There was no premonition at all that something tragic would happen to Pilar Pilapil 10 hours later.
During the lunch presscon for Vagina Monologues last Thursday at Cerchio (at corner Scout Limbaga and Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City), Pilar was her usual bubbly self. She was in red. She came almost an hour late.
Instead of taking lunch (she did after the presscon), she spent the few minutes before the presscon proper hobnobbing with her writer-friends that included this columnist, Bulletin/Tempo’s Nestor Cuartero, Mario Bautista and Mario Hernando.
She said that the script was given to her only the night before, so she had to read an excerpt (as one of the “talking vaginas”) from a piece of paper while co-stars Giselle Sanchez, Princess Manzon, Kalila Aquilos and Angeli Bayani delivered theirs from memory.
So I went numb with shock when I learned yesterday morning about what happened to Pilar and a lady companion night of that same day — stabbed seven times and roughed up by two suspected carnappers who took them for a scary ride from Riverbank in Marikina City and proceeded God knows where after dumping the bloody and battered Pilar at a secluded place in Antipolo City where she begged for help and nearby residents rushed her to a hospital. At presstime, Pilar was said to be in stable condition.
I couldn’t imagine Pilar in that situation, especially after seeing her last Thursday so at peace with herself (her eyes showed it) and the world around her at last, happily married to a pastor with whom she leads a quiet life in her native Cebu where she owns and manages an island resort, coming to Manila only when she has to do soap such her last, ABS-CBN’s Agua Bendita (as the lola of Andi Eigenmann).
Vagina Monologues will be mounted at Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan City, on April 29 and 30. According to MiaDulce D’Bayan, the Vagina director, Pilar is still willing to play one of the vaginas even after what happened to her. That will, of course, depend on what Pilar’s doctors at Medical City will advise.
A real trouper through and through. For Pilar, the show must go on!
Incidentally, asked what her beauty secret is, Pilar only smiled, pointing Upward.
Krista: Please spare my baby!
Immediately after news broke that Krista Ranillo gave birth to her and husband Niño Jefferson Lim’s first baby, named Nate Jacob (whose initials NJ are the same as those of his father), last April 5 in California, some people made malicious insinuations that really hurt the couple.
Through Funfare, Krista is making this appeal:
“Please spare our baby. Huwag n’yo naman siya idamay sa mga intriga. Wala siyang ginagawa at wala siyang kasalanan. Kasisilang pa lang niya iniintriga n’yo na siya. If you are a mom, I’m sure you, too, feel what I and my husband feel. Pairalin n’yo naman ang pagiging nanay n’yo. How would you feel if you have just given birth and people will make fun of you and your baby? If you can’t have compassion for me, at least maawa naman kayo sa baby namin.”
Venus goes ‘straight’ again
After she got negative feedback mostly in the Internet on the new hairdo (“Parang Sto. Niño ng Tondo!,” said one entry) she wore last Sunday night when she relinquished her crown to the new Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (Shamcey Supsup), Miss Universe Philippines Venus Raj has promptly decided to go back to her old self — with flowing, shoulder-length hair, that is.
“Too much styling, using the curling iron, using flat iron and re-bonding really take a toll on your hair,” said Moussa Abdayem, technique trainer and head stylist of Emphasis Salon.
Venus has turned to Cream Silk for a reliable beauty regimen.
“Despite the torture to my hair due to over-styling,” she said, “thanks to Cream Silk vitamin treatment my hair is recharged. Now, I’m happy that I’m back with my beautiful straight hair.”
Who ‘killed’ Isabel Granada?
Last Thursday afternoon, this text message was received by several movie writers, this one included: Dear Friends, let Isabel Granada be in our thoughts and prayers. Let us be happy that she is with the Lord now, in peace, with no pain caused by ovarian cancer.
As shocking as the tragic incident that threatened the life of Pilar Pilapil, isn’t it?
Soon after, I got this text message from Isabel: Whatever text po na-received n’yo, I just want to let you know I’m good po. Thank you po sa concern. Sana humaba pa life ko. I couldn’t answer calls/txt, sensya na po. I’m ok po. I don’t know who that person na nagkalat coz I already lost my phone once sa past pero grabe inggit niya. Morbid sobra.
What’s up?
• As a special Lenten presentation, election lawyer Romy Macalintal’s radio program The Law of the Heart Is Love will have meditations and prayers through the Stations of the Cross tonight, 8 to 9, with a replay tomorrow night, April 17, 9 to 10 p.m., over DWBR, 104.3FM.
• The National Parks Development Committee, in partnership with Teatro Mensahero, ushers in the observance of the Lenten Week with the stage production of Daan ng Krus, The Musical, in Concert at the Park tomorrow, April 17, starting at 6 p.m. at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium. Minette Padilla is program host. Admission is free.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare.)