Claudine, Raymart: Finally?

Curtain-raisers:

• A case of too much, too soon? Could it be true that Miss Universe Philippines Shamcey Supsup (photo) has developed “an attitude?” Funfare sources said that away from the media, she would throw little tantrums and complained, “Ayoko na ng interview-interview, pagod na ako!” Even her mother was overheard saying that at home, Shamcey would act the same way and say, “Panay na lang binibini-binibini; dito sa bahay ayoko ng binibini-binibini ha!” Oh my, but wasn’t it only last September that she finished a runner-up in the Miss Universe contest? According to one journalist, when she interviewed Shamcey after she won Bb. Pilipinas last May, Shamcey was sweet and friendly and down-to-earth, always smiling. When she interviewed Shamcey again after the Miss U contest, Shamcey seemed to have changed. Said the journalist, “No sign of recognition, as if I was interviewing her for the first time. Suddenly, may ‘attitude’ na siya.” Maybe Shamcey can learn from Venus Raj how to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground.

• The relationship between a box-office “comedienne” and “her” manager has become so fragile that anytime they might part ways. It’s sad because they’ve been together since the “comedienne” was still a “no-name.” Oh well, success does have a way of destroying relationships. The “comedienne” has been secretly negotiating (yes, finalizing plans) with a new manager.

* * *

This time, is it for real?

For more than two years now, there have been persistent rumors that all’s not well between Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago. In an interview with The STAR after last Holy Week, Claudine denied the rumors and even showed photos (published with the story) to prove that she and Raymart were okay.

And then, something obviously very wrong happened the other day. Here’s how the “insider” narrated the incident to Funfare:

“When Claudince arrived home from a taping last Tuesday, she found Raymart’s cars (several of them) missing at the garage. She got very worried. Woman’s intuition, you know. Since she and Raymart were having trouble, Claudine suspected ‘something.’ She called her lawyer and they went to the bank to withdraw P5M from her and Raymart’s joint account (presumably ‘and/or’).

“The bank branch manager told them to wait while he prepared a manager’s check because, they were told, the amount was too big. After waiting for 30 to 40 minutes, Claudine and her lawyer asked why it was taking the branch manager to issue the check, only to be informed that the account had ‘zero balance.’ That’s when Claudine broke down, which was caught by on camera by a 24 Oras news reporter.”

Who could have withdrawn the money?

When contacted by Funfare, Claudine neither answered the calls nor called or texted back.

“She’s incommunicado, crying and crying,” said somebody close to Claudine.

Funfare also learned that the couple, married en grande at the Tagaytay Highlands only five years ago, has been separated for two months now.

Juicy items

Piolo Pascual and KC Concepion: Together again in New York — only for the meantime or for good?

• Yes, “separated” sweethearts Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion are together again — but only for a concert produced by Ritzberries Productions tomorrow night (Oct. 28) at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center in Manhattan (with Yeng Constantino as co-performer).

“But their fans here are hoping that the two would kiss and make up in New York,” said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Sivestre. “Piolo disclosed that he’s looking forward to spending quality time with KC who flown in from Paris where she spent a vacation.”

If not in New York, let’s hope that they iron kinks out when they perform in Chicago, L.A., Las Vegas and San Diego before they return to Manila — together or separately?

Ronald Bregendahl: Eager to resume acting

• Here for more than a month now is Ronald Bregendahl who has been based in Anaheim, California (he works as an executive at a hotel) for years with his wife and children. One of Rita Gomez’s sons, Ronald was last seen in the Ishmael Bernal mid-’80s drama Hinugot sa Langit, one of the movies Ronald did after he and Cherie Gil were launched as a young love team in Bubot Na Bayabas. Despite the years, Ronald has retained his matinee-idol looks, the few added pounds notwithstanding. Ronald would love to resume acting again even if only on a part-time basis.

Lirio Vital (left) with Brenda del Rio at the birthday dinner of Bulletin’s Cris Belen, Monday night at Midas Hotel

• Also in town for vacation is Lirio Vital whom I met at Cris Belen’s birthday dinner in Midas Hotel Monday night. Lirio said that she and her family live in Texas with their two sons, Roland, 21, and Christopher, 18, a musician. Lirio’s husband, Robert Arredondo, is retired but continues to work with the US Navy. “We met in Japan when I performed there,” said Lirio. “We’ve been moving, starting from the Yokosuka Naval Station where we met, then to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and to San Diego. Robert retired at Yokosuka.” Lirio is performing with the Aawitan Kita group of Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion-Reyna tomorrow, Oct. 28, at the University of Makati for the senior citizens, a project put up by then Makati Mayor (and now Vice Pres.) Jojo Binay. The Aawitan Kita team will then perform on Nov. 3 to 10 in Australia, and from Nov. 22 to Dec. 22 in Middle East countries.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfareor follow me on http://www.twitter/therealrickylo.)