Marian Rivera strongly denies causing Karylle-Dingdong breakup

Plus:Vhong-Toni starrer not riveting enough; Showbiz writers demand for Direk Tikoy Aguiluz’s apology

Marian Rivera has finally admitted that she has split with her non-showbiz boy-friend, Ervic Vijandre. They broke up three months ago, she revealed.

The reason? She’s too busy with her career, and Eric is not comfortable with her sexy scenes. Marian obviously doesn’t want to be straitjacketed by a relationship, preferring to enjoy her life while she’s still young.

She also scoffed at rumors that she was the reason why co-star Dingdong Dantes broke up with Karylle. She denied stealing Dingdong from Karylle. She swore there is nothing between her and Dingdong. “If there was something, why would I hide it?” she stressed.

Dingdong, meanwhile, has reportedly confirmed that he and Karylle are not an item anymore. The buzz is that they have “outgrown” each other. Could that be a euphemism for “getting tired of each other?”

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I didn’t realize someone could harbor a grudge for so long. So I was surprised when Director Tikoy Aguiluz assaulted showbiz writer Danny Vibas because of an article Danny wrote several years ago.

Direk Tikoy reportedly resented the article that was critical of his pet project, Cinemalaya. So when someone pointed out Danny to him at a social function last week, the director strode to Danny and punched him in the mouth. Then Direk Tikoy is said to have challenged Danny to a fisticuff. The writer, who suffered a cut lip, smartly backed out.

Later, the story goes, Direk Tikoy apologized to Danny. But now several showbiz writers groups are saying that an apology is not enough. They are urging Danny to sue the director.

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I haven’t seen it myself, but my showbiz friends who did said that the supposed sex video of Criselda Volks is way too gross. Speculations are rife as to what drove Criselda to submit to such a humiliation.

One story going the rounds is that Criselda has become an inveterate gambler. To feed her addiction, she has to beg, borrow or steal, or even sell her body. Her partner in the video, which has made its way into the Internet and downloaded into cellphones, is reportedly another gambler, so figure it out.

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Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga’s My Only U opened in theaters last week. The film, which Cathy Garcia Molina directed for Starstudio, has its funny moments, but it pales when placed side by side with another Garcia-Molina project, A Very Special Love, which starred Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz.

Toni doesn’t disappoint, but Vhong seems to struggle in his role. The story just wasn’t riveting enough. Some of the jokes fall flat, and the dance sequences looked like they were hastily choreographed. (They even had to insert some scenes from A Very Special Love featuring John Lloyd doing the “sun dance”).

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Speaking of Sarah, she caps off a successful year with her third concert at the Araneta Coliseum next week. The show, titled The Next One, will present the changing persona of the pop princess.

Sarah has come a long way since she was first thrust into the limelight as the winner of the Star for a Night singing contest in 2004. Her meteoric rise has seen her reap award after award for her singing talent, concert tours abroad, juicy endorsements, and movie projects, all of which distinguish her as a total performer.

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The Jackson 5 reunited?

That’s a big possibility, claims Jermaine Jackson, a member of the 1970s pop band that included his younger brother Michael.

In an interview in Sydney, Australia, Jermaine disclosed that plans were indeed under way for such a reunion. “It is going to be more like a family affair. Janet’s going to open and, of course, the original Jackson 5 ... Michael, Randy and the whole family ... we’re in the studio, we’re planning on being out there next year,” he said.

The Jackson 5 had some chart-toppers, including I’ll Be There, before the group members went their separate ways. Michael, of course, went on to be a pop icon.