Lara’s family frowns on Raymond

It should be the other way around but in the case of estranged couple Raymond Bagatsing and Lara Fabregas, it’s the husband talking and talking while the wife has remained intriguingly quiet (suffering in silence?).

During the presscon for his latest film, Viva Films’ Sukdulan (launching vehicle of Katya Santos as a bold star), Raymond confirmed Funfare’s "scoop" late last year that – yes, indeed – he and Lara have been estranged for more than six months now, citing as cause the fact that they got married in haste after knowing each other for barely two weeks.

Such a pity, especially if you recall that their wedding, solemnized Indian style in Tagaytay, was a beautifully unique one, as if "made in heaven." They were so in love, until, well... until the fantasy bubble burst. Back to reality...

Anyway, Raymond’s "using" his marital break-up as a promo pitch for Sukdulan totally displeases not only the silent Lara but all of the Fabregases (especially Lara’s estranged parents, Jaime Fabregas and Bing Caballero). A Funfare DPA quoted a Fabregas family member as having said, "Does he have to resort to that cheap gimmickry?"

It is safe to say that the Raymond-Lara marriage was doomed from the start. Neither of them, but especially Raymond (again according to the Funfare DPA), was able to blend well into each other’s family. As they say, no man is an island, not if you’re marrying somebody. You marry not only your girlfriend/boyfriend but also, in a way, her/his family, don’t you?

In November last year when they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, Raymond and Lara flew to Bali (yes, after the bombing) not only to get away from it all but to try to iron things out – in vain.

"During their almost four days there," added the Funfare DPA, "Raymond hardly talked to Lara; hindi niya halos kinikibo si Lara. So they came home without sorting out anything at all. Mas lumala pa nga ang relasyon nila.

The Fabregases didn’t know the true situation of the couple because Lara never breathed a word about her and Raymond, not even when her mom confronted her.

"But when Lara broke down in tears, even without saying a word," concluded the DPA, "her mom immediately knew that something was terribly, terribly wrong."

Oh, well.

Moral of the story?

Look before you leap. Make sure that you know the person very, very well before you jump into the matrimonial bed with him/her.

Congrats, Billy C.!

"It’s a little unheard of for me," was all Billy Crawford could say when he won as Best International Male Singer at the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes a few days ago. He said that to media guys backstage right after he received his trophy. "I’m still shaking," the 20-year-old Billy added.

He had a good reason to be – shaking, that is. After all, Billy beat such bigwigs as Will Smith, Eminem and Robbie Williams (who, like Billy, also performed at the event).

It’s funny because hereabouts, Billy (described in the wire story as "An American-Filipino pop artist") is given the same attention as the one he’s getting in Europe where he’s considered a superstar. In the Philippines, Billy is forever (it seems) remembered as that cute little boy Billy (Joe) Crawford who wowed audiences with his lovable antics on That’s Entertainment, the smorgasbord show produced and hosted by German Moreno, Billy’s mentor and "second father."

During his last visit here several months ago, Billy was even linked to KC Concepcion who turned out to be only a friend.

The other big news about Billy is that he’s definitely starring in The Exorcist Prequel, with no less than Liam Neeson among the lead actors.

When I interviewed Neeson in New York (for K-9: Widowmaker, his movie with Harrison Ford) last year, I asked him about Billy (as the possessed boy in The Exorcist Prequel).

"Yes," confirmed Neeson, "he’s with me in the movie. I heard hat he’s a very talented boy."

Take another bow, Billy Crawford.