Janice speaks up, at last!

Quiet these past two weeks on the issue surrounding Luigi “Iggy Boy” Muhlach, her son by Aga Muhlach, Janice de Belen is finally breaking her silence in tonight’s edition of The Ricky Lo Exclusives, 8:30 to 9:30 on QTV 11.

During the presscon for A Love Story, his latest movie for Star Cinema with Maricel Soriano and Angelica Panganiban as co-stars, Aga revealed that his problem with Iggy Boy is that the boy has no interest in school, an otherwise innocent and harmless comment seemingly misinterpreted (and blown out of proportion) by the press as a “slur” on Janice’s way of raising Iggy Boy who has stayed and grown up with her since birth.

Iggy Boy, who turned 20 last April 21, is done with high school but he has been out of school for almost six years now, staying idle (“Palaging nasa phone,” said Janice) most of the time. He now sometimes spends time with Aga and his family (wife Charlene Gonzalez and their twins), giving Aga a chance to observe and see Iggy Boy up close.

Aga said during the presscon that he would “reward” Iggy Boy a car and a condo unit if and when he finished school.

“It’s a good incentive. Iggy Boy is interested in the culinary arts,” said Janice, adding in jest, “at mahilig din siya kumain. Actually, he’s still at a stage where he’s trying to find himself.”

Janice also said that she and Aga don’t have any problem between themselves and that they are in constant touch as far as Iggy Boy is concerned.

Janice also clears the rumors  about Iggy Boy 1) having gotten a girl pregnant, 2) having a “bad” habit, and 3) lacking in motherly guidance.

More features on the show:

• Dolphy (who turned 80 last July 25) and his beloved Zsa Zsa Padilla reveal the real score about their marriage, with Zsa Zsa clearing the rumor linking her to former Sen. Tito Sotto;

• Gretchen Barretto on how she and her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco survived the “kisscandal” (the couple left Monday night for the US for Tonyboy’s further treatment); and

• Marian Rivera on talks that she “stole” the title role in Marimar, the new GMA soap, from GMA’s “prodigal daughter” Angel Locsin. (Contrary to rumors that she grew up poor, Marian actually lived in Madrid when her father worked there and, yes, she does speak Spanish.)

What’s up?

• Happy birthday to Ethel Ramos, dean of movie journalists, who’s celebrating her birthday today.

• Condolence to Atty. Aga (Arellano, father of Drew) on the death of his brother, Dr. Bobby Arellano, whose remains lie at the Strada Church right outside the La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City. Interment is set for tomorrow morning, Aug. 2.

• Stay tuned to BBC World News for an interview with Leo Valdez conducted in Melbourne where Leo recently concluded the Miss Saigon run as The Engineer. Leo and company are now on a tour of Brisbane with the same musical.

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