Stay tuned for developments.
Curtain-raisers:
• As usual, the public can actually vote in the ongoing Miss World contest (in Poland). Do help our bet, Anna Maris Igpit (No. 112), win one of the only two international titles (the other being Miss Earth) not yet won by a Filipina by texting your vote – MW112 – and send to 2929 for Globe and Smart. Your votes will count a lot.
• From my L.A.-based friend Baby K. Jimenez (reacting to Funfare’s recent item about Iza Calzado and her US-based boyfriend, band member Gerry Garcia): Gerry is the son of Jorge Garcia, a famous heart surgeon tutored by Christian Barnaard (pioneer in heart transplant). Gerry’s mother is Cora Belizario. Jorge and Cora are both from Biñan, Laguna, and they move in the same social circle with Nini Yatco, mother-in-law of Gabby Concepcion.
• I have just discovered The Healing Zone, thanks to Pete Lacaba and Jo-Ann Maglipon for showing the way. Ronald Constantino and I have been going back for acupuncture (in my case, just for general destressing) under Dr. Ma. Teresa Umipig. After only two sessions, we’ve started feeling better. The Healing Zone offers many other services. I advise Funfare readers to try any of them. The Healing Zone is located at the ground floor of VSI Building, #34 Kalayaan Ave., Quezon City). For inquiries and/or appointments, call 426-9041 or 433-4261.
• Somebody who looked like Drew Arellano was seen kissing a girl who looked like Iya Villania at a restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel in Cebu, in full view of other diners who, according to the Funfare DPA Great Lake, were amused by such (brazen?) display of public affection (PDA). Were the couple who looked like Drew and Iya, ehem, "showing off?"
Ask Gian Carlo Magdangal, one of 10 "wild card" contenders for the remaining four slots that would complete the Final 12 that will compete for the plum in ABC 5’s talent search Philippine Idol (hosted by Ryan Agoncillo, with the panel of judges composed of Pilita Corrales, Ryan Cayabyab and Francis Magalona; Heart Evangelista is the "update" host).
Gian (known in showbiz circles as the boyfriend of Aiza Marquez) moved heaven and heart to get into the competition.
Because he missed the auditions in Manila, Gian had to catch up with the one in Cebu and, believe it or not, he had to borrow plane-fare money for that.
"I couldn’t make it to the auditions in Manila because I was at work," said Gian who has been employed at the marketing department of Smart for six months now. "So I missed that. When ABC held the auditions in Davao, I also couldn’t make it. When my friends heard that there would be auditions in Cebu, they nagged me to go there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have money. So my friends lent me enough for the round-trip ticket. In Cebu, my friend, Camille Ocampo, found a place for me to stay for four days."
Gian’s efforts paid off. Thirty-six auditioned in Cebu but he’s the only one left.
His audition piece was Last Time by Eric Benet, a song that means so much to Gian.
"It’s an emotional song," he said. "One of my favorites. I can really relate to the song, so I always sing it straight from the heart."
His theater experience surely helps. A member of Trumpets (the theater company) since 1999, Gian has appeared in half a dozen plays (mostly musicals). He finished Business Administration (2003) at La Salle St. Benilde and took up voice lessons from St. Scho.
"But I got most of my training from theater, under Audie (Gemora) and Freddie (Santos).
(Note: Finals for the wild-card round of Philippine Idol will be on Saturday, Sept. 16. You can vote for Gian – text GIAN and send to 2339 – between 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, and 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17.)
Some of the hair must be those of such Gruppo Barbero celebrity clients as Edu Manzano, Robin Padilla, Andrew Wolfe (who had his head shaved clean there), the Legaspi brothers Zoren and Kier, Polo Ravales, Alex Crisano, Tonton Gutierrez and wife Glydel Mercado, Mario Hernando, Ronald Constantino, Ogie Diaz, Ricky Davao, APO Danny Javier, Joey Marquez, Jericho Rosales, Albert Martinez, Alfie Lorenzo, Dino Erece, Jojo Gabinete (who just loves the ear-cleaning treatment), Lhar Santiago, Patrick Paez, Raffy Tima, Cris Villanueva, Michael V, Troy Montero and girlfriend Aubrey Miles, Bryan Revilla, Richard Gomez, Cesar Montano and many others.
If you’re lucky, you might rub elbows with any of these celebrities while having a trim or a shampoo or a facial at Gruppo Barbero which is owned and managed by lawyer Aga Arellano, father of Drew Arellano who, of course, drops by regularly (usually for a trim and shampoo).
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)