Juris happy going solo

Curtain-raisers:

• Regine Velasquez has adamantly denied a text message “announcing” her pregnancy (and that of Judy Ann Santos who hasn’t made any comment). “Who could be spreading the false alarm?” asked Regine who added that she wished it were true since she and her beloved Ogie Alcasid do (desperately?) want to have a baby. Not this time, though, when she has just started work on Diva, the GMA kantaserye which premiered last night, and a movie with Aga Muhlach. She also denied that she and Ogie are moving to TV5 in June when their GMA contracts expire. “I will remain a Kapuso,” said Regine.

• Yes, it’s confirmed: Justin Timberlake is coming for a concert on March 27 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Concert Grounds as special guest, together with Jojo, of Timbaland’s (also in photo, right) Changing Lives: Timbaland Shock Value II Tour concert. It’s not Justin’s first time to come to Manila. Years back, he was here with the ’N SYNC, the band he used to be a member of. The concert is presented by Smart Buddy with McDonald’s and SM Mall of Asia as co-presenters. All net proceeds will be donated to the PLDT Smart Foundation. You may donate at any Ticket World outlet at P4,500 for VIP, P3,000 for Gold, P1,500 for Silver and P300 for Bronze.

• A certain actor is reportedly not on speaking terms with his actress-mother who disapproves of what his actress-daughter (the mom’s apo) is doing — being involved with a married man, that is. At first, the father also frowned on the stubborn daughter’s affair and he even slapped her during a heated argument. Things have changed since then. It seems that since he can’t stop his daughter’s amorous (mis)adventure, he has thrown his hands up in surrender and given her the go-signal. That’s why the girl’s grandma has stopped talking to the actor...but until when?

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In her eponymous first solo album, Juris Fernandez thanks everybody, from her producer (Star Records, headed by Annabelle Regalado-Borja) to her family and to the artists who contributed “words and music” to the album. Yes, everybody but Chin Alcantara, her former M.Y.M.P. partner with whom Juris broke up under unpleasant circumstances.

“Thank you God for this wonderful learning experience,” Juris wrote on the album note. “Thank you for all the supportive people who have always been there as well as those whom I have the pleasure to work with as I embark on this new phase of my career.”

The album is pure Juris, carrying 14 songs with no M.Y.M.P. trace at all (except her voice): I Don’t Want To Fall (words and music by Cattski Espina), Getting Over You (by Jimmy Antiporda), Opposites Attract (by Jungee Marcelo), ‘Di Lang Ikaw (words by Juris, music by Aiza Seguerra), Love Letters (also by Juris), Dear You (words by Carla Lozada, music by Francis Concio), Kailan Kaya (by Top Suzara), Nandiyan Ka Lang Pala (by Ryan Cayabyab), You Got Me Here (words by Carla Lozada, music by Cattski Espina), Beautiful (by Duncan Ramos), Who Was I (by Gary Valenciano) and I Don’t Wanna Fall (Stripped Mix), plus bonus tracks Nariyan Ka (from May Bukas Pa, words, by Jonathan Manalo) and I Love You Goodbye (from the Star Cinema movie, by Diane Warren).

Within two weeks after its release last Feb. 13, the album placed No. 6 in Astrovision’s hit chart, proving beyond any doubt that her fans have accepted Juris as she is...solo.

“They were also sad over what happened (to M.Y.M.P.) but my fans are intelligent and they know that it could happen,” said Juris. “They understand na separate na ang career namin.” (Chin stays with M.Y.M.P. with four new members.) “I must admit na kinabahan din ako dahil ako na lang mag-isa, but so far everything is turning out okay. With Star Records I’m in good hands.”

It was “irreconcilable differences” that ended Juris and Chin’s partnership which started in 2002.

“No regrets,” said Juris. “Walang sisihan. The break-up was inevitable; talagang hindi na maiwasan. I’m happy that everything is falling into place.”

Snooky’s new love identified

Included in this section’s pictorial spread (published last Friday, Feb. 26) on YES! magazine’s 10th-anniversary bash was a picture of Snooky Serna with a man, captioned “Snooky Serna with her boyfriend whom she didn’t identify.”

Now we know who “the man” is, thanks to Ronald Carballo who, together with Noemi Alberto (producer of Mr. Gay World-Philippines and president of Mr. Gay World Asia), happened to sit at the same table with the couple in the YES! affair.

He’s Jun de Vera, whom Ronald identified as “Snooky’s new husband,” who owns and manages an agency that sends manpower to other countries.

“Snooky is glowing,” said Ronald, “at happy daw siya.”

Snooky’s marriage to Ricardo Cepeda, by whom she has two daughters, has been annulled but that of Jun is not yet.

“I’m not the typical madrasta (stepmother),” Ronald quoted Snooky as saying. “I’m okay with Jun’s three children (aged 14, 18 and 21). Jun is also okay with my daughters (aged 13 and 16). We are all living under one roof. Magkakasundo kami. We are a happy family.”

As soon as the legal kinks are ironed out, Snooky said that she and Jun will get married.

Between movie/TV assignments, Snooky helps run Jun’s business. She got good reviews for her performance in her latest movie, Sagrada Familia (directed by Joel Lamangan), as the mother of Lovi Poe (the daughter sexually molested by her own father, played by Emilio Garcia).

After the YES! affair, Ronald and Noemi left together.

“Snooky stood with us at the driveway while waiting for Jun to get his car from the parking area,” said Ronald. “I’m happy for Snooky. Dati-rati, nagtra-tricycle lang siya. Ngayon, naka-BMW na siya! She’s lucky to have found a man who truly loves her and whom she truly loves.”

As they say, love is lovelier...

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