•Krista Kleiner resurfaces •Monique Tuzon will lose ‘it’ •Klaudia Koronel’s ‘nightmare’

Curtain-raisers:

• The following items are contributed by an avid Funfare reader who is an old-timer showbiz insider and he called them “blasts from the past” with corresponding titles:

• I Can’t Feel It — A respected/respectable theater-movie actress was complaining because she said she couldn’t feel the lines she was studying from the script. Time was running out and so was the patience of the theater-movie actor in the scene. Without much ado, he approached the “unfeeling” actress, took her hand and pressed it upon his crotch, saying, “Now, can you feel it?” Okay…Lights! Camera!! Action!!!

• Interrupted Hollywood Scene — During his visit here years ago, a Hollywood actor noted for his macho roles got a surprise knock on his hotel door. The unexpected guest was a ravishing Filipino actress ready, willing and able to give him a taste of Filipino “hospitality.” Very politely, he told her, “You are so gorgeous but so sorry, my wife is with me.” Cut!!!

• The “Missing” Bride — It was a scene straight out of a Sampaguita tearjerker. Checking his watch every once too often, the groom was getting impatient and nervous while guests at the church wedding were wondering where the bride was. Was the bridal car involved in an accident? Was the bride kidnapped? What was happening? It turned out that the bride had a last-minute change of mind and backed out. Several weeks later when she appeared in a movie, her name was billed with a “Miss.” Pack up!!!

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After she got married and eventually separated from her businessman-husband, nothing was heard from Krista Kleiner (who represented the country in a Miss International pageant). That is, until last week when she wrote Funfare a letter.          

Dear Ricky,

How have you been? I hope all has been well! It’s been forever!

Things are starting to pick up with my career and I wanted to give you an exciting update about part of it.

I was recently asked to join a music project (a single titled Release It) produced by two Radio Monaco DJs and it has reached and stayed #1 on the dance charts in France beating out the likes of David Guetta, Skrillex, etc. The first single recently hit #2 on the radio charts of Brazil and it is now being played at top venues in Las Vegas, Dubai, Poland and the #1 resort in the French Riviera. Check the songs on Spotify and iTunes. We are in conversations with Timberland and Live Nation about the project and things are getting to be very exciting!

I just wanted to let you know that I will never forget you or stop being thankful for how supportive you were of me while I was out there in the Philippines and as I branched out touring with Julio Iglesias, working in other parts of Asia and working with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas. I am extremely thankful to you and you are part of my inspiration to continue to do well to bring back more positive praise to the Filipino people and community.

I hope you are doing well enjoying this chapter of your life and that you are both happy and healthy. Do you have any plans to come visit LA soon? I would love to see you and catch up in person. There’s a small chance I’ll be coming to the Philippines in October with Paula Abdul when she goes there for her concert. I’ll keep you posted if I do.

Lots of love,

Krista

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Monique Cuyugan Tuzon: 10 less pounds and she’s ready for the 2018 Miss World Philippines pageant on October 7

Ten more pounds and Monique Cuyugan Tuzon will be down to her target 120 pounds (for her 5’6” frame) and ready to compete with 39 other “worldly” beauties in the 2018 Miss World Philippines pageant on Oct. 7.

“I’ve been working out and observing a strict diet and I’m losing the excess poundage fast,” said Monique, a granddaughter of Fides Cuyugan Asensio, born to both Filipino parents in the USA where she graduated with a degree in B.A. Communications-Mass Media (minor in Film Studies) at the University of North Carolina where she once reigned as Miss Asia Carolina. “I came to the Philippines when I was a baby and went back to the US until I was 11.”

Back in the Philippines, Monique has been working as producer/reporter for Solar Entertainment Corporation.

Asked about her advocacy, Monique said, “I support same-sex union and I am a proponent for equal rights.”

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Klaudia Koronel: Recovering from a marriage gone bad

When Klaudia Koronel, the sexy star best remembered for her role in the controversial Live Show movie that caused a revamp in the MTRCB years ago, married a Chinese businessman in the early 2000s and settled down in Arizona, USA, she thought that her American Dream was within reach. It turned out to be her American Nightmare.

“It was a bad marriage,” admitted Klaudia who came home to sell a conjugal condo unit at the BGC (Bonifacio Global City), one of the very few properties she got as part of a divorce settlement. “From the start, even before our wedding when he asked me to sign a pre-nup, I became paranoid. I didn’t want to sign. Still, I married him and I became so depressed that, I must confess, I tried to commit suicide twice.”

Klaudia and her ex-husband went steady for five years before they got married. They first lived in Arizona, until Klaudia retreated to Hawaii when they broke up, but was convinced by her husband to return home. “He was OC (Obsessive-Compulsive) and every time we had an argument over little things, he would threaten to divorce me.”

The couple is childless. Klaudia is going back to L.A. (where she now lives and works as a nursing aide) first week of October.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)