Priscilla is home, at last!

Finally, after an absence of more than 20 months, Priscilla Almeda came back from a protracted stay in New York to resume her (rudely-interrupted?) career. Before she left middle of 2000, Priscilla recorded an album for Dyna and the belated promo for it will initially occupy Priscilla’s time before she buckles down to TV – and, presumably, movie – work, with a soap on ABS-CBN as her "comeback" vehicle.

Those who have seen the brand-new Balikbayan claimed that Priscilla looks as sexy and as pretty as ever, never mind if she’s now the mother of a five-month-old daughter, Maria Tippifarel, with whom she flew in from The Big Apple which was their home these past several months. The girl’s father is Shaft Ricablanca, scion of a prominent family from Aklan, who has been a long-time New York-New Jersey resident. Shaft, who works as a medical technician in a NY hospital, is described as goodlooking, with long hair (parang rocker) and a showbiz material.

Priscilla left sometime in August, 2000, to shoot Lav Diaz’s five-hour long magnum opus, Batang West Side, where she’s the leading lady of Yul Servo. After the shooting, Priscilla decided to stay behind, at first toying with the idea of living permanently in New York especially after she met and fell in love with Shaft. They lived together and had a baby.

"I like it here in New York because here," Priscilla was quoted by Pinoy New Yorkers, "I get the respect that I never got in the Philippines." (A Funfare DPA said that the Ricablanca family frowns on write-ups that mention Priscilla’s career as a bold star. Priscilla, according to Big Apple sources, "is well-loved by the Ricablancas who have accepted her as a member of the family, something Priscilla has long been looking for because she grew up with an adoptive family – the Viduyas – in Vancouver.)

Batang West Side was shown last year, first in Tikoy Aguiluz’s CineManila International Film Festival where it won honors (including a Best Actor trophy for Joel Torre) and then at the Glorietta. Priscilla wasn’t able to come home for the movie’s promo because she was heavy with child. Last January, her other starrer, Gil M. Portes’ Huwag Kang Kikibo, was also shown minus Priscilla who was scheduled to give birth at that time.

Inevitably, now that she’s back, Priscilla will surely be the center and target of intrigues, such as: 1) Has she broken up with Shaft, that’s why she decided to come back?, 2) Will she still accept bold roles?, and 3) Will she remain a single parent (in the absence of Shaft who is in the US) and avoid falling in love with another guy? (Priscilla is the type who falls easily in love, very giving and very generous, no wonder some guys take advantage of her.)

Now that she‘s back, Priscilla should answer all those questions as part of her reentry process.

Vilma busy as a bee

Between now and May 24, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos will keep that "Do Not Disturb" sign around her neck, that’s why she has been begging off from accepting social obligations (including as co-host of the Urian Awards, of which she’s a suki, on May 11).

You see, Vilma has to finish all her scenes in Star Cinema’s Dekada ’70 which is so far only 50 percent finished, with Chito Roño directing. The movie is based upon the Palanca-winning novel by Lualhati Bautista (also the author of Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, Vilma’s 1998 smash-hit starrer). Vilma and leading man Christopher de Leon have been shooting non-stop, hoping to wind up by May 24 because Christopher and wife Sandy Andolong are going to Los Angeles to attend the graduation of their son Sandino.

Vilma appears in 98 percent of the movie which is about the turbulent ’70s, the era of violent demonstrations and birth of militant student activism. Dekada ’70 is scheduled for release on Sept. 21, 30th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, so it has to be in the can (after post-production work, etc.) by, hopefully, July or August.

Meanwhile, Vilma’s telesine, Bugso, will finally be shown on GMA 7 as GMA Blockbusters feature on Saturday, April 27, starting at 9 p.m. Bugso is directed by Christopher himself (he does a "cameo" role in it), with Tirso Cruz as Vilma’s leading man and, among others, Mandy Ochoa, Ian de Leon and Aiza Marquez as co-stars. Produced by Tirso‘s wife Lyn Ynchausti and Christopher’s wife Sandy, Bugso was shot entirely in Lipa, with some scenes taken at Danny Dolor’s fabulous vacation house. It’s inspired by Wait Until Dark, with Vilma playing a blind woman (just like Audrey Hepburn in WUD).

Congrats, Karylle!

Universal Records’ lady boss Bella Tan texted to Funfare the good news that UR artist Karylle is nominated as Best New Artist in the MTV Pilipinas 2002 Awards which will be held very soon.

Karylle’s Time to Shine video (a cut from her album Can’t Live Without You) clinched the nomination which is her first, something her mom, Zsa Zsa Padilla, should be proud of. The nomination is good enough and it should pull Karylle away from her mom’s giant shadow. Talented and pretty like her mom, Karylle can stand on her own, never mind if she’s conservative and shy compared to her mom who is somewhat sexy/liberal (especially in her choice of clothes) and outgoing.

Mother and daughter are now vacationing in Las Vegas with Zsa Zsa’s parents. Zsa Zsa’s beloved Dolphy opted to stay behind so as to give Zsa Zsa and Karylle (a first-timer in the US) time to bond. By this time, Bella Tan must have relayed the good news to Karylle who, I’m sure, is jumping with joy – along with Zsa Zsa (who, contrary to reports, didn’t have to undergo surgery on her laryngitis, but only medication and therapy).Priscilla is home, at last! FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo Finally, after an absence of more than 20 months, Priscilla Almeda came back from a protracted stay in New York to resume her (rudely-interrupted?) career. Before she left middle of 2000, Priscilla recorded an album for Dyna and the belated promo for it will initially occupy Priscilla’s time before she buckles down to TV – and, presumably, movie – work, with a soap on ABS-CBN as her "comeback" vehicle.

Those who have seen the brand-new Balikbayan claimed that Priscilla looks as sexy and as pretty as ever, never mind if she’s now the mother of a five-month-old daughter, Maria Tippifarel, with whom she flew in from The Big Apple which was their home these past several months. The girl’s father is Shaft Ricablanca, scion of a prominent family from Aklan, who has been a long-time New York-New Jersey resident. Shaft, who works as a medical technician in a NY hospital, is described as goodlooking, with long hair (parang rocker) and a showbiz material.

Priscilla left sometime in August, 2000, to shoot Lav Diaz’s five-hour long magnum opus, Batang West Side, where she’s the leading lady of Yul Servo. After the shooting, Priscilla decided to stay behind, at first toying with the idea of living permanently in New York especially after she met and fell in love with Shaft. They lived together and had a baby.

"I like it here in New York because here," Priscilla was quoted by Pinoy New Yorkers, "I get the respect that I never got in the Philippines." (A Funfare DPA said that the Ricablanca family frowns on write-ups that mention Priscilla’s career as a bold star. Priscilla, according to Big Apple sources, "is well-loved by the Ricablancas who have accepted her as a member of the family, something Priscilla has long been looking for because she grew up with an adoptive family – the Viduyas – in Vancouver.)

Batang West Side was shown last year, first in Tikoy Aguiluz’s CineManila International Film Festival where it won honors (including a Best Actor trophy for Joel Torre) and then at the Glorietta. Priscilla wasn’t able to come home for the movie’s promo because she was heavy with child. Last January, her other starrer, Gil M. Portes’ Huwag Kang Kikibo, was also shown minus Priscilla who was scheduled to give birth at that time.

Inevitably, now that she’s back, Priscilla will surely be the center and target of intrigues, such as: 1) Has she broken up with Shaft, that’s why she decided to come back?, 2) Will she still accept bold roles?, and 3) Will she remain a single parent (in the absence of Shaft who is in the US) and avoid falling in love with another guy? (Priscilla is the type who falls easily in love, very giving and very generous, no wonder some guys take advantage of her.)

Now that she‘s back, Priscilla should answer all those questions as part of her reentry process.

Vilma busy as a bee

Between now and May 24, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos will keep that "Do Not Disturb" sign around her neck, that’s why she has been begging off from accepting social obligations (including as co-host of the Urian Awards, of which she’s a suki, on May 11).

You see, Vilma has to finish all her scenes in Star Cinema’s Dekada ’70 which is so far only 50 percent finished, with Chito Roño directing. The movie is based upon the Palanca-winning novel by Lualhati Bautista (also the author of Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, Vilma’s 1998 smash-hit starrer). Vilma and leading man Christopher de Leon have been shooting non-stop, hoping to wind up by May 24 because Christopher and wife Sandy Andolong are going to Los Angeles to attend the graduation of their son Sandino.

Vilma appears in 98 percent of the movie which is about the turbulent ’70s, the era of violent demonstrations and birth of militant student activism. Dekada ’70 is scheduled for release on Sept. 21, 30th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, so it has to be in the can (after post-production work, etc.) by, hopefully, July or August.

Meanwhile, Vilma’s telesine, Bugso, will finally be shown on GMA 7 as GMA Blockbusters feature on Saturday, April 27, starting at 9 p.m. Bugso is directed by Christopher himself (he does a "cameo" role in it), with Tirso Cruz as Vilma’s leading man and, among others, Mandy Ochoa, Ian de Leon and Aiza Marquez as co-stars. Produced by Tirso‘s wife Lyn Ynchausti and Christopher’s wife Sandy, Bugso was shot entirely in Lipa, with some scenes taken at Danny Dolor’s fabulous vacation house. It’s inspired by Wait Until Dark, with Vilma playing a blind woman (just like Audrey Hepburn in WUD).

Congrats, Karylle!

Universal Records’ lady boss Bella Tan texted to Funfare the good news that UR artist Karylle is nominated as Best New Artist in the MTV Pilipinas 2002 Awards which will be held very soon.

Karylle’s Time to Shine video (a cut from her album Can’t Live Without You) clinched the nomination which is her first, something her mom, Zsa Zsa Padilla, should be proud of. The nomination is good enough and it should pull Karylle away from her mom’s giant shadow. Talented and pretty like her mom, Karylle can stand on her own, never mind if she’s conservative and shy compared to her mom who is somewhat sexy/liberal (especially in her choice of clothes) and outgoing.

Mother and daughter are now vacationing in Las Vegas with Zsa Zsa’s parents. Zsa Zsa’s beloved Dolphy opted to stay behind so as to give Zsa Zsa and Karylle (a first-timer in the US) time to bond. By this time, Bella Tan must have relayed the good news to Karylle who, I’m sure, is jumping with joy – along with Zsa Zsa (who, contrary to reports, didn’t have to undergo surgery on her laryngitis, but only medication and therapy).