Avel conquers Bay Area, Paris

Curtain-raisers:

•  The producers of Heneral Luna happily reported that the movie, still showing nationwide to record crowds, has grossed over P160 million as of Wednesday, Sept. 30, and it proves that if you make a good movie, the people will watch it. By the way, foreigners and those not familiar with Filipino heroes might really wonder why Apolinario Mabini The Sublime Paralytic portrayed by Epy Quizon is seated throughout the film. The names of the characters are flashed on the screen as the actors playing them appear but if you blink, you risk missing them. Oops! In last Wednesday’s column, Archie Alemania was mentioned as playing Col. Francisco “Paco” Roman which is the character played by Joem Bascon. Archie plays Capt. Eduardo Rusca.
•  I won’t mention in what awards and when it was held, but a controversial young actor sorely missed receiving an award given to young achievers (in batches every year). The one in-charge dropped the actor from the Honor Roll when he was deemed an “unworthy role model” after he got involved in ugly incidents.
•  Is there “something” being rekindled between Alden Richards and Julie Anne San Jose now that they are together on the GMA show Sunday PINASaya? The romance between them was aborted (rudely interrupted) a few years ago by those who frowned on Alden because he was “nameless” (read: not popular) and “not moneyed” (the words of the Funfare DPA). Won’t the AlDub fans rise in protest because they prefer Maine Mendoza/Yaya Dub for Alden?

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Three cheers to Avel Bacudio who has just mounted two well-applauded shows first in San Francisco’s Bay Area and then in Paris. Funfare’s roving source said that the audience at Avel’s F. Mode Fashion Show/Expo (presented by Maribeth Quaile) last Sept. 12 at the Santa Clara Convention Center was floored by his “awesome designs” as well as his Avel For Kids advocacy.

Avel got the same thunderous applause during the Paris Fashion Week last Sept. 19, highlighted by Avel’s Red Collection, Khaki Collection, his Avel For Kids Collection and Paris Collection Preview.

Among Avel’s beauty-queen models were 2012 Miss Universe first runner-up Janine Tugonon, 2012 Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Katrina Dimaranan, 2010 Miss Philippines Earth (USA) Melissa Sokukawa and 2014 Miss World Philippines Top 10 semi-finalist Alexa Kirby.

Present in both shows was renowned designer Jimmy Choo who presented Avel with Asia’s Most Influential Designer 2014 award during the Mercedez Benz/Malaysian Fashion Week. “Jimmy Choo even chilled with Avel backstage after the Paris show,” added the roving source.

Daniel named 2015 Outstanding Local Legislator

Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando (photo) was named Outstanding Local Legislator of 2015 by Superbrand Marketing International, Inc. at an affair at the City Club Ballroom, Makati City.

The other vice governor awardees were Jose Antonio ‘Marc’ Leviste (Batangas), Allen Jesse ‘Sonny’ Mangaoang (Kalinga) and Ramon ‘Jolo’ Revilla (Cavite).

Your ‘smiling’ home in the sky

The four-hour PAL flight my traveling companion and I took from Guam to Manila last week was made more pleasant by the ever-smiling cabin crew that included (above, from left) Aissa Talisaysay, Shiella Salcedo and Miguel “Migs” Ferrer. I guess the rest of the passengers would say the same thing about the crew. Shiella said that her husband Juan “John” Salcedo III (who recently celebrated his birthday), is an avid STAR reader “for the longest time.”

Muslim community crowns Ate Vi ‘queen’

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto was crowned Queen of the Province/Holder of Authority (Baealabi A Gausa Sa Batangas) last weekend by the Muslim community of Batangas at ceremonies held at the Lima Park Hotel in Malvar/Lipa City.

The rites were led by Royal Highness Sultan Paramount Faizal Coyogan Benaning Bansao of the Royal Houses of Sultanate of Batangas, witnessed by more than 3,000 Muslim brothers and leaders from Batangas, Brunei and Malaysia.

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