Gretchen spends 'secret' holiday in Bohol

Away from the maddening crowd.

That must be how Gretchen Barretto wants to have a belated birthday (March 6, actually) celebration this year. D-day itself was a working day for Gretchen who did a pictorial for her second album, Complicated (the first was titled Unexpected).

Guess where Gretchen and her, ehem, “special someone” (whose first name is not Tonyboy) hied off for a reported post-birthday celebration — yes, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, where she arrived last Wednesday with Pops Fernandez and Bebe Gandanghari on the same Cebu Pacific flight with Cesar Montano and wife Sunshine Cruz who own a resthouse in Baclayon town where Cesar comes from. Gretchen’s “special someone” arrived later. Together, the entourage went to Cebu City yesterday and are expected back in Tagbilaran maybe today.

“They plan to say hello to the tarsier, take the Loboc River night cruise and visit the Chocolate Hills, probably with Cesar and Sunshine as guide,” said Funfare’s Bohol DPA.

Gretchen is keeping a low profile these days.

“But she, and, company, didn’t escape the attention of the fans,” added the DPA. “Sa Tagbilaran airport pa lang, they were already mobbed. Same thing anywhere they are.”

In Bohol, the entourage reportedly stayed at an elite beach resort (the province’s answer to Palawan’s exclusive Amanpulo) which charges $3,900 per night. Yes, in dollars!

Davy Jones coming for show

Remember Davy Jones who single-handedly invaded teen hearts as the international idol of millions in the 1960s Emmy Award-winning TV classic The Monkees? Since the show hit the small screen, Davy has triumphed as both a serious actor and a comedian on the theatrical stage; as a rock musician, composer and artist; and, true to his first love, as an extremely able horseman.

The good news is that Davy is coming for a show at the Araneta Coliseum on June 13.

These days, Davy continues to ride and train his beloved racehorses to be winners. In 1996, he won his first race in England on his prized horse, Digpast. “I’ve always thought if all the show business success hadn’t happened, I’d have been a world champion jockey. It’s in my blood. I’ve always dreamed of going back to England — riding a few winners,” he was quoted as saying.

Davy was born in Manchester, England on Dec. 30, 1945. He began entertaining at 11 years old as Ena Sharples’ grandson on the still-running ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. His performance was so memorable, theatrical agents sought him out as he was working as an apprentice jockey in Newmarket and took him to London where he portrayed Dickens’ mischievous Artful Dodger in the West End production of Oliver! Later, at the age of 16, Davy found himself the toast of New York where he originated the Artful Dodger role on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award.

As a result, Davy was offered a contract with Columbia Pictures/Screen Gems Television, and The Monkees was created shortly after. “Ward Sylvester, the executive producer of The Monkees, was my manager at the time. We looked for different types of guys to be part of his idea for this TV show,” Davy says. “Then Micky, Peter, Mike and I were put together in one scene and everyone said, ‘That’s it ... magic! We’ll use you four!” Also a musical group, The Monkees’ album sales surpassed all records and outsold the Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined in 1967, and they continue to be best-sellers 30 years later. They are the only act to have their first four albums go to No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

The Monkees’ hits include the songs I Wanna Be Free, Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarkesville, I’m A Believer, Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow, Mary Mary, I’m Not Your Stepping Stone, She, Forget that Girl, It’s Nice to be With You, I’ll Be True to You, and many more.

Theater remains in Davy’s blood. Coming full circle in Oliver!, he most recently received rave reviews for starring in the complex role of Fagin. He has also starred in productions of The Boyfriend and Harry Nilson’s The Point, and as Jesus in Godspell, which played in London’s West End.

Davy is also an accomplished writer and humorous storyteller. He recently completed the second edition of his autobiography, Davy Jones: Daydream Believin’, which updates his life and career to the present. Davy’s talents extend to short stories, poetry, and photography. Davy also teaches seminars throughout the country where he gives motivational speeches and converses on many subjects including his diverse experiences in show business as well as techniques used in all aspects of entertainment.

(Note: Davy Jones of the Monkees Live! is produced by Ovation Productions. For ticket inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Ovation Productions at 532-8883.)

OJ also mourns for FrancisM

Even if he’s not a fan of rap, OJ Mariano said that he’s an avid fan of the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona mainly because of his advocacy.

“I admire his nationalism which is very evident in his songs,” said OJ. “Hindi pilit ang kanyang nationalism; you can feel that it comes from his heart.”

OJ has just come back from a show in Port Moresby, New Guinea, with Apple Chiu, his Philippine Idol colleague with whom he acts as “guide” of contestants on the ABS-CBN game show The Singing Bee hosted by Cesar Montano.

OJ, who was Awit Awards’ Best New Male Recording Artist (2006), has released a Premium Edition Album from his Ballads CD. The PEA highlights the hit song Sana’y Malaman Mo, the official theme song of the hit Mexican telenovela El Cuerpo del Deo aired on ABS-CBN. Three original songs are included on the album: Pangako Ko, Tayo Na Nga (OJ’s original composition) and Hanggang Dito Na Lang (composed by Rita Avila).

He’s also in the cast of PAGCOR’s new musical/dance extravaganza, Flow (similar to Wanders), with performances slated for tonight and for March 16, 18, 28 and 31.

Marikina Mayor Marides joins Ricky Reyes’ show

A welcome addition to Ricky Reyes’ long-running and multi-awarded show Life & Style With Ricky Reyes (Sundays, 10 to 11 a.m. on Q-11) is the women-empowerment segment hosted by Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, Ricky’s good friend.

Mayor Marides is well-versed on the topic because in her three terms as mayor, she has been an eyewitness to all problems concerning women, ranging from the professional to the personal.

“Women are comfortable in telling me their problems, even the most personal ones, because they know that, being a woman, I will understand them and can give them pieces of advice,” said Mayor Marides.

Her segment will premiere in tomorrow’s show.

“We will dramatize the problems to be discussed,” said Ricky. “It will be very interesting, I assure you.”

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