Rachel puts having baby on hold

As Rachel Alejandro told Funfare Update during an exclusive interview in Bangkok a few weeks after they got married last April, she and her husband, Spanish journalist Carlos Santamaria, intended to enjoy their life together first before they would buckle down to having a baby.

Carlos was then based in Bangkok. He flew in to watch Rachel perform in the musical Aida and then they flew together to New York which has been their home since then.

“No,” said Rachel in a message to Funfare Update, “Carlos and I still have no plans to have children at this time. I’m not sure when we will have one. We are enjoying ourselves to the hilt, just the two of us.”

Now used to being called Mrs. Carlos Santamaria, Rachel has beautifully adjusted to life at the Big Apple. She once lived with her family (dad Hajji Alejandro, late stepmom Rio Diaz and Rachel’s siblings) in the US. “So it was easy for me,” added Rachel. “I’m learning how to cook. Luckily, Carlos enjoys my cooking naman.  Married life is more of a lesson on being independent. Carlos is at work all day and I am often by myself learning and trying new things, like cooking.”

Rachel will be back next week for a month-long vacation (until Dec. 19), fresh from a stint at the Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, where the Global Pinoy Singing Idol European Finals was held last Oct. 30.

In an SRO banquet hall, Rachel performed her greatest hit songs and rendered duets with Martin Nievera after the competition proper, which served as a concert of sorts for the two artists, with DZMM comic anchor Ahwel Paz as host. More than a thousand showed up.

Said somebody who was there, “With her electrifying moves, Rachel charmed the crowd and brought the house down with the crowd ending up grooving on the dance floor.”

Though she’ll be in town primarily to visit her family, Rachel will make time to launch the newest and most exciting products and services of The Sexy Chef where she is VP for Marketing. 

Firstly, The Sexy Chef has very affordable party and corporate event catering packages that can be designed to anyone’s preferred taste and budget — just perfect for the many parties this Christmas season.

Secondly, the company is introducing Dine Lite meals. These are delicious, calorie-controlled meals for those who don’t have the time to prepare lunch and dinner meals that are nutritious, light and, best of all, very affordable.

Unlike frozen meals, Dine Lite items are delivered fresh to homes or offices, ensuring that all the natural goodness and flavors of the food are intact.

(With “Eat Healthy, Eat Right with Dine Lite 300 Calorie Meals,” customers do away with the guesswork in watching their caloric intake for just P180 per meal. For more info, visit www.thesexychef.ph or call 7217399 or 09177992433.)

Mutya highlights Palawan’s Underground River

In its thrust to promote tourism, the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization is highlighting the Underground River/Subterranean National Park in Palawan in its search this year, with the coronation night set for Dec. 2 at the San Juan Arena in San Juan City.

The Underground River has recently been voted one of The New Seven Wonders of the World. Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn is thanking our kababayan for making it possible.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas, Inc. has signed up Informatics as official tabulator in this year’s contest with Leo Riingen (left, president of Informatics) and Ranie Hofilena (MPI director representing chairman Joseph Tan). Present at the contract-signing were Mayenne Vijandre (of MPI), Imee Navarro (of Informatics) and 2006 Mutya Tourism April Love Jordan.

This month, the Mutya group will open a new “satellite” office in Puerto Princesa and at the Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa.

Puerto Princesa will host the Mutya search’s special event graced by delegates from the Overseas Filipino Communities from the USA, Canada, Scandinavia and Europe, and different regions of the Philippines.

One of the overseas bets is Cathrin Kloters, a prima ballerina who performs in German theater. She studied in Music and Art, and was one of the finalists in the Miss Supermodel contest in Europe.      

top to bottom, are three of the contestants representing over Filipino communities: Maria Bergensen (Norway), Cathrin Kloters (Germany) and Bea Santiago (Canada).

Maria Bergersen, 23, will represent the Filipino community of Norway. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business & Hospitality Management from the UK and works as an Operations Management & Event organizer.

Representing Canada is 5’8” tall Bea Rose Santiago, 21, who, when she was 16, signed a three-year contract with Ford Models. Currently, she’s under contract with Elite models.

The Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa will be the delegates’ official resort hotel in Puerto Princesa. The brand-new resort is located in the Midwest coast of Palawan, 80 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa.

UST expresses regrets over Anne Curtis issue

Here’s the “official statement” on the Anne Curtis incident in UST, sent to Funfare Update by associate professor Giovanni Villarama Fontanilla, director of the UST Office of Public Affairs:

The University of Santo Tomas, together with all its students, deeply appreciate the enthusiastic participation of the television networks during the 8th USTv Students’ Choice Awards Kick Off Party held last Nov. 10 at the Plaza Mayor of the university. We especially thank the celebrities from different television networks who generously took time out of their hectic schedules to join the Kick Off Party.

The event featured a program with a pre-determined sequence aimed at giving all the celebrities in attendance ample time to meet or to perform before a Thomasian audience. Since the TV networks normally cannot declare the exact number of talents who would be able to come, last-minute adjustments were inevitable, subject, however, to mutual agreement of the concerned parties.

We regret any misunderstanding or confusion that may have occurred unintentionally and caused inconvenience to some. We pray and hope that all parties can move on and continue with out common commitment of promoting positive values in the mass media. After all, it is for this that the USTv Students’ Choice Awards came into being.   - Office Of The Secretary General University of Santo Tomas

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