What has Krista Ranillo been up to?

CEBU, Philippines - After arousing a controversy of national proportions with her “friendship” with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, sexy starlet Krista Ranillo has made herself scarce in the recent months, laying low from showbiz and making the United States her current base.

In an interview over a TV show, she related what’s keeping her busy these days, and that is entering into a business partnership with a cousin, who owns a fashion couture shop.

“[My cousin David Tupaz] is really a very established fashion designer here. So ako, I’m very thankful na pumayag siyang mag-collaborate kami. Gagawa kami ng younger lines na mas hip, mas modern,” Krista was quoted as telling GMA 7’s Showbiz Central.

Krista also revealed that she has a sportswear line named as “Team Krista USA”—never mind if it brings to mind the controversy of her alleged affair with the boxing champ which broke out late last year at the height of Manny’s fight with Miguel Cotto.

The controversy made Krista a household name overnight, held the attention of the whole nation, and gave birth to her own rah-rah group known as Team Krista, in answer to the outpouring of support that went to Manny’s wife via Team Jinkee.

Both Manny and Krista, who was Pacquiao’s co-star in a film and became part of Team Pacquiao, had since separately issued denials of having a romantic relationship.

“Yun nga, I have a sportswear and they thought about it. At sabi nga nila, Team Krista. Parang it’s so funny! You know, you just try to look something positive out of the whole situation and everything talaga. Actually, nag-click nga siya. Ang daming nag-order. Bumibili mga Americans, although they don’t understand it, they don’t know who I am,” she said.

Krista also commented on the negative issues that hounded her in recent months.

“I guess what makes me feel bad and really sad is when my family is really involved. Yun nga, kasi ako naman ang artista. So when issues are being thrown at me, I accept it because I know it’s part of the job. Pero kapag kasama na ang family ko, ‘wag na lang kasi they are private people naman, eh,” Krista, daughter of Matt Ranillo III and granddaughter of Gloria Sevilla, told Showbiz Central.

She described her life in the US as free of the chaos that’s prevalent in her life in Manila. “My life here is more normal…I can do normal things. We can go see movies, drive...mas laidback here. At least dito, it feels more like home and since I grew up naman here.”