Curtain-raisers:
• Boy Abunda has been “bragging” that Oprah Winfrey and the David Foster will soon be his kumare and kumpare because they are among the godparents at the joint baptism and confirmation of Charice (photo) and her brother Carl on Sunday, March 22, at a place I’d rather not disclose. Uy, Boy, ikaw lang ba? Effective that date, Oprah and David, and others as well, will also be my kumare and kumpare. I have just accepted Charice’s invitation to be one of her and Carl’s ninongs, too. FYI, kumpareng Boy! Hehehehe!
• Several issues ago, Funfare published an item about 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj under the headline “Is Venus asking for the moon?” By coincidence, Venus did get the moon the other night — the Planet Venus, that is — when it was shown as if hanging by one end of a half-moon. Incidentally, the good news is that Venus will finally — finally!!! — get her passport. It means she will be able to compete in the Miss Universe pageant (venue and date not confirmed yet). A manghuhula said that Venus will win Miss U. I hope she’s not like Madame Auring who predicted during the 1994 Miss U held here that Miss “Valenzuela” would win, and she did not (Miss India Sushmita Sen did).
• From Mike Gayoso, one of those behind the Gustavus steak house: Just a reminder that effective last May 16, we started our Sunset-Reset Promo at Gustavus. All oysters, cocktails, wines and brews are at 30 percent off from 5 to 8 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Also, beginning last Sunday, Gustavus is now open on Sundays from 6 to 11 p.m. For reservation, please call or text me at 0917-815-7288 or Lina at 813-0475. Gustavus is open for lunch Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner is from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
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I deliberately made today’s headline somewhat bitin (hanging) so as to jolt Kris-bashers into a false jubilation — I mean, those who are insisting that Kris should keep her pre-election “promise” that she would live abroad (and work with The Filipino Channel) if and when her brother, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, won in the May 10 elections. Well, Noynoy is now called President-apparent because he’s clearly well on his way to Malacañang.
Kris has already explained in a Funfare “scoop” that what she said was if she would be a hindrance to Noynoy’s presidency (kung magiging pabigat siya kay Noynoy), and President-apparent Noynoy has told Kris to stop the kadramahan already and again said recently that Kris has no reason to leave the country since she hasn’t committed a crime against it or against anybody. Period.
But, yes, Kris is, indeed, leaving very soon — not the country but as host of the ABS-CBN talkshow The Buzz (which she co-hosts with Boy Abunda and KC Concepcion) and the late-night showbiz newscast SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon).
As she announced on The Buzz last Sunday, Kris had a lunch meeting yesterday with ABS-CBN big bosses Gabby Lopez, Charo Santos-Concio and Cory Vidanes, and she promptly texted Funfare the following message:
Hi, Tito Ricky. I promised you an update. We had a fruitful meeting with Boss Gabby, Ma’am Charo and Tita Cory. All my sisters (Ballsy, Viel and Pinky) were with me. Effective June 30 when Noy is proclaimed (sworn in) president, I will graciously give up hosting both The Buzz and SNN. It’s a decision I am at peace with because I know that I will lessen Noy’s stress by leaving two shows I love dearly, but could unintentionally be sources of controversy.
I told you that I have my entire being to help my brother win, and now I will continue to give my entire self to help him succeed as president of our country. If that means sacrificing my exposure and income from two shows I am so closely identified with, then that is what being family is all about, putting the good of all above personal interest. Much love to you. Ikaw lang ang ti-next ko.
Sorry, Ruffa (Gutierrez) but you won’t have to order lechon from Cebu for the “despedida” planned for Kris by her Twitter non-fans. And Lolit (Solis), you won’t have to hire a taxi to escort Kris to the airport because even if she’s “leaving,” it won’t be, I repeat, the country by only her two shows on ABS-CBN.
Here’s Kris’ follow-up text message:
Just to make it clear, Tito Ricky, in case I’m misinterpreted, I will continue with (the teleserye) Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo and (the reality-TV) Pilipinas Got Talent. ABS-CBN is now looking at other shows that would be best suited for me after the teleserye ends in August.
There.
Really now, could you imagine how drab and boring and unexciting local showbiz would be without Kris Aquino? Honestly, I could not. So I’m glad that Kris may be “leaving” (her two shows) but she’s, as I’ve been saying, here to stay.
Plans after the May 10 elections
• EDU MANZANO (vice presidential race): My immediate plans are spending time with family and studying the offers in the private sector. (Question: Will he reconcile with ex-girlfriend Pinky Webb?)
• IMELDA PAPIN (senatorial race): We are planning something. Will let you know if okay na.
• CESAR MONTANO (gubernatorial race, Bohol): Go back to TV shows or before that I’m thinking of taking a film directing/filming crash course in India. Study muna.
• ANJO YLLANA (vice mayoral race, Parañaque City): My son passed the entrance exam in Ateneo. He’ll be entering prep school. It will be tiring for him if we stay in Parañaque City. Since I lost naman, we are moving back to Quezon City and will be convenient also for me because my work is in Quezon City, too. Goodbye and thank you, Parañaque! Quezon City? Have no plans yet politically.
• ARNELL IGNACIO (councilors’ race, Quezon City): We have converted the headquarters into a dealership center for RC Cola. My coordinators all over the district will be my sales executives for the hundreds of sari-sari stores. Napamahal na sila sa akin, eh, para di kami magkahiwa-hiwalay. My projects will be continued. Caltrate and Wyeth are helping me out.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)