10-11-11 Will be the big day?

Curtain-raisers:

• This will be the mother of all blind items, so there won’t be any giveaway clues. According to my favorite manghuhula (who has a 100 percent batting average), a big wedding will happen on Oct. 11, 2011 if, and that’s the Big If, “the stars align accordingly.” Sounds vague, isn’t it? But the manghuhula is clear about certain things, such as: 1). The “marrying couple” shares a birthday, Feb. 18, four days after Valentine’s Day, 2). The would-be bride and would-be-groom come from stable families (meaning their respective parents have stayed together for better or for worse, till death...), and 3). They are warmly accepted by each other’s families. The catch: The man is now only courting the woman who is described by somebody close to both as “wife material who is a good home-keeper,” whose family goes to church together every Sunday, “very religious just like the man’s family.” The manghuhula added that the two are “a good match” and if things go well, “They will march down the aisle on 10-11-11” (which happens to be the wedding anniversary of the man’s parents).   

•Speaking of weddings, a singer-actress is definitely exchanging “I do’s” with her foreigner boyfriend early next year. She deserves all the happiness in the world, after all she has loved and lost (her first boyfriend, an actor-singer, married a singer-actress) and has never been afraid to love again. Funfare will “unmask” her as soon as I get the go-signal.

• Dr. Hayden Kho is all over the media heralding the launch of his eponymous scent. Not everybody is happy with the way Hayden is being painted as a “victim” when the whole world knows that he is not. Ask Sen. Bong Revilla (photo) who had denounced Hayden in the Senate at the height of the sex-video controversy. Bong sent Funfare the following statement: “I’m quite disappointed really. We Filipinos have such a short memory and are quick to forget. I just hope that at the end of the day, everybody gets what they deserve and justice is meted out.” Asked what he’d do if given a sample of the scent, Sen. Bong texted back: “Hahahahaha!!!”

* * *

Speaking of weddings, John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles are definitely making their union legal on Feb. 26 (a Saturday) next year at a beach which they have yet to choose.

The two have been going steady for more than three years, long enough for them to know not only each other but also both their families very well. John has introduced Priscilla to his family, including his four children with ex-wife Janice de Belen, and vice-versa.

“I’m close to John’s children,” said Priscilla, who was Miss Earth in 2004, adding with a smile, “but I don’t want them to call me Tita; mas maganda kung Ate na lang.”

An entourage of more than a dozen, led by Priscilla’s parents, are coming from Brazil for the event.

But John and Priscilla are putting their honeymoon “on hold” because, according to her, “John will be busy with some projects” most of next year. It’s okay because they have been living together for quite a while now.

John and Priscilla were among Willie Revillame’s guests during the welcome dinner that he hosted at his home last Sunday night for his Willing Willie co-host Shalani Soledad and TV5 executives led by big boss Manny V. Pangilinan.

When John and Priscilla asked MVP to be one of their principal sponsors, MVP told them jokingly, “You know, I am also a ninong for Ogie (Alcasid) and Regine (Velasquez) on their wedding (Dec. 22). I was the ninong, too, of Ogie at his first wedding (to Michelle van Eimeren). They have divorced. I hope I won’t be the ninong at your divorce.”

Undaunted, John told MVP, “Don’t worry, Sir, I will break your record.”

David Archuleta here on Nov. 17

Here are the details of American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta’s (photo) return visit reported as “breaking news” in yesterday’s Funfare:

After he conquered Manila last year with his back-to-back concert with David Cook, Archuleta is set to delight his fans as he promotes his sophomore album The Other Side Of Down at a showcase slated at the SM City North EDSA Skydome on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. Buy a copy of the album and have signed by Archuleta himself. It features the hits Something ‘Bout Love and Elevator.

Not only a follow-up to Archuleta’s 2008 self-titled debut, it’s a reintroduction to “the boy with the angelic voice” with whom 30 million televiewers fell in love during AI’s seventh season — now older, wiser, with faith still on his side and an eternally optimistic wide-eyed outlook. Hence, the album’s title. 

“For me, it’s about moving forward and making progress,” Archuleta explains. “I’m heading towards ‘the other side of down,’ which is ‘up’.”

Archuleta’s The Other Side of Down Manila promo tour is presented by SM Supermalls, SM North EDSA, Sony Music, MYX, ASAP Live, The Peninsula Manila, Magic 89.9 and RX 93.1. To download Archuleta’s ringback tones, truetones, full track music from the album, just text ARCHULETA to 3456.

Ronnie airs side

Ronnie Liang: Everything that I own I have worked hard for

Without his trying to be, Ronnie Liang has become controversial and he doesn’t relish it.

He talked to Funfare to clear certain issues.

1). That he broke up with his manager George Roca in unfriendly circumstances.

“We parted ways ng maayos. Nagyakapan pa nga kami, eh. George said he wanted to go to the States to study film directing because he wants to do an indie film.”

2). Why he lasted for only three months (from August to October this year) with Arnold Vegafria’s talent agency.

“We had a misunderstanding when I followed up on the schedule he gave me. Maybe he thought that I was pressuring him na hindi naman ganoon. I was ready to wait for projects. I know naman na hindi puede madaliin ang lahat.” (Arnold has terminated Ronnie’s five-year contract with his agency and released Ronnie. He has an existing two-year contract with Universal Records which has released his two albums.)

3). That he has a US-based sugar mommy who has given him a house and lot, a car, etc.

“I have a girlfriend who is based in the US but she’s too young to be a sugar mommy; hindi siya matrona. She’s 23, and I’m 25; she’s a nurse whom I met when I had a show in the US. About the house (in his native Pampanga), I started building it in 2006 after I finished doing Pinoy Dream Academy, using my savings plus money I owed from the bank. I also bought my car with my own savings. Pinaghirapan ko lahat ng naipundar ko.”

 At the moment, Ronnie has no manager.

Erap hosts ‘Facebook’ party at Little Asia

 Former Pres. Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada recently hosted a party at Little Asia (Greenhills) for some 100 of his loyal Facebook supporters, bloggers and fans.

‘Erap delivered a long and touching speech,’ said Little Asian owner-manager Charlemagne Lim. ‘His well-wishers showed clips of Erap’s campaign and some ads which were very funny.’ The menu consisted of Little Asia’s Crispy Chicken, Cantonese Fish Fillet, Beef Tenderloin Rolls with Cheese, Korean Beef Stew, Prawn Salad and Emperor’s Fried Rice. Top to bottom: Erap with (from left) Marge Gutierrez, Charlemagne and brother Charlson... Marge with Vice Pres. Jojo Binay and Charlemagne... and Marge with San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, Charlemagne and Charlson.

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