The day Ronnie came home and found Mariz gone

What would you do if you came home one day and found your wife and two kids gone (as if they vanished into thin air)?

That was Ronnie Ricketts’ dilemma recently when, dead tired from the shooting of Mano-Mano III: Arnis, The Lost Art (Ronnie’s own Rockets Productions’ official entry to the 2004 Manila Filmfest), he arrived home and found his wife Mariz and their two children "missing."

But before he could panic, Ronnie learned that Mariz had left for Singapore in a fit of jealousy, tagging along their kids. Reason: Mariz heard on the radio that Ronnie’s female Mano-Mano co-stars were giving him special attention (maybe without any malice) and the usually cool Mariz got jealous, kept it to herself and embarked on that "secret" (from Ronnie) unscheduled trip to Singapore.

A Funfare DPA (straight from California) said that when people started to ask where Mariz and the children were, Ronnie gave the alibi that they were having a long-planned vacation in Singapore but he was too busy to go with them.

As in any quarrel between really-loving couples, making up is the most exciting part.

When Mariz and the kids came back, she found their New Manila home bedecked with hundreds of red roses. Repentant for her (childish?) action, Mariz melted in tears in the loving arms of Ronnie who couldn’t get to "scold" his unreasonably jealous wife.

You know what happened that night before they went to sleep.

Later, Ronnie explained to Mariz that he was just being brotherly to his leading ladies who are new in showbiz – Viva Hot Babe Gwen Garci, Leila Kuzma and Miss Philippines Earth Tammy Sjjarto.

The California DPA said that Mariz needed not worry because Ronnie is the most faithful husband on earth, showering Mariz with roses even when there’s no special occasion and saying "I love you!" to her several times a day. Their 10-year marriage is untarnished by rumors (Ronnie has never been romantically linked to any other woman, he being a one-woman man).

"Sorry," said Mariz, "but I over-reacted to that radio tsismis. I guess I was stressed-out running our restaurant (The Barn, along Katipunan Road, Quezon City, right across Ateneo). I’m also helping Ronnie who’s line-producing Mano-Mano III."

Karate Kid Also In Mano-Mano III

Incidentally, Ronnie’s nephew, 13-year-old Bruce Lee Ricketts, is again co-starring with Ronnie in Mano-Mano III, displaying the same expertise in Arnis with which he impressed action-film fans in the first two Mano-Mano.

Mano-Mano III director Willy Milan was impressed by Bruce’s martial-arts skills, especially when the onlookers broke into applause after the shooting of Bruce’s scenes.

The boy is the son of Ronnie’s brother Christopher, himself a martial arts expert, and Beth who now operates and owns the Metro Manila office of Naldo-Ricketts Realty (in coordination with the Naldo-Ricketts Realty in San Diego, California, owned and managed by Ronnie’s parents, Edith and Max Ricketts).

A high-school sophomore at De La Salle Zobel (Ayala Alabang), Bruce has two brothers (Brandon Max, 10, and Jett Christopher, 8) who are also into martial arts and have appeared in their Uncle Ronnie’s movies.

"For one so young," said Dad Christopher (renowned internationally for his brand of combat martial arts and self-defense tactics), "Bruce is so disciplined and so dedicated to martial arts. He’s a perfectionist; he trains for hours."

Wendell Swings Both Ways

By swinging both ways, I mean, of course, that Wendell Ramos can easily switch from comedy (in the GMA gag show Bubble Gang, etc.) to drama (in movies, like his latest, Regal Films’ 2004 Manila Filmfest entry Sabel, with Judy Ann Santos in the title role).

He plays an ex-convict who falls in love with a nun (Judy Ann). Asked if he would do the same in real life, Wendell said, "Not with a nun."

Sabel is Wendell’s third movie with director Joel Lamangan (after Hubog for which he got three Best Supporting Actor nominations and Filipinas). In the story, Judy Ann and her fellow nuns hold counselling sessions inside the prison where Wendell (convicted for a crime he didn’t commit) meets and falls in love with her. He rapes her when he learns that the nuns are going somewhere else with their mission.

"Direk Joel handled the rape scene very well," said Wendell who now holds the "distinction" of being the first actor to initiate Judy Ann in that manner, "I was careful not to hurt Judy Ann. We had more love scenes when I get out of prison and she leaves the convent, feeling guilty as she is after I raped her."

Turning 26 on Aug. 18, Wendell is an ideal father in real life. Both his sons are named Wendell Xavier, one his love child with his girlfriend now based in the States with the six-year-old boy and the second his five-year-old son with his estranged wife.

"I’ve remained friends with the mothers of my sons," said Wendell. "I talk to my US-based son on the phone all the time. The other one, whom I call Wendell Liit, is staying with me, looked after by a yaya. He’s in nursery."

Linkin Park Quiz

The Linkin Park will have a concert on June 15 at the CCP Open Grounds (presented by Smart Buddy, No Curfew Watch Stores and Jag Jeans, along with Frenzy, Petron, Treats, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Citizen Eco-Drive Watches).

In connection with this, Funfare is conducting a joint quiz promo with the concert producer from June 7 until Saturday, June 12. Everyday, two winners (who will each get two tickets to the concert) will be picked by a representative of the concert-producer. There will be 12 winners all in all.

Simply answer the question Who do you think is the coolest Linkin Park member? and e-mail your answer to [email protected] or fax to 816-0014. (Winners will be duly notified and can claim their tickets on June 14 at Unit 809 V. Madrigal Bldg., Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Bring your ID. Look for Mic Florendo or Agie Dacanay, or call 817-2940.)

Here are sample answers from two Viva Hot Men:

• From Adrian Zabala: "Mike Shinoda is my favorite because he can do rap with a different style and he can play the guitar as well among the group."

• Dave Anquilo: "Mike Shinoda – kasi magaling mag-rap. Si Chester, kasi puro sigaw lang."

The Linkin Park is composed of Joe Hahn, Chester Bennington, MC Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell a.k.a. Phoenix and Rob Bourdon.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])