Story behind break-up

Now I know why two couples broke up. The real story came from somebody privy to the couples’ affairs, who requested that the stars involved be hidden behind the names of countries “because they love to travel.” Okay, shoot!

Pennsylvania Yugoslavia was so conceited that, feeling as if he’s God’s gift to womankind, he treated his girlfriend Arizona Lithuania as if she was his factotum, making her carry their luggage when they traveled and, what’s worse, letting her foot the bills all the time. Arizona Lithuania had a rude awakening when they were in Japan, pitying herself for letting Pennsylvania Yugoslavia treat her like his maid. So she split from him.

“He was high maintenance,” said Jamaica Russia (a celeb in her own right) who gave up on the guy after spending more than P5M on him, which she has been vainly trying to collect as his “debt.”

Meanwhile, Laos Malaysia broke up with Japan Mauritius because, while he was abroad, he learned that she went out with ex-boyfriend Damascus Thailand. Very disappointed, Laos Malaysia changed his mind about buying Japan Mauritius an expensive engagement ring and promptly cut ties with her.

Now that Laos Malaysia and Arizona Lithuania have resumed their rudely-interrupted romance, will they really end up tying the knot?  

Check out the map for answers.

Sarah and Annette: Peace! What’s in a kiss and a hug?

If it’s between ladies who have swapped charges in court, it means so much — Peace!

As Funfare noted the other day, a mediation was arranged for Sarah Lahbati and GMA Films head Anna Teresa “Annette” Gozon-Abrogar and the result was positive. They agreed to drop the cases they  filed against each other. Yesterday, Sarah and Annette met again, first at a Quezon City restaurant before they proceeded to the GMA office for further discussion.

The big question: Will Sarah and GMA resume their business relationship?

Days earlier, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the libel and unjust vexation cases filed by Sarah against Annette due to lack of probable cause. Actually, all four cases filed by Sarah have been dismissed for lack of merit.

The complaints stemmed from Sarah’s allegations that Annette made malicious statements against her which aired on GMA 7’s 24 Oras on July 19, 2013, and on GMA 7’s showbiz-oriented talk show Startalk on July 20, 2013.

In her Feb. 12, 2014 resolution, Assistant City Prosecutor Nicazio Rosales found that said statements were mere reactions to the acts made by Sarah after she had filed the criminal complaints against Annette.

“The complainant should not be onion skinned when she heard or read a reaction or comment to what she did,” stated part of Rosales’ resolution.  

A taste of OPM takes Center Stage in NYC

While the Filipino food pancit, lumpia and balut are slowly breaking into mainstream America, Original Pilipino Music (OPM) may not be too far behind.

“Food and music go well together anyway,” reported Funfare NYC contributor Oliver Oliveros, “which was the inspiration for Synergy Productions and Marketing, Inc. to stage the concert An Evening of Original Philippine Music with Cecile Azarcon and Sounds of Manila at Peter Norton Symphony Space (2537 Broadway and 95th Street) on Sunday, April 27, at 7 p.m.”

“The concert will be a musical tribute to celebrate Cecile’s timeless pop songs (Even If, I Think I’m In Love and How Did You Know, among them) that have been pervading the airwaves over the last 35 years — whether it be in their original form and arrangement, or contemporary rendition — in the Philippines or in many Filipino American communities across the United States,” Oliver quoted Grace Labaguis, Synergy Productions’ marketing director, as saying. 

Members of Sounds of Manila are emerging young vocalists Tiffany Viray (Stars of Tomorrow at the Apollo Theater), Jared Martin (The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York Awards at Carnegie Hall), Arnel Arcedo (finalist, Broadway’s Rock of Ages at Superbowl Boulevard) and Tony Gado (FDR Band); and guest guitarist Carlo Tampac of Chapter 2 band. Sounds of Manila will also launch in the concert one of Cecile’s three new songs included in the band’s debut album, which features 10 songs written and produced by Cecile, and arranged and co-produced by Ilustre, available in April.

For tickets ($60-VIP, $45-Orchestra, and $35-Balcony), visit www.symphonyspace.org/event/8306/Music/an-evening-of-philippine-music or call Symphony Space box office at 212-864-5400 from Tuesday to Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

No, it’s not Billy!

Arnold Vegafria’s ALV Talent Center alerted Funfare to a poser on Twitter claiming to be Billy Crawford (photo, an ALV talent), and he even posted a plug about Close-Up, a direct competitor of Colgate which Billy is still currently endorsing.

Apparently, the people from the said brand weren’t pleased with such antics.

ALV wants to set the record straight that Billy doesn’t have an official Twitter account.

Here’s ALV’s statement:

On behalf of our talent, Billy Crawford, we would like to point out that only his Instagram account is legitimate. Any other social media accounts bearing his name are unauthorized. As such, any statements or claims expressed therein do not reflect the views and opinions of the artist.

(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.)