Cherie to launch own clothing line

Curtain-raisers:

• Long rumored to be more than just the "good friends" that they’ve been claiming to be, two popular figures continue to make beautiful music together even offstage. In short, they’re really an "item." During flights (usually abroad), they hold hands once the flight attendant dims the lights. They are usually booked in separate rooms but it doesn’t stop the guy from "sneaking" into the girl’s room when they think (wrongly!) that nobody’s looking. It’s really love, I guess. Could it be true that the guy’s wife has accepted the painful reality that their marriage is on the rocks and she has found a "new happiness" of her own? Well, if he can, why can’t she?

• This supposedly wholesome girl professes to be a Christian but I hope she’s one not just in words but also in deed. Could it be true that the girl has told her (new) manager that her parents have been "squandering" her earnings? Tsk, tsk, tsk. One of the Ten Commandments says, "Honor thy father and thy mother," and Christians should bear that in mind. Meanwhile, is the manager lifting a finger in patching up whatever kinks there may be between her alaga and her alaga’s parents? Christians are expected to do that, aren’t they?

• Do you know why a young couple has decided to separate... in the States where they hied off when the girl got pregnant? A Funfare L.A. DPA said that the girl has been needling the guy for them to get married because she has become a Born-Again Christian and she has realized that living together outside of matrimony is a sin. But the guy said no or just kept saying, "Next time, next time!" Did the girl, perhaps in exasperation, give the guy the "dirty finger" of which she has become some kind of infamous? I heard that the girl is back to pick up the pieces of her rudely-interrupted career, flashing a big smile (but of course!) and not, you guessed it, a "dirty finger."

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Six months after she agreed to endorse Maldita (a clothing line which once also enlisted Ara Mina as image model), Cherie Gil has decided to take up a course in fashion designing at LaSalle College International (which granted her a scholarship), under Danilo Franco (an artist at the defunct Daily Express before he became a foremost designer).

Asked why, Cherie said that she will launch her own line – Cherie Gil for Maldita – in November and she wants to do the designing herself. The line is an after-five collection done along the "In the name of the Rose" concept.

"It’s a tribute to my mom, Rose," Cherie told Funfare in an exclusive phone chat yesterday before her flight to New York where she and her husband, Roni Rogoff, and their children are taking a vacation until end of August. (Her mom, Rosemarie Gil, and her father, Eddie Mesa, are now based in the States where Eddie has resumed his duties as a pastor.) "I also happen to be a Rose because my real name is Evangeline Rose. Thus, ‘In the name of the Rose’."

As early as two years ago, Cherie said she had been inquiring about the curriculum at LaSalle College International but she couldn’t squeeze enough time to her tight taping schedule to enroll.

The LaSalle College International (at the Bloomingdale Bldg., Salcedo St., Makati City) is the only international fashion school in the country. It offers a two-year international program in Fashion Designing and Fashion Marketing, and Fashion Illustration, Pattern-Making and Artistic Make-Up as weekend courses.

According to Dr. Norma Cruz, the college’s director-general, "The comprehensive programs were designed by the LaSalle College International headquarters in Montreal, Canada, and they’re successfully being adopted and applied by its team of fashion professionals."

Besides Danilo Franco, other notable fashion authorities in the faculty include Marden Iglesias, Gerry Katigbak, Edgar Mendoza and Boysie Villavicencio.

Cherie was pleasantly surprised to discover that Danilo was among the faculty members when she finally found time to enroll recently. It turned out that Danilo has been teaching at LaSalle for one year now.

"Danilo is my friend from way back," said Cherie. "When I was a member of the Rustan’s VIP Council in 1979, it was Danilo who dressed me up. I used to model for him; he has been dressing me up for pictorials for years now. As a teacher, Danilo is patient, mahusay mag-design at magaling magturo, that’s why I’m so inspired. Initially, I wanted to take up Fashion Marketing because I wasn’t good at drawing but Danilo advised me to try Fashion Designing. Now, I can draw, thanks to Danilo."

In New York, Cherie plans to visit fashion houses to enhance her fashion sense, unlike in the past when she would spend most of her time watching Broadway plays.

(Note: For inquiries about LaSalle College International, call Marden Iglesias, the marketing/communications manager, at landline 840-1476 or cell phone number 0915-5428500.)

Congrats to Rico Hizon, Outstanding Manilan

BBC World’s Business News Anchor Rico Hizon was recently conferred the 2006 Outstanding Manilan Award for International Journalism. He was the youngest recipient of the honor presented by Mayor Lito Atienza during the 435th celebration of the Araw ng Maynila. Other awardees included Former President Fidel Ramos, fashion designer Aureo Alonzo and basketball legend Caloy Loyzaga.

The veteran international broadcast journalist was cited for his achievements in the field of International Journalism, which have brought honor, distinction and prestige to the city and the country.

Rico, the only Filipino in the BBC News organization, continues to raise the Philippine flag on the international broadcasting stage for more than 10 years now. He anchors the daily business program Asia Business Report on BBC World every weekday morning.

Rico who started his broadcast journalist career with GMA 7 from 1988 to 1995, was also a business news anchor for Hong Kong-based US Network, CNBC Business News from 1995 to 2002.

Born in Manila, Rico finished his studies at De La Salle University in 1987. He is currently based in Singapore with his wife Melannie and son Migo.

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