Goodbye, Janina; hello, Danielle!

There’s more to Janina San Miguel’s giving up the 2008 Bb. Pilipinas-World crown than just the recent death of her grandfather.

“The story goes deeper than that,” said somebody in the know.

Could it be true that Janina has been “uncooperative” during the training (for speech, etc.) that followed her controversial win last March?

Janina’s quitting was announced late Monday night by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI).

“Better safe than sorry,” added the Funfare DPA, recalling Janina’s “classic” boo-boo during the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. “She might not be fit for the Miss World contest which is scheduled in December in South Africa. In short, she has an attitude problem.”

Stepping in to Janina’s shoes is first runner-up Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castaño.

“It is with great honor that I receive the appointment bestowed upon me by BPCI to become the official representative to the 2008 Miss World beauty pageant,” said Danielle. “I will do my best to win for the Philippines its first Miss World crown.”

It’s not the first time that a Binibini has given up her crown. In the early ’90s, Fil-Am Anjanette Abayari was dethroned due to a technicality in her citizenship and it was Alou Gonzalez who took her place as the country’s representative in the Miss Universe pageant held in Las Vegas (where Kuh Ledesma, said to be an Alou look-alike, was a member of the board of judges). Janelle Bautista, another Fil-Am girl, also lost her crown due to a similar technicality. It happens not only in the history of the Binibini but in those of Miss Universe (a Miss Russia was dethroned, replaced by her runner-up from Panama) and Miss World (in 1973, Marjorie Wallace of USA was dethroned but her first runner-up, the Philippines’ Evangeline Pascual, politely refused to take her place).

Described as responsible and independent, 19-year-old Danielle was raised in Marikina and is currently residing in Quezon City. She keeps in shape by dabbling in sports (volleyball and track-and-field). “Sports helps boost my self-confidence,” said Danielle. “When I run, I feel like I fly, I am in control and I can do everything.”

The eldest of three sisters, Danielle also has a soft spot for children, particularly the sick and abused. According to her, she wants to campaign for their rights as part of her advocacy.

“I want to be remembered by people as someone who did something socially significant, and not just another pretty face. I want to convey a message of hope for underprivileged children around the world should I be lucky to take home the Miss World crown.”

A crowd favorite during the Bb. Pilipinas pageant (she bagged five special awards from the major sponsors), Danielle is currently undergoing a series of rigorous training in catwalk skills and personality development with topnotch experts, but is definitely ready to make the country proud as she competes against 180 official representatives in the Miss World 2008 pageant.

Asked about her future plans, Danielle said, “I want to be a fashion designer and start my own clothing line.”

Why Rico Blanco won’t be invited as guest in Rakista

Bands (like the Sponge Cola) and singers (Nyoy Volante, etc.) have been invited as guest (playing themselves) in Rakista, a weekly TV comedy on TV5 aired Thursday nights starting at 7 o’clock, conceptualized by Quark Henares and Diego Castillo (guitarist of the rock band Sandwich), with Madz Adrias as executive producer.

But Rico Blanco may never be invited as guest (not that Rico is dying to be) and that’s because direk Quark doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him.

The misunderstanding between them cropped up after Quark wrapped the music video for Rico’s Warner Music album Yugto, which is his and Quark’s third project together (after Balisong and A Love to Share).

Pressed on to talk more about it, Quark simply said, “I didn’t have any problem with other artists I have worked with.”

Rakista is about the misadventures of a newly-formed rock band called The Love Team composed of college students (played by Carlo Aquino, Charles Christianson, Alchris Galura, Rhea Nakpil and Wincy Ong) and formed during an Eraserheads tribute night.

Yes, you guessed it: Quark and Madz are E-Heads fans.

“We included shots that we took during the E-Heads reunion concert at The Fort,” said Quark. “E-Heads drummer Raimund Marasigan even did an acting role in Rakista.”

Now on leave from movie-making (his last was Regal Films’ Super Noypi released two years ago), Quark said that Rakista was actually inspired by his movie-in-the-making, Reality Films’ Rake ‘n’ Roll ((which stars Jason Abalos, Diether Ocampo, Glaiza de Castro, Alwyn Uytingco and Ketsup Eusebio).

“While I was shooting the movie, Chris (Sy, now head of TV5) approached me and broached the idea of doing a TV show of the same genre,”

 said Quark “And that was how it came to be. I still have two shooting days for Rake ‘n’ Roll and I will resume work on it once Rakista’s one-season run is over.”

Besides Rakista and his Blow-Up Babies studio, Quark is busy with his once-a-week teaching job (topic is short films) at Ateneo.

“Three of the writer-directors of Rakista are my students,” said Quark. They are King Palisoc, Zig Marasigan and Wincy Ong. The others are Mihk Vergara, Edsel Abesames and RA Rivera. The writers include Palanca-winner Yvette Tan and STAR columnist Erwin Romulo. Mikey Amistoso of Ciudad and Diego Mapa of Cambio are in-charge of the original music. Poet Lourd de Veyra (vocalist of Radioactive Sago Project) does a narration in every Rakista episode.

Asked when he’s doing another music video, Quark broke into a (sarcastic?) smile and said, “Never again!”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])