Is Phillip back?

Somebody who looked like Phillip Salvador was spotted by Funfare’s "roving eye" yesterday having lunch with a male companion at Paseo Uno of Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Was he the "real" Phillip Salvador or was he just a, ehem, lookalike?

If he was, indeed, the "real Phillip Salvador," he must have slipped into the country without somebody noticing him. Did he fly back incognito from California where he had been staying with his new girlfriend, the one he reportedly married there?

If he was a, ehem, lookalike, what business did he have trying to look like the "ex" of Kris Aquino and that woman (Phillip’s other "ex") who has filed a case against him?

Come on, Phillip (the "real" one), raise your right hand if you’re the one.

If you’re just a, ehem, lookalike, please disappear posthaste. (If I know, you will be mounting the stage soon to pitch for FPJ’s presidential bid. You bet?)

New singer in Piolo’s concert

When Piolo Pascual mounts his first major solo concert at the Big Dome on April 24 (Saturday, 8 p.m.), the expected SRO audience will have a chance to listen to a talented new singer named Michelle Ayalde, 17 going on 18 (on Sept. 21), who is doing a solo number and a duet with Piolo.

A member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center’s Star Circle Batch 10, Michelle got her first (major) public exposure at the F4 concert last year where she sang the Tagalog version of F4’s The Love You Want.

"I’m excited to be on Piolo’s show," said Michelle, a Star Records contract artist (her debut album out soon) who still wears braces. "At the same time, I’m also nervous."

Michelle is an early starter. She started singing at age 2; at 4, she competed for a Center for Pop Music contest. At 8, she joined the Little Miss SM search and then she auditoned for Ang TV. At 10, she was already singing professionally.

She finished grade/elementary school at St. Claire and high school at St. Mary’s (Pasay City) and is now taking up Masscom (major in Broadcasting) at CEU.

Among her favorite singers are Regine Velasquez ("Because she can hit high notes effortlessly") and Lani Misalucha ("I love her ‘whistle’").

Piolo’s other guests are Akafellas, Old School, The Hunks, Ai Ai delas Alas and Basil Valdez, with Johnny "Mr. M" Manahan as director and Louie Ocampo as musical director.

(Note: Tickets are priced at P2,000, P1,500, P1,200, P1,000, P750, P500 and P300. For inquiries, call the Star Records at 415-5834 or 415-5835; look for Abi or Manna.)

More Star Graduates

Here are more star graduates to be added to Funfare’s growing list. (Are there more out there? Speak up now or remain silent until the next graduation season).

One, Bernadette Allyson and husband Gary Estrada. Bernadette graduated in 1999 from La Salle with a degree in AB Psychology and Gary, also in 1999, from International Academy of Management and Economics.

Bernadette told Funfare that Gary is running for Mayor in San Antonio, Quezon. "I’m busy campaigning for him," said Bernadette.

(Gary’s half-brother, E.R. Ejercito, is running for reelection as Mayor of nearby Pagsanjan, Laguna.)

Two, Donna Cruz. Her husband, Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, an opthalmologist, e-mailed this information to Funfare: Donna graduated in Oct. 2003 with a degree in B.S. Computer Science from Cebu Doctors’ College. One of her qualifying projects to graduate included website construction. She made my website (www.sightfirstclinics.com <http://www.sightfirstclinics.com>) which she maintains up to now. She’s in the process of constructing two websites (one for indigent hospitalized pediatric patients). In the photo, I’m wearing a toga because members of the board of directors (Of Cebu Doctors’ College owned and run by the Larrazabals. – RFL) are required to march with the graduates every year.

Now retired from showbiz, Donna has two children by Yong, Belle and Cian.

How Ruffa, Yilmaz Marked 1st Wedding Anniversary

Last Easter Sunday, Ruffa Gutierrez and husband Yilmaz Bektas threw a party to celebrate the "teething" of their daughter Lorin Gabriella. They’re expecting their second child in October.

Here’s Ruffa on how they marked their first wedding anniversary last March 25:

When Yilmaz and I got married in March of 2003, we made a vow to have and hold each other for better or for worst, in front of our family, friends and before God almighty. It all seemed so perfect and true. It seemed that with a kiss for luck and everyone’s well wishes we were indeed on our way to an ideal married life. By God’s mercies, I would not have predicted that our relationship would be close to perfect. But a year after that fateful day in March, it seems that we have lived up to all expectations. That is the way our love story goes…

On this day, March 25, 2004, Yilmaz and I are celebrating our first wedding anniversary. It has been a roller-coaster ride especially with all the intrigues we went through last summer. But Thank God, everything has finally fallen into the right place. Things are close to perfect and life is good! I thank God every day for all the blessings He has showered my family and pray to Him to guide us and protect us from the temptations of the world. In fact, our relationship has developed into something far richer than my early romantic view. We have lived through all the intrigues, birth of our lovely first born Lorin, disappointments and sorrows, as well as the all the pleasures of an enduring relationship. We have worked hard to arrive at a place of ease with one another and our circumstances.

Last March 25, Yilmaz and I celebrated a year of married bliss, our first wedding anniversary. We had a romantic dinner at the Tugra restaurant of the Ciragan Palace (former residence of the King of Turkey-Sultan Abdulmecid) which is now part of the Kempinski Hotel. With delicious Ottoman cuisine, we had fabulous views of the European shores of the Bosphorus. In between all this activity we both took the time to reflect on our commitment to ourselves, to each other and to our relationship.

We are also now expecting our second baby whom we fondly call "Nemo" till we find out via ultrasound next month if it’s a girl or boy. Yilmaz and I are excited about Nemo’s coming!

So what exactly is commitment? For us, I believe it is dedication to common purposes, a willingness to grow and learn, faith and courage in difficult situations and adaptability. It implies focused attention and hard work. I must admit that the past year has molded and matured me. All enduring relationships go through many phases. Ironically, it is often the most difficult situations that serve to strengthen relationships. In our case my being in show business and all the quirks that go with it has moved us from a hard working couple to a deeper, fuller commitment to each other and our relationship.

Happy first year my handsome, sweet Prince... Looking forward to more years ahead with you if not forever!

What’s Up?

• Condolence to the family of director Jun Raquiza (a.k.a. Leo Angelo, the actor) who died of heart attack last Saturday, April 10; he was 56. His remains lie at the Funeraria Paz in Parañaque City. Jun/Leo left a son, Jun Raquiza III, 26, and a dozen good films (some of which starred Nora Aunor). He’ll be buried on Saturday, April 17.

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