(From left) Joey de Leon, Anne Jakrajutatip, Christopher de Leon, Vilma Santos. File photos.
We’re rounding up the love month of February with entertainment news about lovers and cheaters — that is, Christopher De Leon’s admission of having had a crush on Vilma Santos during their showbiz heyday, to Eat Bulaga‘s Pinoy Henyo “cheating” contestants. But as a bonus, there’s Miss Universe owner Anne Jakrajutatip wanting loyalty from national pageants affiliated with her organization.
Take a look at some of the hottest entertainment news that took over INQUIRER.net from the week of Feb. 17 to 23.
Just one pageant title?
Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza of Mexico, Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray of Philippines, Miss Universe Organization owner Anne Jakrajutatip, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India, Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola. Image: Facebook/Anne Jakrajutatip
Miss Universe Organization (MUO) owner Anne Jakrajutatip appeared to ban the Miss Universe franchise holders from sending candidates to other international pageants.
In a video uploaded by established beauty pageant platform Missosology on Feb. 21, the Thai business mogul announced that the pageant won’t allow other international titles to be involved with local franchises under the MUO.
“[The Miss Universe Organization] prefers to have just one stage for one beauty pageant brand. No other [beauty pageant] brands [can] be involved on the same stage,” she said at an event in Indoneisa.
Jakrajutatip stressed that national pageants should put Miss Universe as a “priority,” and countries sending candidates to the pageant must focus on one international title.
“The winner goes to Miss Universe. The first runner-up, you go to this. The second runner-up, you go to that. I respect the work in the past 20 to 30 years. I admire what you have done, but this is the principle of the company and the organization,” she noted. “We must gain respect and we must be the first priority.”
It was unclear, however, if the supposed rule will be applied to its upcoming 2023 edition in El Salvador.
READ: Anne Jakrajutatip says she won’t allow other titles in Miss Universe national pageants
‘Cheaters’ in ‘Pinoy Henyo’?
Joey de Leon. Image: Instagram/@angpoetnyo
“Eat Bulaga” host Joey de Leon spoke up about how “cheaters” have set foot on the “Pinoy Henyo” segment of Eat Bulaga on Feb. 17, noting that cheating takes away the fun in any game.
“Akalain niyo, itong ‘Pinoy Henyo’ ay pasukan ng mandaraya rin,” De Leon firmly stated. “Kaya inuulit natin, kahit anong laro pa ‘yan, ‘pag nandaya kayo, wala na ‘yung fun.” (Who would have thought that cheaters have already joined “Pinoy Henyo”? So we reiterate this: whatever the game may be, if you cheat, you take away the fun.)
While the host did not mention any instance in particular, his statement came days after a clip of a “Pinoy Henyo” contestant seemingly mouthing a word to clue in her teammate earlier made rounds on social media.
The noontime show, however, has yet to address the incident.
READ: Joey de Leon warns against cheaters in ‘Pinoy Henyo’: ‘Pag nandaya kayo, wala na ‘yung fun’
Only for reel?
(From left) Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment
It seems that Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos-Recto haven’t lost their touch in making fans swoon, especially when the former admitted on her 60th anniversary special to having special feelings for his former onscreen partner, as seen in a clip uploaded on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel on Feb. 20.
TV special host Abunda asked the former loveteam to improvise a scene as a way of sharing why they never ended up together despite working as partners in several films through the years.
“Alam ko na sana tayo, pero noong mga panahon na ‘yun, maraming nanliligaw sa iyo. Naging boyfriend mo si ganito, si ganoon,” de Leon said. “Ako naman, noong libre ka na, ang girlfriend ko na si ganito. Kung sana, pareho tayong libre noon or if you were free and we’re not engaged to anybody else, siguro I think, what do you think?”
(I know that we should have ended up together. But at that time, you had a lot of suitors. You got into a relationship with different people. Whereas for me, when you were finally single, I was already in a relationship with someone else. If there ever was that chance when we were both single or if you were free, and we’re both not engaged to anybody else, then perhaps, what do you think?)
Santos, who’s married to Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto, noted that while she and her former onscreen partner ended up with their respective partners, they will always remain as close friends. De Leon is now happily married to actress Sandy Andolong.
“Pana-panahon lang ‘yan. Nagkataon lang na ‘yung time when we were close, we’re very happy together. It’s just that nagkaroon lang tayo ng commitments. But I still believe that the love and respect will stay,” the actress said. “So, let’s just wait for the right time. And I also believe in, di man siguro nagkatuluyan, there’s [such a thing] as platonic love, diba.”
(It was a matter of time, Yet. We were very close and very happy together. It’s just that we had our own commitments. But I still believe that the love and respect will stay. So, let’s just wait for the right time. Even if we didn’t end up together, there is such a thing as platonic love, right?)
The “Batang Quiapo” star admitted that he wanted to work with Santos again in the future, after the seasoned actress said they were very supportive of each other during filming.
De Leon and Santos’s team-up was popular among fans in the 1970s up to the 2000s, as they starred in a vast number of films together including “Broken Marriage” (1983), “Imortal” (1989), and “Dekada ‘70” (2002), to name a few.
‘Ang anak ko ay hindi nanloloko’
Vilma Santos and Luis Manzano. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Luis Manzano
Vilma Santos Recto became emotional over the accusations being thrown at her son, Luis Manzano, following his alleged involvement in an investment scam, in an episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Feb. 14,
When asked about Manzano’s recent controversy, the screen veteran said in between sobs that she knows her son. “The only thing I can say is I know my son. Ang anak ko ay tumutulong, hindi nanloloko. Kaya yung mga nagsasalita at naghuhusga sa kanya, dahan-dahan lang kayo. Walang ibang nakakakilala sa anak ko kung hindi ako. And I know he is such a good person.”
(The only thing I can say is I know my son. My son wants to help, and not fool anyone. To those who are talking badly and being judgmental against him, be careful. No one knows my son except me. And I know he is such a good person.)
When asked by show host Boy Abunda to address her son in a message, Santos said: “You will be fine, anak… the truth will prevail.”
The TV host-vlogger was subpoenaed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after investors of the gas company Flex Fuel Petroleum Corp. claimed that the company and the actor were involved in estafa earlier this month. In a statement, Flex investors stressed they had been asking Manzano to recover their money from the company.
In an affidavit dated Dec. 21, 2022, Manzano claimed that he “never” took part in managing the business, a month after his legal counsel said he resigned from his post as chairman of the board of several companies under the ICM Group. It can be recalled that Flex Fuel is part of the ICM Group owned by one Ildefonso “Bong” Medel Jr.
Megastar on being snubbed
Sharon Cuneta. Image: Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta
Sharon Cuneta compared the practices of this generation’s celebrities with that of her era in a vlog with talent manager Ogie Diaz on Feb. 22, where she recalled past moments where several young celebrities walked past her without even smiling at her.
The Megastar shared her experiences with younger celebrities, where she noted that some appeared to have forgotten to show respect particularly to veteran stars.
“Meron kasing nakakalungkot. Minsan nasasalubong namin noon sa [ABS-CBN] corridor. Pagdaan [nila] feeling ko, ‘Kamag-anak kaya ni boss Gabby ‘yon?’” she said, referring to former ABS-CBN Chairman Gabby Lopez. “Parang Lopez kung umarte, daig pa ‘yung mga Lopez. Si Don (Geny) nga bumabati kahit sa janitor.”
(What’s sad is that—I often ran into [celebrities] in the ABS-CBN corridor. They would just walk past me so [I would ask myself], “Are they boss Gabby’s relatives?” They act as if they are the Lopezes when Don Geny greets even the janitors.)
When asked by Diaz whose celebrities she was referring to, Cuneta opted not to name anyone in particular, but said she encountered “a lot” through the years. EDV
READ: Sharon Cuneta snubbed by young ABS-CBN artists: ‘Parang ‘yung dinaanan nila poste lang’