Showbiz Roundup: Sharon-Gabby reunion, Liza Soberano prepares for Korean entertainment

(From left) Gabby Concepcion, Sharon Cuneta, Liza Soberano. Images: FILE PHOTOS

The third week of September ended on a nostalgic note, as Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion delighted fans with a joint press conference ahead of their upcoming reunion concert.

On the other hand, Liza Soberano revealed that she’s exploring opportunities in the Korean entertainment industry, as her budding Hollywood career is “at pause” due to the ongoing Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike.

In other news, Vice Ganda appeared to take the lawsuit filed against him by the Kapisanan ng mga Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc. and the noontime show “It’s Showtime’s” suspension in stride as he danced with his fellow hosts in the rain while also engaging in a lighthearted banter with Nadine Lustre on social media.

Meanwhile, Ogie Alcasid opened up about his initial concerns about his daughter Leila’s live-in relationship with her partner Curtismith.

We look back at the hottest stories of INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section from Sept. 15 to 21.

Sharon meets Gabby again

Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta. Image: Instagram/@nsyshows via @reallysharoncuneta

Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta sent “ShaGab” fans gushing after the former couple had a reunion ahead of their “Dear Heart” concert.

Sharon and Gabby met at the press conference for their concert, just when the latter was about to leave the event and the Megastar arrived and joined him on the stage.

“Uy, first time! First time ko [ulit] mahahawakan ‘yung kamay niya oh!” Gabby said while assisting the Megastar to the stage.

“Sabi ko sa kanila kanina, pagkatapos ko dito aalis na ako; baka hindi tayo magkita. Pwede bang mag-hug bago ako umalis?” Gabby asked her, to which Cuneta replied, “Oo naman.” He then went on to make an introduction for Cuneta, then hugged and kissed her on the cheek before leaving.

“Ladies and gentlemen, on stage, I give to you Ms. Sharon… Concepcion no’ng araw ‘to eh,” Gabby quipped. “Sharon na lang.”

Sharon’s family won’t attend reunion concert with Gabby

(From left, top) Miel Pangilinan, Frankie Pangilinan, Miguel Pangilinan, (from left, bottom) KC Concepcion, Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan. Image: Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta

What also took place at the press conference was Sharon confirming that her husband, former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as well as their children Kakie, Miel and Miguel, won’t be attending her reunion concert with Gabby.

The singer-actress noted that it’s a “mutual decision” between her and Kiko, while explaining that she wants to protect her husband and their three children from controversy.

“Pinag-usapan na namin ni Kiko. I want to shield them from anything that people might say. [They] are solid Sharon-Gabby fans up to this day,” she said. “My husband is the coolest. He’s very supportive. When this ‘Dear Heart’ concert was first announced, he simply said, ‘Sana naman matuloy na ‘yan.’”

While noting how much her husband loves her, Sharon then stressed that her reunion concert with her ex-husband is made for their target audience.

“This is for our audience and I don’t think kailangan pang makita ng asawa ko’t mga anak ko ‘yon, except KC, of course… Naninibago nga ako. The concert is a brand-new experience after so many decades na may gagawin kaming dalawa and we’re working together again. Excited ako at masaya,” she said.

During the press conference, Sharon also stated that she “doesn’t play favorites” when it comes to her children, in an apparent effort to address the tiff between KC Concepcion, her daughter with Gabby, and Kiko Pangilinan and Frankie.

“I don’t play favorites. Some people seem to think na favorite na anak ko si Frankie—hindi. I love all my children equally. Pamilya kami. This is a family matter,” she said.

Liza Soberano explores opportunities in South Korea

Image: Instagram/@lizasoberano

Liza Soberano, who is Manila-based for three months now, said her Hollywood bid has been stalled by the ongoing actors strike there, especially since she is also a member of the SAG-AFTRA.

The strike began on July 14. The group is calling for increased pay and a rethinking of residuals, which union members claimed has diminished in spite of the rise in streaming services. Residuals are paid out to actors whenever their TV shows or movies are replayed.

“I just want to make that clear. I don’t want my fans to think I’m not going to act anymore. I can’t take on any projects legally until the strike is over,” Liza said. “Technically, I can act in indie films, but to show unity and solidarity with the rest of the SAG members, it’s just best not to do anything until then. That’s kind of why I’m so quiet about my acting career.”

“I think that what the actors and writers are fighting for is something that they genuinely deserve. I can’t say that I’m very knowledgeable about it. I haven’t been acting in Hollywood for that long so I don’t have a complete grasp of the situation. As far as I know, they just want to be compensated fairly and I’m all for that,” she continued.

Liza, who’s a cast member of the upcoming Zelda Williams-helmed “Lisa Frankenstein,” admitted that she has a “couple” of Hollywood projects on hold due to the strike. As a result, she’s been back and forth between Manila and South Korea to “explore opportunities” there.

“I personally see Korea as next to Hollywood. I’m starting to create my own production company and my co-producer is based in Korea. That’s why I come back here often. It’s just a little bit limiting that I can’t speak Korean yet,” she said.

The actress also shared that she’s been learning more of the Korean language, even as she unveiled her 15-episode series “Liza in Korea” which was filmed from March to April for 18 days.

“The series is really just about me going on a fun adventure here in Korea and getting to explore Korean culture and entertainment through a local’s perspective. However, I get to tell that story through a Filipino’s perspective,” she added.

Vice Ganda ‘dances in the rain’ amid lawsuit, MTRCB battle

“It’s Showtime” hosts. Image: screengrab from TikTok/@unkabogableviceganda

Vice Ganda and his fellow “It’s Showtime” hosts took on the “I’ll Be Missing You” dance challenge, displaying once again their strong familial bond within their embattled noontime show.

The show hosts danced in the rain—literally and figuratively—to the tune of Diddy and Faith Evans’ hit song “I’ll Be Missing You,” as seen in a video shown by Vice Ganda on TikTok last Sept. 17.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the rain to stop. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. And we dance together as a family,” the quote in the video reads.

Many viewers expressed their support for the hosts in the comments, narrating how “It’s Showtime” has become an essential part of their everyday lives.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) issued last Sept. 4 its ruling to suspend “It’s Showtime” for 12 airing days due to show hosts and couple Vice Ganda and Ion Perez’s alleged “indecent acts.”

Aside from this, the pair also face a criminal case filed by Kapisanan ng mga Social Media Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc. (KSMBPI) for supposedly violating the cybercrime law.

Ogie’s ‘misgivings’ about daughter’s live-in relationship

Ogie (right) with Leila Alcasid —OGIE ALCASID INSTAGRAM

Ogie Alcasid admitted that he initially had “misgivings” about his daughter Leila deciding to live with her fiancé Curtismith at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I told her, ‘I didn’t like what you did. Because it’s something that I wish you talked to me about before. But that’s already done—nandyan na ‘yan,” he said in an interview with Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Despite this, the singer-songwriter didn’t stop the couple from living together and continue to butt heads with his daughter, as he noted that Leila is “old enough to make her own decisions.”

“So you want to be an adult? Then, face life like an adult.’ And I’m very proud that she doesn’t even ask for money from me at all,” he said while noting that he will always be there to guide and support his daughter.

Alcasid then pointed out that he “pretty much accepted” that Leila will get married during the interview, saying he’s “ready” to let her go.

“I’ve pretty much accepted that we’re going on that road sooner or later,” he said. “When Gary [Valenciano] talks about his and his wife [Angeli Pangilinan]’s experience as empty nesters, it makes me go, ‘One day, that’s going to be me.’ But I think I’m ready.”

Nadine and Vice Ganda’s banter

Nadine Lustre and Vice Ganda. Image: Instagram/@nadine, @praybeytbenjamin

Nadine Lustre intrigued fans after she dropped a quote about “[making] it through” life, but what caught comedian Vice Ganda’s attention was the photo the actress shared alongside it.

Through her Instagram page last Sept 19, Lustre showed an aerial shot of what appears to be an open field that has a spiral pattern as well as a man and a woman lying beside each other in the middle.

“From this life in to the next, we’re all just tryna make it through,” the actress-singer captioned her post.

The “It’s Showtime” host then poked fun at the photo via the comments section and said, “Wow, parang may ie-endorse kang katol soon! Chozzzz! Love [you]!”

Meanwhile, some fans took notice of the pair in the middle of the photo and pointed out how it apparently gives off “prenup vibes.”

Lustre, who is currently in a relationship with Filipino-French entrepreneur Christophe Bariou, did not immediately expound on her post.  /ra