Why sexy star is selling US house

If a sexy star is not so visible on TV lately, it’s because she has to fly to the US (yes, West Coast) in haste to sell her house which is as good as new (barely three years old) and doesn’t have a “lived-in” feel since practically nobody lives there.

So why the rush to sell it?

A Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent) said that the sexy star wants to beat her former(?) semi-showbiz boyfriend to it --- that is, before he could take it back from her. Hmmm, Indian-giver?

Dionne still thrills despite the years

When she performed at Aliw Theater a few years ago, Dionne Warwick chided (er, mildly scolded) the audience for coming late.

In her concert Saturday night at the Big Dome, Dionne showed up late onstage for about 20 minutes but the audience, which was getting impatient and making catcalls, didn’t take it against her. Instead, they sat back and relaxed and enjoyed an evening of mellow songs as Dionne invited them to take “a short stroll down memory lane” with her familiar hit songs, most of which dating more than four decades back.

The magical voice is still there though a bit aged and Dionne absolutely delights and thrills despite the years. Her niece, Whitney Houston, should take a cue from her aunt. Unlike Dionne who has taken care of herself and her career, Whitney has been bungling up hers, and that makes her fans (this one included) very sad, indeed.

Dionne kicked off the 75-minute show with a soulful rendition of (They Long To Be) Close To You and, met by a thunderous applause, followed it up with Don’t Make Me Over, her first ever hit circa 1962 --- “And the reason why I’m standing in front of you tonight.”

It was a leisurely stroll down memory lane from thereon, with the audience, encouraged by Dionne, singing along with her --- Walk On By, You’ll Never Get to Heaven, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, This Girl’s in Love With You and many more.

When she sang Heartbreaker, Dionne practically rehearsed the audience how to say (rather, “sing”) the word “heartbreaker” with feeling --- and louder, mimicking the audience’s initial, shy response.

The show’s highlight came when Dionne sang a duet of I Say a Little Prayer (sung in the Julia Roberts starrer My Best Friend’s Wedding) with her son David Elliot. “It’s one song that has to be brought to the 21st century,” said Dionne who, with David, did it with a new arrangement, a new approach and a new zing to it.

Verdict on David Elliot? Talagang may pinagmanahan.

On the way home, my friends and I were humming all the way on an extended “stroll down memory lane,” knowing our way “to San Jose” and convinced beyond reasonable doubt that what the world needs now is love sweet love. Yes, Dionne, we can all fall in love this way again with you around singing like the good old days.

Some good words for Arthur Manuntag (2006 Aliw Awardee as Best Performer in Hotels, Lounges and Restaurants) who front-acted for Dionne and kept the audience entertained for almost 30 minutes. Arthur’s version of What A Wonderful World was a show by itself (ask US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. who sat at the front row), with Arthur switching his voice to that of Frank Sinatra then to James Ingram to Ray Charles to Tony Bennett to Johnny Mathis Very versatile! For a while, Arthur made the audience forget that it was Dionne Warwick’s show. Take a bow, Arthur!

Iya bares ‘some of herself’ in Tanduay 2011 calendar

The conservative Iya Villania is bound to surprise everybody with her daring poses (four samples shown here) in the 2011 Tanduay Rhum 5 Years calendar, considering that Iya has turned down offers for sexy roles and to pose for men’s magazines. The Fil-Am Aussie actress is taking a bolder career move starting next year and the Tanduay calendar is the first step in that direction.

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Tim Evans marks birthday with friends

Fil-Am Tim Evans of the US Immigration (based at the L.A. International Airport) hosted a birthday dinner last Nov. 19. Tim (top photo, standing, back row) is shown with his well-wishers that include (from left) concert-producer Ami Almirol, Nick Enciso, STAR L.A. correspondent Raymond de Asis Lo, immigration lawyer Jemela Agraviador-Nettles and Jun Lalin. Also present were Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco and make-up artist Arwin Bernabe.