Are AI stars drawn to Phl singers?

Curtain-raisers:

• At her launch as the “fearless  endorser” of The Belo Medical Clinic the other day, Jinkee Pacquiao said that she would give a “reward” (including a Hermes bag as bonus) to whoever can produce proof that her husband Manny Pacquiao has a girlfriend (said to be a Cebuana student whose child was recently baptized). Jinkee meant the comment as a joke but those close to her said that it’s a “loaded” one.

• Pokwang has been telling people that her contract with ABS-CBN has expired and, as of this writing, there’s no word from management that it will be renewed. Could it be true that Pokwang is sending “feelers” to Willie Revillame to take her in as his Wil Time Bigtime co-host? According to a Funfare’s Kapatid DPA, Willie (and especially his staff) are “not interested.” They probably haven’t forgotten Pokwang’s untoward (un-called-for) potshots at Willie when Willie was having problems with ABS-CBN.

• How come they’re saying that the first “casualty” in the life of Miss Universe-Philippines Shamcey Supsup is her boyfriend Lloyd Lee (a part-time model)? They observed that it happens all the time. Ask Miriam Quiambao. Ask Precious Lara Quigaman. Ask most of the beauty queens whose status in life is drastically elevated overnight after they win. Will the same thing happen to Shamcey and Lloyd Lee?

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If we are to believe the rumors, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina are smitten by the charms of Filipino singers. Watch related video

A few months ago, Internet gossip linked Scotty to Fil-Am singer and fellow AI finalist Thia Megia. I did a one-on-two with them last Saturday for Startalk and honestly, if there was any such “attraction” I must have been too dense not to notice it.

On the other hand, my friend and fellow Waray Chris Cahilig observed that Lauren “seems to have developed” a special liking for Yuki Sakamoto, member of Filipino boy band 1:43 (one forty-three) which Chris is managing.

Chris said that early on in the AI finals, the Internet buzzed about how Scotty was attracted to Thia, citing one commenter at www.scotty-mccreery.net as having written: “I heard he has a crush on Thia according to one baseball pal he’s got back home. That’s pretty believable.”

Fans have taken the initiative of making Scott and Thia a tandem, dubbing them as “Scothia” and proclaiming Scothia Fever on a Facebook fan page. 

Could it be true that Lauren and Yuki have been tweeting each other since they met at the AI Season 10 mall show in Market! Market! last Monday, where Yuki’s group was the opening act? Lauren was overheard saying after the Market! Market! show that the 1:43 boys were “super cute!”

One of Lauren’s tweets to Yuki goes, “Lauren_Alaina @iamyukisakamoto: thank you sweetie! your band is awesome! it was great to meet you! hope to see you again soon.” A more recent tweet from Lauren simply said, “Lauren_Alaina @iamyukisakamoto #nabighani.”

Chris said that Lauren watched 1:43 from backstage when they performed and later on asked the staff what the Filipino word “nabighani” means. Apparently, she heard the word in the 1:43 song.

Added Chris, “After 1:43’s performance, Lauren met them backstage. She told them that she was impressed by their singing and reiterated that they are ‘just super cute!’ Sources said that Lauren lingered for some chitchat with the boys and was obviously kilig the whole time. During their meeting, Lauren gave each of the 1:43 boys a kiss — but when it came to Yuki, she gave him a kiss and a hug as well. Is Yuki just a bit more special in Lauren’s eyes?”

According to a late-breaker, Lauren and Yuki are going out on a date tonight.

The AI Season 10 guys are flying back to the US perhaps tomorrow after their two-night show at the Big Dome, their last stop on their world tour.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on http://www.twitter/therealrickylo.)