Lucky to be Donita

Is it true that the officers and members of FAMAS, the oldest award-giving body in the country is up in arms against Parsley and Thyme, the company with whom FAMAS sold the TV rights of their recent awards night?

According to sources, FAMAS is mad at Parsley and Thyme because it allegedly failed to pay them the full amount of royalty for the TV rights of the awards night. This is the first time that Parsley and Thyme handled the TV rights of FAMAS. The people of FAMAS, headed by its president Art Padua, are fuming mad at Parsley and Thyme because of their alleged failure to pay for the royalty of the TV rights.

Comprising the group behind Parsley and Thyme are Atty. Gonzalo Espe (president), Ace Cruz (vice-president for Production), Rommer Chu (marketing manager), Robert Alegre (Traffic and Media Value) and Randy Vasquez (Creative).

The FAMAS people had been repeatedly trying to contact the people behind Parsley and Thyme but nobody reportedly answers the phone in the office. No one knows of their whereabouts. There were also rumors that whenever one calls the office of Parsley and Thyme, the one who supposedly answers allegedly tells the caller that Parsley and Thyme no longer holds office there.

Famas is reportedly planning to sue Parsley and Thyme because it failed to deliver on what they have promised to do. We even heard unconfirmed reports that the checks issued by Parsley and Thyme to the suppliers of lights and sound, generator, set design, reportedly bounced.

We also learned that Parsley and Thyme paid only the amount of P60,000 as downpayment to PICC for its use as venue for the awards night. The full amount of rental is P1.2 million and the awards night would have been cancelled if the full payment for the rental is not raised. Still it was not Parsley and Thyme who paid for the venue so that the awards night won't be cancelled.

The day before the awards night, the people setting up the stage were not allowed to enter the PICC due to the unpaid rental. Naturally, the people in-charge of putting up the stage were surprised to learn of the problem. It was only after payment was raised that they were able to set up.

Still according to our source, Atty. Gonzale Espe is reportedly doing everything he can to raise money so they could settle all of their obligations both to FAMAS and the people who worked in the production. But as we write this, our source is also unsure of the whereabouts of Atty. Espe.

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KC Concepcion is organizing a big artist's garage sales. The event will be held today at the NBC Tent at the Fort, from 10am till 10pm. Some of the items on sale would be used clothes, toys and other various items coming mostly from Megastar Sharon Cuneta and her husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, plus friends of KC. Some of the proceeds will be donated to charity as per the decision of the participants in the garage sale.

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Donita Rose is one very lucky lady. Her Modess commercials are now airing in Thailand and China. She just shot a new Dimetapp commercial here in Manila with her son JP. MTV gave Donita a tribute and has invited her to do special episodes of Pop, Inc. in Singapore to be aired all over Asia. She started taping for MTV today.

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Balladeer Nonoy Zuniga is holding a two-night concert at the Music Museum today and tomorrow titled "The Love Concert." Making up his repertoire are the songs included in his new Viva Records album titled "The Love Album" which was proclaimed gold last June 5.

Viva Records didn't expect that the response to Nonoy's album would be overwhelming but it was a pleasant surprise both for the singer and record producer. Among the songs included in the album are "Moon River," "What Matters Most," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Someone Who Cares." He also has a duet with Regine Velasquez, the classic favorite "When I Fall In Love."

But he will not only sing ballads but fast numbers as well like "Footloose." Of course, he will be singing his signature hits like "Never Ever Say Goodbye," "Kumusta Ka," "Doon Lang," "Love Without Time," "Fragments of Forever," "Init sa Magdamag" and many more.