Mark Bautista: Enjoying the fruits of his labor

Mark Bautista has gone a long way since he joined and ultimately, won as first runner-up in the "Star for A Night" singing competition three years ago. Aside from having gone to different parts of the globe to perform in concerts, Mark has invested his earnings wisely. He has built a house for his family, has bought a car for himself and has even put up a small restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City for his mom. The restaurant is named Baste, after the character he played in the television series he did with Sarah Geronimo.

Mark was not in the country when Rachelle Ann Go made the revelation in "The Buzz" that she junked Mark in favor of Christian Bautista. The singer was in Canada at that time doing a concert with Sarah, thus, failing to watch Rachelle Ann's confession. But he received a lot of text messages updating him of what had happened.

"It's just fine with me. I am not the type who'd push my luck too far," revealed Mark who also admitted of having courted Rachelle when she was still a contestant in "Search for A Star." Because of what happened, Mark and Rachelle tended to be conscious of each other's presence whenever they meet in "ASAP" every Sunday. There was even this rumor that they hardly talk to each other, which Mark promptly denied. But he did admit that they do feel awkward at times.

So even if Mark wants to have a girlfriend, he says he'll probably court a non-showbiz girl. At least, they would be less prone to intrigues.

"Dating a showbiz girl means getting needless attention since we are both celebrities. So I believe it would be best to court a non-celebrity," says Mark whose song "I Need You" won the Favorite Remake Award in the 1st MYX Music Awards.

Mark will be in Cebu this Saturday as part of the tour of his Pop Heartthrob concert. He's set to bring the same concert in a 10-leg series in August. He's also going to Saipan for a show in September. Plus, there's a plan to stage a homecoming concert for him in his hometown in Cagayan de Oro.

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We dropped by the taping of the ABS-CBN sineserye "Bituing Walang Ningning" last Tuesday to visit Ms. Ai Ai de las Alas. We were warmly welcomed by the comedy concert queen who rather looked blooming and did not seem sad even after crying her heart out on "The Buzz" last Sunday when she revealed she had already broken up with boyfriend, Jun Hinahon, whom she initially planned to marry this September.

But there's a reason for that certain spark in her eyes. And you guess it right: a new man in her life. Earlier that day, Ai Ai received word from the Backroom office (Boy Abunda's talent management company who handles her career) that a bouquet of flowers from a stranger has arrived for her. The card that came with the flower said: "I don't want to see you crying on national TV."

Naturally, Ai Ai was shocked. Who was this complete stranger who sent her the flowers and the touching message? Obviously, the guy saw Ai Ai shed tears on "The Buzz." The flowers and the card came from a certain Gilbert Espiritu, an executive from Caltex Philippines and who works in Makati. Ai Ai had the guy's identity checked so she would know he's not a fictitious person.

At the time we were talking with Ai Ai, she hasn't seen the flowers sent to her yet, but she was excited. She had barely recovered from a breakup-and here comes someone out of nowhere offering words of comfort. This definitely cheered her up. The guy says he had been following Ai Ai's career, as well as her lovelife. For one, he knew of the comedienne's affair with Miguel Vera. And since the guy addressed her as Aileen (her real name), it made her even more curious, prompting her to call him.

"Na-excite ako kasi meron palang ganoon. I just broke up with my boyfriend (only Thursday of last week). Then here comes this guy who had been watching me from afar. He knew everything about me. I called him because I wanted to find out if I knew him because only my classmates in college call me Aileen," she said.

So when she finally got to talk to the guy, Ai Ai realized he is indeed someone she didn't know. But the guy seems to know everything about her. "He said he had been following my career and my lovelife; and that each time he sees me crying on TV, his heart gets broken. When he saw me again on TV last Sunday, he said it's about time for me to be happy," Ai Ai recalled her conversation with the guy from Caltex Philippines.

In turn, Ai Ai jokingly asked the guy, would he agree to sign a pre-nuptial agreement? And to think it was their first time to talk on the phone and she doesn't have an idea how the guy looks like. "But he's already 33," Ai Ai volunteers the information.

"Oo naman. Walang problema," was the guy's answer. And he laughed after answering. How playful Ai Ai could be. Imagine asking a guy she's never met to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. Ai Ai says she and Gilbert will meet this Friday but she declined to say where.

As for her ex-boyfriend, Jun Hinahon, the comedienne says it was just right that they went their separate ways. "We are not meant for each other," she said. What was odd was that the guy didn't even ask Ai Ai why she's ending the relationship. Neither did he make an effort to save the relationship. What a lame reaction to such a sensitive matter.

It's a good thing the planned wedding didn't push through and that Ai Ai's pregnancy was simply a false alarm. Otherwise, the comedy concert queen would be facing a big problem.

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We had a chance encounter with Mommy Alice Peralejo, the mother of sexy star Rica Peralejo, who promptly denied rumors that Rica caused problems when she, Piolo Pascual and Pokwang had shows in Amsterdam and Barcelona recently.

"She didn't cause problems to anyone," insisted Mommy Alice, who came to Rica's defense after Daisy Romualdez (the mother of Tina Paner who produced the Barcelona show of Rica, Piolo and Pokwang) lambasted Rica in the radio program of Cristy Fermin. But Mommy Alice refused to comment on Daisy's words, opting to remain silent.

"According to what Rica told me, the autograph signing session that was supposed to follow after the show in Barcelona, had to be cancelled because the crowd started to become unruly and the producers feared a stampede might occur. Rather than take the risk, the road manager of Rica decided to cancel the autograph signing session," said Mommy Alice.

Mommy Alice even disclosed that Rica lost two luggages containing all her clothes and expensive jewelry at the Norway airport. Rica had to buy new clothes and endure the pain of losing her jewelry. But the show must go on and Rica had to do her part.

Rica will arrive July 2 from her trip. She will be doing a movie titled "Karma" for Canary Films (an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival) and an album on bellydancing to be launched after she arrives from Europe.

We asked Mommy Alice if it's true that Piolo is courting Rica. "Yes, it's true," she said.