What!?! No Regal 2013 MMFF entry?

Curtain-raisers:

Guess who’s one of Ryzza Mae Dizon’s celebrity fan — would you believe, it’s none other than Kapamilya TV host/reporter Ginger Conejero who is thrilled (to the bone?) every time she catches the so-called Aling Maliit’s eponymous pre-programming show for Eat, Bulaga! According to Ginger, she’s “so inggit” with a Kapamilya colleague who has a photo with Ryzza. I think Ginger is welcome to visit Bulaga! anytime she’s free to have a photo-op with Ryzza.

Drama actor GM has a good reason to celebrate. His stormy marriage to a non-showbiz girl (with whom he has tween kids) has just been annulled. “I’m free again!” said GM who was once romantically linked to the actress-councilor ex-wife of an actor-(ex-)mayor.

An interesting text message from Shirley Kuan who has just come back from an extended vacation in L.A., a quotation she got from Ernest Hemingway: Before you talk, listen; before you react, think; before you spend, earn; before you quit, try; before you pray, forgive; before you meet The Lord, prepare your heart.

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The eight (out of 15 submitted scripts) official entries to the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) were revealed the other day by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman lawyer Francis Tolentino (also the MMFF head).

They are (at random):

Sampung Libong Oras (of Philippine Film Studio) with Robin Padilla, directed by Joyce Bernal;

San Pedro Calungsod (Hubo Production) with JM de Guzman, by Francis Villacorta;

Boy, Girl, Bakla, Tomboy (Viva Films/Star Cinema) with Vice Ganda and Maricel Soriano, by Wenn Deramas;

Be Careful with My Heart (ABS-CBN Film productions) with Richard Yap and Jodi Sta. Maria, by Jeffrey Jeturian;

Pagpag (ABS-CBN Productions, Skylight Films and Regal Entertainment) with Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, by Frasco Mortiz;

Kimmy Dora (Prequel) of Spring Films, with Eugene Domingo and Piolo Piolo Pascual, by Chris Martinez;

My Super Kap (Imus Productions) with Bong Revilla and Ogie Alcasid, by Dondon Santos; and

Torky and My Little Bossing (OctoArts Films, M-Zet TV Productions, APT Entertainment and Kris Aquino Productions) with Vic Sotto and Kris Aquino, by Joyce Bernal.

Like most everybody, I’m sure your initial, incredulous reaction is, “What? No Regal entry?”

For the first time in the MMFF history, a Regal entry (except a “co-prod”) is missing.

Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde is, to put it mildly, “saddened” by this sudden turn of events.

“I wanted to enter a movie, something like Mano Po, starring Marian Rivera and Judy Ann Santos,” explained Mother Lily, “but Marian refused to do it even if she still has a binding contract with Regal. Juday’s manager Alfie (Lorenzo) was okay with the project, but Marian wanted a solo starrer, and there arose a problem. Hayun, hindi natuloy ang project.”

Mother Lily added that she’s “not angry” at Marian, but only “very disappointed.”

I wonder what Marian will say to that.

More juicy items about the Shamcey-Lloyd ting hun

Here are additional items from “beauty specialist” Gerry Diaz (also a BDO executive) to Funfare’s scoop last Monday on the ting hun (the Chinese version of the Filipino tradition of pamanhikan) of 2011 Miss Philippines-Universe Shamcey Supsup and Lloyd Peter Lee last Sunday, June 16 (the sweethearts’ second anniversary as steadies), at the EDSA Shangri-La:

It was Lloyd’s cousin Carolyn Ty who acted as matchmaker for Shamcey and Lloyd; Carolyn was Shamcey’s fellow candidate in the 2011 Bb. Pilipinas pageant;

The engagement party (ting hun; while the wedding is called kiat hun) was the most beauties-studded party ever; and

Also present were the “Aces of Aces & Queens” team (a.k.a. “beauty-queen makers”) responsible for training and producing the most number of Bb. Pilipinas winners, among them Shamcey, 2010 Miss Philippines-Universe Venus Raj, 2012 Miss Philippines-Universe Janine Tugonon and reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Ariella Arida.

Shamcey and Lloyd’s wedding is set for Dec. 29 this year.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected].)