Has Ai-Ai given up on Jiro?

Curtain-raisers:

• AlDub tandem Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza have become the Commercial King and Queen with, it seems, no sweat and in record time…barely six months from late July last year when they were accidentally discovered as a love team up to now. Between them, Alden and Maine have done more than 20 commercials, with Maine taking over from Vice Ganda in two products, one of them CDO Funtastyk Young Pork, and taking over as Eskinol endorser from a long line led by Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos. More coming. Oh well, when it rains, it does pour…and how!
• Those who have previewed the Tandem, an indie directed by King Palisoc, are all praises for the performance of JM de Guzman and Nico Antonio as brothers who make a living by snatching bags and cell phones in Metro Manila. JM is so good, conveying an ocean of emotions simply with his expressive eyes and proving he could give bold actors a run for their underwear (watch out for his passionate love scenes with starlet Elora Espano) that the previewers were tsk-tsking, “What a waste!” now that JM has reportedly gone back to the habit that he had successfully kicked. JM deserves not just a second but a third chance.
• On a recent visit, 2015 Mister Puerto Rico Fernando Alvarez (photo) had a good fill of his favorite turon which he described as “to die for.” Alvarez finished one of the Top 10 at the 2015 Mister International pageant won by Mr. Switzerland Pedro Mendes. While here, he attended the birthday bash of Jaime Acosta, CEO of Psalmstre Enterprises, Inc., and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu. He plans to pursue a modeling/acting career here. He should be off to Puerto Rico where he’s an Accounting senior at the University of Puerto Rico.

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Just when Ai-Ai delas Alas thought that everything was a-okay with her anak-anakan (“foster” son) Jiro Manio, she was hit by something like a hammer to her head.

We all knew how Ai-Ai saved Jiro (who played one of her sons in the Tanging Ina franchise) from total self-destruction (no thanks to reported drug dependence) by entering him in a wellness/rehab center after Jiro was found wandering aimlessly at the NAIA 3.

“That’s how much Ai-Ai cares for Jiro whom she treats as a real son,” Ai-Ai’s confidante told Funfare. “She really wants him to reform so that he can go back to acting. Mahusay kasing aktor ang bata.”

For more than six months, Ai-Ai would check on Jiro at the center, shouldering all his requirements and needs including the P60,000 monthly due and around P30,000 for Jiro’s medical needs.

“He’s coming clean,” was all that Ai-Ai would say every time the movie press would ask her. “He’s gaining weight and on the road to recovery.”

Spoken too soon, it turned out.

Two weeks ago, Jiro was released from the center.

“Ai-Ai rented (for P15,000) a condo unit for him and his guardian,” added Ai-Ai’s confidante. “Jiro was supposed to make a comeback via the GMA show Magpakailanman, so Ai-Ai had him go through a workshop together with Ai-Ai’s son Sancho. When he was asked to speak, Jiro thanked everybody…yes, everybody…but Ai-Ai. Of course, Sancho was hurt. He told Jiro, ‘My mom has done everything for you, what else do you want her to do?’ Then Sancho cried in frustration and disappointment. Jiro may be drug-free but something is very wrong with him.”

Ending of this morality tale?

“Ai-Ai sent Jiro back to another rehab center in the province, cancelled the contract for the condo unit that Jiro and his guardian occupied for barely two weeks,” said Ai-Ai’s confidante. “How long he will stay there, nobody knows, nobody can tell.”

Ai-Ai has virtually kept her hands off Jiro, endorsing him to his family, saying, Kayo na po ang bahala sa kanya.”

As it is, Ai-Ai has done everything that she could for her “foster son.”

“It’s now up to Jiro if he wants to change,” concluded Ai-Ai’s confidante. “Nasa kanya na kung gusto talaga niya magbagong buhay.”

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