(From left) Pokwang, Lee O’Brian, “Vincenzo” actor Na Chul, Alex Gonzaga. Images: Instagram/@du1jec via @leeobrian, Instagram/@ul_ent, Nice Print Photography via Instagram/@cathygonzaga
The month of January seems to go on forever, including the outpouring of some of the biggest entertainment news of the year, including post-relationship woes, effects of an icing-smearing scandal, a heartbreaking death, as well as a Filipino couple entering the finals of a popular talent show.
Allow us to remind you of the biggest showbiz news that made headlines from the week of Jan. 20 to Jan. 26.
Pokwang’s ex’s new relationship
Pokwang and Lee O’Brian. Image: Instagram/@itspokwang27
Pokwang quashed the possibility of getting back together with her ex-partner Lee O’Brian, as she hinted at the latter’s new romance in an Instagram post.
The actress-comedienne reiterated that she’s no longer selling PokLee products, her now-defunct food business with O’Brian in a now-deleted Instagram post last January 17. Her “TiktoClock” co-host Kim Atienza then appeared to have teased her in the comments, saying “Pa-order nga ng [PokLee], mamang?” (Can I order a PokLee, mamang?)
“Wala na po, [may] nilalandi na siya. Hindi nag-effort na lunukin ang pride chicken para kay Tisay (There’s no PokLee anymore because he’s already flirting with someone else. He did not even make an effort to swallow his pride for Tisay)!” she replied.
The “Tisay” is a nickname that Pokwang uses to refer to Malia, her five-year daughter with O’Brian.
Pokwang confirmed her split from O’Brian in July 2022, and has since been co-parenting Malia with him. She also shared that their separation was caused by the ex-couple getting “tired” of one another.
READ: Pokwang hints at Lee O’Brian’s new relationship: ‘Di nag-effort lunukin ang pride para kay Malia
Alex Gonzaga’s ‘eksenadora’ tendencies
Screenshot from Dani Barretto Instagram Story
Dolly Anne Carvajal, an INQUIRER.net columnist, revealed that Alex Gonzaga has the tendency to be an “eksenadora” following her notorious icing-smearing incident at her 35th birthday party.
Carvajal also recalled Gonzaga when she used to host the now-defunct TV5 talk show “Juicy” with IC Mendoza, saying that fame has “harmful side effects when not handled properly.”
READ: Alex Gonzaga and the harmful side effects of fame
Na Chul’s death
Na Chul. Image: Instagram/@ul_ent
Na Chul passed away “while undergoing treatment for his deteriorating health” on Jan. 21. He was 36 years old.
The late actor is best known for his roles in popular K-dramas “Vincenzo”, “Once Upon a Small Town”, “A Superior Day”, “Through the Darkness”, “Happiness”, “Jirisan”, “D.P.”, “Hospital Playlist 2”, and “Touch Your Heart”, among many others.
“Goblin” star Kim Go-eun paid homage to Na Chul on her personal Instagram page, describing him as the “most amazing man, dad, husband, son and friend.” The actress worked with the late actor in “Little Women”.
READ: ‘Vincenzo’ actor Na Chul passes away at 36
Power couple
Power Duo. Image: screengrab from YouTube/America’s Got Talent
Filipino contemporary acrobatic dance group Power Duo advanced to the grand finale of “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars” edition after winning the super fans voting portion. The unit first rose into prominence after winning the fifth season of “Pilipinas Got Talent” in 2016.
Power Duo, composed of real-life sweethearts Jervin and Anjanette Minor, set the AGT stage on fire after performing Calum Scott’s hit song “You Are the Reason”. The couple’s performance, uploaded on America’s Got Talent’s YouTube channel on Jan. 24, showed the clip of their performance telling their love story through dance.
The clip also showed the audience and show judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum watching their performance in awe.
Power Duo joined child magician Aidan McCann in the show’s grand finalists, while the show’s fifth preliminary round will determine who will join both acts.
READ: Filipino couple Power Duo makes it to grand finals of ‘America’s Got Talent: All-Stars’ edition
Sister-act
Alex Gonzaga, Andrew E, Toni Gonzaga. Images: Screengrab from Facebook/Wacky Kiray
It’s been weeks since Alex Gonzaga made headlines with her icing-smearing incident, but she appeared to not have dodged the topic as rapper Andrew E and actress-singer Toni Gonzaga poked fun at the viral video during the latter’s 20th anniversary concert on Jan. 20.
In a video uploaded by Alex’s “Tropang LOL” co-host Wacky Kiray, Toni quipped that they made sure to keep her sister away from cakes. Andrew E, on the other hand, made a freestyle rap about the incident.
Alex apologized to the waiter, who was identified by the Gonzaga’s publicist as Allan Crisostomo, days after and later described the incident as a “lesson in humility and kindness.”
Dani Barretto, who uploaded the now-viral video on her Instagram Stories, then admitted that she regretted sharing the post on her social media account.
READ: Toni Gonzaga, Andrew E poke fun at Alex Gonzaga in concert: ‘Nilayo namin lahat ng cake sayo’
Blended
CESAR Montano and Sunshine Cruz. His sister hopes they can settle differences discreetly.
Ten years after their controversial split, ex-couple Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano have reconciled after a year-long journey.
The actress made the revelation at a virtual conference for the GMA-7 afternoon teleserye “Underage” earlier this month.
“It has been 10 years since we separated. A wound, no matter how deep, eventually heals. And in God’s perfect time, we both healed,” she said. “As a mom, how can I not be happy with what happened? The children are happier now [after Cesar and I patched things up]. They even say in interviews that having a relationship with their dad has given them peace in their hearts.”
The actress also revealed that her reconciliation with her ex-husband brought joy to their daughters, Angelina, Chesca and Samantha.
Cruz married to Montano in 2000, but they split in 2013 when the former called for an annulment.
READ: Sunshine-Cesar reconciliation puts daughters’ hearts ‘at peace’
Miss Universe shocker
Anne Jakrajutatip and Celeste Cortesi. Image: screengrab from facebook/Olivia Quido-Co, Instagram/@gp10 via @celeste_cortesi
Miss Universe Organization (MUO) owner and Thai businesswoman Anne Jakrajutatip admitted that she was “surprised but not shocked” after frontrunners including Philippine bet Celeste Cortesi failed to advance to the Top 16 at the 71st Miss Universe.
Jakrajutatip revealed that she was “surprised” in a conversation with Filipino entrepreneur Olivia Quido, as seen in the latter’s Facebook page on Jan. 18.
Despite being surprised by the results, the new MUO owner added that the pageant had a “good curriculum” in terms of the criteria for judging, saying that every candidate was given an “equal chance” in the pageant.
R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA was crowned as the winner of the pageant, while Venezuela’s Amanda Dudamel was named as first runner-up. EDV