Maja: Good daughter, good karma

Curtain-raisers:

• Have Ethel Booba and Alex Crisano kissed and made up? Yes, I’m positive. I saw them (with my own eyes, ehem!) together during the Sinulog festival in Cebu last week. The reconciled couple missed their PAL flight to Cebu early Saturday (Jan. 19) morning and took the next flight. I saw them on the PAL flight back to Manila Tuesday (Jan. 22) afternoon. Is the reconciliation for long, if not for good? Stay tuned.

• Also in the same Cebu event was Andrew Wolfe and his pretty non-showbiz girlfriend, belying rumors linking Andrew to his new manager Becky Aguila. Andrew’s British father, an English professor in London, has opted to retire in Cebu but he was vacationing in London during Andrew’s visit.

• And guess who was immensely enjoying his real-life role as a father, still in the same Cebu event — yes, Cesar Montano who was with his son Diego (mom is Cesar’s ex girlfriend Teresa Loyzaga) and another child. Diego was here on holiday from Australia where he’s based with his mom. Cesar and company flew from his native Bohol to Cebu to help promote his and Jake Cuenca’s new fantasy-adventure, Palos, which premiered last night on ABS-CBN.

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To paraphrase the Julie Andrews Sound of Music song... somewhere in her recent past or childhood, Maja Salvador must have done something good.

Emerging as one of last year’s few truly promising stars (gifted with both looks and talent, vintage Salvador), Maja is enjoying good karma because, that’s right, she has been doing some things good.

Dame Luck is on her side.

Late last year, Maja won P800,000 on the defunct game show Deal Or No Deal (hosted by Kris Aquino who now hosts Wheel of Fortune which took the timeslot of DOND). Last week, she won not just P120,000 cash but a brand-new Mitsubishi Fusion on Wheel of Fortune after she guessed the right words (blind date).

Yesterday, Maja left with her mom and brother for a few days holiday in Hong Kong.

“It’s my gift to them,” said Maja, the ulirang anak (ideal daughter).

Said her mom, “She first buys what we need, and only later for her own. Mabait na anak ‘yang si Maja. Hindi siya maramot.”

Although she didn’t grow up with her dad, Ross Rival (Chichi Salvador in real life), Maja took care of him when he was hospitalized and shouldered the funeral expenses when he died.

A member of the cast of the ABS-CBN suspense-thriller Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara, Maja has also been getting good breaks in movies. She’s a well-loved endorser, too. See her eye-catching Folded & Hung billboard all over the Metropolis?

Susan Roces and Kris Aquino, lead stars of Barbara, are all praises for Maja.

“She has a bright future ahead of her,” said Kris.

“Keep up your good work,” was Susan’s motherly advice to Maja. “Be punctual and professional, love your work, be nice to your co-stars and co-workers, especially the crew members, and you’ll never go wrong.”

Double celebration for Eric and Jeffrey

Busy with business meetings in Hong Kong (where he produces shows), Eric Quizon postponed his birthday (Jan. 20) celebration and finally found time only last Saturday night for an intimate dinner at his 25th floor unit at the Rockwell condo. Actually, the exclusive dinner was a double celebration for both Eric and his brother Jeffrey who was also celebrating his birthday.

Led by their dad Dolphy, the brothers’ well-wishers included Susan Roces, Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion-Reyna, Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna and wife Bibeth Orteza, talent managers Joji Dingcong and Keren Pascual, and Eric’s manager Dolor Guevarra and husband Boots Plata.

The menu included Chicken Galantina from Milky Way; Adobong Manok and Laing, from Manay Ichu; Baked Salmon and Pineapple Macaroni Salad, from Contis; Fish Pastel, from the Dinglasan Kitchen (located at Valle Verde 5, Pasig City); and Kare-Kare, Binagoongang Chicharon, Japanese Jasmine Rice, Pancit, South Beach Veggie Salad, Mixed Peas, Corn, Carrot in Lumpia Wrap with Mayo and Ginataang Halu-Halo, all cooked in Eric’s kitchen.

Asked how old he is, Eric joked.

“Sorry po, mahina ako sa arithmetic.”

Fr. Corsie’s healing sked for February

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for February:

• Feb. 2, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

• Feb. 9, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

•  Feb. 23, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite;

• Feb. 25, Monday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Sto. Niño Church, Bamban, Tarlac; and

• Feb. 26, Tuesday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Sto. Domingo Church, Mexico, Pampanga.

(Note: For further inquiries, call 046-434-8759 or 046-878-0069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)

What’s up?

•  Broadcaster Pia Hontiveros and Lt. Col. Rwin Pagkalinawan (Pia’s husband of 20 years) of the Philippine National Police have been elected 2008 president and chair couple of the board of the Marriage Preparation Foundation, a volunteer arm of the Center for Family Ministries that runs the monthly Discovery Weekend for couples who want to know if they are compatible for marriage. Vice chairs are Mike and Tintin Asis of Ateneo, with lawyer Raffy Zialcita and his wife Michelle as secretaries, and Edwin Gomez and his wife Pauline of Plains & Prints as treasurers. In-charge of the various committees are Dondi and Cherry Mapa (for Formation), lawyer Randall Tabayoyong and his wife Aiza (for Membership), and Mario Bautista and wife Vicky (for Outreach). Interested couples may call 426-1271 for inquiries.

• The Philippine Heart Center Medical Alumni Society (PHCMAS) Cebu Chapter, in cooperation with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Cebu Chapter, will hold the Run For Your Heart 2008 5k and 10k on Feb. 10 (Sunday). The assembly area is at the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital gymnasium at the corner of Gov. M. Roa and Maria Cristina Sts. Technical support will be provided by the Cebu Runners Club and the Sight First Clinic Running Club. For more details, e-mail at [email protected].

• Tintin Bersola-Babao is helping her mom organize a summer bazaar from April 1 to 6 at Rockwell Tent. Interested parties and business-minded people may call or text Tintin’s mom at 0917-4218423 or 0919-6905249 for booking and sponsorship inquiries.

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