Ryan's song as Regine's bridal march

When Regine Velasquez marches down the aisle in a flaming-red gown by Monique Lhuillier “sometime in December, on a beach somewhere,” for her altar date with Ogie Alcasid, she will do so to the tune of Iniibig Kita, a song composed by Ryan Cayabyab between 1992-1993 for Raul Mitra for Raul’s first CD recording but was not included in the final CD tracks. It was later recorded by James Coronel (former Smokey Mountain member) in 1994; by the San Miguel Master Chorale and the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004; and by Sharon Cuneta in 2010.

“It is a mildly known but most requested wedding song,” Ryan told Funfare. “I offered it as Regine’s bridal march, to be sung by my good friends The Tux who are also good friends of both Regine and Ogie.”

Regine cried when she heard the song (part of it anyway) for the first time during the recent concert of Ogie and Ryan.

Here are the complete lyrics of Iniibig Kita:

Kulang ang araw at gabi ‘pag kita’y kapiling.

Kahit ang bukas ay di rin sapat upang mamasdan lamang kita.

Labis kitang minamahal, pag-ibig ko’y walang kapantay.

Kung kaya ko lang abutin ang mga bituin t’yak ito’y gagawin.

Malaman mo lang 

wala nang ibang 

mas hihigit pa 

sa pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo.

Walang ibang nagmamahal ng tulad ko 

sana’y paniwalaan mo.

Iniibig kita.

Kulang ang araw at gabi ‘pag kita’y kapiling.

Kahit ang bukas ay di rin sapat upang mamasdan lamang kita.

Labis kitang minamahal, pag-ibig ko’y walang kapantay.

Kung kaya ko lang abutin ang mga bituin t’yak ito’y gagawin.

Malaman mo lang 

wala nang ibang 

mas hihigit pa 

sa pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo.

Walang ibang nagmamahal ng tulad ko 

sana’y paniwalaan mo.

Iniibig kita. Iniibig kita. Iniibig kita. Iniibig kita. Iniibig kita. Ooh...

Czarina mistaken for Miss India in China

Did you know that when she arrived in China for the 2010 Miss World pageant (with 120 contestants vying for the title, currently held by Miss Gibraltar, on the grand finals on Oct. 30), the Philippine bet Czarina Gatbonton was mistaken for Miss India?

This report came from “beauty-addict” Leo Udtohan who also gave an update on the contest for Funfare readers:

National hero and one of history’s great warrior and empire builders, Genghis Khan inspired the second day of the Miss World contestants’ visit to Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

After breakfast in one of Ordos’ top hotels, the contestants drove to Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum and cultural experience on the far reaches of the city boundaries.  Arriving at the massive stone memorial, the girls posed with local leaders and dignitaries before being guided around reconstructed tents and living quarters of Genghis Khan’s tribes, learning about Mongolian history and living habits.

During lunch at a nearby Mongolian tent, contestants were awed by an incredibly colorful performance of the life of Genghis Khan in song and dance, complete with warriors marching through the audience and acrobatic archers on stage.  To complete the visit, they were photographed on stage with the performers.

In the afternoon, the coaches travelled to a small community on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to be welcomed by a band of local folk musicians. They were then blessed by the resident shaman before watching a show of Mongolian wrestling.  Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino presented the winning wrestler with his prize.  Their visit closed with a thrilling display of horse skills by local performers.

Next stop on the Miss World 2010 tour of China is Shanghai when the contestants will visit EXPO and host a gala dinner before heading south to Sanya on the island of Hainan.

Funfare’s “other beauty-expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas, who is from Bulacan like Czarina, recalled that Czarina’s fondest dream was to ride a plane.

“Natupad na ang pangarap niya,” said Celso. “Czarina has taken three flights in less than two weeks. But she said that she misses rowing a banca around the island where the Gatbonton family lives.”

Briefly noted

• Now that she’s “jobless” (between projects after she was “asked to quit” as main host of Pilipinas Win Na Win), Kris Aquino (photo) spends her time reading The Bible from cover to cover, that’s why she has been sending inspiring passages from the book to friends (this one included) every morning. She’s relieved that her sons Joshua and Baby James have recovered from foot-and-mouth disease. Now, could it be true that a juicy offer is being dangled before Kris by both Kapuso (GMA) and Kapatid (TV5)? Kris said there’s no such offer but she admitted to Funfare in an earlier interview that she did have dinner with GMA Films lady boss Annette Gozon-Abrogar who offered Kris a movie.

• In yesterday’s STAR “scoop,” Maria Resa (photo) was reported to be quitting as head of the ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs as she filed a terminal leave effective Nov. 15. Her contract will end on Jan. 3 next year but Maria is availing of her six months accumulated leave. ABS-CBN’s North American bureau chief Ging Reyes is taking over. A Funfare VDPA said that Maria “has been in contact” with TV5 big boss Manny V. Pangilinan. If indeed TV5 has an offer and Maria accepts it, will she clash head-on with Luchi Cruz-Valdez (photo), now one of TV5’s news department heads, who is described as Maria’s “mortal enemy” during their stormy days together at ABS-CBN? What about Paolo Bediones? Will be kicked upward, downward or sideward? Interesting days ahead at the Kapatid Network.

• 10-10-10 was a red-letter day for Christian Bautista who not only celebrated his birthday and launched his newest TV show Star Power: The Search for the Next Female Pop Superstar, but also received two major awards all in the same day --- a Triple Platinum Record Award for the outstanding sales (over 50,000 copies sold) of his latest album, Romance Revisited Love Songs Of Jose Mari Chan, awarded to him by Universal Records Phils, Managing Director Kathleen Dy Go; and in the evening while he hosted the 2nd PMPC Star Awards for Music, held at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater ng Ateneo De Manila University, the Best Male Recording Artist of The Year for the same album.

Christian is set to leave for Jakarta to shoot for a whole month and a half for his first full- length film abroad titled Jaydens Choir, produced by Nation Films Indonesia. He will also be collaborating on two new singles under the record label Grammy which is part of GMM Grammy Public Company Limited, the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. Aside from its music business, the company is involved in concert production, artist management, film and television production, and publishing. — Reported by CARLO OROSA

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