Bong speaks up on ‘clash’ with Borgy

Did Bong Alvarez and Borgy Manotoc almost come to blows during a recent incident at Embassy (where Borgy got into a fistfight with Jay-R last year)?

Yesterday’s Funfare reported that Borgy got irked when Bong mistook Borgy’s girlfriend Ornussa Cadness for a waitress. Here’s how it actually happened, according to Bong (who called up Funfare to air his side):

"I was at the bar with Andrew (Wolfe) who just arrived from London. I was asking Andrew what drinks he wanted – you know, one for the road – and as I turned to order, I saw a lady near us. I said, ‘Miss!’ The lady turned around, saying, ‘Why are you calling me?’ That’s when I recognized who she was and I said, ‘Sorry’ right away.

"I think she wasn’t happy with my apology, so she must have told Borgy when she rejoined him. They were also standing near the bar. I approached Borgy and said, ‘Sorry, sorry!’ but his girlfriend couldn’t be pacified. It was an honest mistake on my part and I really felt sorry for it."

No, Bong added, no fistfight or some such incident ensued. Funfare reported that Bong’s "cooler-head" companions – among those mentioned were Ogie Alcasid, Mylene Dizon and Bing Loyzaga whom the Funfare DPA identified as "Bong’s date" – intervened, preventing what could have erupted into another, well, Embassy-shaking incident.

Bong denied that he went to Embassy with Bing or with any group.

"I went there alone at around 3 a.m. that morning," said Bong who’s married to Almira Muhlach, Aga’s half-sister with whom he has three children. "Bing and company were already there when I arrived. There were other stars there, including John Estrada. I want to make it clear that Bing was not my date, that there’s nothing between us. Nakakahiya kay Janno (Bing’s estranged husband)."

Asked if it’s true that his marriage is shaky, Bong said that everything is all right. (A Funfare DPA said that not so long ago the couple almost broke up and they’ve been trying to patch things up. Said somebody close to the couple, "One sure sign that the marriage is not okay is Almira’s return to showbiz. She’s now being managed by Annabelle Rama who got her into the cast of Lupin, the new GMA soap, topbilled by Richard Gutierrez, which premieres anytime now.")

"Almira and I are planning to migrate to the US," added Bong. "Our papers are now being prepared by (L.A.-based immigration lawyer) Jemella Agraviador-Nettles."

(Another Funfare DPA said that Almira "cried a river" when she read about Bong and Bing "being together" at the Embassy. Almira called up Bing and asked her pointblank if there’s something between her and Bong, and Bing said, "No, there’s none!")

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Twenty-two macho men made it to the finals of the 2007 Mr. Philippines-World competition, the winner of which will be chosen at grand finals on Feb. 17 on German Moreno’s GMA show Master Showman to represent the country in the 2007 Mr. World contest to be held on March 31 in Sanya, China. The local search being undertaken by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (which has been sending our candidates to the annual searches for Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss World) has the official nod of the Miss World Organization headed by Julia Morley who also holds the franchise to the Mr. World contest.

But there’s a little fly in the ointment.

Some talent managers are crying "Unfair!" over the inclusion of candidate No. 12 Iago Raterta who, they claim, violates a contest rule that bars applicants who "must have joined other competitions like Mr. World." Raterta competed in the 2006 Manhunt International, also held in China, in which he finished one of the 15 semi-finalists from among more than 80 contestants. (According to the other contest rules, applicants must be between 17 and 27 years of age, single, Filipino, and 5’8" in height and up.)

The final screening of this year’s aspirants was held last Jan. 13 at Expo Centro, Araneta Center, attended by beauty-contest enthusiasts and talent managers who trained eagle eyes on the applicants.

"During the first interview," said a talent manager who requested anonymity, "Raterta denied joining the Manhunt International contest in China."

Did Raterta make it to the "magic circle" because he has, uh, "connections"?

Raterta’s defender (who also requested anonymity) said that Raterta didn’t compete in a local contest but was only "handpicked" for the Manhunt International contest.

Funfare learned that the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. has issued a waiver in favor of Raterta but it remains to be seen whether the Miss World Organization will honor that waiver.

Raterta and the 21 other finalists went through weeks of arduous workshops, strict fitness regimen, and personality training and development under the Dale Carnegie Training group. They have also gone through rigid rehearsals and rounds of TV guestings to develop confidence in themselves.

On Feb. 17, the 22 finalists (granting that Raterta will stay in the race) will be judged not only on their looks but on their overall confidence and demeanor by a panel composed of celebrities from the fields of business, politics, fashion and entertainment. The winner, who must have the "X-factor," will compete with more than 80 worthies in the 2007 Mr. World finals where they will not only parade in formal attire and sportswear but will also be "tested on their strength, perseverance, mental agility and determination, set against China’s spectacular locations."

Also toeing the "beauty with a purpose" line like the Miss World pageant, the Mr. World contest has raised more than £250-million for children’s charities around the world. During their reign, winners of both contests freely give their time and effort to fund-raising activities in every country that they visit.

Meanwhile, let’s stand by and see what the verdict on Iago Raterta’s case will be.

Mr. Phils.-World guys in showbiz

Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib report that this year’s search for Mr. Philippines-World is the fifth edition in 10 years.

"Three of the contestants in this year’s batch are already in showbiz," said the "beauty experts." In fact, all the winners, and most of the runners-up and contestants in the first four searches have ventured into showbiz (mainstream and "in the periphery"), to wit:

• 1995 – Christopher Celis, winner; Chandro Concepcion, first runner-up; and Michael Sol Cruz a.k.a. OJ Montelibano, Richard Gustillo, Rafael Garcia, Froilan Ami III, Rolf Angala, Marlon Moldon, Mark Cobbarubias and Boogy Bugayong, semi-finalists;

• 1998 – Rico Miguel Lee, winner; Jet Rai Alcantara, first runner-up; John Allauigan, second runner-up; and Ali Khan and Cesar Alex, semi-finalists;

• 1999 – Roderick Dilla Salvador, winner; Allan "Ice" Concepcion, second runner-up; and Raymond Nieva and Darrion Cueto, semi-finalists; and

• 2003 – Marco Antonio Tamayo, winner; and Johannes Magbitang, first runner-up.

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