Richard for Bulacan governor?

Curtain-raisers:

• Could it be true that after they became Born-again Christian, a young couple has made a "vow of purity"? Does that mean that they are, uh, "celibate" despite persistent rumors that they’re now living together (without the benefit of matrimony)? You can spot the sweethearts from miles away because they go around wearing invisible halos, acting as if they’re the only children of God and the rest of us are children of a lesser god.

• Yes, it’s true: StarStruck girls Iwa Moto (left) and Jackie Rice (below) have been suspended by GMA for "bad behavior" (late for shoots, etc., and some such unprofessionalism). Funfare learned that the girls’ tatay-tatayan, the ever-patient director Rommel Gacho, has given up on them.

• Sarah Geronimo (photo), along with Mark Bautista, Kris Lawrence and Jimmy Marquez, is embarking on a month-long US concert tour in August. For Pinoys out there, here’s the concert schedule: Aug. 4, Friday, at Spreckles Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego, California; Aug. 5, Saturday, at Hanford Fox Theater, 326 North Erwin St., Hanford, California; Aug. 11, Friday, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 West 8th Street, L.A.; Aug. 12, Saturday, at the Nob Hill Masonic Center, 1111 California Street, San Francisco, California; Aug. 13, Sunday, ACPA ATWOOD, 621 West 6th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501; Aug. 19, Saturday, at Harris Theater of Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Drive, Chicago; Aug. 26, Saturday, Waikiki Shell, 2805 Monsarrat Ave., Honolulu; and Aug. 27, Sunday, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, 1 Cameron Way, Maui, Hawaii.

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Yes, Sharon Cuneta is definitely running – "On the treadmill," she assured. But not, contrary to speculations, for Mayor of Pasay City which was ruled for years by her late father, Pablo Cuneta.

Come to think of it, the May 2007 elections are only 10 months away and talks (well, "speculations") are spreading that this and that star is running for this and that position.

Except for those incumbent (Funfare will call the roll in due time) who will for sure run for reelection, there are a few said to be, ehem, making their presence felt in the political arena. Except Sharon, that is.

"Politics is not among my plans," Sharon told Funfare. Not even...para sa bayan? "Not even," added Sharon who should be running on her treadmill at this hour.

But incumbent Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said he’s definitely running for reelection with Q.C. Mayor Sonny Belmonte. A winning team.

Now, could it be true that Cesar Montano, who traces his origins to Sta. Ana, Manila, is being wooed to be the runningmate of Sen. Ping Lacson who might run for Mayor of Manila?

Director Joel Lamangan’s hand has been raised a few days ago as the Liberal Party mayoralty bet for a town in Cavite, causing eyebrows to soar especially among Joel’s friends who are shocked not by his decision to enter politics (the right of every Filipino citzen) but by his crossing over to the party of the current administration which he has been loudly denouncing in street protests? Oh me, oh my! Has poltics eaten up direk Joel so soon? Will he eat back the harsh words he has spat out against the administration? What did they say again? Principles fly out of the window when ambition knocks, don’t they?

I purposely end this piece with a clincher: Yes, Richard Gomez is running for Governor of Bulacan where he owns a property. One of Richard’s parents (his father is sportsman Eddie Gomez and his mom is former actress Stella Suarez) is from Bulacan.

"But some people are asking me to run for Senator," Richard told Funfare, "although I’m more inclined to run for governor."

Well, Richard has a few months to think things over. Whatever position he runs for, I think he’s winnable.

Donna is now a Freeman columnist

I read Donna Cruz’s "debut" as a columnist of The Freeman (The STAR’s sister publication published in Cebu and circulated in the Visayas area) last Sunday, July 9, and I found it entertaining. Very Donna Cruz! Her style is free-flowing and very casual, perfect for an easy Sunday reading. She writes as well as she sings, believe me!

The title of her column is perfect for her – Pieces of Donna – because she’s dishing out juicy portions of herself and her family. In her first column, Donna wrote about how she got adjusted to life in Cebu after she and Dr. Yong Larrazabal got married seven years ago. They now have two beautiful children, Belle and Cian, who appear with Donna in a Jollibee commercial.

"Who would not like living in Cebu?" Donna wrote. "The traffic is not that bad, the people are very warm and friendly, the food is great and cheap, everything is so near, the beaches are beautiful and the weather is great! It is indeed a great place to raise a family."

Donna (who graduated with a degree in Computer Science in 2003) has been warmly embraced by the Cebuanos as one of their own.

I can’t wait to read more "pieces of Donna."

Local artists featured in Make Trade Fair

I just got a copy of the book Make Trade Fair and I was pleasantly surprised to see two local artists, TV performer Jojit Lorenzo and Eugene Domingo, featured alongside such international artists as Antonio Banderas, Bono, Gael Garcia Bernal, Minnie Driver, Colin Firth and Alanis Morrisette.

Published by Oxfam International, the book focuses on the campaign that calls on First World countries to stop dumping their excess products in developing countries and give these economies a chance to grow. Dumping, of course, is a by-product of the so-called trade liberalization where foreign products can enter any country without worrying about tariffs and duties.

Dumping and unfair trade are among the agenda in the current Doha Round negotiations in the World Trade Organization. Philippine trade groups are pushing our negotiators to demand a better deal for the Philippines.

I heard that Candy Pangilinan and Gary Granada were also part of the video ad but only Jojit and Eugene made it to the book.

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