Guess who's 'the other woman' in Bong's life

I bet you didn’t guess “who” even if you must have a few names in your mind — that is, May 10 elections senatorial topnotcher Bong Revilla’s “other woman.”

No, she’s not “who” you think but none other than his wife, Lani Mercado, who has just been proclaimed as representative of the second district of Cavite. Yes, Lani is the greatest joy of Bong’s life.

“But when I entered politics,” said Sen. Bong at a thanksgiving lunch he and Lani hosted for the movie press, “para na rin akong nagpakasal sa bayan, so Lani is just my ‘other woman’ now. Ang bayan na ang No. 1 ko.”

In that sense, Lani can also say that Sen. Bong is just her “No. 2” since, as a neophyte congresswoman, her “No. 1” will be her constituents effective July 1 when she officially assumes office.

The couple celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary by having dinner at a five-star hotel last May 28, the same day Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez also celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.

“How time flies!” said Lani. “Hindi namin halos namalayan na 24 years na pala kaming magkasama! Sana tumagal pa ang pagsasama namin.”

“That’s also my wish,” agreed Bong. “’Yon din ang panalangin ko,” adding that if he dies and lives again, “siya pa rin ang pakakasalan ko.” Asked by the movie reporters kung sino “siya,” Bong hastened to add, “Sinong siya? Si Lani Mercado.”

Like other actor-politicians (among them reelected Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, reelected Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and newly-elected Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas), Lani is taking up a crash course in Public Administration preferably also at UP (where Ai-Ai delas Alas is enrolled in the same course).

Sarah, Christian shine at NY RP Freedom Day parade

“I was so ecstatic to see Sarah Geronimo and Christian Bautista at the 112th year of Philippine Independence celebrated here in New York City last Sunday, June 6, with a grand parade along Madison Avenue,” started a special report by Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s (quartet) “beauty experts.”

It’s the 21st year for the Filipino communities of the US Northeast to celebrate the historic event which is considered the biggest Independence Day celebration outside of the Philippines.

Said Carlo Orosa, Christian’s manager who was also there and who performed as well in the celebration, “an estimated 20,000 people trooped to see this year’s parade despite the humid weather.”

According to Felix, included in the Independence Day Parade were Filipino community leaders, Philippine government officials, NYC government officials, honored guests, local pageant winners and a contingent of marchers from Filipino-American associations, organizations and assorted groups, marching bands, floats, open cars, among others.

ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) Float was easily the most popular because it featured Sarah and Christian together with immigration lawyer and STAR columnist Michael Gurfinkel and Carlo Orosa waving the Philippine flag. During stops, despite the tight security Sarah and Christian gamely signed autographs and posed for photographs with the fans.

“At 4 p.m. the same day,” added Carlo, “a concert was staged on Madison Avenue, featuring many local talents. Christian sang Beautiful Girl and Let’s Stop and Talk Awhile, and Sarah sang You Changed My Life and Magkaisa. I sang Impossible Dream.”

Also present at the event was Dr. Vicki Belo.

In defense of, in fairness to Boy A.

I’m printing in full the official statement of Dr. Helena Z. Benitez, in defense of Boy Abunda who is being unfairly hit by those who disapprove of the rumored “possible” appointment of Boy as Tourism secretary by incoming Pres. Noynoy Aquino:

I am making this statement both in my capacity as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Women’s University and as a person who has known Mr. Boy Abunda in his professional capacity as media practitioner.

Mr. Abunda holds the degree of bachelor of arts, major in communication arts, from PWU. He earned the degree under the CHED ETEEAP program which means Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program. Under this program, we evaluated college credits he earned from the Ateneo de Manila, the quality of his work experience and achievements in mass communication, and required him to take enrichment courses to qualify him for the degree under the rules and requirements of the Commission on Higher Education. He more than fulfilled the requirements and specifications of the program and was thus awarded the degree.

Not content with earning his undergraduate degree, he has gone on to pursue post-graduate studies. He has earned a certificate from a seminar course in international relations and diplomacy from the PWU HZB School of International Relations and Diplomacy. He is currently working on his master of arts in communication. These are serious courses of study and his being a media personality does not give Mr. Abunda any preferential status. He has to earn his grades. He has to take his studies seriously. And he does. Perhaps more seriously than his peers because he well realizes that being in show business, some quarters may be skeptical of both his motivation and his ability.

Mr. Abunda has also interviewed me in some of his programs, particularly Private Conversations which airs on television. He has impressed me with his insights and the quality of the research he undertakes to prepare for the program. He does not just show up and ask questions. He does his homework. He takes his job seriously. This may be why he is such a great success in media.

People might tend to dismiss his ideas and work achievements lightly by virtue of his being a show business personality. They would be mistaken.

Perhaps an indication of the kind of insight and appreciation that Mr. Abunda has about our society and its values is his declining to accept the position he is said to be being groomed for. By any standard, he is more than qualified. But, sensitive and sensible as he is, he may have realized that some people might raise a ruckus over the matter. He, therefore, wisely decided to decline. In declining, Mr. Abunda may have realized that incoming President Benigno Aquino III has more important issues and problems to attend to. The President-elect’s energies should be devoted to these; not to defending Mr. Abunda’s proposed appointment to the cabinet. The controversy over his appointment is therefore one problem or situation that presumptive President Aquino will not have to deal with. By that much Mr. Abunda has shown how sincere he is about helping the incoming administration succeed. And he is all the more admirable because of it.

— Dr. Helena Z. Benitez

Board Chairperson

The Philippine Women’s University

Briefly Noted

• TV5 should do something to avoid its mid-morning Monday-thru-Friday show Face-to-Face (hosted by Amy Perez), touted as the first talakserye on Philippine TV, becoming too predictable. I watch it every day so, like other regular viewers (like Jojo Gabinete and Susan Roces), I expect the protagonists to relate their “issues” alternately and then they are made to confront each other. They do more than swap curses (bleeped-bleeped!); they actually slap each other, pull each other’s hair and resort to other very physical acts of violence. It has become routine and therefore oh-so-predictable. If you haven’t seen any episode of Face-to-Face yet, watch tonight’s episode of Ang Bestfriend Kong Kabit (starting at 8:30, directed by Joey Javier Reyes) which is part of Ruffa Gutierrez’s 5-Star Specials Presents starrer in which the characters of Ruffa and Aiko Melendez iron out their differences by kicking each other, trying to claw at each other’s faces and hurl invectives (bleeped-bleeped!) eat each other. It’s a riot, I assure you!

• Question of the hour: Why can’t Gretchen Barretto (photo) promote her show and/or herself without picking a fight with somebody (thus strengthening her hold on the Poster Girl for Bad Behavior “title”)? A few years ago, she did it against Dawn Zulueta who won the “fight” by simply being a lady and ignoring Gretchen. Recently, she fought with her own sister Claudine Barretto when their teleplays were pitted against each other on the same timeslot. And now, Gretchen has chosen Angelica Panganiban as target now that Gretchen is starring in the ABS-CBN soap Magkaribal with Angelica’s boyfriend Derek Ramsay and Bea Alonzo. Has Gretchen really been openly flirting with Derek, making Angelica reasonably irked and jealous? If her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco cannot, somebody should tell Gretchen to behave, pronto!

• Now that Viva Hotbabes have disbanded, Maricar dela Fuente, a member of Viva Hot Babes Batch 3, is seriously pursuing an acting career. She’s also accepting singing stints, initially the featured performer at the Majestic Club Casino (at the second floor of Networld Hotel, Roxas Blvd. corner Buendia Ave.) on its Father’s Day presentation on June 14. For this special show, her first at the club, Maricar has prepared an exciting repertoire of love songs, among them Valentine and Breatheless, two of her favorite songs; Hey!; Crazy for You; Saving Forever for You; Cry; The Climb; Forget About Me; Through the Fire; and Careless Whisper, among others. During her two-year contract with Viva Entertainment, Maricar recorded a single on the Viva Hot Babes album, and appeared in some movies, among them Reyna, Room 213 and Sumpa. She was also in the sex videos Erotica, Pinoy Kamasutra, 1, Men of Provoc, Dance Latina and Hot Babes Gone Wild. On TV, Maricar appeared in Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas; OK Fine, Whatever; Wattamen; John en Shirley and Everybody Hapi.

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