Showbiz Roundup: Heart Evangelista’s cryptic video, MTRCB summons ‘It’s Showtime,’ Ataydes’ Europe trip
(From left) Heart Evangelista, Vice Ganda, Ion Perez, Maine Mendoza, Arjo Atayde. Images: Instagram
It has been a tumultuous week in entertainment circles as Heart Evangelista’s cryptic “credit card” video resurfaced on social media, while the producers of “It’s Showtime” was summoned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) over alleged “indecent” acts done by mainstay hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
Meanwhile, Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde took exceptions to two INQUIRER.net articles about their trip to Switzerland, Italy and Greece. While Atayde has removed his social media post, Mendoza insisted that their travel to these European countries were not totally “official” in nature, and that everything on their trip was at personal expense, facts that were not even alluded to in the articles.
In other news, the revamped “Eat Bulaga” released its new theme song to mark its “new era” during its 44th anniversary last July 29. All these and more, as we look at the most explosive news of INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section from July 28 to August 3.
Heart’s cryptic video resurfaces
(From left) Heart Evangelista, celebrity makeup artist Justin Louise Soriano, celebrity hairstylist Jeck Aguilar. Images: Screengrab from Tiktok/@lme85, Instagram/@justinlouisesoriano
Weeks before reports of her makeup artist Justin Louise Soriano and fellow stylists quitting made the rounds of entertainment circles, Heart Evangelista appeared to have made a cryptic remark about wanting to spend on something but realizing she had credit card loans to pay.
Evangelista’s remark was caught in a TikTok video in June, which resurfaced following Soriano’s resignation from her glam team, showed the actress-fashionista appearing to be distraught about somebody supposedly betraying her such that she could not use her credit card.
“‘Yung ready ka na sana magwaldas dahil may mga nangg*g* sayo pero nakalimutan mo na may 24 months to pay na pala sa card mo,” the video read, which showed Evangelista with a somewhat shocked expression.
The actress-vlogger also shared a video of herself appearing absent-mindedly saying “yes” to someone asking if she wanted “chips and popcorn” in a separate post days later.
Netizens couldn’t help but wonder if the actress-socialite was referring to her former glam team, with some recent comments hinting that the video appeared on their timeline amid the speculations.
Soriano earlier denied that Evangelista fired them due to money matters, following allegations that they “maxed out” the latter’s credit card without her permission and were delayed in settling their payments.
The actress-socialite and Aguilar, however, have yet to issue a statement regarding the allegations, as of this writing.
READ: Old video of Heart Evangelista resurfaces after former makeup artist denies credit card rumors
MTRCB vs ‘It’s Showtime’
Ion Perez and Vice Ganda. Image: Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
“It’s Showtime” producers was called to testify by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on complaints it received about “concerning scenes” showing alleged indecent acts by hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez.
MTRCB, chaired by Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, released a “Notice to Appear and Testify” to the noontime show’s producers last July 31, citing the celebrity couple’s gestures during its “Isip Bata” segment on its July 25 episode.
“Said scene is in violation of Section 3 (c) Presidential Decree No. 1986. The hearing date is scheduled on 31 July 2023, 10:00 am at the MTRCB Office in Timog Avenue, Quezon City,” the MTRCB said.
In the assailed segment, Vice Ganda and Perez were supposedly sharing a tender moment, where the latter offered cake icing to his partner with his finger. A clip of the couple was shown in a video uploaded on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.
With a big smile, the “Praybeyt Benjamin” star responded to his gesture by scooping the icing from Perez’s finger before putting it in his mouth.
The couple’s interaction caught the attention of internet personality Rendon Labador, who pointed out that their moment was “out of line.”
“Wala namang masama na magbaklaan kayo, pero sana ilugar ninyo ang kahayupan! Huwag sa show ng mga bata… May MTRCB pa ba? Nag-eexist pa ba sila? Galaw galaw mga boss,” he said in the comments of ABS-CBN Entertainment’s video.
“It’s Showtime’s” producers and ABS-CBN have yet to issue a statement, as of this writing.
However, last June 26, Vice Ganda posted on X (formerly Twitter), about a certain individual who would choose to become toxic just to stay relevant. While he didn’t name who he was referring to, it was widely speculated to be Labador because of the latter’s caustic remarks the day before.
The couple are currently on a trip abroad amid the controversy.
READ: MTRCB summons ‘It’s Showtime’ producers over ‘indecent acts’ by Vice Ganda, Ion Perez
Arjo and Maine get married
(From left) Maine Mendoza, Arjo Atayde. Image: Instagram/@iceseguerra
Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde have finally tied the knot in an intimate wedding in Baguio last July 28.
The couple exchanged “I dos” in a ceremony held at Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges, per information obtained by INQUIRER.net. The solemn event, organized by event planner Amanda Tirol, was attended by family and friends only.
The “E.A.T.” host walked down the aisle to her groom, who had his brother Xavi beside him as the actor-politician’s best man. The guests, meanwhile, dressed in warm earth tone formal attire.
Aside from Mendoza’s fellow “E.A.T.” hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, the couple’s principal sponsors also include Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Diamond Star Maricel Soriano and Nova Villa. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and current House Speaker Martin Romualdez were reportedly among the pair’s godparents as well.
The wedding reception was then held at the Baguio Country Club. ABS-CBN executives Mark Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes, Laurenti Dyogi, Deo Endrinal, Ruel Bayani, as well as APT Studios’ Toni Tuviera and his children Celeste Tuviera and Mike Tuviera were among those included on the guest list.
Other celebrities reportedly present were Allan K., Wally Bayola, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Lorna Tolentino, Eula Valdes, Korina Sanchez, Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño, Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Sotto, Ciara Sotto, Sheena Halili, Ogie Diaz, Miles Ocampo, MJ Lastimosa and Thou Reyes.
Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Ria Atayde’s boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo, Enchong Dee, Kyle Echarri, Joseph Marco and Vin Abrenica were also on the guest list.
Up to the last hour, the couple had chosen to keep details of their wedding confidential and free from media coverage in order to keep the ceremony solemn.
The date July 28 is significant to the couple as it witnessed several milestones in their relationship, including Mendoza’s viral “Arjo cutie” tweet in 2013, first meeting in 2018, engagement in 2022, and their eventual wedding.
READ: Maine Mendoza, Arjo Atayde are now married
Ataydes’ Europe trip
Actor-lawmaker Arjo Atayde and his wife Maine Mendoza accused INQUIRER.net of publishing a “misleading” article about their upcoming Europe trip, claiming that it’s a “personal” trip even if a release from the lawmaker’s office where the story is based indicated that it was to be an “official trip.”
The newlyweds took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure, with Mendoza claiming the story about their Switzerland, Italy and Greece trip is “misleading and false.”
“Arjo will go to Locarno as his film is part of the Locarno film fest. Our personal trip after that is at personal expense… out of our own pockets,” she said.
“Next time yung magagaling nating netizens, kung walang time mag fact-check, huwag padalos-dalos sa pag react. Mema minsan. Pati kayo nagpapaloko sa maling balita at impormasyon. Sayang ang pagiging ‘woke’ kung lahat nalang papaniwalaan,” she said in a separate post.
Mendoza was referring to the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland wherein Atayde’s movie “Topakk,” helmed by director Richard Somes, was recognized anew, as per a press release from Atayde’s camp. Atayde, for his part, said the article was “disappointing.”
The couple eventually deleted their posts.
However, on Wednesday morning, Mendoza again took to X, saying the follow-up story was still “misleading and lacking context.”
“It insinuates that this trip is at government expense. There are two kinds of ‘official’ travels and I hope you include that in your article and where this trip falls under. I will probably be asked to delete this again but I shall say it again one last time, EVERYTHING is at PERSONAL EXPENSE. 100%. No government funds will be used,” she said.
Despite this, INQUIRER.net stands by its stories, as these are backed by documents obtained from highly-placed sources. Neither stories alluded that government money was involved in their travel, even though it was eventually confirmed by the House of Representatives that their Europe trip is “official.”
The first story, which clearly mentioned Atayde’s trip to Switzerland, Greece and Italy will happen from Aug. 5 to 27, and it was labeled “official” as part of his position as vice chairperson of the House special committee on creative industry and performing arts.
House secretary general Reginald Velasco confirmed in a travel authority that Atayde would indeed be traveling to Europe as a “public official” despite personally footing the bill.
This means that Atayde would still receive his salary as a lawmaker for the duration of the trip, as he would attend the Locarno International Film Festival of “Topakk” in his capacity as House special committee on creative industry and performing arts vice chairperson and is set to “visit Filipino communities in Italy and Greece.” Being on “official” trip, he would also be be marked “present” during congressional hearings for the entirety of his 22-day Europe travel.
The travel authority also noted that Atayde is “entitled to travel tax exemption” since it has the approval of the House.
EB’s new theme song
Image: screengrab from Facebook/TAPE Inc.
“Eat Bulaga” hosts celebrated the noontime show’s 44th anniversary last July 29, by launching its new theme song, which they described as “akma sa bagong panahon” (suitable for the new era).
“Tahanang pinakamasaya, Eat Bulaga! Dahil kayo ay nandyan, hatid namin ang tulong at saya. Kayong lahat ang dahilan kaya kasama pa rin ang Eat Bulaga,” the hosts sang a line during the episode.
Prior to unveiling the new theme song, Paolo Contis reiterated their commitment to provide joy and service to their viewers.
“July 29 mahalaga po ang araw na ito sa ‘Eat Bulaga.’ 44 years ago sinimulan ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ ang pagbibigay ng saya,” Contis said. “Lumipas man po ang panahon—sa kahit anong pagkakataon, magkakaiba man po ang mga artistang humaharap sa inyo araw-araw—ang hindi po magbabago ay ang hangarin ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ na magbigay ng saya at magbahagi ng pag-asa.”
“For the first time in 44 years, sabay-sabay nating maririnig ang bagong kanta na magbubukas ng masayang tanghalian dito sa ‘Eat Bulaga,” he continued. “Ang gusto namin fresh lang kaya mas pinaganda namin ang kantang ito, na mas akma sa bagong panahon at bagong panlasa. Pero, ang puso at hangarin ng ‘Eat Bulaga’ syempre ay hindi po mawawala.”
This came amid the ongoing legal battle of original “Eat Bulaga” mainstays Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon (TVJ) and TAPE Inc., production company behind the revamped EB.
Aside from the copyright infringement and unfair competition complaints, TVJ filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction against TAPE and GMA Network. EDV
READ: ‘Eat Bulaga’ unveils new theme song on 44th anniversary
