Donna returns in tip-top shape

After an almost one year of absence (she was on "maternity leave," you see), Donna Cruz is back where she belongs -- in showbiz, that is -- much lighter now and still as pretty as (or even prettier than she was) before she became Mrs. Yong Larrazabal.

When she faced the movie press yesterday at the presscon for the album (Hulog ng Langit on Viva Records) she's now promoting, Donna kept on apologizing ("Parang hindi na ako sanay," she said) before singing a few songs, including the John Denver classic For Baby (one of the selections in Hulog) which Donna used to sing to daughter Belle when she was still inside her tummy.

"Now," said Donna, casting a loving glance at husband Yong who was seated at the front row of the Viva Office mini-theater where the presscon was held, "when I sing it, parang napapakanta rin si Belle (named after the female lead in Beauty and the Beast); kabisado na niya 'yung song."

Donna's present whistle-bait figure is a result of a painstaking and rigorous diet and workout regimen which, according to Donna, "I'm not recommending to anybody."

Rightly so. Losing 56 pounds in barely three months was no joke. Ask Donna. Or Yong.

Donna ballooned to 180 lbs. at the peak of her pregnancy, going down to 160 lbs. after giving birth to Isabella Adriana (on Oct. 27, 1999) and to a very slim 106 lbs. after going through an almost starving diet, taking only 500 calories everyday, consisting of no breakfast (she wakes up late anyway because she's the one feeding the baby and changing the diapers at night), lunch of one boiled potato downed with unsweetened juice, a late-afternoon snack of a small piece of cantalope and a dinner of a small saucerful of carrots again downed with unsweetened juice. When she got hungry at midnight, Donna would eat three pieces of Jacob & Co. crackers (the "no-sugar added" variety).

"But she takes vitamins," assured Yong. "Vigoris (a multi-vitamin) and Lecit-E."

Because Donna and Yong don't plan to have another baby in the next three years (yes, Donna is on the pill), Donna can devote some of her time (not spent on mothering) to her singing career. The movies will have to come much later -- "Maybe when Belle is already a little bigger," said Yong who, upon Donna's prodding, answered the question regarding Donna's movie comeback.

It's very obvious that Donna is very happy with her present life in Cebu where, according to her, "I feel no pressure, I feel very relaxed." She couldn't ask for more, adding that she feels complete with Yong and their baby.

Donna and Yong, along with Belle, arrived the other day for the TV promo of Donna's album, two scheduled today on Eat, Bulaga! and Startalk, both on GMA, and one tomorrow (April 16) on ABS-CBN's A.S.A.P. (This afternoon starting at 5:30, Donna will be at SM City Bacoor to sign autographs.)

And the on Monday, they'll go to Baguio with the rest of the Larrazabals for their Holy Week vacation before they fly back to their "paradise" in Cebu.

As Funfare reported a few issues ago, Cris Villonco was among some talented and environment-friendly young artists from Asia chosen as Time magazine's "10 Heroes for the Planet" featured in the magazine's special edition on "How to Save the Planet" for the 30th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22.

The issue is on sale in Asia from April 17 and proceeds from newsstand sales will go to a special RiverSavers campaign that Friends of the Earth is launching together with Time which describes Cris, 16, as a famous pop-star in Asia where her music video for the song I Cannot Say It won the Philippines' Favorite Female Video Award from MTV Asia. She's now lifting her voice in support of environmental causes including the polluted Pasig River, writes Time. She's active in Riverwatch and the Clean and Green Foundation. "I love children," Cris tells Time. "If I could impart to them what I know about environmental protection I would be so thankful."

Cris is joined by other young activists hailing from Alaska, Cambodia, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, Taiwan and the US. They were all selected from nominees proposed by correspondents in Time news bureaus worldwide.

Time and Time for Kids magazines have named scores of "Heroes for the Planet" over the past two years through a series of stories and issues that recently have been recognized with a Green Cross Award from Global Green USA. Ford Motor Company is the exclusive advertiser associated with the heroes series.