Ara’s next child will have to be with future hubby

Curtain-raisers:

A. When it rains, it really pours. With Hello, Love, Goodbye (HLG), his movie with Kathryn Bernardo, on its way to becoming the “All-Time Local Box-Office Hit,” Alden Richards (photo) is swamped with more blessings topped by the Asian Star Prize he received at the Seoul International Drama Awards (SIDA) 2019. The award-giving group was organized by the SIDA organizing committee and the Korean Broadcasters Association (KBA). Together with Kathryn, Alden has been all over the world gracing the screenings of HLG. Alden manages to include in his airtight schedule an immersion with Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI), an NGO that helps blind people, for his role in The Gift (with Jo Berry), the GMA soap set for airing late next month.    

B. Hintayan ng Langit (Heaven’s Waiting), directed by Dan Villegas (photo), bagged the Golden Sarmatian Lion Award (President’s Prize) at the 12th Orenburg International Film Festival (East&West Classics and Avant Garde) in Russia. The film is an adaptation of a short play by Juan Miguel Severo about “the beyond-life consequences of young passions between two persons who meet unexpectedly in purgatory,” played by Gina Pareño and Eddie Garcia who won Best Actor (Circle Competition) at the 7th QCinema International Film Festival (QCIFF) and the film declared Audience Choice awardee.

= Lance Raymundo (photo) releases only one single per year. The one for 2019 is Sana, described as “a first in more ways than one” since Lance is known for sweet and sugary anthems. Sana is about the sad tale of a breakup with the lyrics contrasted with danceable mid-tempo arrangement. It’s Lance’s first Tagalog song, with Lance doing the melody and Eric Arboleda the lyrics, slated for release by Viva Records on Sept. 6. Aside from the Sana promo tours, Lance is busy dubbing (with Pokwang, Enchong Dee, John Lapus, Benjie Paras and Baron Geisler) for Rizal. He has just finished work on the yet untitled final installment of director Elwood Perez’s trilogy.   

Did Ara Mina really say that she welcomed a “donor” if and when she planned to have a second child?

“I think I was misunderstood,” Ara told Funfare during the launch by Ever Bilena of Ara Colours, her lipstick line. “What I want is to have another child by whoever I will marry.”

At 40, Ara is a single mom to Amanda Gabrielle (nicknamed Mandy), her four-year-old daughter by Bulacan, Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses, her ex-boyfriend with whom she has maintained a harmonious relationship.

“I want a boy,” added Ara. “I’m thinking of having my eggs frozen and I’m still inquiring how to do it.”

Aside from Ara Colours, Ara manages Ara’s Secret, an online business dealing in beauty products, and she’s set to open the fourth branch of her Hazelberry Café in southern Metro Manila.

She’s also shooting Unforgettable for IdeaFirst Company (headed by couple Perci Intalan and Jun Lana) and Viva Films, with Sarah Geronimo as co-star.

Fancy-free Ara admitted that she’s dating but not yet committed to anybody.

“I haven’t introduced him (unidentified date) to Mandy baka ma-confused ‘yung bata, until sigurado na ako,” said Ara.

Incidentally, present at the Ever Bilena event to support Ara were her good friends Patricia Javier and Gladys Reyes.

“I’ve known Hazel (Ara’s real name) more than two decades ago during our That’s Entertainment days,” recalled Patricia, the reigning Mrs. Universe Fitness Woman. “We were in the same batch with (Manila Mayor) Isko Moreno who was paired with Bamba. I had another partner.’

According to Patricia, even then she noticed that Isko was an “action man, tahimik lang, walang salita at puro gawa. He was aware of his humble beginnings and he was down-to-earth. I knew that he was destined for something big.”

On her and husband Rob Walcher’s arrival from a recent trip to Malaysia, Patricia told their driver to pass by Manila.

“It was early evening and we were amazed by the Bonifacio Monument (a breath away from the City Hall) which was fully lighted,” noted Patricia. “That place used to be dark. Now, many people are safely strolling around.”

They also saw the cleaned-up Rizal Avenue, Recto Avenue and surrounding streets. 

“Parang minagic,” commented Patricia, adding, “Isko for president!”

Then she asked Gladys to compete in the Mrs. Universe Fitness Woman.

“Kulang ako sa height,” protested Gladys.

“Height is not a requirement,” explained Patricia, “as long as you have an advocacy.”

“A, ganoon?” replied Gladys. “Mayroon ako. Dapat ipagbawal ang mga babaeng pumapatol sa asawa ng may asawa. There should be a law about that.”

Gladys is married to Christopher Roxas by whom she has four children.

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