Showbiz Roundup: Herlene Budol’s Miss Grand PH journey, Ricky Rivero’s death, Sunshine Cruz’s heartbreak
(From left) Herlene Budol, Ricky Rivero, Sunshine Cruz. Images: FILE PHOTOS
Herlene Budol’s Miss Grand Philippines journey was one of the showbiz news that caught the attention of readers, as she complained about her “wasted potential” — only to not compete in the upcoming Miss Tourism World pageant in London.
Former “That’s Entertainment” star Ricky Rivero died at age 51, while Sunshine Cruz confessed that she broke up with ex-boyfriend Macky Mathay after realizing that their relationship was going nowhere.
In other news, Andrea Brillantes briefly opened up about an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t know how to handle his dirty laundry, while the uploader of the viral Lea Salonga dressing room video stressed that he merely wanted to express his disappointment over their past encounter.
All these and more, as we look back at the biggest news of INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section from July 14 to 20.
Herlene Budol’s ‘wasted’ potential
Herlene Budol and Miss Tourism World 2022 first runner-up Justine Felizarta. Image: screengrab from Youtube/GrandTV
Herlene Budol revealed she apparently felt that her potential was “wasted,” citing this as the reason why she had an unhappy expression while being crowned as Miss Philippines Tourism at the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 coronation night.
Nikki De Moura from Cagayan de Oro City won the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 title at the finals night held in Pasay City last July 13.
Budol addressed her noticeable facial expression at the latter part of the coronation event, in response to Facebook user Malou Wong who shared a photo of straight-faced Budol while wearing her crown and sash.
“Bakit malungkot ang beshie ko?” Wong captioned her post, quoting a meme from a recent viral TV show scene.
Budol then replied in a seemingly humorous manner, “Kase sinayang ni angkol, kaya sa [Miss Tourism] tayo [ta-tumbling nang] bongga.”
This drew mixed reactions from netizens, with some supporting Budol and some reminding her to be grateful for winning a title.
Budol also earlier made headlines after her playful approach during the Q&A portion of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 press presentation, which drew the ire of pageant enthusiasts and netizens. Budol apologized for this and stressed that she’s serious about joining the pageant.
Aside from her Miss Philippine Tourism 2023 title, Budol also won the first runner-up placement in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2022.
READ: Herlene Budol on why she was ‘sad’ when crowned Miss PH Tourism 2023: ‘Kase sinayang ni angkol’
Herlene Budol to not compete in Miss Tourism World
Miss Tourism Philippines Herlene Budol/ARMIN P. ADINA
When comedienne Herlene Budol received the Miss Philippines Tourism crown at the recently concluded Miss Grand Philippines pageant, many people assumed she would be the country’s representative to the 2023 Miss Tourism World pageant. But it appears that is not the case.
After the winners of the Miss Grand Philippines pageant have been crowned at the culmination of the competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last July 13, the Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant posted on its official Facebook page their franchise certificates including the one for the London-based Miss Tourism World pageant where the “Magandang Dilag” star was said to be joining.
Hiyas ng Pilipinas Chairman Mike Sordilla had already mentioned in an earlier press conference that his newly acquired national pageant has retained its franchise agreement with John Singh for the Miss Tourism World pageant. Two more international partners have been added, the Miss Omninational and Miss Summit International competitions.
“I’m not really sure about the plans of the other parties, but as far as legalities are concerned, we hold the franchise for the Miss Tourism World. The owner, [Singh], he’s based in the [United Kingdom], he’s coming here for our coronation on Nov. 11,” Sordilla told Inquirer.net at the sidelines of the Luzon screening for his Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on July 16.
Many have assumed that Budol will be the Philippines’ representative to the 2023 Miss Tourism World pageant because she received her title from 2022 Miss World Philippines-Tourism Justine Felizarta, who incidentally was the first runner-up in the recent edition of Singh’s Miss Tourism World pageant.
Budol’s Miss Philippines Tourism title is similar to the one bestowed on Glyssa Perez and Trisha Martinez in their respective Miss World Philippines stints. Both former queens did not compete in any international contest.
Before Sordilla acquired the Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant earlier this year, the national organization already held the license for the Miss Tourism World contest, and had crowned a representative in its inaugural staging last year. But the erstwhile winner, Dean Dianne Balogal, left for Australia to pursue her studies. It opened the door for another organization to send a delegate, and the Miss World Philippines organization grabbed it and appointed their runner-up, Felizarta.
Balogal’s fellow 2022 Hiyas ng Pilipinas queen will see action on the international stage, though. Hiyas ng Pilipinas Elite and GMA Sparkle artist AZ Martinez has been designated as the country’s representative in the 2023 Miss Summit International pageant in the United States. The global tilt will be held in September, two months ahead of the scheduled national competition, so the organizers opted to appoint a delegate from the previous roster of winners.
After the Luzon screening, the Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant will next take in applicants from the Visayas in another round of auditions in Cebu on July 23. The last leg will be conducted in General Santos City on July 30. The successful applicants will be announced in the first week of August.
The 2023 Hiyas ng Pilipinas coronation night will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on Nov. 11. Former Binibining Pilipinas and Mutya ng Pilipinas titleholder Eva Patalinjug is the pageant’s national director.
READ: Herlene Budol will not compete in Miss Tourism World, says Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant
Ricky Rivero, 51
Ricky Rivero. Image: Facebook/Ricky S Rivero
Ricky Rivero, former teen star turned actor-filmmaker, died at 51 years old.
Rivero’s death was confirmed by his boyfriend on Facebook last July 16, although the posts appeared to have been taken down or set into private, as of this writing. The identity of the actor-filmmaker’s partner has yet to be disclosed, as of this writing.
“Good morning po sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat po sa tumulong sa asawa ko na [si] Ricky. Ngayon wala na po si Ricky S Rivero namayapa na po,” the post read. “Maraming salamat sa walang sawang tulong sa asawa ko.”
The actor-filmmaker’s partner then shared a photo of them together in a follow-up post, where he thanked Rivero for his love through the years.
Rivero was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center last May after suffering from a stroke, per a Philippine Entertainment Portal report.
The filmmaker, who’s best known for his appearance on the variety show “That’s Entertainment,” is best known for his films “Eva Fonda” and “D’ Aswang Slayerz.”
READ: Ricky Rivero, former teen star and filmmaker, dies at 51
Sunshine Cruz explains split with Macky Mathay
Macky Mathay and Sunshine Cruz. Image: Instagram/@sunshinecruz718, screengrab from YouTube/Karen Davila
Sunshine Cruz recounted how she broke up with her ex-boyfriend Macky Mathay five days prior to their 6th anniversary in September last year, after she realized that their relationship was getting nowhere.
Sunshine opened up about this in an interview vlog with broadcaster Karen Davila last July 13, wherein the actress stressed that she had no regrets over the relationship despite how it turned out.
“Sa totoo lang, pagdating din naman [sa relationship ko kay] Macky, hindi ko siya hinintay. That time, magfo-four years na akong hiwalay kay Cesar,” Sunshine recalled, referring to her ex-husband Cesar Montano. “I was too focused on my children and work. I gave him a chance and no regrets naman. He was a good guy.”
When Davila asked what made the actress decide to end the relationship, Sunshine confessed, “Nakita ko lang na hindi na nagle-level up ‘yung relationship. Hindi nagmu-move.”
Sunshine reiterated that Mathay is a good guy, but stressed, “Syempre at this point in my life—I’m 45—naghahanap na tayo ng relationship na kahit papaano ay lume-level up. Kasi magsi-six years na pero parang [diretso] lang kami.”
However, Sunshine clarified that she does not want to remarry and that she just only wants to have a life partner. She further noted that one should not be forced into getting married if it’s not really meant to happen.
The actress then said that she is not closing her heart should love come knocking on her door again.
Sunshine had been in a relationship with Mathay since 2016. They were first hounded by breakup speculations in September last year after eagle-eyed fans noticed that the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Sunshine shares three daughters with Montano, namely Angelina, Sam and Chesca.
READ: Sunshine Cruz reveals she broke up with Macky Mathay five days before their 6th anniversary
Andrea Brillantes on ex’s ‘dirty laundry’
Andrea Brillantes. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Vice Ganda
Without mentioning her ex-boyfriend Ricci Rivero, Andrea Brillantes advised her supporters to think of certain turn-offs when it comes to moving on after a breakup.
In a vlog with actor-comedian Vice Ganda last July 16, Brillantes revealed that she’s the type of person who moves on by thinking about certain turn-offs regarding an ex-partner. Her split with Rivero was confirmed by the basketball player on Twitter last June 9.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin, minsan, kung hirap kang mag-move on, kailangan mo talagang isipin ang mga bagay na, ‘Talaga ba? Iiyakan ko ba ‘yung lalaking hindi nagpapa-laundry nang isang taon?’ Gan’un,” she said.
The “It’s Showtime” mainstay then agreed with the actress’ remarks, saying being honest with yourself about an ex’s worst qualities can act as some sort of a reminder to restore your self-worth after a breakup.
During the vlog, the “Drag You & Me” star said that she’s the type of person who trusts her gut feeling in relationships, which is usually proven to be correct after a breakup.
Brillantes, who said it took her a month to move on from Rivero, then revealed that she eventually realized that “there’s so much more” to life than just having a boyfriend.
“Ang dami ko na kasing pinagdaanan sa life kaya bakit ako maga-ano sa lalaki lang, there’s so much more to this life than just one boy,” she said.
“In love pa ko n’ung pero parang may iba na eh, paano ko isisiksik sarili ko doon? Saan na ako d’un? Love na love ko pa siya, kinaya kong lunukin ‘yung dapat ‘di ko na lulunukin pero ganoon ko siya kamahal. Akala ko siya na pero kinailangan kong tanggapin na hindi,” she further explained.
Meanwhile, the actress confessed that she plans to sell a certain item that was given to her, as she noted that she’s the type of partner who loves giving gifts to a partner. She, however, didn’t disclose what that item was.
The Kapamilya star then revealed that she will never retrieve the items she gave her ex-boyfriend, although she didn’t disclose the identity of her former partner.
Brillantes previously revealed during a cover interview with lifestyle magazine Preview that she gained “inner peace” after her breakup with Rivero.
READ: Andrea Brillantes says thinking about her ex-boyfriend’s soiled laundry helps her to move on
‘Hindi ako nagsisisi na pinost ko siya’
(From left) Lea Salonga, Christopher Carpila. Images: Screengrab from YouTube, Facebook/Cristopher Retokelly Carpila
Christopher Carpila, who drew backlash for uploading the viral Lea Salonga dressing-room video, remained firm in his stance to not apologize to the Broadway star, stressing that he didn’t do anything wrong.
Speaking to broadcast journalists Julius and Christine Babao in a One PH interview, Carpila stressed that he merely wanted to have a “remembrance” of seeing Salonga in the flesh, during the Broadway production of “Here Lies Love.”
The uploader then claimed that he and his friends had been waiting for Salonga for a “long time,” which led them to ask a production staff where they could find the latter. In response, they were told that the Broadway star could be found in her “dressing room.”
Following this, Carpila pointed out that he and his companions were allegedly assisted by a personnel to Salonga’s dressing room where there was a line outside meant for “photo ops and chika-chika.”
“Wala po kaming na-name drop na kahit sino noong time na ‘yun… at pagdating ng moment namin, parang ready na kaming lahat,” he said. “Tapos noong nakita namin siya, alam niyo ‘yung kandila na parang nalusaw? Parang hindi namin ine-expect but of course, nirerespeto po namin si Ms. Lea.”
“Baka that time pagod po siya or whatever. Naiintindihan po namin ‘yun kaya kung mapapansin niyo po, noong nag-instruct siya sa amin na doon, doon, sinunod pa rin namin siya,” he continued.
Carpila then alleged that he witnessed Salonga doing a “meet and greet with fans” outside her dressing room, adding that some were even interacting with the latter at the time.
“Tapos right after ng show, suddenly doon sa exit which I think na malapit sa dressing room, nakita ko po si Ms. Lea. Bigla ko pong kinalabit ‘yung mga kasama ko na gustong magpa-picture sa kanya [sa] dance floor, dahan-dahan kaming lumapit [sa kanya] pero sabi niya [sa security], ‘I don’t know them,” he added, as he noted their group also tried to approach the singer-actress at the theater’s “dance floor.”
It can be noted that Salonga revealed on Twitter that she was apparently “crowded” by Carpila and his companions on the dance floor and had to seek the help of security at the time.
In what seemed to be a shift from his earlier remark, the uploader also claimed that one of his companions indeed claimed that she knew “Here Lies Love” co-producer G Toengi, but stressed that she just made an “honest mistake.”
“Honest mistake lang po ‘yan kasi na-rattle na po siya. Kumbaga, na-shock po siya dahil sa bungad sa’min ni Ms. Lea,” he said, adding that one of his companions knew someone who’s apparently an acquaintance of G Toengi.
During the interview, Carpila nonetheless stressed that it was not his intention to tarnish Salonga’s name, although he noted that he “didn’t do anything wrong” during their viral encounter.
“Nirerespeto ko po si [Lea Salonga]. Hindi ako nagsisisi na pinost ko siya kasi nga lumuwag ‘yung dibdib ko [pagkatapos]. Nailabas ko disappointment [at sama ng loob] sa dibdib ko. Nailabas ko na siya… I think hindi naman po ako nag-cross sa boundaries niya. Naipakita naman po sa video ‘yun. Hindi naman ako lumapit sa kanya nang malapit na malapit,” he further explained.
Days after the video became viral, Salonga revealed on Twitter that she initially gave Carpila and his companions the “benefit of the doubt,” but G Toengi and the “Here Lies Love” producers said they had “no idea who they are.”
The Broadway star also shared that the group of supporters were “escorted out of the building” but that they returned to the venue. EDV
