Nora's casino sighting

Just days after she was stricken ill and wasn’t able to show up for the shooting of the movie El Presidente, Nora Aunor was reportedly glimpsed at the Manila Pavillion casino.

 That sighting triggered a new wave of speculation about the Superstar. Has she picked up her old habit of gambling? Or was she just taking a break from her hectic schedule?

 I hope Nora was merely unwinding. She had promised not to return to her old ways while she tries to restart her showbiz career here. I know she will not disappoint her manager and best friend German Moreno and the other people who did their best to help her get back on her feet again.

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 Maria Aragon is serious about singing the Philippine national anthem right at the fight of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in November.

 The 11-year-old Filipino-Canadian considers it a big honor to be chosen to sing the anthem at the event, so she wants to make sure that nothing goes wrong. That’s why she’s consulting officials of the National Historical Institute for the proper rendition of Lupang Hinirang.

 Other top singers like Martin Nievera got into big trouble with the NHI for singing the anthem in a way that was not prescribed by the institute. Maria doesn’t want to fall into that trap.

 "I want to make the Filipinos proud when I sing the national anthem. I'm practicing and we are going to NHI to make sure that I'm singing the national anthem right," she said in an interview on ANC.

 She also said she wants to shake off the “Baby Gaga” label that has been pinned on her. It’s true that Lady Gaga was instrumental in making her a YouTube sensation, but Maria wants to get away from the shadow of her idol.

 “Being called Baby Gaga, it's a really fun name but hopefully if I start getting serious in the industry I won't be called Baby Gaga but Maria Aragon," she said.

 Given a chance, she wants to follow in the footsteps of Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift.

 Still, Maria finds Lady Gaga “passionate about her music. She's not serious. She's always having a fun time."

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 Speaking of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight, GMA 7 made an extravaganza of the start of the two boxers’ promotional tour at the Quirino Grandstand Saturday.

 The network paraded some of its biggest artists, including Ogie Alcasid, Iza Calzado, Jay-R, Kyla, Rachelle Ann Go, Mark Herras, Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica.

 After Manila, the Pacman and Marquez will proceed to New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City to drum up their November 12 fight. It will be the third ring meeting for the two. The first ended in draw, and the Filipino boxing icon won the second in convincing fashion.

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 Is Luis Manzano joining the political arena in Batangas?

 Last week, Luis was in Lipa City for an Alay Lakad event organized by his mom, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, to raise funds for an out-of-school-youth project. When the actor stepped on stage to join Vilma, the emcee introduced him as the next mayor of Lipa. The announcement was greeted with wild cheering.

 If Luis nurtures political ambitions, he must have been influenced not only by his mom but his dad, Edu, as well. Edu was vice mayor of Makati once.

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 Sarah Geronimo and Martin Nievera hit the road once again as they bring their "What Love Is" Philippine Tour 2011 to Batangas and Bulacan.

 On September 24, Sarah and Martin take the stage at 8 p.m. at the De La Salle Sentrum in Lipa. They follow it up with a show on October 7 at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos.

The What Love Is tour kicked off at the Araneta Coliseum last February 12.