Is it true that Jessica Rodriguez and David Bunevacz are in hiding? The couple, rumors say, embezzled money amounting to P20-M. They are, as the grapevine alleges, being hunted by their partners in Beverly Hills 6750. David and Jessica reportedly misappropriated company money. Thus their partners are after their heads. It was reported that their associates became suspicious of both Jessica and David when the former surprised his wife with a brand-new BMW as anniversary gift. Aside from the BMW, David also bought a brand new Porsche, all these using company checks. David used to sit as CEO and president of Beverly Hills 6750 while Jessica was in charge of the publicity and promotions. Aside from the misuse of funds, the grapevine has it that David was mauled and threatened if he did not return the funds.
Worried about the unsavory rumors circulating around, Jessica and David, now both in the US, issued a statement to clear their names which I am printing below:
It has come to our attention that many rumors have been flying around Manila since our departure and we feel at this point that we should issue the following facts so that the public may not be surprised to why we left the Philippines on December 6.
1. We leave for the States every year at this time to spend Christmas with our family in Los Angeles. Our son Grant was granted immigrant status and was given a deadline of December to acquire citizenship which we have been processing since we have landed. If we did not enter the US before Dec. 14, then we would have started the long process all over again.
2. Jessica went through a major surgery two weeks ago and needs to recover in a place where she is not forced to move about and strain herself. It was perfect timing that we were leaving for vacation.
3. It is true that there is a dispute with Beverly Hills and for the past week both parties have been working hard to reach an amicable solution so both parties will benefit. It is in the advantage of both parties to solve the dispute so that business can continue as usual. We will be returning to the Philippines after our vacation is over in January.
After The Buzz last Sunday, I got a text message from David, part of which read:
1. BMW owner has been interviewed and stated that I am a valued client and have never used Beverly Hills funds to acquire any of my BMWs especially the X5 I gave Jess which I traded in my other 530 BMW for her new one and was actually refunded cash.
2. There is no auditor that has released an official summary of the books of Beverly Hills nor has there been any case filed against me.
3. There have been malicious rumors spread just to ruin my reputation. I have been proud to be the owner of the top financial consultancy firm for the local government which has a portfolio of over 1.5 billion of local government projects since 2003 and have an ongoing 1 billion in contracts as of today. My attorneys are asking that a top 5 auditing firm in Beverly Hills to do a real audit so everyone will see that Beverly Hills actually owes me money. The other group doesn’t want to allow this. Everyone is asking why? What are they hiding? There is always two sides to the story.
4. One last thing, SCCI (Strategic Comprehensive Consultants, Inc.) is owned 100 percent by me.
The other side of Pooh
Clumsy impersonators rarely last long; good ones even outlast the ones they impersonate. The lesson here is that you can’t fool your audience. In the end, they decide who stays and who goes.
This same audience has decided not to pooh-pooh stand-up comedian Pooh (a.k.a. Reynolds Garcia). His impersonation of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao earned him that much-needed attention when he was starting in showbiz several years ago, and the result was a flourishing career and a healthy bank account.
To keep up with the diverse tastes of his viewers, Pooh spends a lot of time studying any role given to him, comic or otherwise. He recently won an Awit Awards trophy as the Best Comedy Act-Male Division. Pooh essayed the role of Papa Berns, a gay talent manager on ABS-CBN’s Pangarap na Bituin. He is also regularly seen on John En Shirley, a top-rating sitcom on the same channel. When his busy schedule permits it, Pooh also hosts corporate shows.
Luck must really be on his side because Pooh recently won two million pesos in the top-rating quiz show 1 versus 100 on ABS-CBN. He is the first to win the jackpot on the said show. To give back to a life that has been very kind to him, Pooh sends four of his kapamilya to school. With his earnings, he has been able to invest in some properties in his hometown and in Bulacan.
Looking back, Pooh indeed has gone a long way. He first made an assault in the realm of stand-up comedy by hitting the string of popular comedy sing-along bars in Manila many years ago. It was in one of his stints here that he got discovered for TV. “I don’t know how long this joy ride is going to last, that’s why I’m making the most out of these wonderful times,” he says.
Now get ready for some knockout comedy as Pooh prepares for his biggest show to date in ASAPooh ‘08, a spin-off of the top variety show in town, ASAP ‘07. “It’s ASAP with a comic twist,” Pooh adds. The rollicking fun show will happen on Dec. 28 at the Music Museum.
According to Pooh, the experimental show will reveal his other side as he dances like The G Force, a popular dance group, and the Bayanihan Folkloric Dance Troupe, a world-class folk dance company. He will also venture into serious singing like The Champions and perform the classics. Yes, he can sing, whether we like it or not.
What’s also not to be missed is Pooh’s performance of new monologue skits, which he promises to be riotously funny and fresh. In the show, Pooh will give everyone a glimpse of what it’s like on a typical shooting day for ASAP.
Joining him in the show is a crazy ensemble of the best artists and comedians in town like gifted young actress Maja Salvador, funny lastikman Vhong Navarro, outstanding bone tickler Candy Pangilinan and sexy comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto.
ASAPooh ‘08 is directed by Bert de Leon and written by Joel Mercado. Tickets sell at P500, P800 and P1,000.