I always enjoy Viber-messaging with my cool buddy James Yap in his native Hiligaynon, which makes us feel really at ease. I am an adopted daughter of Iloilo, so Ilonggos like James are my kind of people. I look forward to bonding with him and his fab GF Mic on her Halloween birthday party.
When he was en route to Korea recently, I taught him basic Korean phrases via text. He said he would have jammed with my singer-friends during my own bash, if he hadn’t been away.
Last week, I went to his hometown, Bacolod City. He asked how I found the MassKara Festival. If he were there, he said, we’d have partied, for sure.
I asked how he felt about Manny Pacquiao’s foray into the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). His reply: “Manny told me eight years ago that he had long wanted to join the PBA. I said if he hadn’t gone into boxing, he wouldn’t have as much money as he does. That made him think. He plays basketball well. I advised him to be careful and to avoid injuries. I myself tried boxing when I was a kid, but it was more of playing. Boxing is tougher than basketball. I wouldn’t try it again.”
Regarding Renée
WITH Renée Zellweger (left) in Taiwan, 2009
Renée Zellweger’s “unrecognizable look” is a hot topic in social media. I remember my interview with her in Taiwan at the “Bridget Jones” Southeast Asian promo tour in 2009.
No matter how she looks now, she will always be a real beauty to me. I will never forget how kind, warm and accommodating she was. She recognized the scent I was wearing and said, “You smell like my best friend.” She thanked me for flying all the way to Taiwan even if there was a storm raging in Manila at the time. For a while, she made me forget she was a big Hollywood star. I became a bigger fan of hers after that once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Happy Maegan
After the rain comes the rainbow. That’s true for my “sister,” Maegan Aguilar. She went through hell during a recent squabble with dad Freddie Aguilar. But they have patched things up. Now, Maegan is definitely happy after her band, Glass Cherry Breakers (GCB), won in the third Philippine Blues Competition staged by The Philippine Blues Society. GCB consists of Maegan (vocals), Sammy Asuncion (guitar), Louie Talan (bass), Niki Cabardo (keyboard) and Boyet Aquino (drums). They are competing in the 31st International Blues Challenge. It will be held in Memphis, Tennessee, in January. You can catch them live on Nov. 6 at 70’s Bistro and on Nov. 7 at Jet 7 Bistro (Timog). Check out the GCB and Maegan Aguilar Facebook pages. Kudos for the well-deserved win. Even as she sings the blues, her heart runneth over with joy.
MAEGAN Aguilar’s band, Glass Cherry Breakers, will represent the Philippines in an international blues competition in Memphis this January.
Break for Vice
I asked my dalaGay IC Mendoza, who hangs out with Vice Ganda, why Vice was quitting the noontime program “It’s Showtime.” IC said Vice needed to rest his vocal chords, which is not possible with a daily show. Fame takes its toll even on top celebs like Vice. They should not let the intoxicating smell of success keep them from finding time to smell the roses.
Calendar girl
Ellen Adarna is Ginebra San Miguel’s (GSM) 2015 calendar girl. It is the brand’s 180th anniversary and the theme of the calendar is “Ganado sa Buhay.” The photos were shot against backdrops honoring farmers, construction workers and fishermen—a rice field, a construction site and the seaside. Live it up and go bottoms up the GSM way!
Shopping haven
ABS-CBN’s online store (www.abs-cbnstore.com) is a shopping haven for Kathniel fans, who can now own clothing items such as those worn by the two in “Got 2 Believe”—at 20 percent off regular prices. CD prices are discounted by 10 percent until Oct. 31. Also available are celebrity-themed mobile phone and tablet cases. Kapamilya, pakyaw na!