Finally, a college degree for sexy star Joyce Jimenez

The rumor about Ai Ai de las Alas moving to Channel 7 was true after all. But the comedy concert queen is no longer switching from being a Kapamilya into a Kapuso because ABS-CBN offered her two new shows. She's doing a sitcom and a soap opera after "Bituing Walang Ningning" bows out of the tube in September. The series winds up taping for the full season this month.

When ABS-CBN got wind that GMA 7 is interested to get Ai Ai, the Kapamilya network offered a new deal for Ai Ai. This was after the comedy concert queen's camp had talks with the Kapuso channel.

Aside from doing two new shows for Channel 2, the comedienne is excited with two movies lined up for her. She's doing "Cute ang Ina Mo" for Viva Films. And after a long wait, she finally gets the chance to do a film with megastar Sharon Cuneta under Imus Productions.

The Viva Films project will feature Ai Ai with Anne Curtis, Zanjoe Marudo and Luis Manzano to be directed by Wenn Deramas. She doesn't have details yet as to what kind of project she will do with Sharon but she's very excited just thinking about it, adding it's a dream come true for her.

The prospect of doing two new movies adds excitement to Ai Ai's world even as she still feels sad over the unfortunate ending of her love affair with ex-boyfriend Jun Hinahon. She's busy taking the lead preparing for the third year anniversary of Klownz Araneta, the comedy bar that she co-owns with Allan K, Lito Alejandria and Andrew de Real. She's the one following up artists whom they would want to feature in the various nightly shows to mark the venue's month-long anniversary offerings.

To mark Klownz Araneta's third anniversary, Ai Ai is doing a show with Lito Camo on Friday, July 14 and on July 28. Allan K did a show last July 7 and he will do another one on July 29. Lovebirds Erik Santos and Rufa Mae Quinto are doing a show on the same venue on July 21.

Klownz Araneta hopes to get Sam Milby and Dennis Trillo to the featured artists in their month-long anniversary celebration.

But here's the sad part. If plans don't miscarry, the people in Cubao, Quezon would only have until November to enjoy the funny and entertaining shows that Klownz Araneta has to offer. Ai Ai and her partners are planning to relocate to Mall of Asia. She says they are having a hard time paying the P400,000 monthly rental, aside from the 10 percent that Araneta Center gets from their sales of food and beverages.

According to her, the last time they received a share from the earnings of Klownz Araneta was six months. "We are not earning anymore. Everything goes to operating expenses, most especially the rent. That's why we agreed not to renew our contract anymore and look for another location," she says.

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After scoring another triumph for the country when it emerged the grand prizewinner in the recent Florilege Vocal de Tours 2006, The Philippine Madrigal Singers is back. They held a homecoming concert entitled "Chansons Du Champion" yesterday at that Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

The group was awarded first prizes in the Mixed Vocal Ensemble Category and in the Free Program Category. It was also the recipient of the Prix Renaissance (separate category for a purely Renaissance program). The group bested 14 other choirs from around the world, earning them the Grand Prix de la Ville de Tours, an award given to the choir having the most satisfactory overall performance during the entire competition and that gives them the right to compete in the 2007 European Grand Prix in Choral Singing.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers have just released their fifth album, "Acclamation," under Sony BMG, affirming their status once more as icons of Filipino choral music in more ways than one. As the group's first-ever conceptual inspirational album, Acclamation contains 14 songs mostly arranged by members and alumni of Madz themselves, most notably by resident arranger and assistant choirmaster Christopher Borela, laying wisdom to the term "strength in numbers."

The album contains cuts like "I Will Sing Forever," "You Raise Me Up," "Lupa" and "Light of A Million Mornings" done a capella save for some spare yet poignant accompaniment on some songs, that would suit every type of listener.

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The original Pantasya ng Bayan, Joyce Jimenez is graduating from the Griffith University of Gold Coast, Australia on August 5 with a degree in Business Management (Major in Marketing).

The sexy star took time off from her showbiz work to pursue her studies as she really wanted to finish college. She's very happy to have accomplished her task and is looking forward to attending her graduation day to be witnessed by her parents who will be flying to Australia from the US to share her joy in this special occasion.

Now that she has finished college, Joyce can go back to her showbiz career and start anew from where she left off. She will also be resuming her job as manager of Private Joyce, the line of intimate apparel, which she put up with her manager Shirley Kuan. "She will be able to put to good use the things she learned in school, especially in marketing Private Joyce," says Shirley who's also very proud that Joyce has finally gotten a degree.

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The first shooting day of "Till I Met You," the reunion movie of Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla will be on July 18, amidst the cool winds of Tagaytay. The movie marks the second team up of Robin and Regine who were paired for the first time in the hit movie "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" under Viva Films.

"Till I Met You," to be directed by Mark Reyes, also stars Marky Cielo and Jackie Rice, the top winners of Starstruck 3 of GMA 7.

Incidentally, we would like to congratulate Robin for bagging an Urian nomination as Best Actor for the movie "La Visa Loca" which has Sharon Cuneta as one of the executive producers. We hope that he wins come the awards night on August 3. We've always believed that Robin is a good actor and it's just a matter of getting him the right project to show his mettle as an actor. Good luck, Robin and here's hoping you finally bag that elusive best actor award.