Who's the third party in Angel-Luis 'LQ'?

Curtain-raisers:

• Barely three months after she broke up with Dingdong Dantes, Karylle has fully recovered from the heartbreak (thanks to the retreat she attended and the counseling she went through) but not from the showbiz “match-makers.” According to rumors, both Jericho Rosales and Christian Bautista are “planning” to court Karylle. Thanks but no thanks, “Karylle is not about to get seriously involved with anybody again,” said somebody close to her. Not so soon anyway.

•  When he was only modeling and about to join showbiz (via Big Brother’s house), a well-built actor had an intimate encounter with a sexy actress (who is currently on extended vacation with her folks in the US). He must have been so excited that he “got done” even before the actress could remove a piece of her clothes. He ended up saying “Sorry po, sorry po!” to the actress who nearly died laughing.

• The search is on for the leading lady of Richard Gutierrez in the upcoming GMA action TV series Zorro. Those interested may proceed to the GMA Network Center tomorrow, Jan. 16, from 1 p.m. onward. That’s how Rhian Ramos was discovered — in a search also for Richard’s leading lady in the GMA TV fantasy-action-adventure Captain Barbell.

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Just when things are getting rosier between them, rumors are spreading that Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano are having an “LQ” (Lovers’ Quarrel). Or, a lot of people are asking, have they broken up (following in the footsteps of Dingdong Dantes and Karylle, Paolo Contis and Isabel Oli, Beth Tamayo and her non-showbiz businessman-husband and, of course, Drs. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho)?

Was that why Angel cried last Sunday when she guested on The Buzz to promote (with leading man Piolo Pascual) their Star Cinema starrer Love Me Again (showing nationwide starting today)?

Since neither Angel nor Luis is talking just yet, I asked the next reliable source — Luis’ mom, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, who else!

Here’s Vilma’s texted reply: They are not talking to me yet. Waiting din ako. Don’t want to ask until they tell me kasi it might appear that I am meddling. I asked Luis if he’s okay at ang sagot lang niya ay “Yup.” Ayoko na muna mag-follow up. Waiting din ako.

I have news for Gov. Vilma (according to a Funfare DPA): Angel and Luis did have a quarrel which started small and became bigger, although not yet so serious that it can’t be ironed out. “There’s a third party involved,” added the DPA who refused to reveal who between the lovers is...”guilty?”

The “LQ” came on the heels of the last leg of the promo for Love Me Again which was shot 50/50 at a ranch in Bukidnon and another ranch in Australia. Nope, Piolo is not the “third party” the DPA was referring to. Luis knows fully well that Piolo and Angel are just good friends, nothing more and nothing less.

“I admire Angel,” said Piolo. “She’s willing to work, she wants to excel, she’s down-to-earth. On the Australia set, we helped each other carry props and equipment, Angel included, because we had a limited crew.”

First teamed up in the ABS-CBN soap Lobo, Piolo and Angel have a passionate love scene in Love Me Again but it’s not enough to make Luis “jealous” or “insecure,” according to the DPA. “Basta,” said the DPA. “Basta...”

Incidentally, in another scene, Angel slaps Piolo no less than six times, right smack on his pretty face.

Said direk Rory Quintos, “It had to be done that way because I had to take shots from different angles. But Angel apologized to Piolo after every take.”

Quipped Piolo, “That’s how I realized that acting is really a ‘painful’ job.”

An ‘outsider’s’ view of showbiz

Here’s a postscript to the 2008 Metro Filmfest’s Gabi ng Parangal, from election lawyer Romy Macalintal:

Dear Ricky,

My wife (Mila) and I attended the event. Our two tickets were courtesy of my good friend and former client, Tito Sotto, through his friend, Mr. Tony Tuviera. While Tito was out of town, he called up Tony when he (Tito) learned that my wife and I wanted to attend the affair. So we were seated at a table reserved for Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After where we met its director, Tony Reyes and his wife.

My wife is a fan of Jericho Rosales. I was hoping to see my favorite, Judy Ann Santos, kaya lang wala pala siyang entry. Jericho was so approachable and accommodating to his fans that he never had second thoughts about having a photo-op with me and my wife. A very humble guy, indeed, despite his popularity. May his tribe increase so we can have more of his kind.

We also had the chance to have photo-ops with Best Child Actor Buboy Villar and Best Supporting Actor Philip Salvador.

It was my first time to attend the MMFF. I don’t know about the past festivals, but this one did not offer much excitement. But the chance of meeting your favourite movie personalities, like Jericho, especially to see how happy my wife was to personally meet him and had photo op with him, is more than enough to make the affair memorable.

I just noticed that the organizer of MMFF did not use a lectern for its host, Boy Abunda, and its guest, MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando. It was so awkward — looking for Boy to hold the microphone with his right hand while his left hand was full of cue cards; he could hardly turn to the next page.

Finally, my wife’s favorite actress, Dawn Zulueta, appeared in a beautiful gown but all she said was one word, Baler, as she announced the winner for Best Screenplay. Her co-host Ricky Davao had a longer script, a part of which could have been allotted for Dawn to read.

Still and all, I look forward to the MMFF this year.

Sincerely,

ATTY. ROMULO “ROMY” MACALINTAL

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