Is Rustom afraid of Zoren?

Is Rustom Padilla, uh, self-destructing?

If you’ve been following recent incidents in his life and career, you’ll conclude that he seems to be... spinning out of control?

Just when his successfully-revived moribund career was heading in the right direction, Rustom decided to cut ties with Mr. "C," his manager of more than a year who propelled him back on the right track, negotiating for Rustom not only TV shows (ABC’s Wheel of Fortune, a forthcoming GMA telenovela, etc.) and movies (the Regal action-drama epic Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure, etc.) but also shows abroad, including a one-season TV show in Singapore.

In that limited period, Mr. "C" managed to "re-invent" Rustom and put him back in fighting form, not to mention the damage control Mr. "C" did when Rustom did something "untoward" in public (such as when he took off his shirt – thank God, he kept his pants on! – during a Ratsky semi-wild party in Cebu and danced with another guy).

Well, in midstream Rustom, so to speak, jumped ship and hired a new manager who is facing the challenge of sustaining the good work of Rustom’s former manager (shouldn’t he be saying, "Goodbye and good riddance!"?).

Then recently, Rustom was reported to have thrown a gigantic tantrum when he learned that Zoren Legaspi, now the boyfriend of Rustom’s estranged wife Carmina Villarroel, was included in the basketball game he was hosting, organized by Bulacan Board Member Daniel Fernando. According to reports, Rustom told Daniel to drop Zoren from the game and just give him his talent fee. When Daniel refused (because Zoren was already present and it would be embarrassing to shoo him away), Rustom reportedly screamed at him (Daniel).

Tsk, tsk, tsk! What’s happening to Rustom? Is he afraid of Zoren? Has he grown heady with the turn of his own wheel of (mis)fortune? Why does he have to act that way just when things are turning out right for him?

Asked if, as a talent, Rustom is hard to handle, Mr. "C" could only give a "what do you think?" smile.

‘Detained’ at Sanfo airport

Yes, it’s true: Jessa Zaragoza, Geneva Cruz and Rosanna Roces were briefly "detained" at the San Francisco airport upon arrival last week for a show in nearby Reno, Nevada.

According to the Funfare DPA detailed at that airport, Jessa and Geneva were the first to emerge from the PAL flight from Manila and they presented their passports together to the immigration officer who, before checking their papers, even jokingly asked if he could have the two ladies’ autographs. "You’re the singers from the Philippines, aren’t you?" the immigration officer asked the two who must have been flattered that the officer knew who they are.

The officer was being sarcastic, it turned out. Soon, he unfolded a paper on top of his desk and the two singers were surprised to see that it was a flyer for their Reno show. Jessa and Geneva were, at this point, still clueless about what was happening, although they were suspecting that something was wrong somewhere.

Then they were invited to a small room for more questioning. By and by, they saw Rosanna come in. Rosanna was also questioned.

Suddenly, everything became clear. While Jessa and Geneva have a working visa (O1), Rosanna only has a tourist (B1) visa, thus the brief "detention" and the questioning. You see, entertainers need a working visa for them to perform in shows especially in the US.

Anyway, all’s well that ends well. The trio cleared the US Immigration without any further hassle and staged their show, entitled Filipina Divas, as scheduled at the City Center Pavilion in Reno, attracting a capacity crowd of mostly Filipinos.

Geneva and Jessa are back while Rosanna opted to stay behind for a much-needed brief rest.

Now, did somebody who had a "grudge" against Rosanna tip off the US Immigration so as to put her in an embarrassing situation?