Derek: Staying away from showbiz girls?

Blind corner:

• Somebody close to a (notorious?) comedian disputes the comedian’s claim that he and a popular actor have never been “on,” and were (still are) only friends, even if the comedian admitted that he did court the actor’s brother who “spurned” him. The one in the know said that, yes, the comedian and the actor first went steady with the brother who acted as a bridge between the comedian and the actor. “In short,” the Funfare informer said, “tinuhog niya ang mag-kapatid,” adding a clue, “count juan to 10.”

• A popular TV-host-actress swore to a friend that she’d never, never again work with a lady director after the recent shoot of a movie. “Kasi naman,” said another Funfare DPA, “during the shoot, lagi siyang sinasabihan ni direk ng ‘tanga!’ o kaya ay ‘tatanga-tanga kasi’ in front of everybody on the set.” The actress got offended. But then, who knows? In showbiz, nobody speaks “the last word.” If another opportunity comes, maybe the actress will eat her words and be chummy-chummy with direk again. You know, in showbiz, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

• A wide-awake item: Fans and friends of BB Gandanghari (photo) are worried what “serious infection” BB’s brother Robin Padilla was referring to in his Instagram account, accompanied by a picture of BB in his hospital bed playing with Robin’s son Ali. In that Instagram entry, Robin finally (although indirectly) acknowledged BB’s new identity by calling BB “my sister.” Anyway, Funfare checked with BB what his “serious infection” is and he assured everybody that he’s fast recovering, saying, “Urinary tract infection which led to severe dehydration that almost affected my kidneys and bladder.” My doctor-friend is advising BB to drink lots of water (preferably buko juice) and never delay answering the call of nature.

*  *  *

More than one year and a half after Derek Ramsay broke up with Angelica Panganiban (now going steady with John Lloyd Cruz), he swears (to high heavens?) that he’ll never have a girlfriend from showbiz again…never?

“It’s magulo,” said Derek (voice of experience) who has had two so far, the other (and first) being Solenn Heussaff (who was barely 16 at that time).

His break-up with Angelica must have been a bit traumatic for Derek against whom, until lately, Angelica has been posting hostile (sometimes cruel) items on her Twitter account, badmouthing Derek every chance she got. It’s a good thing Angelica has run out of “bullets” against Derek who has remained a gentleman through it all, not making any unfavorable comment about Angelica (since, after all, they shared beautiful moments, too, didn’t they?).

But Derek admitted that, contrary to what many people perhaps think, he hasn’t been “celibate” these past months.

“I have a girlfriend but she’s not from showbiz,” confessed Derek. “I guess I have learned my lesson.”

That confession downright negates reports that Derek “romances” all (no exception!) his teleplay leading ladies including Nadine Samonte (in Kidlat) and Arci Muñoz (in Undercover, his current starrer also on the Kapatid Network which airs starting at 7:30 p.m. Mondays thru Fridays), and Cristine Reyes (who, only five months ago, broke up with Rayver Cruz who is now dating Imee Hart, a former Star Magic talent and one-time Willie Revillame’s Wowowee co-host, and a finalist in this year’s Bb. Pilipinas pageant).

“Some people are giving me too much credit,” smiled Derek. “The truth is that I’m focused on my work.”

For Undercover (with Phillip Salvador, head of a syndicate, as his nemesis), Derek got a lot of pointers from his dad, the original Derek Ramsay (Derek the actor is Derek Ramsay II and another brother is Derek Ramsay III), who used to work as a detective at Scotland Yard in England where Derek (the actor) spent his early years and finished his early education.

“The discipline and demands in Undercover are different from those in Kidlat,” confirmed Derek. “My role in Kidlat was very physical at medyo difficult because of the tight costume. In Undercover, my role is emotionally demanding because may kasamang drama.”

Did he put “padding” as Kidlat so that, you know, he would look more macho where it counted?

“No, none at all,” swore Derek. “There was nothing between me and my costume. Walang daya, hehehehe!”

Loren hailed as Distinguished UP Alumna

Congratulations to third-termer Sen. Loren Legarda who added another feather to her already well-decorated cap with her citation as one of its distinguished alumni for the year by the University of the Philippines where she graduated cum laude in 1981 with a Bachelor in Arts, major in Broadcast Communications degree. She was named 2013 Distinguished Alumna for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation. Loren chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

In 2008, Loren was appointed as the UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption for Asia and the Pacific, which led her to engage in debates with global thought leaders and called for action along with women leaders of the world. She also led international dialogues in Paris, Beijing, Geneva, Copenhagen and Hanoi and high-level advocacy with heads of state in Bhutan and the Maldives.  

Meanwhile, Loren congratulates director Brillante Mendoza for being conferred the title Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Artes et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Ministry of Culture.

Brillante directed the two most recent documentaries on climate change that Loren produced — Buhos and Ligtas. Buhos is a documentary that explains the science of climate change and its impact on everyday lives, and the soon-to-be launched Ligtas is an instructional video on disaster preparedness.

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