Beauty guru gets into the spirit of competition

Beauty and wellness expert Ms. Cory Quirino revealed that she was offered to join the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant when she was about 17 or 18 years old. But her strict father didn’t allow her. Some representatives from the Bb. Pilipinas even came to her house to convince her dad, but they went home disappointed after failing to get his approval.

The lady gets the feel of a being in a competition as the beauty guru is one of the contestants on GMA 7’s “Celebrity Duets” and she’s enjoying herself immensely. “We (the contestants) have good bonding in the show even if we are all competitors,” she said over lunch last Tuesday at a Chinese Restaurant along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

It is interesting to note that Cory was given permission by ANC and DZMM to join the contest. She sought permission from her bosses if she could join the competition. Among the contestants, she’s the only one not from GMA 7. Most, if not all the contenders, have ties with GMA and QTV 11.

“I was happy when they called me up and asked me to join. And I was challenged. I asked permission from my bosses although I am not really a talent of ABS-CBN because we are blocktimers. But I am glad I was allowed to join,” said Cory who hosts “The Good Life” on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) and the TFC (The Filipino Channel) on Sundays, 10-11 a.m. and is a radio anchor for DZMM in “Ma Beauty Po Naman” aired on Sundays from 11-12 a.m.

Cory was quite candid that her decision to accept the invitation to join Celebrity Duets was because of the P1 million cash prize that she can give to her favorite charity that takes care of street children. “This is a huge amount of money that could help my cause, the 600 streetchildren of Tuloy Sa Don Bosco, which is run by Father Rocky Evangelista in Alabang,” she answered.

She admitted being surprised when she was asked to join “Celebrity Duets” even if she’s not a singer.

“At least, when I am already 75, 80 or 100, I will look back and say, I joined that (Celebrity Duets). Parang ayokong mag-regret na why I didn’t do these things when I was younger. Ang pagsali ko sa contest na ito is one of my anti-aging secrets,” said Cory who looks young even if she’s already a lola to an eight-year-old boy.

“I am forever young,” said the wellness and beauty guru when asked about her age. The beauty expert writes a wellness column for a leading broadsheet, has authored best-selling books, is a motivational speaker and wellness and beauty advocate promoting good health through mall events.

She has been offered several times to enter politics but she hasn’t said yes but hasn’t categorically declined the offer either. “I can be of help even if I don’t enter politics,” said Cory who popularized the use of Virgin Coconut Oil as a health and beauty oil through her business partner Sheila May Velilla, president of Nutramedica who created the CocoZen line of VCO products for the skin and hair especially chosen by Cory herself. The buzz is that soon, a new store concept will be born out of Cory’s natural regimens at a very affordable prize.

But for now, one of Cory’s concerns is for her to make it all the way to finals of “Celebrity Duets” so she’s appealing to the people for votes. Starting this Saturday, August 30, you can vote for your favorite celebrity contender. To vote, text DUETS <space> CORY and send to 367 Smart or 2344 Globe/Sun.

Actress Iza Calzado said she’s unaware as to when the movie “The Echo” would be shown here in the Philippines. “The Echo” is the Hollywood movie she made, which is actually a remake of “Sigaw,” a Yam Laranas film that was produced by Regal Entertainment and was a film festival entry.

Iza said she still has no idea when is the playdate of “The Echo,” where she stars alongside Hollywood hottie Jesse Bradford, although it has come to her knowledge that the film had been bought by Viva Films, which will release it here in Manila.

The actress, who marked her birthday last August 12, said she has talked with her GMA bosses with regards to her next project with GMA 7 but she still can’t disclose what her project is going to be. But she said that she will do a four-week episode for “Obra” and she’s definitely doing the movie “One True Love” with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Filming starts as soon as they have fixed their respective schedules. The movie will be directed by Mac Alejandre.

 “Celebrity Duets Season 2,” hosted by Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid, seems to be more exciting with its interesting mix of contenders.

At the presscon announcing the contenders, the Celebrity Duets hopefuls tried to outdo one another in trying to impress the entertainment press. From MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, fitness guru Cory Quirino, Joey and Melanie Marquez, fashion designer JC Buendia, beauty queen Carlene Aguilar, good-looking chef JL Cang, soccer player Phil Younghusband, they all gamely took the challenge when the members of the entertainment press asked them to show a sample of their singing talent.

Even if he’s nervous and was not good in Tagalog, Phil gamely took the microphone to belt a few lines. Same thing with Chef JC whose voice croaked because of sheer stage fright.

Even if there are judges which include Danny Tan, director Freddie Santos and Celebrity Duets first season winner Tessa Prieto Valdes said that money is what the contenders need to win the competition. If a contender doesn’t have enough money for “vote buying” as what Tess said, it’s very unlikely that a contestant would win, no matter how good a performer he or she is.

We won’t be surprised if JC Buendia, JL Cang or Phil would be among those who’d be booted out first. Unless, of course, JC’s customers would vote for him, or those mesmerized by the good looks of JL Cang and Phil would take the cudgels for these two good-looking guys so they could stay on in the competition.