Martin & Katrina kiss & make up

Curtain-raisers:

• Memo to Boy Abunda and other bakasyonistas who are spending the Holy Week in Boracay: Try to drop by the original Hawaiian Bar-B-Que recently put up by Happy Ongpauco. The place serves authentic fruity island cuisine right off the grill. Yummy!

• Funfare’s L.A. DPA said that he saw Anne Curtis "lovey dovey" with a guy named Ryan who, according to the DPA, looked like Ryan Agoncillo. Anne and the guy spent the weekend together. The DPA is asking if Anne has broken up with Paolo Araneta. (Answer: Yes, they have.)

• Nancy Castiglione (who looks definitely better with her untampered nose) is now being linked to John Prats, the latest in the long line of guys who have come and gone in Nancy’s love life, including (in order of disappearance) Drew Arellano, Luis Manzano, Paolo Contis, Bullet Jolosjos and Ronald Singson (once also romantically linked to, among other actresses, Sunshine Dizon and Angelu de Leon).

* * *

While all of us were preoccupied monitoring the ups and downs of showbiz lovers, guess which pair has just kissed and made up in Las Vegas – yes, Martin Nievera and Katrina Ojeda!

This piece of good news, relayed by Funfare’s casino-crazy DPA, comes as surprise because, although it has been whispered around, there was no confirmation from Martin that he and Katrina ever broke up. You see, even if vocal about his career and his ex-wife Pops Fernandez, Martin becomes tongue-tied when it comes to Katrina.

According to the DPA, the reconciliation happened last week, a few days after Martin flew back to Las Vegas after doing a fund-raising concert in Manila for a months-old boy who needed a liver transplant.

Martin and Katrina own separate houses in Las Vegas where Martin did a successful concert series last year.

"The reconciliation was done while Pops was having a concert in Canada," said the DPA.

Now, is marriage a possibility between the lovers?

Let’s wait and see.

Ashley, the new Nina

Will the real Ashley please stand up?

I’m asking that question because there are actually two Ashleys, both singers, one under contract with Viva Records and the other the protege of Jan Ilacad (of JKI Music) who produced his own Ashley’s self-titled debut album (distributed by Warner Music Philippines).

Confusing, ‘no?

Not if you listen closely to this Ashley who is being marketed as "the new Nina" because, that’s it, she sounds so much like Nina, you would think you are listening to the Nina.

Both Ashleys entered the music scene almost at the same time.

"But (this) Ashley became known first because she joined Search for a Star (won by Rachelle Ann Go)," clarified Jan who believes that Ashley will beat the other Ashley in the race to stardom.

Her real name is Mariel Agos. Like Nina, she sang for a while with a band (Epic) before going solo.

"Ashley started as a back-up singer," recalled Jan. "The first time I heard her sing, I knew that she would go far. I asked her to do the Jessa Zaragoza song Bakit Pa? and I was impressed. Ang lamig ng boses, malambing. Then, I asked her to sing Lionel Richie’s Truly and you know what happened, she did it ala Mariah Carey. There and then, I made her sign a contract (for two years, good for one album with an option of another one)."

See if Jan Ilacad’s gut feel is right by listening to Ashley’s album which carries only half a dozen songs, including a remake of Superstar ng Buhay Ko, originally sung by the late Yoly Samson (wife of Jan’s uncle Chito Ilacad who wrote the words and music; Jan is the son of OctoArts big boss Orly Ilacad).

Rudy Genaskey is back

As Funfare’s New York correspodent Edmund Silvestre reported a few issues ago, Rudy Genaskey (remembered as Tom Jones of the Philippines) is back after a long absence. He’s based in Las Vegas.

In the next three months, Rudy will be attending to a family business in Pampanga; he will also discuss with any interested producer the prospect of marketing his CD of original songs.

The grandfather of Jericho Aguas (husband of Isabel Granada), Rudy is into real estate and performs every now and then in Filipino-American restaurants and lounges in Nevada. While here, he’ll also sing for several nights at the family-run Astro Park Drive-In Hotel in Balibago, Angeles City (tel. 045-893-7747).l

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])