Is Alma afraid of revealing any vital secret?

As you probably know by now, Dolphy is coming up with a biography titled Dolphy: Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa, written by Bibeth Orteza (in coordination with Eric Quizon, now based in Hong Kong where he manages a business, one of Dolphy’s 18 children).

Being a tell-all book, it will cover everything about Dolphy — as in everything, including an explanation why he is known as the Bombilya King —, from his vaudeville days through the Japanese Occupation, into his Sampaguita days and how he has been enthroned as the long-reigning Comedy King, unchallenged up to now that he’s turning 80 (on July 25).

Several chapters are devoted to his love life which is as checkered as his career, packed full with the most desirable women in the industry, including (besides the non-showbiz ones) Pilar Pilapil (who almost married Dolphy, still an “elusive” bachelor up to this very day), Lotis Key (now married to a former basketball player and living in the States), Alma Moreno and Zsa Zsa Padilla, his present love. Who knows, there might have been “in-betweens” but that’s for you and I to find out when the book is released hopefully before the end of this year.

But there’s a little hitch.

Bibeth has already interviewed Dolphy’s exes (including the non-showbiz ones) who have all been cooperative and candid, except Alma who seems to be playing, ehem, hard-to-get, giving Bibeth and company the runaround and refusing to be interviewed. It’s a puzzle, really, considering that Alma’s relationship with Dolphy (father of her son Vandolph), lasting more than a decade (after she broke up with Rudy Fernandez by whom she has a son, Mark Anthony) is an open book. But come to think of it, is Alma reluctant — nay, afraid — to “tell all” because she is keeping a well-guarded “secret?” What could it be?

Knowing the resourceful Bibeth, I’m sure she has a way of finding out what that “secret” might be —  unless Alma changes her mind and finally opens her own, uh...Pandora’s Box?

Fortissimo will release Serbis

Here’s a piece of welcome news, from Funfare’s Toronto-based “international correspondent” Ferdy Lapuz:

Fortissimo Films has announced its acquisition of Brillante Mendoza’s Cannes 2008 competition entry, Serbis (Service), the first Filipino film in 24 years to be so invited since the late director Lino Brocka’s Bayan Ko: My Own Country.

Provocative, intimate and powerfully resonant, Serbis’ multi-stranded storyline captures the core of the modern matriarchal Filipino family, while delving into the nature of the fraught relationships between customer and client, mother and children, as well as between lovers. This microcosm takes place within a run-down movie house with the prescient name of Familyo.

The deal, for all rights outside of France and the Philippines, was done by Fortissimo’s Co-Chairman Michael J. Werner, and Director of Marketing & Special Projects Raymond Phathanavirangoon, together with the film’s Executive Producer Didier Costet of France’s Swift Productions. Serbis is also the first entry by Swift and Didier Costet into co-production financing. Director Mendoza and his cast will be in Cannes to present the film.

On making the announcement Fortissimo’s Raymond Phathanavirangoon and Michael J. Werner stated, “Brillante Mendoza has, over the last three years, grown into one of the world’s most exciting filmmakers, and we believe that this fantastic film is only just the beginning in his burgeoning stature as a world-class talent. We are extremely proud to be representing this film on behalf of the director and producers Didier Costet and Ferdinand Lapuz. To have this film in competition in Cannes is a great moment for both Filipino cinema and Asian cinema in general.”

Fortissimo Films is an international film, television and video sales organization specializing in the production, presentation, promotion and distribution of unique, award-winning and innovative feature films from independent film makers from all over the world.

First Latin Miss Tourism Int’l

Reader Alexander Cruz pointed out that Miss Peru, Silvia Cornejo, is the first ever Latin beauty to bag the (2008) Miss Tourism Queen International crown. The first runner-up was the hometown girl, Miss China Tong He; Miss Canada Sahar Biniaz, second runner-up; Miss Montenegro Dasa Zivkovic, third runner-up; and Miss Japan Akemi Fukumura, fourth runner-up.

Those who finished semi-finalists (as they are ranked, according to MTQI Organization)) were Misses Puerto Rico (6), Chile (7), Belarus (8), Greece (9), Rwanda (10), Czech Republic (11), Sweden (12), Ukraine (13), Cuba (14), Thailand (15), Romania (16), Ghana (17), Bali (18), Australia (19) and Angola (20) .

A native of Trujillo, Silvia Cornejo has won other titles:: 2005 Miss Teen Americas and Miss Peru-World in 2006, the same year she competed in the Miss World pageant in Poland, in which she didn’t make it even to the semi-finals. And then, she competed in the Miss South America pageant in Bolivia and was included as one of the six finalists.

2008 Bodyshots finalists chosen

From Funfare’s “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib: 

The Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) and producer Executive Decisions recently announced the male and female finalists of Bodyshots 2008 at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila.

They are: Bjorn Aguilar, Raf Almeda, Jonas Cabuay, Arman Cataga, Harvey Cruz, Robert de Claro, Nico Deyro, Eric Eleazar, Dart Kamboozia, Marvin Miranda, Harold Oide, Chris Ong-Hay, Adrian Racho, Jobo Roa, Sassan Shokouhi, Piko Suzuki, Charlston Yam, Ian Leonel Porlayagan and Mario Zamboni.

And: Melanie Angeles, Luisa Beltran, Kristine Bernal, Laurencia Bueta, Angelyn de Guzman, Priscilla dela Cruz, Paulina Eliseeff, Michelle Escuin, Gloria Estrella, Ruby Lalo, Samantha Lewis, Arriahne Navasero, Jerika Pelaez, Margaret Reyes, Sara Reyes, Diana Santos, Hazel Santos, and Izzy Vergara. They are joined by Bodyshots candidates from Pampanga Ricel McCallum and Mark Lester Yutuc and finalists from Los Angeles and New York.

Bodyshots 2008 kick-off party was recently launched at Fish & Co, SM Mall of Asia and had a series of weekend screenings at the Century Park Hotel Manila before arriving at the final 42 out of more than 200 aspiring models who auditioned. Finals will be held in June.

Previous winners and finalists include Calvin Millado, Rod Nepomuceno, Leo Rabago, Eric Quizon, Ricardo Cepeda, John Estrada, Emilio Garcia, JR Valentin, Zanjoe Marudo, AJ Dee, TV director Laurenti Dyogi, newscaster Rhea Santos, Francine Prieto, Wilma Doesnt, beauty queens Gem Padilla, Marina Benipayo, Jeanne Harn, Paulette Quinto, JP Abinuman, Patty Betita, Jewel Lobaton and Maricar Balagtas.

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