Susan's new 'title': Dragon Fruit Queen

This piece of feel-good news was sent to Funfare by Susanian Bing Manalo (who’s connected with GMA 7) who said that he got it from the Internet:

Did you know that besides Queen of Philippine Movies, Susan Roces has a new “regal” title — Dragon Fruit Queen?

Years ago, Susan recalled that her friend gave her a plant said to have been taken from the farm of iconic agriculture writer Zac B. Sarian in Teresa, Rizal. Years later, Susan sent Zac a gift — a Dragon Fruit that grew from that seed.

In her letter to Zac, Susan wrote:

I planted it in a pot and took good care of it yet the growth was so slow. It bloomed and gave me one fruit…In your Agriculture Magazine, I saw pictures with an article on how the (Dragon Fruit) seeds were grown in Ilocos Region, in sunny areas in plots propped up by poles.

To blend with the rest of the plants in my garden, I had two plant boxes made with an entry way in the center, installed wire mesh across and filled the boxes with garden soil and dried chicken dung. I bought a few more Dragon Fruit plants and added them to what I originally had.

With so much care, they grew fast and lush, and in a few months I had lovely white blooms which later developed into fruits.

The red fruits looked so beautiful on the vine that I enjoyed looking at them first before harvesting them.

Thank you, Mr. Sarian, for propagating and making us aware of plants and trees and how they can give us so much pleasure.

Bing said that Zac shared Susan’s “gift” with the editors and staff of Liwayway, Bannawag, Sisaya and Hiligaynon magazines.

Zsa Zsa Padilla and daughter Zia (right) with Dr. Vicki Belo during a fashion show in Pasadena, California

“They suggested that we call Susan the new Dragon Fruit Queen,” Zac was quoted as saying.

Zsa Zsa recovering fast

After only three days at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills where she underwent on Aug. 27 a five-hour laparoscopy on the golf ball-sized growth in her left kidney, revealed in a biopsy to be benign (and not Stage 1 cancer as earlier suspected to be), Zsa Zsa Padilla is up and about. With her are daughters Karylle and Zia.

Dr. Vicki Belo should be back now. She flew with Zsa Zsa and Zia to the States, came back to do surgery on some of her Belo Medical Clinic patients and rushed back to the States to comfort Zsa Zsa during the operation.

To update Funfare readers, Zsa Zsa texted me the following message yesterday afternoon:

We are back at the hotel (near Cedars-Sinai). My girls and I are about to have dinner, then we’re watching a movie. I have been encouraged to do some walking. Taking it easy lang. Will see my doctor tomorrow.” (That’s today, Manila Time.)

According to Funfare’s L.A. snoop, last Aug. 25, two days before the operation, Zsa Zsa and Vicki attended the IV White Party & Fashion Show in Pasadena, featuring the creations of Filipino designers Lou Razon, Renee Salud and Ken Barlis, and Chic Boutique, Gatinha Swimwear, GAP and Nosteelgia. Part of the proceeds from it went to Gawad Kalinga.

Zsa Zsa was said to be “a picture of strength, showed no strain or low of spirit,” which is how Zsa Zsa’s Australia-based daughter Nicole also pictures her mom to be, refuting bloggers who have been claiming otherwise.

If her doctor gives her the go-signal, Zsa Zsa should be home anytime soon.

What’s up?

•  In tonight’s edition of Bottomline (ABS-CBN, 11:30), host Boy Abunda will talk to Willie Rivera, the lawyer of Globe Asiatique boss Delfin Lee who is among the five “most wanted” at large. The lawyer will shed light on the P7-B Pag-ibig money said to have been “misused” by Lee’s company.

• Opening the September 2012 calendar of Concert at the Park tomorrow, Sept. 2, is the Kapisanang Ligaya Banda 31 of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. More shows: A Tribute to Andres Bonifacio, Sept. 9; 50 Years of Music-Making (with Ingrid Sala-Santamaria, 6 p.m. on Sept. 16; American Country Music (featuring visiting American band Act of Congress, 5 p.m. also on Sept. 16; Ibong Adarna (by the Gantimpala Theater Foundation), 7 p.m. also on Sept. 16; and Banda Balintawak with Sonny Yangco as conductor, Sept. 30.

A girl for Pia and Steve

As Funfare reported in a “breaking news” a few months ago, the first-born of Pia Guanio and husband Steve Mago is a girl, delivered by Caesarian section at 12:55 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, at an unnamed hospital. To be named Scarlet Jenine, the baby weighed 7.8 lbs. Mother and daughter are doing well (in fact, as you can see in these pictures, they are both smiling, along with Papa Steve). Pia is on maternity leave from her GMA shows 24 Oras and Eat, Bulaga!