Showbiz is burning with explosive issues. So what else is new? Controversy is the lifeblood of the business. I suspect that if all stars behave (they really should, don’t you think?), showbiz will be bereft of excitement.
• Issue No. 1: Anjanette Abayari hit by blast from the past.
When nobody was looking, Anjanette broke her 15-year absence by breezing back home with her sons Aiden and Ashton. The persona-non-grata status slapped on her by then Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada, after she was detained in Guam for a drug case, was reversed by the court.
Obviously a changed (read: drug-free) woman now, Anjanette said she’s here (from Jan. 31 until first week of March) to shoot two action B-movies, Showdown in Manila and Blood Raid (with Michael Dudikoff as co-star in one of them) by two US-based companies, and to sort of “feel the water” if she still has space in the local industry.
First on her agenda was to pay his father, a stroke patient, a visit in her native Iloilo City, whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years. Anjanette’s flourishing career was rudely cut short by the drug incident, similar to what also happened to Alma Concepcion in Guam.
Inevitably, Anjanette was hit by a blast from the past when she guested on Startalk last Saturday. In answer to host Lolit Solis’ question, Anjanette recalled that her then boyfriend David Bunevacz (now married to Jessica Rodriguez and living in California with their family) sold her Rolex watch, her car and tried to sell her condo unit by making her sign (she did not) a “power of attorney.”
But according to Jojo Gabinete who got in touch with David, it’s true that David sold the Rolex because they didn’t have money then and David used the money for trips to Guam to visit Anjanette. What about “donations” (from friends) that Anjanette said went to David, without her getting a single cent? David told Jojo that there wasn’t any “donation” at all.
Anjanette’s sons are from her two previous relationships.
David Bunevacz and wife Jessica Rodriguez
Asked (again) by Lolit why she didn’t marry either of them, Anjanette said, “I just wanted to be a mother, not to be a wife.”
When she returns end of March, will Anjanette be taken back by Viva Films with which she used to be under contract?
•Issue No. 2: Albay Gov. Joey Salceda accepts Xian Lim’s apology
Xian Lim (left) and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda: In the spirit of Lent, forgiveness is granted
As always in the case of showbiz misunderstanding, once the protagonists have let off steam and cooler heads prevail…yes, you guessed it!...all’s well that ends well.
To summarize what happened: Paid a staggering P390,000-plus to grace the province’s Chinese New Year celebration, Xian reportedly offended the Albayanos by not accepting a “Warm Albay” T-shirt (as a souvenir but not for him to wear) and a book about Albay, saying, “I’m not here to promote Albay” (where Xian was also a guest years ago when he was only starting for a P75,000 talent fee). Xian said it might conflict with the T-shirt brand he’s endorsing. Some quarters described Xian’s attitude as “pambabastos” to the Albayanos, prompting Gov. Joey to lambast Xian on his Facebook.
Last Sunday afternoon, a remorseful-looking Xian appeared on The Buzz to explain his side, saying he didn’t mean to offend the Albayanos, he was brought up very well by his mom (a single parent) and he loves the Albayanos.
Earlier, Xian already apologized on his own Facebook (or Instagram?) but Gov. Joey was adamant, “Apology not accepted.”
But in the same edition of The Buzz, Gov. Joey seemed to have softened up and finally accepted Xian’s apology, quote-unquote: It’s the season of Lent, the season of unconditional forgiveness. And Albayanos are the kindest people on earth. I would accept his apologies if he remains within his twisted recollections. It’s his loss, not ours. Our conversation as people cannot be ambushed by the behavior of one man no matter how celebrated and no matter how atrocious. It’s time to move on. We have shown our social cohesion and employed so much energy in defense of the honor of our homeland. Three days are enough and we gain so much more by laser-beaming our unity and focusing on our positives. Warm Albay. Warm People.
Case closed…hopefully?
•Issue No. 3: Ser Chief Richard Yap breaks his silence
Top: Richard Yap (center) with Wangfu resto partners Lester Pimentel Ong (left) and Singaporean Ace Wang. Above: At the recent blessing of the new Wangfu outlet at UP Town Center with guests Malou Santos (Star Cinema production director) and director Olivia Lamasan, and (seated) Richard’s Halik Sa Hangin co-stars Julia Montes and Gerald Anderson.
Almost two weeks after Ai-Ai delas Alas’ Valentine show at Solaire where he backed out as guest, Richard Yap finally broke his silence last Saturday afternoon when he hosted a Chinese New Year merienda for the movie press at Wangfu Restaurant which he co-owns with friends Lester Pimentel Ong and Singaporean Ace Wang. (They recently opened a Wangfu outlet at UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.)
Richard expressed disappointment over rumors presumed to be floated by the producer (who was unable to pay the rental for the venue, resulting in the show’s cancellation) that he backed out because of money matters.
The truth, according to Richard, is that the producer reneged on the contract that required a down payment, although he was willing to join the show even if friends have been showing him write-ups about the producer’s (bad) reputation…”Because Ai-Ai is my friend,” said Richard. It was his manager who decided to pull out Richard from the show two weeks before Ai-Ai did.
Of course, it’s “pera-pera lang,” as Richard told the movie writers. Correct! Aren’t we all in whenever we are for the money?
But it has to be hard-earned money. To be duped for the money is unacceptable. I agree with Richard who is among the showbiz guys with an unblemished reputation.
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