Katrina: Yes, I'm pregnant!

Confirming blind items and rumors circulating this past week, Katrina Halili admitted in a joint interview with The STAR and GMA show Startalk that she’s three months pregnant.

“I’m giving birth in September,” said Katrina unapologetically, making a slip of the tongue during the first part of the interview that the father is his singer boyfriend Kris Lawrence, a Fil-Am.

Aside from Katrina’s family, it was Kris to whom she broke the good news.

“My pregnancy was confirmed in February,” Katrina continued. “Masayang-masaya si Kris when I told him about it. Then, I told Kris’ parents and Tatay Rommel (Gacho, her manager).”

The news came as a surprise to those who thought that Katrina and Kris broke up two years ago when Katrina got enmeshed in the infamous video controversy.

“Kris was with me throughout my ordeal but we did break up for a while,” revealed Katrina. “No, there was no third party. I was the problem. I was confused; magulo ang utak ko because of what was happening at that time.”

Based in California, Kris came a few years ago to compete in the ABS-CBN talent search Star in a Million. He won. It was his friend Jay-R, also a US-bred singer, who encouraged Kris to embark on a career in the Philippines via the talent search. They are sharing a house in New Manila, Quezon City, a stone’s throw away from Katrina’s townhouse.

Kris has yet to confirm that he’s the father of Katrina’s baby.

His manager, Arnold Vegafria, said that if ever, Kris will talk only to The STAR — “In due time.”

Katrina is in the cast of the GMA soap My Beloved, topbilled by Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, in which she plays a character expecting a baby.

“I requested the (GMA) management to drop me from the soap kasi siempre my tummy is growing so I can’t wear sexy clothes na,” said Katrina. “And also, hindi na ako puwedeng magpuyat because I have to take care of myself. But they asked me to stay.”

Hailed by FHM as The Sexiest Woman two years in a row, Katrina promised to work out to get back her winning form after she delivers her baby (she wants a girl) the natural way.

Contrary to rumors, Katrina will give birth in Manila and not in her native Palawan.

*   *   *

 Which Hollywood A-List movie star was recently signed as the next endorser of leading fashion brand Penshoppe? The multimillion dollar deal (which once formally announced will no doubt hold the record for the biggest endorsement deal the Philippines has ever seen) was once again closed by Joyce Ramirez of PR Asia Worldwide for Golden ABC (who brought actors Ed Westwick and Mario Maurer to the Philippines last year for the same clothing brand). Incidentally, Ramirez also becomes the first Filipino to open her own PR firm in the US next month in partnership with several Hollywood bigwigs.

What makes this endorsement deal very special is the fact that this will be the global superstar’s first endorsement for a particular brand in the world. Despite having starred in several No. 1 flicks, the star is known to have turned down several offers for product endorsements. The fact that this international celebrity chose Penshoppe is something our country should be proud of as the brand is 100 percent Filipino-owned.

Meanwhile, Penshoppe recently celebrated its 26th anniversary by donating P1M to Children’s Hour and has turned over at least 25 houses to Gawad Kalinga built by its staff last year.  

Now that the contract is finally sealed, will the A-lister make a surprise visit to Manila soon? For sure, this is one headliner we wouldn’t want to miss.

Stay tuned. You will know who he is only in The STAR.

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