Camille is Willie's new co-host

When Camille Villar guested on Wil Time Bigtime recently to accompany her father, Sen. Manny Villar, host Willie Revillame hinted that he would get Camille to be his co-host.

Sen. Villar was there as chairman of the Villar Foundation to award the key to a house and lot in Camella Homes to Adela Fancubit of Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, who was one of the three grand-prize winners at a raffle held during the show’s first-anniversary show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum a few weeks ago.

It’s not a joke, after all.

Willie confirmed to Funfare Update that starting on Wednesday, Nov. 23, Camille will co-host the show for one week with Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad because resident host Mariel Rodriguez is going abroad with Robin Padilla who is celebrating his birthday.

But whether or not Camille (who is as sweet and as wholesome as Shalani) will be a mainstay remains to be seen.

“She’s welcome anytime,” said Willie.

Warm welcome for Dianne

At the welcome presscon: Dianne Necio with Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta (left) and (above, from left) 2008 Bb. Pilipinas-International Patricia Fernandez, 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World Czarina Gatbonton and 2011 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up Janine Mari Tugonon.

Although she made it only to the (15) semi-finals in the recent Miss International contest won by Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Cornejo, Dianne Necio was given a warm welcome by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) led by chairman Stella Marquez-Araneta last Thursday upon Dianne’s arrival from China where the contest was held.

Dianne topped the online voting with 350,000 votes.

“She brought the country honor by landing in the semi-finals and being the most popular girl in the pageant,” said Madame Stella.

Dianne and the other semi-finalists stayed for a few days in China to accompany the new Miss International on a tour of the country.

    — Reported by Funfare’s ‘other beauty expert’ CELSO DE GUZMAN CAPARAS

Setting good example for US-based Pinoys

I have to put in a good word about L.A.-based Filipino immigration lawyer Jemela Nettles and Tim Evans who is with the US Immigration. Both are celebrating their birthdays — Jemela first week of December yet but was given a surprise party by friends last weekend and Tim today (Nov. 19).

Jemela is very approachable, with a special consideration for kababayan who has immigration concerns. She has helped several artists secure “extra-ordinary ability” visa, among them April Boy Regino and his family, Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Abanzado, Mon David and his family, Miguel Vera and his family, Jolina Magdangal, Marco Sison and his family, and many others. With Jemela’s help, Nonoy Zuñiga (and his family) has just recently been granted the same kind of visa.

(Note: Jemela may be reached at telephones [213]234-9591 and [213]2349589 or at e-mail [email protected].)

On the other hand, Tim welcomes Pinoys (and other nationals besides) with a big, friendly smile at the Los Angeles airport where he processes passports and other related documents. That should be the attitude of his colleagues (especially Pinoys also working at LAX) so as to make especially their jetlagged travelers feel right at home upon arrival.

Immigration lawyer Jemela Nettles and Tim Evans (of the US Immigration) beside a statuette of a mermaid at a restaurant in La Jolla, California, where Niño Jefferson Lim and wife Krista Ranillo presented Tim with a birthday cake (far right).

Happy birthday to you, Jemela and Tim. May you have many more to come!

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