one. I believe that you can have a career and have children. After our marriage, Andrew lived with me in the Philippines for two years. Then, we just drifted apart until we decided to have a divorce. I don’t have any idea where he is now."

What could have ruined their marriage?

"Ego, I think," said Jaya. "Professional jealousy. Maybe. Andrew had the brains for organization, for marketing; he was the one managing my career."

They parted, although not as friends, without any bitterness.

Love knocked on Jaya’s heart the second time around two years ago when she did a concert with Freestyle in Los Angeles where Gary is based. They met through a mutual friend. They clicked. What followed was spontaneous.

"Gary and I were already discussing marriage when I got pregnant. No, it didn’t happen by accident," said Jaya who, like some expectant mothers, has been reading the book What To Expect When You Are Expecting. "We will push through with our plan to get married not long after I deliver."

Until then, Jaya will be as active as ever, co-hosting with Allan K. the Sunday-night show K The One-Million Videoke Challenge and the Sunday noontime show S.O.P., also on GMA. All Fridays of this month (starting last night), Jaya performs at Zirkoh (along Timog Avenue, Quezon City) in a show called Jaya at 10 (marking her 10th year in showbiz).

"I’ll go on working as long as I can. Luckily, except for mild dizziness and drowsiness, I don’t experience any morning sickness at all. If I deliver the natural way, I’ll rest for maybe two to three months before I return to work."

(Note: For more on Jaya, this time with her mom Elizabeth Ramsey, watch tonight’s episode of Showbiz Stripped, 11:30 on GMA, with other parent-child guests Eddie and Richard Gutierrez, Dina Bonnevie and Danica, Helen Gamboa and Ciara Sotto.)

The PLDT Unlimited

Girl: Is she or isn’t she?

Is the unnamed PLDT Unlimited Girl’s impending marriage happening in real life or is it all make-believe (you know, part of the PLDT commercial script)?

We will know today in the latest installment of the popular PLDT campaign followed with amused curiosity by televiewers (just like the earlier "Billy-Gracia" commercial with Carlo Muñoz and the "Suportahan Ta Ka" commercial with Christian Vasquez).

Already, many people are wondering: Who did Unlimited Girl’s wedding gown (Rajo Laurel or Inno Sotto)? Who’s the "lucky groom?" Where will the "honeymoon" be?

Like Carlo and Christian before her, the Unlimited Girl has also ventured into the movies. She was seen in Ispiritista and Enteng Kabisote, both Vic Sotto starrers.

If you noticed, the girl has also mellowed a bit, now looking better (minus the weird hairdo) and sounding better (her voice is less grating on the ears).

Guess who’s responsible for Unlimited Girl’s more delectable look – yes, the Dr. Vicki Belo!

Watch the new PLDT unlimited calls campaign very carefully. Who knows, the girl’s identity might finally be revealed, too.

Meet George Yang, the balladeer

If he were not the big boss of McDonald’s, I’m sure George Yang would be a balladeer. Come to think of it, he should venture into singing professionally even while minding the McDo chain of outlets.

Why do I think so?

Well, I was among the lucky ones who received two CDs (souvenir copies, not for sale) of George’s favorite songs and I’ve been listening to them on my car’s CD player. One CD is entitled The Night is Yang and the other, Forever Yang with this dedication on the inside cover: To my wife Kristine, My real inspiration. Thank you for making me feel forever young. George.

Included in George’s playlist are O Sole Mio, Torna a Surriento, Be My Love, Because, And This is My Beloved, Granada, Mattinata, All I Ask of You, Che Gelida Manina (from Le Boheme), Cinema Paradiso, Una Furtiva Lagrima (from L’Elisir D’Amore), Mi Mancherai (il postino), Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici (from La Traviata) and Nessum Dorma (from Turandot).

George’s voice is soothing and cool, with a "lullaby" feel to it. As you listen to the CDs, you become more and more curious to find out how he sounds "live."

"Very good," claims Regal Matriarch Mother Lily who has been urging George to go, yes, professional. Thus far, George has been doing concerts only for charity and fund-raising. But who knows, he just might heed Mother Lily’s advice and record a CD, for sale this time.

I won’t be surprised if George himself will do the vocals for a future McDo commercial.

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