Is Christian Bautista leaving ABS-CBN?

Happiness is written all over Christian Bautista’s face. Aside from his new album/coffee table book “First Class,” he has a new love, Carla Dunareanu.

Is he also moving to another network soon? “Nothing is certain,” he says. “My contract with ABS-CBN ends in August. After that, I’m open to negotiations.”

What made him fall for Carla? “Even if she is Romanian-Chinese, our attitudes and characters complement each other,” he explains. “She never fails to make me smile. We met when we did ‘The Kitchen Musical.’ She’s like a Pinay too, God- and family-centered.”

Is she wife material? “She definitely is,” he admits. “But it’s too early to discuss marriage. She’s based in Singapore where she works as a model-actress but we talk daily via Skype and see each other every month.”

Deeply rooted love makes big phone bills and long-distance romance worthwhile.

Why Ali left ‘Personalan’

Here’s the story behind the story of Ali Sotto leaving her GMA 7 show, “Personalan.” Mi amiga muy simpatica (as I fondly call Ali) sent me this via Facebook:

“Amiguita querida, what a blessing to have you in my corner as I will always be in yours. Here’s the deal, muñequita. ‘Personalan’ will have a new host starting next week. I am leaving for the US on the 14th. My son Chino has lived and worked in Pasadena since 2003. When he was here for the Christmas holidays, [my ex-husband] Maru took him to Singapore and he loved it so much that he wants to relocate there. I really, really want to make this happen. We have started to network for employment possibilities. Stateside, I have to deal with selling or renting out the house, and selling/shipping the household effects. Nag-iisa na lang si Chino after Miko passed, and for him to be a few hours’ flight away would make the entire family happy.

“So why don’t I just take a leave? Truth to tell, hosting ‘Personalan’ since July has left me emotionally exhausted … I get so involved with the case studies… I imbibe and absorb the negativity. For the most part the atmosphere on the set is jovial—tawanan, halakhakan. Pero it’s true that there was an incident the night I resigned. Nangyari yon sa set… Let me be quick to add that we patched it up soon after. I say it every day on the show. ‘Walang hindi madadaan sa masinsinang usapan.’ We practiced what we were preaching all along. Nagusap, nagkaayos. I will not hesitate to work with this group again. I wish them the very best.”

That, Ali said, was on top of crafting each episode. “My taping days are Tuesday and Wednesday, and I couldn’t get up for a day or two after. [My husband] Omar calls it ‘catatonic Thursday.’ Having given my all, na-burn out siguro ako.”

She wishes the show well. “Thank you, GMA News TV, for the privilege of spearheading a novel brand of public service.”

Up-close-and-personal moments with her family are far more important to Ali than her close-ups in “Personalan.”

After the tumult

Rhian Ramos bounces back after her tumultuous love affair with DJ Mo via GMA Films’ “My Kontrabida Girl” (opens March 14).

In the movie that pairs her with Aljur Abrenica, Rhian portrays Isabel, an infamous soap opera villain who is the most hated personality in the television world. Aljur plays Chris, who breaks Isabel’s heart.

By some weird twist of fate, the ex-lovers fall in love again. Will they get it right the second time around?

Hmm, shades of Rhian’s bittersweet romance. But past is past. It’s all love and laughter now for Rhian in this rom-com.

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