• Jinggoy Estrada is deadset on running again for Mayor of San Juan, the same post he held for many years after he succeeded his father, former President Erap Estrada. But Jinggoy’s half-brother JV Ejercito, the incumbent Mayor of San Juan, is also determined to run for reelection. Jinggoy said he wouldn’t back out. Unless Erap steps in, San Juan might see a "brother vs brother" contest in 2004 – you know, Ejercito vs Estrada.
• Condolence to the families of Julie Fe Navarro, former entertainment editor People’s Tonight, and Hermie Francisco who died within two days of each other, Julie the other day (Oct. 7) and Hermie yesterday (Oct. 8). Julie’s remains lie at the Arlington Memorial Chapels on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City; and those of Hermie, at the Sta. Rita de Casia Chapel at Phil-Am Homes, West Avenue, Quezon City.
• Happy 18th birthday to Ann Margareth Tee, daughter of BMG Pilipinas boss Rudy and Myrna Tee. Ann will have her debut on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.
The one-on-one will be shown as a TV special on ABS-CBN very soon to drumbeat for the concert of the F4 here sometime in November. All four boys – including Vic Zhou a.k.a. Hua Ze Lei, Ken Zhu a.k.a. Xi Men and Vanness Wu a.k.a. Mei Zuo, plus Barbi Xu a.k.a. Shan Cai – will perform, unlike last month when only two of them (Vanness and Ken) sang at a jampacked concert at the old ULTRA open field which was marred by a riot.
I was also Kris who did an exclusive interview with the two guys. (Note: Kris will write about Vaness in her STAR column, Krispix, next weekend. Watch for it!)
The F4 concert was negotiated by ABS-CBN Executive Vice President Charo Santos-Concio in Taipei recently.
Besides the concert, there’s a possibility that the F4 might make a movie for Star Cinema (ABS-CBN’s sister company) and not, contrary to the web rumor, a chinovela to be produced here with local talents co-starring with the four guys.
What’s more, Barbi Xu just might star in another Star Cinema movie with Piolo Pascual. Keep your fingers crossed, F4 fans!
For an update on this "breaking news," tune in to this Sunday’e edition of The Buzz (4 to 5:30 p.m.) which is covering Kris’ trip to Hong Kong. Stay tuned.
Incidentally, Kris might sell her new house in Alabang but not before living in it for a while – "Para naman ma-enjoy ko ang aking bagong bahay kahit sandali," said Kris who is a "boarder" in the Times Street (Quezon City) house of nher mom, former President Cory Aquino.
Now, could it be true that one of those interested in buying Kris’ house is the girlfriend of Phillip Salvador, Kris’ former boyfriend (and father of her son, Joshua)? Yes, Phillip’s girlfriend is that rich. Very, very rich!
Even now that he and Heart Evangelista have been working together as loveteam for three years, John Prats swore that they’re not yet sweethearts although they’re "very, very close."
"I’m close even to Heart’s family," said John, "and she’s also close to my own family. Ganoon kami ka-close."
John and Heart form one of the two loveteams in Star Cinema’s comedy-romance-drama My First Romance, with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo as the other pair. John and Heart stars in the episode One Love, directed by John-D Lazatin, which is a young romance set on the campus. John Lloyd and Bea topbill the Two Hearts episode, directed by Don Cuaresma, which is about a guy (John Lloyd) who gets a new lease in life with the heart donated by the dead boyfriend of the same girl (Bea) he’s now courting.
Now turning 20 (while Heart is19), John said that he continues to respect his "special friend" Heart.
"We don’t even kiss," John said, not off-screen anyway. "Talagang MU (as in Mutual Understanding) lang kami. We might kiss, though, after 10 years!"
The truth, according to John, is that he goes for older women, naming Dina Bonnevie, Agot Isidro and Aiko Melendez among his three "fantasies." And what would he do in case, just in case, one of those three women tries to, ahem, seduce him?
"Sana huwag mangyari," joked John. "Or else, bibigay ako!"
Will Gretchen play an active role as soon as Tonyboy (and associates) take full control of ABC 5? Could it be true that Gretchen will "pirate" talents from GMA 7 and ABS-CBN (among them her younger sister Claudine Barretto)? Will she really act as "lady boss"?
Gretchen remains mum.
"I’ll cross the bridge when I get there," she said. "Let’s wait and see na lang muna."
Meanwhile, Gretchen is busy rehearsing the Barbra Streisand Medley she’s doing in Saturday’s (Oct. 11) Star Awards for TV at the UP Theater where she’ll wear two beautiful gowns designed by Inno Sotto, along with the dress Gretchen’s daughter Dominique will be wearing to the same affair.
Asked what kind of gown, Gretchen said she’d rather keep it "secret" as per instruction from Inno Sotto.
"Mahirap na," said Gretchen, "baka daw makopya pa ng iba."
So besides her Streisand medley, what people should watch for is Gretchen’s gowns, reportedly so "beautifully sexy" that somebody’s chinky eyes are bound to pop out – or disappear into mere slits.
The next day (Sunday, Oct. 12), Gretchen will be Boy Abunda’s guest co-host on The Buzz which will feature a different co-host every week until a fitting replacement for Kris Aquino, who’s on "indefinite leave," is found.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)