Curtain-raisers:
• Could it be true that an ‘80s matinee idol has not just one but two love sons? A highly-credible TV host/newscaster told Funfare Update that, yes, “The actor has another love child pero baka hindi niya alam.” The TV man attended a party and one of the guests was a woman who used to be a GRO. She was reluctant to admit it but other guests prodded her to tell the TV man the truth (and nothing but). Yes, “Hindi alam ng aktor na nabuntis n’ya ‘yung GRO. I saw the boy, now a teenager, and he’s the carbon-copy of the actor. Matulis pala talaga siya!” The actor, now a grandfather, is happily married to a beauty-queen-actress with whom he has beautiful children.
•What do Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Marcus Madrigal, Mark Cortez and Gerald Anderson have in common? Ask EM2=DE3.
•From Funfare Update’s Bohol DPA: “The May-December relationship of a high-society lady and her boyfriend came to an abrupt end after she caught him (in the act?) with a younger woman.” Oh my, is that why the eyes of the tarsier have become sadder?
•James Blanco vehemently denies the rumor linking him to an influential gay businessman. “Just because I’m living a comfortable life doesn’t mean that I’m having an affair,” James told Funfare Update. James is married, with kids. In-between showbiz jobs, he manages his own business. “Some people can’t believe that an actor can earn an honest living maski wala siyang ginagawang (showbiz) projects.” Incidentally, James complained that a brand-new car he bought only a few months ago turned out to be a lemon. By now, sana the company has already settled James’ problem.
•From ABS-CBN PR man Kane Choa, these tips on “how to stay young”: 1. Throw out non-essential numbers. These include age, weight and height; 2. Keep learning. Never let brain die. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop; 3. Enjoy the simple things; 4. Laugh often, long and loud until you gasp for breath; 5. The tears happen. Endure, grieve and move on; 6. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever; 7. Cherish your health. Smile and enjoy. Don’t forget to be a blessing to other people.
•And from my friend Dr. Welson Yap, this food for thought: Who should be blamed when a leaf falls from a tree? Is it the wind that blew it away or the tree that let if go? Or the leaf itself which never held tight? No one is to be blamed. It’s the process of aging. Let’s not grow old filled with regrets for things not done, for words not said, for love not shown. Life is too short. Let us do what makes us happy. Let us enjoy life while we are still breathing.
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During the presscon for Till My Heartaches End, his new team-up with perennial (onscreen) love interest Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson hyperventilated while tearfully asking for forgiveness from Kim for causing her untold heartaches. The case was deemed serious, especially since Gerald is known to have a congenital heart problem, so he was escorted out of the venue and brought to a clinic for the necessary first aid.
Was it a “gimmick” in keeping with the theme of the movie (written and directed by Joey Javier Reyes) about young lovers forever at odds? If it was, congratulations to the brilliant mind who cooked it up. If it was, Gerald should win a Best Actor grand slam, after reenacting his tear-drenched performance in yesterday’s The Buzz, with Kim as the “supporting actress” shedding similarly copious tears.
But I don’t think it was a “show.” Gerald must have been so overcome with guilt that he just had to appease Kim (never his girlfriend although they are “more than just that”) with a public apology for the desired effect.
Gerald is now being linked to Bea Alonzo (who is linked by a wild rumor to a macho dancer) and it’s making the Kimeralds (fans of Kim and Gerald) very angry, so angry that they are reportedly threatening to “kill” Gerald (and presumably Bea). According to Gerald, that kind of threat is affecting his family, especially his mother.
Really now, death threats shouldn’t be taken lightly, they should be taken seriously. Remember how Latina pop star Selena was killed by her own fan? There are a few other such incidents. ABS-CBN/Star Cinema shouldn’t just threaten to file charges against whoever are making the “death threats,” they should provide Gerald (and Bea) with bodyguards. Better to be safe than to be sorry, you know.
Briefly noted
•Pokwang is getting to be known as “la mujer ingrata.” First, she displeased Willie Revillame by making hostile comments about him, forgetting that it was Willie who fought for Pokwang’s inclusion as regular host of the defunct Wowowee. Then, she made side remarks against the owner of Music Box where she got her break. Music Box is the alma mater of some of today’s popular comedians including Ai Ai delas Alas who has remained as down-to-earth and as grateful as ever. By the way, Pilipinas Win Na Win (PWNW) is getting greener and greener with Pokwang and Rico J. Puno swapping off-color jokes as if they’re just performing at a stand-up bar. Sample: Rico and Pokwang putting their faces too close for comfort, with Pokwang saying, “Gusto mo ako anakan, ano?” To which Rico answered something like, “Okey lang, kasi may pera ka.”
• Several lines were missing from Rita Avila’s story about Pamana resto which came out a few days ago. Because of the missing lines, Rita’s description of the fish got mixed up with the description of the camote. Anyway, here’s how that paragraph should have read: It was so good that the humble camote seemed like a goddess to me now. The ginataang tilapia at Pamana was so delicious, it almost caused my companions and I to have a catfight over the fish…”
•From STAR’s Mindoro correspondent Juancho Mahusay: Zyrene Parsad, second runner-up in the GMA talent search Are You The Next Big Star?, is making sure that she will sing Lupang Hinirang correctly during the bout of Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Texas. Parsad, 24, has consulted the National Historical Institute (NHI) how the National Anthem should be sung. She was advised to hold the microphone with her left hand so that she can put her right hand over her left chest. Parsad doesn’t want to go to jail for violating a new law against improper singing of Lupang Hinirang. Again, better to be safe than to be sorry.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)