Why Amy is missing from MTB - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Curtain-raisers:

• Congratulations to Pat-P Daza-Planas who’s into the first weeks of her pregnancy with her and brand-new husband Quezon City Councilor Mike Planas’ first child.

• Could it be true that Roderick Paulate is serious about his plan to run for Congressman in a Bicol province, and so is Noli de Castro about running for Senator? Think 10 times, gentlemen!

• Food for thought for unhappy showbiz couples putting up a happy front, from Joan Kennedy, ex-wife of Sen. Edward Kennedy, in an interview with The Boston Globe: So much of my married life was about keeping secrets and pretending that I was doing great and was happy. But once you sober up, the whole idea is to become honest with yourself and other people. I mean, all the secrets I had to keep: mine and all secrets of the Kennedy family. I don’t have to do that anymore. It’s such a relief to be... a genuine person.

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Amy Perez is being sorely missed these days on the ABS-CBN noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan (MTB). The show is just not the same without Amy, is it? It’s kulang na kulang, isn’t it?

A lot of MTB followers have been wondering whatever happened to her. Has she, horrors, quit the show? Was she, shudder, axed? Or has she been, sigh, "intrigued" out of MTB?

Heave a sigh of relief, dear MTB fans. The answer to all three questions is a resounding "No!"

The truth is that — as her co-hosts Willie Revillame, Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Vanessa del Bianco and Christine Jacob have been saying ("Get well soon, Amy!") — Amy is sick, recuperating from a gall-bladder surgery (her second, the first having been last year) that resulted in some complications that required her to stay in the hospital longer than she should.

Guess who came to Amy’s rescue when she needed blood during her most critical period — yes, Willie Revillame himself (who happened to be the one with the same blood type as Amy’s). That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?

You can say that Willie’s blood now runs in Amy’s veins. That "blood compact" has made Amy and Willie blood brother and sister, doesn’t it?

Take a bow, Willie! Isa kang bayani.

Cris V. reinvented

Whoever thought of "reinventing" Cris Villonco and making her look sexier and more sophisticated, a welcome departure from her old bland and insipid image, deserves a big pat on the back. Cris definitely looks better and more "with it" with her new hairdo, new dressing style, new make-up and new aura.

The new image is timed with the release of Cris’ new album, A Girl Can Dream (BMG Records Pilipinas, Inc.), which she has been promoting on TV. It’s the same amazing transformation that Roselle Nava underwent — successfully. Roselle used to look dull and boring in her manang attire and make-up/hairdo, but she started making heads turn when she, that’s it, came out of her shell to be a desirable young woman.

"People still think that I’m the same 13-year-old they used to see when I was just starting in showbiz," smiled Cris, now sweet 16. "I also have to grow up, you know. I’m still a little conservative inside, the same Cris, but with a different look and outlook."

Take a bow, Cris. We like you better this way!

Gary V. applauded

Here’s a report from Funfare’s "stateside" DPA:

Gary Valenciano has a lot to smile about these days. Currently on a US Tour, he has been met by standing ovations and cheers from thousands of Fil-Americans and Americans who have witnessed his outstanding performances in New York, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Dallas and Oakland.

In Oakland, he was met with double standing ovations and a crowd that refused to let him go. Gary has gained international recognition in Christian circles, having been invited by international evangelists Raymond Yap to Hong Kong and Reverend Morris Cerrulo to Japan last summer, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in August for Amsterdam 2000 and then taping 25 episodes for the music video series, One Cubed, at the Christian Broadcasting Network Studios in Virginia Beach. One Cubed (which airs in the Philippines on Friday nights) premiered last Friday on the FOX Family Channel over the United States. In a meeting with World Outreach president, Gordon Robertson Gary and his wife, Angeli, were informed that the music video show was going to be aired late nights on cable all over the US.

While in Virginia, Gary also sang in a church service for the Council of 100, a select group of CBN donors with Rev. Pat Robertson preaching. After the service, CBN President Michael Little approached Gary and Angeli and wished to know if Gary would be interested to audition to sing one song, to be produced by David Foster for an animation film, entitled The Greatest King, which will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Meantime, he performs his last US concert today at the Grand Olympic in downtown Los Angeles before coming home to guest in the Freestyle concert on Oct. 14 at the Araneta Coliseum and to prepare for the launch of his upcoming recording project Revive and his own major concert at the Araneta Coliseum entitled Radical on Dec. 1 and 2. Together with Gary in the USA are the Manoeuvres, Meanne Casal, Melissa Fontano and the Powerplay, with Mon Faustino as musical director.