Halu-Halong Hula-Hula 2017

When the Rooster crows at the start of its year (Jan. 28, 2017, according to the Chinese Calendar), will somebody from showbiz recoil conscience-stricken? Hard to tell. It’s much easier to predict (with an old, sometimes hazy, Crystal Ball as usual) what could happen to showbiz denizens in the next 12 months which could witness a lot of, well, “cockfighting” since, as I just said, it’s The Year of the Rooster.

This corner’s decades-old “Halu-Halong Hula-Hula” has a good batting average, based as the “predictions” are on a stack of 2016 newspaper clippings as the previous annual lists were. (Gentle reminder: Readers are not constrained to take the “predictions” hook, line and sinker because, that’s it, kaya nga hula-hula, eh.)

To borrow the words of Miss World Organization (MWO) head Julia Morley, we’ll do it in reverse order — you know, we’ll start with the “Wide-Awake Items”:

• Kris Aquino will bounce back and spring a big surprise on all of us, proving to all and sundry that she’s not done yet, career- and romance-wise. Is a dashing foreigner lurking nearby?

• Ruffa Gutierrez and her foreigner boyfriend will not elope (too old for that) but will seriously think of getting married despite the objection of her Mom Annabelle Rama (over her dead body?).

• Luis Manzano will not fall on his knees to propose to Jessy Mendiola even if that’s the “trend” among their colleagues, Luis and Jessy not being known for being gaya-gaya, puto-maya. But they will enjoy another year of blissful togetherness, with the blessing of Luis’ mother Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos who said she found Jessy mabait at maganda.

• Angel Locsin, Luis’ ex, will finally (finally!!!) find her own new happiness since she claimed to have already moved on…without looking back with anger. Everybody deserves to be happy, right?

• Claudine Barretto will let bygones be bygones and accept a peace offering if extended to her estranged husband Raymart Santiago. It isn’t nice to carry a heavy 2016 emotional baggage, is it?

• Miss Universe (2015) Pia Wurtzbach will make an “important announcement” after she relinquishes her crown to the winner (will she be somebody from Asia?) in the 2016  Miss Universe Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 30, the third time it’s being staged in Manila?

• Sen. Manny Pacquiao will defy age and prove that he’s invincible by having another fight (with Floyd Mayweather? Not too soon!) middle of the year. In God, he trusts.

• Papa Jack will quit Love Radio after many years, leaving his followers (this one included) orphaned. Asked why, all that PJ said was, “Long story,” adding that he planned to take a well-deserved rest. Will he resurface in another station? Stay tuned.

• Although his It’s Showtime! co-hosts Billy Crawford and Anne Curtis are engaged (to Coleen Garcia and Erwan Heussaff, respectively), Vhong Navarro is not going to be a copycat and propose to his long-time girlfriend Tanya Winona Bautista, probably shrugging that he’s “been there, done that,” with his first marriage annulled (he has two children with his ex-wife). But Vhong promised to give Tanya “the best wedding ever.” As he marks his 40th birthday today, Vhong is keeping his fingers crossed that his starrer, Cineko Productions’ Mang Kepweng Returns (inspired by the Chiquito movie first shown in 1977, remade in 1979 and 1981), will attract a long queue as it opens nationwide today, with Kim Domingo as one of his leading ladies, directed by GB Sampedro.

• Isabelle Daza and husband Adrien Semblat will welcome the stork’s visit before the end of the year, following her cousin Georgina Wilson who has already given birth to her and husband Arthur Burnand’s first child last Dec. 26. Their “It Girl” friend Solenn Heussaff (also married like Isabelle and Georgina last year) is not following suit, not this year anyway.

And now, the “Blind Items”:

• New young(er) loveteams will take center stage, dimming the spotlight on established ones who are not getting any younger and should seek new directions to stay longer in the race.

• Not all those who were engaged last year will really walk down the aisle. Some might call it quits, knock on wood.

• Wedding bells might ring for J and D who have found each other, and will show the world that, yes, to quote the song, love is lovelier the second time around, more comfortable the second time you fall.

• A couple in a bitter court battle will reconcile and start life anew, past set aside, for the sake of their child. Marital love will triumph over infidelity.

• After Prince Stefan, another actor is contemplating to out himself, unless people close to him stop him. Some things are better left unspoken, undisclosed.

• The merry-go-round will continue unabated, with Kapamilya and Kapuso stars jumping ober da bakod. So what else is new?

• A drug-related (minor) scandal will rock the industry which will survive with “clean hands.” Look, Ma, negative!

• Three TV shows will fold up due to poor ratings…even before they complete their intended run.

• A recently-reconciled couple will (finally?) get married abroad. If ever, it will be the fulfillment of the lady’s dream.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)