Alice, husband file for divorce

Sad note four days into the New Year; Alice Dixson and her non-showbiz husband, Ronnie Miranda, filed for divorce at a Vancouver, B.C., court in mid-December last year due to “irreconcilable differences.”

 This was confirmed by Funfare Update’s roving Canadian DPA who added that Alice now holds dual citizenship (American-Canadian) after she was granted her Canadian citizenship on Dec. 12, presumably a few days before she and Ronnie decided to make legal their separation which started in January last year when Alice came home again to resume her (rudely-interrupted?) showbiz career, lured back by juicy offers from TV5 for which she initially starred in the hit soap Babaeng Hampaslupa topbilled by Susan Roces two years ago.

It was The STAR that published an exclusive story about the un-couple’s marriage in May 1999 at a small chapel in Vancouver. Alice, 43, and Ronnie, 49, are childless.

Asked in that 2000 interview if she was ready to give up her career, Alice said, “Yes, I am. (Ronnie) was determined to settle down in Vancouver and I wanted to live with him there. Besides, I felt na graduate na ako sa career ko. At least, I thought, I’ve proven myself as an actress by winning an award.” Said Ronnie, “Doon (sa Vancouver) princesa siya. She’d have to be just an ordinary citizen. I wanted her to realize that.” Alice: “Actually, I’m used to doing things myself. After all, I spent part of my life in the States where you don’t have maids. I like the simple life in Vancouver. Here, I lived in a condo, with only a maid and a driver, while my family was living in Cainta (Rizal). My relatives on my father’s side are all in the States but my mom’s relatives are here.”

Again, the lure of the klieg lights has  proven too tempting to resist. Other actresses who came back from abroad after a broken marriage include Ruffa Gutierrez (from Turkey), Sheryl Cruz (from California), Nikki Valdez (from Canada) and Ima Castro (from London).

The ruling on Alice and Ronnie’s petition for divorce is pending at the Vancouver court.

Christian ushers in New Year in Jakarta

On New Year’s Eve starting at 10:45, Christian Bautista ushered in 2013 at the Sands Jakarta which was packed full with more than 1,000 revelers whom he entertained with a mix of contemporary, standards and his own hit songs (including those on the new one to be released this month by Universal Records Indonesia).

Christian did some dance routines backed up by local dancers for the songs Faith and All That’s Left. His special guest was upcoming Indonesian belter Sisi who sang a duet of Teteplah Dihatiku (Please Be Careful With My Heart) with him.

Then, he surprised the audience by introducing his brother Jordan who sang Call Me Maybe.

According to the executive producer, Julita Sudwikatmo, who invited Christian, the audience was predominantly Chinese from Mainland China, together with Indonesians and Koreans who knew Christian’s songs by heart.

— Reported by CARLO OROSA

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