Anjanette has found a new love in L.A.

So David Bunevacz has found a new love (no, not Pops Fernandez, contrary to rumors, but a non-showbiz girl, Pops being the "secret" girlfriend of...guess who?) after he broke up with Anjanette Abayari who has gone back to her native L.A. for her drug rehab following her release from Guam prison last year.

You see, absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder. In the case of passionate people who can't stand a void, no matter how brief, in their lovelife, absence makes the heart wander and that must have been what happened between David and Anjanette whose intense romance was rudely interrupted by that incident in Guam.

So David has found a new love. So what?

Not to be left behind, Anjanette herself has found her own new love and, wonder of wonders, coincidence of coincidences, the guy bears a striking resemblance to David. Only, he's younger (as in mas sariwa) than David. The guy's name is Jay Gabat, the current Mr. Asia-Universe, based in L.A. like Anjanette. You see, home is where the heart is.

How does that oft-quoted line go again?

Oh, yes: If you love someone, set him/her free. If he/she comes back, then she's yours. If not, he/she hasn't been yours after all.

This bit of "startling" discovery was made by a prolific, respected and "going-international" director whose wanderlust brings him to this and that corner of the globe -- and to the green pastures of Laguna.

During one of his location-hunting trips to Paete, Laguna, (let's call him) Direk "Venus" dropped by the church before he and his companions did their usual ronda (look-see) of the town. Imagine his amusement when somebody who looked very familiar approached him and said, "A, darating na sina L. Magsisimula na ang binyag."

It turned out that the guy was L.'s alalay and he mistook direk "Venus" and his companions for being ninongs and/or guests. A while later, L. and a lady companion (presumed to be his wife or live-in girlfriend) arrived and direk "Venus" was polite enough to disappear quietly from the scene to avoid putting L. in an embarrassing situation because, you know, he might be keeping that part of his personal life a secret (only to the rest of the world because, I suppose, the whole Paete knows about it).

After a little sleuthing, direk "Venus" discovered that the child being baptized is L.'s second. Yes, L. has been a father twice over all the while even as the rest of us showbiz-watchers have been led to believe that the wholesome (even if bold) actor is a very eligible bachelor.

But there's nothing wrong with being a father, is there? What's wrong is if he's uncovered to be, horrors, a "mother!"

Bon voyage to Janet Basco who's leaving today with husband-manager Johnny Revilla for yet another of her series of out-of-the-country singing stints, in Washington D.C. this time.

Janet, who has just arrived from a show in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), will be performing with Vancouver-based Joey Albert and Rachel Alejandro at the prestigious Warner Theater on March 4.

"I am really excited about performing with Joey again," Janet told Funfare in a brief chat while she and Johnny were packing for their US trip. "I am also looking forward to doing a show with Rachel."

Since it's Janet's first visit to Washington D.C., she plans to do the usual tourist thing after the show by visiting the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Center and other scenic/historical sites in the US Capital.

After her Washington D.C. stint, Janet and Johnny will fly to New York where she'll record a song with her dear friend, Miss Philippine Centennial Elizabeth Motyka. Back home middle of March, Janet will prepare for her next Manila concert and start work on her album for a recording company she recently signed a contract with.

Johnny told Funfare that their US trip will give him a chance to visit his sister Malu and her family with whom Janet and Johnny will stay for five days.

"I haven't seen Malu for ages," gushed Johnny, "and I couldn't wait to get to D.C."

Gil M. Portes is in search for Japanese actors who will portray the lead and second lead roles in his forthcoming film, Gatas (Sa Dibdib ng Kaaway).

Set at the end of World War II, Gatas is the story of a Filipino wet nurse, her guerrilla-courier husband, a kind-hearted Japanese officer and a brutish Japanese torturer.

For the roles of officer and torturer, Portes needs real Japanese actors who are personable, between 25 and 30 years old, preferably can speak in English and little Filipino, and must have experience in acting.

Interested persons may get in touch with Portes through his pager 125-1173013/phone 951-1739; or any of his production staff members -- associate director Arman Reyes (EC141-242152/tel. 4530272), Cyrus Khan (125-1079410/tel. 532-9116) or Mike Sandejas (633-3333, 772670/tel. 413-9934).

Or go personally to Fireplace Restaurant, located at 516 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City (near Cherry Food-A-Rama) with tel. no. 534-3111. Ask for Cyrus. Bring biodata and two album-size photos, one close-up and one body shot.

* Don't miss the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards to be telecast tonight at 8 on STAR World (on Home Cable), with replays later at 11:30 and on Friday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. If your eyes are quick enough, you might catch a glimpse of Ruffa Gutierrez among the glittery array of guests.

* Also on STAR World's STAR Movies: Robert Redford's Brubaker this morning at 6:45 (that is, if you're up before the sun); Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski, 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27; Jay Leno as a hard-boiled cop in Collission Course on Sunday, Feb. 27 (with a replay at 11:30 p.m., same day); Jessica Lange and Michelle Pfeiffer in A Thousand Lear, 9 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28; Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall in Planet of the Apes, 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 29; and John Cusack in Money for Nothing, 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 29.

* And on Viva Cinema (also on Home Cable): Dawn Zulueta and Miguel Rodriguez in All The Way, 6 o'clock tonight; and Ronnie Ricketts in Desperado, 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25.

* Radio station 99.5 RT, Your Music Authority kicks off its first bar tour with Rage Night tonight at 9, featuring the Eraserheads at Katip's Bar and Grillery, Katipunan Ext. For special invitations to this event, stay tuned to 99.5 RT or call 6338149 for more details. This event is made possible by Stresstabs.

* On this week's edition of Travel Time (Thursday-Studio 23-11:15 p.m.), host Susan Calo-Medina visits Cagayan, a landscape rich in archaic colonial splendor. Special features include the famous Cagayan River, the Callao and Sierra caves, a kayaking ride along the Pinacauan River, the Babuyan Channel where the China Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, the Cagayan Economic Center, a visit to the churches in Alcala, Lallo, Pamplona and the Basilica of Our Lady of Piat, a taste of native delicacies like dulang, sinanta, pinakbet and kakanin like pinakel, bico and patupat.