When love is gone

In the first place, was it ever there?

But what happens when love is gone?

Well, as showbiz-watchers must know by now, partners who used to be sugary-sweet to each other swap hurting words on national television which has become the best venue for washing dirty linen.

Case No 1: Ethel Booba vs Alex Crisano

Only three months ago, the couple was featured lovey-dovey in this paper’s Sunday feature Conversations, professing undying love for each other, for better or for worse even if they’ve been living together out of wedlock. It was a you-and-me-against-the-world kind of romance, with Ethel turning her back on her family which is vehemently against the relationship.

And then, they broke up.

On Showbiz Stripped last Saturday, Ethel revealed that Alex, a controversial figure in his own right, had an "affair" with her lookalike fan, and Alex did admit (sans remorse?) that it was just a "one-night stand."

Then last Sunday on S-Files, Ethel spilled more beans: That the real reason why she broke up with Alex was that she learned that Alex was teaching her siblings to take drugs, an accusation which Alex understandably denied.

Now, they’re really TALKING!

Will they soon swap accusations who is at fault behind that controversial sex video (and admit that it’s them who are in it)?

Stay tuned; don’t blink.

Case No 2: Dan Fernandez vs Sheila Ysrael

Just when everybody thought that Dan and Sheila were living happily ever after, far from the maddening showbiz crowd, news that they have broken up exploded intially in tab headlines and later in showbizTV.

Has Dan’s loss in last year’s elections (when he ran for governor of Laguna) anything to do with it?

She said that he had been beating her up.

He said he found out that she has "another man" in her life.

With a court case between them for custody of their children ("They are my only world now," said Dan), the un-couple will be forced to dig up more dirt against each other.

Did Sheila, as Dan is accusing her, squander the family fianances (Dan reportedly let her manage the family businesses) while he wasn’t looking?

Did Sheila exchange sexually-explicit (or have "sex on the phone" a.k.a. S.O.P.) text messages with the "other man" as Dan alleged in his affidavit?

Did Dan really turn Sheila into a punching bag?

Again, keep your eyes and ears wide open so you won’t miss a single juicy (salacious?) detail.

Case No. 3: Snooky Serna/Kate vs Ricardo Cepeda

In the continuing real-life Snooky-Ricardo teleserye (which, like its TV counterparts, takes twists and turns that are starting to sound funny and amusing), you can easily tell now who’s telling the truth and who’s not, which is not the same as saying who’s right and who’s wrong because in a marriage breakup, it’s presumed that the blame should be shared 50/50 by the feuding partners.

On Showbiz Stripped last Saturday, Snooky sounded conciliatory as she said she had begun moving on. Barely 24 hours later on S-Files, she made a 180-degree turn and spewed bile against Ricardo, denying what she claimed was Ricardo’s allegation that he was feeding (pinalalamon was the word she used) her mom and brother who were staying with them during happier times.

Of course, Ricardo denied Snooky’s accusation, clueless as to why his estranged wife was saying all those nasty things.

Incidentally, before we draw the curtain on this case, I want to make it clear that, contrary to Snooky’s claim on S-Files, the phrase "cobwebs of the mind" came not from Ricardo but from me when I wrote about their case several issues back. Since the protagonists have decided to bury the hatchet for the time being ("For the sake of our daughters who are badly traumatized," said Ricardo), there’s no need for us to dig up, well old wounds.

Funfare’s wish for these un-couples?

Just this: Christmas is upon us and let peace prevail.

And, ehem, Happy New Dear?

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])