Will Denille be ‘it’?

Curtain-raisers:

• Rejoinder #1: The baptism of Santino Martin Nievera, born last Oct. 23 in Las Vegas to proud parents Martin Nievera (in photo with Santino) and Katrina Ojeda (who, I heard, is well-loved not only by Martin but by people close to him, including and especially his mom, Conchita Razon), hasn’t been set yet but the line-up of godparents is now being drawn, led by Brian McKnight and Michael Bublé ("They have both agreed," Martin told Funfare). Before that, Martin will fly home to do a concert called This is The Moment (An Evening of Celebration) at the Premier Theater of SM Mall of Asia on Nov. 24 and 30, his farewell performance before he goes back to Las Vegas for a six-shows-a-week stint at the Planet Hollywood Hotel (formerly Aladdin Hotel) starting first week of December. Guesting in Martin’s Mall of Asia show is Sitti, with Louie Ocampo as musical director. (This is The Moment is produced by Maximedia International, together with Chowking, The Philippine STAR, The Manila Bulletin, 105.1 Crossover, 92.3 Joey, 93.9 IFM, Mellow 94.7 and WRR 101.9.)

• Rejoinder #2: Reader CNV said that contrary to Funfare’s claim the other day, Anna Bayle is "the only Filipina" to make it as an international model. "Being in the fashion industry," added CNV, "I know that another Filipina, Charo Ronquillo, who’s originally from the CalCarrie’s modeling agency in Manila, is making waves in the New York fashion scene. Currently under contract with Ford Models (New York), Charo has graced the pages of Vogue (for which she recently did another photo shoot) and modeled for famous designers like Nenette Lepore and Zero Maria Cornejo, and the eventual winner of Project Runway’s second season, Chloe Dao, during the Fashion Week showdown of the Final Three. She has also done Lacoste."

• Rejoinder #3: MTRCB member Edmund Sicam said that Bette Davis, mentioned by Susan Roces fan Bing Manalo (who’s with the GMA 7 program-analysis department) as having won Best Actress for Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? in the 1962 Oscars, was nominated but lost to Anne Bancroft (for The Miracle Worker). "However," added Edmund, "Bette has an enviable Oscar record. She received 11 nominations for Best Actress in a leading role, out of which she won twice (for Dangerous in 1935 and Jezebel in 1938)."

• Rejoinder #4: Reacting to a recent Funfare item about Vanessa Minnillo, Nick Lachey’s new girlfriend who was born in Clark Air Base, Pampanga (to American Vince Minnillo and Leyte native Helen Berecero), Funfare’s New York correspondent Edmund Silvestre (news editor of The Filipino Reporter) said that Vanessa ("MTV VJ and Entertainment Tonight hottie reporter") has landed a supporting role in the sequel of the blockbuster adventure flick Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. "Before going steady with Lachey," added Edmund, "Vanessa had an on-and-off relationship with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (from Nov. 2003 to early 2006)."

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Did you know that until the Miss Earth contest was organized (right here in the Philippines) a few years ago, the Miss International contest was ranked as one of the Top 3 international beauty contests (after Miss Universe and Miss World)? Miss Earth has since edged Miss International into the No. 4 spot (in terms of number of contestants, with the three other contests sometimes attracting as many as 80-plus contestants every year).

This was pointed out by Funfare’s "other beauty expert" Celso de Guzman Caparas who reminded beauty-contest enthusiasts that the 2006 Miss International will be chosen tonight in Beijing, with 2006 Bb. Pilipinas-International Denille Lou Valmonte competing with 40-plus delegates against the odds simply because the reigning queen, Precious Lara Quigaman, is also from the Philippines.

Will, you know, lightning strike twice? Will Denille be "it" (an unprecedented feat, if ever, because very rarely does it happen in international contests that one country wins the crown twice in a row). As usual, let’s keep our fingers crossed. Like Precious, 24-year-old Denille has all the winning qualities. She stands 5’7", measures 34-22-34, is gifted with Pinay-brown good looks and has a college degree (Hotel & Restaurant Management from PUP).

Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib recall that the Philippines is a topnotcher in the Miss International contest, tying for the No. 1 spot with Venezuela with four wins (Gemma Cruz in 1964, Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979 and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005). In fact, the Philippine bets almost always finished, if not semi-finalists or special awardees (Lilia Eloisa Andanar in 1989 and Alma Concepcion in 1994, Miss Friendship; and Maria Dolores Ascalon in 1976, Best in National Costume), among the Top 5 (including Evelyn Camus in 1971, second runner-up; Yolanda Dominguez in 1972, second runner-up; and Maria Elena Ojeda in 1973, fourth runner-up).

Felix and company listed the other countries who have won the title:

• Thrice (Australia, Colombia, England, Poland and the USA),

• Twice (Costa Rica, Germany, Norway and Spain), and

• Once (Argentina, Brazil, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Lebanon, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Yugoslavia).

The four "beauty experts" also report that Lebanon’s Wissam Hanna was crowned Mr. International early last month in Singapore. Runners-up were Venezuela’s Javier Delgado (first), Greece’s Konstanino Avrampos (second), Latvia’s Karlis Karolis (third) and USA’s Chaka Sedgwick (fourth). The Philippines’ Ken Escudero was a semi-finalist.

Fr. Corsie’s healing sked for rest of Nov.

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for the rest of November:

• Nov. 11, today, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Meralco Center, Elisco Road, San Joaquin, Pasig City;

• Nov. 13, Monday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Malvar, Batangas;

• Nov. 24, Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

• Nov. 25, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Sto. Nino Elementary School, Phase I, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City;

• Nov. 27, Monday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Immaculate Concepcion Church in Concepcion, Tarlac; and

• Nov. 29, Wednesday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite.

(Note: For further inquiries, call Somil at 046-4348759 or 046-8780069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)

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