Dayanara open to doing projects in RP

Last Friday, Funfare reprinted a small item from People magazine about the brief reunion of ex-couple Dayanara Torres and Marc Anthony during the baptismal of their younger son Ryan. Marc’s new wife, Jennifer Lopez, was not, understandably, around.

The other day, I got my regular supply of glossy magazines from Summit Publications (thank you, Lisa Gokongwei Cheng, the publisher) and, lo and behold, Good Housekeeping carries an exclusive interview (by phone) with Dayanara, entitled Healing Her Broken Heart, by Veronica C. Uy.

Veronica’s article came in handy because Dayanara fans and admirers have been asking Funfare for more updates.

As Funfare mentioned in previous columns, the un-couple’s divorce papers (issued by a Dominican Republic court) specify that either of them would be fined US$10,000 each time he or she speaks ill of the other. Under the divorce settlement, Dayanara gets US$3,500 a month and the kids US$6,500 each a month; the mansion in Miami, Florida; a house in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and a BMW and a Lincoln.

Asked by Veronica how she’s doing, Dayanara said, "I’m great, doing fine. Little by little, I’m adjusting to the situation. The kids help me with their smiles. I live for them. Life goes on. You need to continue and be happy for your kids. I’ve been blessed with two beautiful boys (The other is Christian. – RFL) who are healthy and smart. I also have a family who loves me unconditionally. I’m thankful."

Is she bitter toward Marc?

In an interview with Latina magazine, also quoted by Veronica, Dayanara said, "Just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean that I have to hate him, and I don’t – I’m sorry, I don’t. No matter what, he’s the father of my kids, and I could never, ever wish him bad. It just didn’t work."

Dayanara recently did a guest stint in the long-running US soap The Young and the Restless and she said of her first American acting job,"It was a great experience," adding that part of her plan is to resume her rudely-interrupted showbiz career.

Would she accept an offer to do a movie (or a TV guesting) in the Philippines, her second home?

Why not, Dayanara told Veronica. "I’ll see if it’s a great project. Movies (however) are a little more complicated now. I prefer to do commercials and guest appearances, when I can be away for only four or five days at a time."

Her home base is Miami. She goes to her native Puerto Rico every now and then and to Los Angeles "doing short stuffs like castings." She loves it in Miami where her sister lives just 10 minutes away from her home.

How is it being a single mom?

"I wouldn’t say it’s difficult but it’s hectic. You’re always planning. Your agenda is always full: Bring kids to the doctor, take them to places, have activities, plan their days for them. On weekends, it is to the jungle or watch a movie or have people come over."

What’s the best lesson she has learned from recent experience?

"That I’m a strong person. That having kids and being a mom makes you stronger. You fight if you have to fight. I also realized that I can move on with my life."

(Note: For the full story on Dayanara, get a copy of the September issue of Good Housekeeping.)

Environment-Friendly Beauty Queens

Reigning Miss Earth 2003 Dania Prince (of Honduras) dropped by The STAR offices a few days ago and we were won over not only by her physical beauty but her inner beauty (very friendly!) as well.

Here’s a report on the forthcoming Miss Earth 2004 contest by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Miss Earth 2003 Dania Prince is back to help kick off the 2004 Miss Earth pageant slated on Oct. 24 at the UP Theater. Now on its fourth year, the pageant is said to be the third largest in the world (coming after the Miss World and Miss Universe contests).

The 5’10" Honduran stunner will promote the pageant’s thrust – preserving the environment. Carousel Productions, organizer of the pageant, has arranged a nationwide tour for Dania to promote environmental causes.

During her reign, Dania has traveled extensively. Asked if she’d like to try showbiz, she simply smiled (meaning, why not?).

The Philippine bet in the 2004 Miss Earth pageant is 21-year-old Tamera Marie Lagac Szijarto (from Cavite), standing 5’9", half-Filipino and half-Hungarian, who is beauty and brains combined. Tamera was introduced as one of Ronnie Ricketts’ leading ladies in Mano Mano 3: Arnis, The Lost Art, shown at the Manila Filmfest last June. She’s an early favorite, along with Misses Brazil, Poland and Paraguay.

Ruffa Delivers 9/11 Baby

"I never thought I’d give birth on 9/11," Ruffa Gutierrez said during a brief phone chat with Funfare yesterday after she was wheeled back to her room at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "But I did. I was originally scheduled to deliver on Sept. 30 but it was advanced to Sept. 15. I finally delivered (the natural way) at 12:17 p.m. on Sept. 11."

The baby, to be named Venice, weighed 5.3 lbs. and measured 17 inches. She’s the second child of Ruffa and husband Yilmaz Bektas. The first, Gabriella Lorin, turned a year old last Aug. 3. Venice shares her birthday with the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Of course, everybody knows what 9/11 also stands for.

Ruffa gave birth without her mom, Annabelle Rama, and Yilmaz by her side. She said they were expected in L.A. (Annabelle from Manila and Yilmaz from Istanbul) either Sunday or Monday, two days before the supposedly Sept. 15 delivery. They should be there by now.

According to Ruffa, there were bomb threats all over L.A. (and several other states in America), including the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, because the day was the third anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Center.

"Six armed men escorted me back to my suite," said Ruffa.

She added that a nurse was fired because she barged into Ruffa’s room when her placenta was being removed while another nurse was reprimanded for "suspiciously" following Venice to the nursery room.

"Super-higpit ang security," said Ruffa. "Grabe!!!"

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