Rosanna: Is it goodbye, Ai Ai...hello, Marissa?

Curtain-raisers:

•While Vandolph remains in critical condition more than three weeks after that car accident in Pangasinan, his girlfriend, Desiree Raquiza, died early yesterday morning at the Makati Med where she lay in comma. Doctors said that Desiree was brain dead when she was transferred to the Makati Med from a hospital in Pangasinan. Desiree was the niece of actor-director Leo Angelo (Leo Raquiza in real life) who is the older brother of Desiree’s father. Her remains lie at the Holy Trinity Chapels in Sucat, Parañaque. Interment will be on Sunday (Dec. 9) morning after the 9 o’clock mass.

• Donna Cruz is two months pregnant with her and husband Yong Larrazabal’s second child. Based in Cebu (where the Larrazabals own a hospital, among other businesses) since they got married in 1998, Donna is semi-retired from showbiz, singing (professionally, that is) only every now and then. She’s a full-time wife and mother (to Belle).

• Could it be true that Star Cinema has decided to shelve Dekada ’70, topbilled by Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos (who has already shot for two weeks) and Christopher de Leon? The movie revolves around the politically turbulent early ’70s and the Star Cinema people thought it might not be the right subject in times like this. Mayor Vi stopped shooting for the movie due to the campaign for last May’s election and, later, the death threats against her.

*****

Is the rift between Rosanna Roces and Ai Ai delas Alas beyond repair? Have they reached the point of no return (no reconciliation)? Have they burned the bridges and building new ones?

It seems so.

In fact, according to a Funfare DPA, Rosanna is deadset on getting another partner to replace Ai Ai with whom Rosanna has done two or three concerts. Guess who the replacement is – yes, Marissa Sanchez.

Last Friday, Rosanna showed up at the Music Museum with husband Tito Molina for Marissa’s concert purposely to find out how Marissa performed. Very obviously, added the DPA, "Rosanna was very satisfied with Marissa’s performance." (No, Rosanna didn’t watch Ai Ai’s concert the following night at the Araneta Coliseum.)

In February next year, Rosanna is putting up a Valentine show, which would be far more fun and more wacky than those she has done with Ai Ai. On that show, Rosanna will formally introduce her new partner – Marissa, that is.

Well, "business" begins where friendship ends?

Joey’s Reno show with Pomeranz successful

Two weeks ago, Vancouver-based Joey Albert did a show with David Pomeranz in Reno, Nevada. It was successful.

Here’s a brief report from somebody who was there:

Outside, the snow was freezing. But inside the ballroom of the Peppermill Hotel, hearts were warming up to the timeless love songs of David Pomeranz and Joey Albert in a concert aptly entitled King and Queen of Hearts.

Audiences swooned to the nostalgic tunes of Pomeranz’s If You Walked Away, The Old Songs, Trying To Get That Feeling, and Got to Believe In Magic; and Albert’s I Remember The Boy, Million Miles Away, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin and her incomparable rendition of her soulful anthem, Tell Me.

As you know, Tell Me was performed by Pomeranz in one of his big concerts in Manila and was also his choice for an OPM song to record for his recent album, Born For You, which sold half a million copies in Manila alone.

Pomeranz was in Manila last week for a promotional tour of his new album, On This Day, as well as his Christmas album entitled Eyes of Christmas (both of which he recorded under MCA-Universal), among other engagements.

Joey, in the meantime, is scheduled to spend the holidays in Manila with Christmas performances in Angeles, Cebu and Davao, and a New Year performance at the Mandarin Hotel.

In case you don’t catch any of her shows, you can still warm your hearts this Christmas with Joey’s two Christmas CD’s: Maligayang Pasko, her all-Filipino Christmas album, and Christmas With Joey Albert, an all-English sequel which includes her award-winning composition, Be Like The Children.

Aiko’s gift to the kids

Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez is spending her birthday on Dec. 17 with a difference. Unlike in her past birthdays, Aiko this time will spend the day with poor kids at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman (starting at 8 p.m.). The event is aptly titled Handog ni Sinta Para sa Mga Bata. During last May’s campaign, Aiko was affectionately called Sinta by residents of the second district of Quezon City.

Proceeds from the event will be used by Aiko to start her pet project, the construction of a Constitution Day Care Center and the Talacom Day Care Center under CAMY (as in Councilor Aiko Melendez-Yllana).

Because it’s a worthy project, Aiko’s colleagues have consented to perform gratis et amore, including Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen, Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi, Willie Revillame, Bituin Escalante, Pido with Take One, Ian Veneracion, Arnell Ignacio, Calvin Millado, Stella Ruiz, Lee Robin Salazar, Rey Kilay, Philip Lazaro, Ciara Sotto, Paolo Contis, Trina Zuñiga and Rosanna Roces. Directing the show is Andrew de Real.

Didn’t Aiko invite Ara Mina to the show?

"Ay, pasensya na," said Aiko. "Puro honorarium lang ang ibibigay ko sa mga guest performers. Baka hindi kayanin ng budget namin ang talent fee niya."

What about Jomari Yllana, Aiko’s estranged husband (and rumored boyfriend of Ara)?

"If he wants to make a surprise appearance, okey lang," said Aiko. "It will be an honor for me. You know, malakas ang loob kong mag-imbita ng ibang artista but with him, hiyang-hiya ako. I don’t know why I feel that way."

Aiko and Jomari’s son Andre will participate in the show which is sponsored by PAGCOR, PCSO, Thai-in-a-box, Alaska Corporation and Real Ban. Tickets are priced at P500, P300 and P150. (For inquiries, call 922-08-76, 0919-4800058 or Nextel 097977-5330203.)

Incidentally, what if Ara wouldn’t peform but would like to watch the show?

"E, di buy siya ng ticket!" Aiko quipped.