Curtain-raisers:
* It's too early to tell yet how Dina Bonnevie's D! Day on GMA 7 (10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday) will fare against Today With Kris Aquino (ABS-CBN, 11 a.m. to 12 noon, same duration), D! Day being barely one week on the tube. Kris is feeling safe and secure ratings-wise. Her show has been consistently No. 1 on that timeslot. Kris "concedes" only on one thing: "I admit that Dina is prettier than me!" How humble! How, uh, magnanimous?
* Congratulations to Ynez Veneracion for having been named Best Supporting Actress (Ang Paraiso ni Efren) by the Gawad Sining-Sine (composed of students and professors from La Salle and other Metro-Manila universities). The awarding will be held tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 4). Other winners: Maricel Soriano, Best Actress (Soltera); Cesar Montano, Best Actor (Muro-Ami); and Raymond Bagatsing, Best Supporting Actor (Soltera).
* Now that a popular couple have split up, their next problem is how to divide their "conjugal property." How's that again? How can they have "conjugal" property when they've never been married? Maybe they have "joint savings" and other "joint earnings." No quarrel there. Happy dividing, then!
After the recent censorship brouhaha, the MTRCB has become careful about approving movie titles perceived to have "double meaning." You know, to head off any untoward reactions from "moralists" (some of whom are so hyper-sensitive that a mere show of gams can send them to hysterics).
A case in point is Seiko Films' "frozen" film Tatlong Hiwa (with "ng Pagibig" added later) which is now retitled Mapagbigay (as in generous -- with what?).
Seiko boss Robbie Tan is happy with the new title of the skin flick which stars Nini Jacinto, newcomer Sophia Valdez and turning-bold Miya Nolasco as the three Eves involved with Rodel Velayo. (Now you know why it was originally called Tatlong Hiwa, title which, concededly, connotes more than just "love-ful" slices).
"Mapagbigay is just perfect," says Robbie. "While Tatlong Hiwa refers to the three women, Mapagbigay now refers to the character of Rodel who is mapagbigay (generous with attention and much more) to the three women."
"Tropical Storm" Madame Auring has lost momentum (aren't you glad?) but who knows when she will hit the media again?
Anyway, in reaction to a recent Funfare "unpredictable" item about the ex-turbanned matron, a Funfare -- friendly person has his own Madame Auring anecdote.
One morning, the phone in Madame Auring's beauty parlor (in front of UST along Gov. Forbes Street) rang. Here's how the dialogue between Madame Auring and the caller went:
Caller: Magkano po ang manicure?
Madame Auring named the price.
Caller: Magkano po ang pedicure?
Madame Auring named the price.
Caller: Magkano po ang combined manicure at pedicure?
Madame Auring named the price.
Caller: Magkano po ang pagpapakulot?
Madame Auring named the price.
Caller: Magkano po ang skin peeling?
Madame Auring named the price.
And so on and so forth.
In near exasperation at the pesky caller, Madame Auring asked, "Sino po sila?
The caller answered playfully, "Hulaan n'yo!"
Madame Auring promptly banged the phone.
(Note: I suspect that the Funfare-friendly person was the one who pulled that "unpredictable" prank on Madame Auring.)
* A Chinese reader said that the first-born of Mikee Cojuangco and Dodot Jaworski, even if born in Jan. 2000, is not a Dragon Baby because the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese Calendar, doesn't start until Feb. 5. Kung hei fat choy!
* Reader Cecille of Las Piñas, Metro Manila, wants to know if Aga Muhlach and Regine Velasquez, her favorite loveteam (mainly because of Dahil May Isang Ikaw), have any follow-up starrer. (Note: None yet. Aga's next movie will be with Joyce Jimenez for Star Cinema, to be directed by Olive Lamasan).
* E-mailed by Oscar R. Castillo from Montebello, California, USA: I agree whole-heartedly with the proposal of fellow reader Paul R. Mortel, to honor Tia Dely Magpayo. I am happy to know that she's still active in radio. I was an ardent fan of Tia Dely until I left the Philippines in 1969. I'm sorry to learn that Rafael Yabut, Johnny de Leon and Ric Tierro are dead. Whatever happened to Leila Benitez? (Note: She's in the USA, retired.)