Venus writes a 'major, major' column for The STAR

We just pulled a “major, major” breakthrough of sorts — yes, The STAR’s Entertainment section happily welcomes Maria Venus Raj, fourth runner-up in the just-concluded Miss Universe pageant, as a weekly columnist starting on Sunday, Sept. 26. Her column will be called…guess what?

For a starter, Venus will write about her hitherto unpublished experiences at the Miss U pageant in Las Vegas, how she survived the competition in a “major, major” way and how it has changed her.

That’s all I can tell you for now. You just have to find out for yourself from Venus herself.

Can Venus write? Yes, she very well can, judging from her debut story. The 22-year-old Bicolana is, cliché though it may sound, beauty and brains. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Journalism from the Bicol University as a scholar of the Francis Padua Papica Foundation.

Incidentally, Venus is venturing not only into journalism but also television as an actress although her dream is to be a newscaster. She is guesting (initially) in the new GMA sitcom Beauty Queen which stars, among others, 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and Iza Calzado (who is a beauty in her own right).

In defense of, in fairness to Lotlot

Lotlot de Leon and ex-husband Ramon Christopher during younger years. Left: Lotlot’s mom-in-law Pilita Corrales

Did you know that Pilita Corrales’ guesting on Paparazzi last Sunday stirred a hornet’s nest that should have been left undisturbed?

When asked by a host about her in-laws, Pilita said something like she’s malas (unlucky) with them, mentioning in passing her daughter Jackie Lou Blanco who has long been rumored to be separated from her husband Ricky Davao even if they still live under one roof but sleeping on separate beds, and son Ramon Christopher whose marriage to Lotlot de Leon has been annulled.

In interviews even before her Paparazzi guesting, Pilita has been vocal about her advice to Jackie Lou not to leave home, otherwise she might lose custody of her and Ricky’s three children, according to Pilita so unlike Lotlot who left home alone, leaving their four children (aged 10 to 21) with Monching.

Did Pilita say that Lotlot has signed a document giving Monching full custody of the children?

“No, Lotlot never did. That hurt Lotlot so much, it drove her to depression,” said a close friend in defense of Lotlot, “especially when her youngest child asked Lotlot why she had to do it.”

In fairness to Lotlot, her friend said that Lotlot and Monching have become good friends, with Lotlot sharing in raising the children who visit her several times a week and sometimes even sleep in her place.

“Lotlot loves her children as much as Monching does,” the friend said, adding, “everything was going on smoothly until last Sunday when Lotlot’s mother-in-law started talking against her again on national television.”

What’s up?

• The University of the East Alumni Association Inc. (UEAAI) officers are inviting all UE alumni to a grand homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 25, at UE Manila’s Dalupan Main Lobby and Quadrangle. Registration starts at 5 p.m. For inquiries, call coordinator Josie Malanum at 735-8562, 735-8557 or 735-5471 local 310; or Rene Chan at landline 313-0747 or 0917-5402143.

• From reader “Mrs. FBB”: There’s a typo error in your article about the three Bulakeno siblings who are in the cast of New Zealand’s Miss Saigon. They come from Hagonoy (not Hagogoy as printed), Bulacan, where singer Timmy Cruz is also from.

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