Ethel: Alex a thing of the past

Ethel Booba has gotten over Alex Crisano. If not, why is she entertaining a millionaire suitor who has showered her with expensive gifts like a Ferragamo bag and a bottle of Bvlgari perfume?

The Extra Challenge host is obviously tickled pink over the attention she’s getting from her Manuel (no last names, please) since the time they met during a shoot (again, no details, please).

"He gave me flowers at Laffline," she says of her rich suitor, some years her junior and a strong candidate as Crisano’s replacement in her heart.

Be that as it may, Ethel – the dalagang Pilipina in her surfacing – says Manuel must wait for three years before he gets her matamis na oo. This is because she wants to be deadsure about her feelings for him. And when she’s deadsure about it, Ethel tells the press she will not hesitate settling down with him.

Ethel would have stabilized her fledgling beauty salon and accessories business by then. And perhaps, she would have ironed out the kinks forever straining relations in her family.

Ethel is again at odds with younger sister Boobita whose sex video she (Ethel) herself saw with her own two eyes. Naturally enraged, the Ate confronted Boobita, who, instead of appreciating Ethel’s concern, flew into a rage.

Boobita, Ethel relates, texted hurting words – the harshest of which allegedly was " sana mamatay ka na." Hurt, Ethel instinctively shot back (although she didn’t mean it) through text: "Papatayin muna kita."

The incident got so bad, Boobita was said to gone to the police station and even had Ethel "blottered."

It’s been three weeks since, and the sisters are not on speaking terms (Nuts Entertainment is capitalizing on this by casting them in a scene where they struggle as they pull each other this way and that).

The sisters’ equally-controversial mom has given her verdict. According to Ethel, her mom told her not to speak to Boobita "so she learns her lesson."

Their estranged father, who lives in General Santos City with his new family, is just as affected. But his view differs from that of his ex-wife.

"My dad told me not to get involved in intrigues anymore because he, too is affected," Ethel reveals her 49-year-old father’s advice to her. But she knows it’s asking for moon and the stars.

Intrigues, she told her diabetic dad, is part of her job. Neither did he mince words when it came to his ex-wife’s treatment about the family’s in-fighting.

"He asked me to tell my mom not to interfere with the issue on Alex because he thinks I’m old enough to decide for myself," says Ethel.

That was enough to bring tears to Ethel’s eyes.

"I broke down when I heard that because the fighting and the intrigues could have been prevented had he been there to advise us," she explains.

If her family life is in a state of disarray, Ethel’s career is not. Aside from Extra Challenge, she hosts Jologs Guide, an infotainment show which premieres tomorrow night at 7:30 on GMA 7. The show, also hosted by Rainier Castillo and Pekto Nacua is inspired by the success of the Dummies and Idiot’s Guide book series, and is dedicated to the jologs (Everyman) in everyone.

It’s where you’ll find tips on how to act in a fancy dinner party, how to ride an elevator, use the ATM, etc.

There will be trips to the ukay-ukay, the local barbecue stand, the park and other places where the jologs love to hang out.

And, to make sure it appeals the masa in all of us, the show comes with a catchy reggae theme and matching Jologs dance steps.

Ethel, Rainier and Pekto – epitome of jologs themselves, guarantee it will be one hell of a colorful journey through Everymanlandia.