Curtain-raisers:
It’s definite: Thai popstar Mario Maurer (photo) is arriving anytime now to strut the runway as finale model at the Penshoppe fashion show for the Philippine Fashion Week on Saturday, Oct. 29. This was confirmed by Penshoppe brand director Alex Mendoza who said that the brand’s theme is “Invasion,” chronicling the changes happening to it on its 25th year. Mario is the latest Penshoppe endorser after Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick who came for the pictorial last June. Added Alex, “Ed represents the international set and Mario the younger set.”
I don’t know why US-based movie scribe Cora Pastrana is blaming the press for the break-up of her marriage (not for convenience, she said) to Raymond Bagatsing, saying that the “unflattering” wedding photos and comments that she’s “matanda” (her own word) in the Internet have adversely affected her even if it’s true that she’s older than Raymond (by almost three decades). She said that she’s employed as an interpreter by the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) so she would never put her job at risk by entering into a “marriage for convenience” (so that Raymond could legalize his stay in the US). Cora should know that if a marriage is stable and the couple truly love each other no matter what, come hell or high water, nothing (not even the media) can destroy it.
Jinkee Pacquiao has herself to blame for fanning the rumor that her husband Manny Pacquiao has sired a love child by offering a “reward” (a Hermes bag) to anybody who could produce proofs. That’s when pictures of Manny with the girl (reported to be named Kat Ordoñez) and the baby reportedly taken during the baptism surfaced in the Internet. Is she the same girl from Project 2, Quezon City, whom neighbors said Manny used to visit? When the issue was blown up, Jinkee changed her tone and said, “At least I’m the wife, not the mistress,” asking rumor-mongers to stop it already so Manny wouldn’t be distracted from the training for his Nov. 13 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. Moral lesson? Sometimes, it’s prudent to keep your mouth shut.
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“This is not my issue!”
That’s what Ruffa Gutierrez said in her official statement sent to Funfare.
If you haven’t been following the showbiz newscast and the tabs, here’s the issue that got Ruffa “locked up” with ex-boyfriend John Lloyd Cruz and his girlfriend Shaina Magdayao:
Ruffa bought 10 tickets to the recent concert of Shaina’s Ate Vina Morales. Ruffa said she wasn’t feeling well but her mom, Annabelle Rama, told her to go (“Para suportahan si Vina”). John Lloyd and Shaina were also there but Ruffa tried not to look at them. Then, she got this text message supposedly coming from John Lloyd’s celfone: “Leave us alone. Stay away from us.”
When he learned about it, John Lloyd promptly called Ruffa to apologize (he’s much of a gentleman to send a text message like that to an “ex” or any lady for that matter). The guess was that it was Shaina who sent the message using John Lloyd’s celfone.
But before John Lloyd’s apology, Ruffa had posted this entry on her Twitter:
There’s nothing I can do if my legs are longer than yours. Hellow! No cure for the INSECURE. Kalurks ka girl!!! Seriously, Be real! That was so nineteen kopong-kopong! I should’ve stayed home and slept.
And this:
Behind a tweet is a back story. Please huwag n’yo po akong palabasin na masama. I’m the nicest person on earth but what I hate the most is receiving psychotic messages at ungodly hours. Thank God, this time I have many credible witnesses who can defend me.
And to whom did Ruffa address the last sentences of that message? It said, This is my Twitter so I can tweet what I please. You have the choice of sharing ur life with me or simply unfollow if ur bored.”
According to breaking reports, John Lloyd and Shaina have split. It seems that Shaina frowned on John Lloyd talking or even just saying “Hi!” to an “ex” (Liz Uy included).
Anyway, back to Ruffa’s official statement:
As far as I’m concerned, I have nothing to say or react to. John Lloyd is part of the past. He has already cleared my name regarding this situation and has even apologized with how my name is being dragged into it.
Wow, haba naman ng hair ni John Lloyd. Imagine two beautiful ladies “locked up” in each other over him. Take a bow, John Lloyd!
How you can help Dianne in Miss Int’l tilt
First, by voting for her you can help boost the chances of Diane Necio in the 2011 Miss International contest now going on in China, with grand finals set for Nov. 6 at the Sichuan Opera Theater. Here’s the link: http://missinter/cn/vote/index.php? 1319525122.
And now, this “breaking news” filed by Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas:
As of press time, only 66 international beauties (out of the expected 80) from the same number of countries have arrived in Chengdu, China. Last Saturday (Oct. 22), Miss Philippines Diane Elaine Samar Necio regaled the audience in her yellow terno with matching parasol during the National Costumes Red Carpet Event and later in the evening, she joined the other contestants in a sumptuous Welcome Dinner at the Sichuan International Tennis Hotel. The next days, they visited the Chengdu Panda Base, went on tour at Kuanzhai Alley in Sichuan Province, attended the Miss International Forum and interacted with students at Sichuan University.
The contestants will attend sponsors’ events on Oct. 28 and 29, tour the Ancient City on Oct. 29, visit the local market Oct. 30, join the Miss International Car Parade and visit the Dufu Memorial Palace on Oct. 31, compete for the National Costume Award on Nov. 1, visit the World Heritage Site on Nov. 2, attend rehearsals on Nov. 3 and 4, and share a Charity Auction Dinner, Nov. 5.
Preliminary judging will be held in the morning of Nov. 6. Later in the evening, reigning Miss International Elizabeth Mosquera (of Venezuela) will crown her successor at the Sichuan Opera Theater.
For the record, Belize, Estonia and Zimbabwe have sent their first representatives to the contest. Eight have joined other international pageants including Miss Venezuela Jessica Cristina Barboza Scmidt (Miss Earth 2009 second runner-up), Miss Thailand Kantapat Peeradachainarin (Miss Friendship International 2009) and Miss Tanzania Nelly Alexandra Kamwelu (Miss Southern Africa International 2011 and co-delegate of Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup).
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)