If Biboy would have his way... - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo

Curtain-raisers:

• Could it be true that Pia Pilapil and her visually-challenged husband Jerry Gonzalo have broken up?

• Could it be true that because he posed nude in a glossy-magazine pictorial, Paolo Bediones has been dropped as endorser of Rejoice shampoo? And that other advertisers are keeping distance from him?

• Could it be true that Lolit Solis is threatening to resign from the powerful PAMI (Professional Artists Managers, Inc.) over a protest letter the PAMI sent to the GMA management against an interview Startalk (of which Lolit is one of the co-hosts) did with Cheng Muhlach which the PAMI found "derogatory" to PAMI official Ethel Ramos (manager of Cheng’s son Aga)?

• Birthday greetings to Tempo’s Nestor Cuartero who’s turning a year wiser today.

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If all (especially young and therefore impulsive) actors – and actresses for that matter – were as well-behaved as Biboy Ramirez (the guy in the Goldilocks commercial with a thick Batangueno accent), there would be less – or none at all? – cases of unwanted and/or accidental out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

At 19 (turning 20 on July 2), Biboy swears that he is a virgin, careful as he has been with his relationship with the opposite sex.

"I guess it’s how the way we kids have been brought up by our parents," said Biboy, also speaking for his younger sisters Camille (turning 19, a student at Miriam College) and Abbie (10). "We were brought up to be God-fearing and to respect the sanctity of marriage – you know, have kids only after marriage."

Well and good – if he can help it.

Brian Michael Dolatre in real life (isn’t Biboy such a kiddie screen name, just like Boyet for Christopher de Leon or Snooky for Snooky Serna?), grew up in an atmosphere of love and affection, a happy environment that is now proving to be such a "handicap" in his work as actor. How come? Well, because he has had a happy childhood, Biboy finds it hard to cry in drama scenes.

"The director would tell me before the taping, ‘Think of a sad experience in your life, ’yung pinaka-malungkot, so you will cry.’ But I can’t think of any. Ganoon kasaya ang childhood ko at buhay naming pamilya."

His father, Abel Dolatre, is connected with Hemisphere Leo-Burnett advertising and his mother, Connie Ramirez, is with Shell Philippines. Until now, according to Biboy, he submits most of his earnings to his mom for his bank account, setting aside only his allowance and a certain amount for his "weakness" (trimming up his 1993 Toyota Corolla, which he bought by installment from his dad, with all sorts of accessories and adding more VCDs to his growing collection). He also gives baon to his sisters.

Now a regular member of the cast of GMA’s Click (and a semi-regular on S.O.P.), Biboy was ushered into showbiz four years ago (supposedly as member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle 6 but ended up as a regular on rival channel GMA 7’s Best Friends) by nasty rumors linking him to powerful gays, all of which Biboy denied to death, cross his heart.

"Kung sa girls wala pa akong experience," he reasoned, "sa gays pa kaya?"

There was also a rumor that Biboy was discovered at a gay bar where he was a macho dancer.

"You know what I did," said Biboy (who’s a member of the cast of Cafeteria Pinoy, a gag show inspired by Cafeteria Aroma, which will soon premiere on RPN 9). "I invited the reporter to stay in our house for one month para makita niya kung anong klaseng pamilya mayroon ako." A decent one, that is. "That was one of the rumors that affected my family," he added. "I don’t mind na matsismis ako, huwag lang madadamay ang pamilya ko."

Biboy is enrolled at the National Institute of Information Technology, attending classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

His goal now is to hitch his wagon to the heights scaled by Aga Muhlach and Richard Gomez, his idols and role models.

"If I can achieve only one-fourth of what they have," said Biboy dreamily, "successful na ako."

Young Scholastican in Mila

DECS Sec. Raul Roco should make Star Cinema’s Mila, the first ever Filipino film about a teacher (directed by Joel Lamangan and topbilled by Maricel Soriano), a "must" for both teachers and students all over the country. The film is an eye-opener to the plight of teachers in the country. I just don’t understand why the MTRCB (could it be true, Anding Roces?) rated the film PG-13 (meaning those 13 and below can watch it only if accompanied by a parent or an older relative) when it is as wholesome as or even more so than some of the TV dramas watched by millions all over the country, for free.

Speaking of Mila, young Scholastican Katrina Lindain, 21, is appearing in it as one of the teachers. I guess St. Scho must have included acting in its Masscom course. Katrina is currently working at ADD International (at Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City).

Incidentally, Mila has advance screenings lined up tonight at Rockwell and tomorrow night at SM Megamall. Be there early to avoid the expected big crowds.