Geneva doesn’t want baby out of wedlock

Curtain-raisers:

• Reacting to Funfare’s story the other day, Martin Nievera said that it was he (and his producers) who booked his PICC concert as early as last year for Dec. 14, which is also the schedule of his ex-wife Pops Fernandez’s concert at the old ULTRA. Funfare found out that Pops’ concert was originally intended for end of November but due to booking problems it had to be moved to Dec. 14, right smack into Martin’s playdate.

• A Funfare reader said that although winning an award at the Brussels Film Festival is an "honor," it’s really not that much to crow about. "If you notice," said Mr. P., "year in and year out palagi na lang Philippines ang nananalo. It’s actually a small filmfest, held in just one theater." This year’s winners include Yul Servo and Joel Torre as Best Actors for Lav Diaz’s Batang West Side, also named Best Picture, and, in the past three years alone, Vilma Santos for Best Actress (Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?), Albert Martinez as Best Actor (for Rizal), and Dolphy with sons Eric and Jeffrey as Best Actors for Markova, Comfort Gay. "We might as well call it the Brussels-Philippines Film Festival," Mr. P added. Well, come to think of it…

• It’s definite: Inday Badiday’s celebrity show on GMA 7 will premiere on Dec. 8 as pre-programming for SIS and Eat, Bulaga! It will be directed by Kitchie Benedicto, with Bibeth Orteza as scriptwriter.

* * *

In the Don’t Need Your Money (a cut from her latest album, Geneva, from Universal Records) music video (directed by Boom Dayupay), Geneva Cruz reminds people of an MTV featuring Jennifer "J.Lo" Lopez. But Geneva insisted that her music video is original and not copied from anywhere or anybody else’s.

"That song speaks for me and my principle," said Geneva. "I was brought up by my parents not to fall for any man just because of his money."

At 26, Geneva has matured considerably, not letting her heart rule her head like she used to.

"I know that it’s not easy for any man to fall in love with a woman who was once married and who has a child," admitted Geneva. "Not many men respect single moms."

But Geneva, whose son Heaven by ex-husband Paco Arespacochaga (now married to somebody else and living in L.A.) is almost eight-years old, seems to have found "true love" in the person of KC Montero with whom, even if she didn’t say so, she has reconciled.

"Would I bear a child out of wedlock?" Geneva repeated a question from a movie columnist during the launching of her Geneva album. "No, I won’t. Never! I’ll have another child only after I get married (again)."

The Geneva album shows the "new" Geneva who is "in control" not only of herself but also of her career.

It’s a pity that a song called Goodbye, which she herself wrote, didn’t make it to the album, her third so far.

"It’s dedicated to somebody," said Geneva without identifying who the person is.

Daniel for Governor of Bulacan?

During the mini-presscon for his latest movie, Metro Films’ Biyahera (where he plays a restaurant owner who beds his waitresses, played by Yda Manzano and newcomer Jeanette Joaquin), Bulacan Board Member Daniel Fernando denied rumors that he’s running for Governor in 2004, against incumbent Josie dela Cruz.

"I’ll run for reelection," said Daniel, "but not for any higher position."

Daniel got the highest number of votes in the 2001 elections and, when the Governor is away, he acts as the Vice Governor.

"Politics is not new to me," added Daniel who, as a teenager, was a Kabataang Barangay chairman in his native Guiguinto, Bulacan. His grandfather, Potenciano Gonzales, was once Mayor of Guiguinto. "But I can never turn my back on showbiz. It’s my bread and butter. Besides, I don’t have a hard time combining showbiz and politics."

Biyahera is the sixth film Daniel has done since he assumed his post as a Board Member. He’s also in the cast of the GMA 7 soap Kahit Kailan.

Anthony’s song for America

Now it can be told: Former Quezon City Councilor Anthony Castelo has written a "rally song" entitled America, Let’s Roll which he formally presented to US President George W. Bush when he went to the White House last October.

Castelo said that he was inspired to compose the song by Bush’s leadership especially in this age of terrorism.

At the White House, Castelo thanked Bush for sending US troops to the Philippines (for the Balikatan exercises) and for the US support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s war against terrorists (specifically the Abu Sayyaf).

He got a warm hug from Bush who told him, "Thank you. You’re a good man."