Long-overdue tribute to Gloria on Nov. 29

Curtain-raisers:

• After his successful concerts (with Vina Morales) in Toronto and Winnipeg, Martin Nievera flew to Las Vegas to record a song with Brian McKnight for his (Martin’s) forthcoming album on MCA-Universal.

• Did you know that new bold star Aubrey Miles (Regal Films’ Prosti) is a good singer, having studied at the UST Conservatory of Music (undergraduate)? No wonder several recording companies (BMG Pilipinas, Inc., MCA-Universal, etc.) are scrambling over one another to tie her down to a contract. The decision will have to come from Aubrey’s manager, Dondon Monteverde.

• Former sweethearts Carol Banawa and Carlo Muñoz are finally starring together in a project – ABS-CBN’s new soap Bituin (topbilling Nora Aunor) which has taken the timeslot vacated by Pangako Sa’yo. The two went steady for a while but decided to just remain friends so they could devote full time and attention to their careers.

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And finally, a tribute is being mounted for Gloria Romero on Nov. 29 at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel, with no less than Gloria’s bosom friend Daisy Romualdez as producer.

Funfare congratulates Daisy for coming up with the tribute which is long-overdue. The first ever recognized Queen of Philippine Movies, active until now, Gloria more than deserves the honor.

The tribute, which would have been scheduled on Dec. 16 (Gloria’s 69th birthday), is entitled Glitters: Tribute to a Movie Queen, directed by Al Quinn.

Discovered at sweet 16, Gloria has been in showbiz for more than 53 years, starting as a comedienne (Dalagang Ilocana, Miss Tilapia, Kurdapya, etc.) at the Sampaguita Pictures and proving herself just as competent as a drama actress, with several acting trophies as concrete proofs.

Two years ago at the Metro Manila Filmfest, Gloria starred in what her fans and followers consider "the ultimate Gloria Romero movie," Star Cinema’s Tanging Yaman, which won her more acting awards ("A memorable birthday gift," said Gloria).

Gloria is among the very, very few (you can count them with the fingers of one hand) actresses, including Susan Roces, whose public and private lives are untainted by any scandal, standing tall as role models (paradigms of sweetness and light, if you may) in a transparent and relentless world that’s showbiz. She has separated and eventually reconciled with Juancho Gutierrez (father of her only daughter, Maritess) who’s incapacitated by a stroke.

Back to the Nov. 29 Glitters tribute...

According to Daisy (a friend through thick and thin), among the invited guests who have so far said yes are Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Jolina Magdangal, Claudine Barretto, Carlos Agassi, Marissa Sanchez, Nanette Inventor, Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Dessa, Lorna Tolentino, Rudy Fernandez, Marjorie Barretto, Aiko Melendez, Albert Martinez and wife Liezl, and Bong Revilla.

There will be surprises at the tribute, assures Daisy.

"I won’t give any clue or hint," adds Daisy. "Otherwise, they won’t be surprises anymore."

Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez, along with Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez, will offer flowers. Boy Abunda will introduce Justice Secretary Nani Perez who will give the opening remarks while Vice-President Tito Guingona will do the honor of introducing Gloria Romero. Mrs. Nene Vera-Perez and Fernando Poe, Jr. will then award the honoree a plaque.

It looks like a memorable show, fit for a queen, isn’t it?

Pipay tees, anyone?

By this time, Pops Fernandez’s Pipay T-shirts and accessories should be available at Fish branches at Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Ermita, Glorietta, SM Southmall and SM Manila.

"They are affordable," said Pops who’s venturing into the garments business for the first time. "Pang-masa ang prices."

Pops was wearing a sample of Pipay T-shirt when she met the press last Monday at Ratsky Morato and it did look comfortable and attractive on her.

"It’s 100 percent cotton, shrink-proof, and the fit is very nice."

An insomniac, Pops spends her sleepless hours not counting sheep like most everybody but by, that’s it, designing T-shirts and making accessories (necklaces, earrings, etc.) out of beads.

"Even since I was small," said Pops, "I really loved putting clothes together. I don’t wear my clothes just once or twice and put them away. Sayang naman, di ba? What I do is mix and match. People don’t probably notice it but I’ve been wearing most of my clothes a dozen times. Hindi halata dahil nga mini-mix and match ko."

Some of the Pipay T-shirts were displayed at Ratsky during the presscon, along with bags made of cloth, very colorful and attractive in floral prints.

She could have put up a food business, like what several showbiz folk have been doing, but food simply isn’t Pops’ line. "I eat but I can’t cook," she smiled. "Clothes are really my line. I splurge on clothes."

Asked why she didn’t call her products simply Pops, she explained that the name is now being used by a few businesses she has nothing to do with.

"Pipay is a nice name, isn’t it? Besides, that’s also my pet nickname."