Did Noynoy ‘snub’ Joey?

Curtain-raisers:

• Birthday greetings to Jinggoy Estrada who’s turning a year younger – and definitely wiser – today. Still detained at the Veterans Memorial Hospital with his dad, former President Joseph Estrada, Jinggoy will have a quiet celebration with close family members and friends. His birthday wish? "Sana last birthday ko na ’to sa Veterans," said Jinggoy. Sana.

• Could it be true that until now, more than two months after the 2002 Metro Filmfest, the cash prizes of the winners (P50,000 each for Best Actor and Best Actress, P25,000 each for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, etc.) haven’t been released by Malacañang yet? And that only half of the cash incentives to participating companies have so far been given? Paging Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo!

• What do Luis/Lucky Manzano, Queen Elizabeth, William Shakespeare and newcomer Cindy Kurleto (introduced in Ngayong Nandito Ka as Jericho Rosales’ other girl and one of the hosts of the new MTB to be launched Feb. 22) have in common? They were all born on April 21 (Taurus).

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Maybe you didn’t notice it but something somewhat scary happened behind the cameras during yesterday’s telecast of The Buzz.

During the showing of a taped interview, a "stalker" (a tomboyish girl) slipped into the studio unnoticed and walked casually toward the rostrum where hosts Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino were seated. It was only when the "stalker" was three steps away from Kris’ back did the people around notice something strange.

Was the "stalker" trying to pull Kris’ hair? Was the "stalker" going to hurt Kris? What was she up to?

While being gently escorted away from the studio by the security guards, trying to resist, she was saying she only wanted to apologize to Kris "on air" because while watching Kris on TV in Laguna she had said bad words against Kris. Strange, isn’t it? In these days of stalkers and other bad elements, you can never be too careful, can you?

More about Kris (fresh from a birthday holiday in Hong Kong with Joshua and company)...

Did you know that her Kuya Noynoy and her "ex," Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez, found themselves two seats away on a PAL flight (economy class) to Cebu the other night? The two guys bumped into each other at departure lounge’s smoking area. Joey wanted to approach Noynoy and say, "Kuya, kumusta po?" but Joey didn’t dare. Noynoy didn’t lift his face from the paper he was pretending to read, not until it was boarding time.

Upon arrival in Cebu, Noynoy and his companion (a bodyguard, presumably) rushed out, with Joey following a safe distance behind them.

See how fate sometimes plays tricks on humans!

Nagmamahal, Manay Gina

First, the sad news: The award-winning GMA TV drama series Pira-Pirasong Pangarap has folded up.

Now the happy news: Pira-Piraso producer Gina de Venecia is coming up with a new show entitled Nagmamahal, Manay Gina to take over the same timeslot (3:30 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday) with Manay Gina herself as host. Premier telecast will be on Feb. 24.

Herself showbiz na showbiz (after all, she comes from the Vera-Perezes of Sampaguita Pictures, or have you forgotten?), Manay Gina has always been known as Mrs. De Venecia, the wife of Speaker Joe. Pira-Pirasong Pangarap launched her as a television personality, and after almost six years, she has eventually stepped out of the shadow of politics, and earned her own niche in the entertainment industry.

Manay Gina also believes that it is time for her to move on. "I feel that I have given my personal best to advance the cause of the abused." After launching Pira-Pirasong Pangarap in 1997 with its stories on abuses and survival of women, she led the construction of a sanctuary for battered women, The Haven.

Today, 15 Regional Centers for Women are also in existence all over the country. And today, Manay Gina, who also heads the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI), is inaugurating the first National Center for Children or The Haven for Children.

Like its predecessor, Nagmamahal, Manay Gina also puts premium on quality entertainment. Already, a mix of progressive and seasoned directors like Jeffrey Jeturian, Soxy Topacio, Albert Martinez, Gina Alajar, Manny Castañeda, Joey Romero, Ruel Bayani and Khryss Adalia have been signed up to handle the initial installments of the anthology.

Manay Gina celebrated her birthday last Saturday (Feb. 15).

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