Magical Stars of the 2017 Ball

It was the young(er) stars’ time and turn to shine at the 11th Star Magic Ball held Saturday night, Sept. 30, at the Shangri-La Makati, special because it marked the 25th year of discovering and building stars that dominate today’s movie firmament, thanks to the network’s starmaker Johnny “Mr. M.” Manahan (take a bow, please!).

As a tribute to Mr. M., instead of the Rigodon de Honor, two of his favorite shows were performed — La La Land, with Daniel Padilla singing City of Stars while his screen sweetheart Kathryn Bernardo danced to Someone in the Crowd together with the G-Force; while Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil dueted on Lovely Night as Elmo Magalona and Janella Salvador, McCoy de Leon and Elisse Joson, and Maris Racal and Iñigo Pascual continued dancing to Someone in the Crowd.    

To cap the tribute, ABS-CBN chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio delivered a speech in praise of Mr. M. (The Man of the Hour) who was given the Magnum Icon Award for his role in the Kapamilya network, with the same recognition also given to Star Creatives COO Malou Santos.

A P1M donation was given to the Bantay Bata Foundation.

Awardees included: 

Kathryn Bernardo, Pond’s Brightest Star; Julia Barretto, Pond’s Belle of the Ball; Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano, and Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, Oppo Couples of the Night; and Kisses Delavin and Marco Gallo, Cornetto Tip-to-Top Best Dressed and Star Magic Fan Favorite, with Pia Wurtzbach sharing the honors.

Since Kisses is the first-timer among the awardees, Funfare decided to focus the spotlight on her by letting her “play favorites,” the better to know more about Pinoy Big Brother’s “Miracle Baby” (so-called because her mom suffered seven miscarriages before Kisses was born; no wonder she’s doted on by her parents, Gilbert and Carrie Delavin, since she’s an only child).

“Thanks to Francis Libiran who made my gown,” said Kisses who had her debut this year. “It was made with so much love that it took us four fittings. There were additions with the fitting. Francis came up with a masterpiece.”

According to Kisses, “Being in the ball was already a big blessing. My only goal was for my parents to see me on TV so I could make them proud of me. Winning two awards left me speechless. God is so good to me.”

Asked what qualities she wants in a guy, Kisses said, “Someone who is raw and real, who has no pretension, sincere, consistent, who respects and loves his parents no matter what, kind, good-mannered, who respects the elders, not vain and not full of himself, who won’t fool a girl, and who loves God more than he loves himself.”

Does his screen partner possess some, if not all, those qualities?

“Only time will tell,” replied Kisses.

Here are her favorites:

• Singer: Taylor Swift

• Actor: Tom Cruise

• Actress: Angelina Jolie

• Movie: Wonder Woman

• Book: Paper Towns

• Author: Paulo Coelho

• Flower: Lilac

• Perfume: Bvlgari Amethyst

• Hangout(s): Coffee shops, DLSU library and my room

• Food: Mac & Cheese

• Drink: Coffee

• Part of the house: Balcony

• Day of the week: Friday

• Time of day: Just before midnight

• Subject in school: Mathematics (Geometry, Algebra, Calculus and Trigonometry)

• Quotation: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

• Expression: Thank you, Lord! (with my hands raised and my fists clenched as if cheering)

• Chocolate: Hany and Chocnut

• Actor-crushes: Tom Cruise, Kim Bum and John Lloyd Cruz

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.) – PHOTOS by ALLAN SANCON