Showbiz Roundup: Atasha Muhlach joins ‘EAT,’ Sandara Park’s hallway portrait, Joshua Garcia’s new flame

The first ‘Ber month came to a close, with Atasha Muhlach’s fabulous entrance at noontime show “EAT” making quite an impression to loyal viewers and showbiz watchers alike. Her joining the “EAT” Dabarkads aside, the noontime show faces a setback after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said it will review noontime show over host Joey de Leon’s “lubid” or rope remark.

On EAT’s rival noontime show, K-pop icon Sandara Park drew laughs on “It’s Showtime” after asking why her portrait couldn’t be found on ABS-CBN’s hallway.

Meanwhile, Joshua Garcia finally clarified the real score between him and French-Filipino athlete Emilienne Vigier, while Iya Villania shut down speculations that she’s expecting her fifth child with husband Drew Arellano.

All these and more, as we recall the biggest stories of INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section from Sept. 22 to 28.

Atasha Muhlach as ‘EAT’s’ new host

Atasha Muhlach was introduced as the newest addition to the set of hosts of “EAT” during its Sept. 23 episode.

Prior to her introduction, host Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon described Muhlach as a fashionista, studious, performer, artist and family-oriented.

“Gusto ko lang sabihin [na] magandang tanghali sa inyong lahat! Maraming-maraming salamat po. Sobrang masaya po ako to be here sa “EAT. kasama ng legit Dabarkads!” Muhlach told Vic, De Leon and Tito Sotto after her dance performance.

“Maraming salamat po sa warm welcome and I’m really excited to be part of such a beautiful and kind-hearted family,” she added.

On “EAT” Muhlach is supposedly the daughter of Papa Ethan and Mama Josie, the sister of Ellen and the granddaughter of Lola Belen — which are all AI characters in the show.

Atasha, one half of Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez’s twins, entered showbiz in July after she signed a contract with Viva Artists Agency. She graduated from college in the United Kingdom in the same month.

Where is Sandara’s ABS-CBN portrait?

Sandara Park drew laughs on “It’s Showtime” after she pointed out that the ABS-CBN hallway does not have a portrait of her and jokingly asked the network why.

Park returned to the noontime show’s stage after years and performed her single “Festival” and 2ne1’s “I Am the Best” on its Sept. 23 episode.

The K-pop star then recalled her roots in ABS-CBN after host Anne Curtis asked the former how she feels that Filipino fans still dub her as the “Pambansang Krung-krung ng Pilipinas.”

“Kaya mahal na mahal ko ang Pilipinas e. At dito ako nanggaling, lalo na sa ABS-CBN. Pero nagtataka ako, bakit wala ‘yung picture ko sa wall sa labas?” she quipped, referring to the network’s hallway which has portraits of its stars hanging on the wall. “Pakilagay niyo po ‘yung picture ko.”

The show hosts and the audience burst into laughter, with Kim Chiu mentioning an apparent production staff’s name to give Park an explanation.

Park first gained fame as a “Star Circle Quest” talent in the country in 2004, then debuted as a member of K-pop girl group 2NE1 along with CL, Minzy and Bom in 2009. The group officially disbanded in 2016.

Joshua Garcia’s romance with Emilienne Vigier

Joshua Garcia did not refute earlier reports of his blooming romance with Filipino-French athlete Emilienne Vigier, though as he has yet to clarify the status of their relationship.

Garcia didn’t deny that there’s something going on between him and Vigier on the sidelines of the mediacon for his upcoming film “Fruitcake,” although he stressed that he wants to protect their privacy.

“About that, okay, para ma-klaro na lahat and wala na ring maitanong ang lahat, baka sabihin kasi nila, dine-deny ko ‘yung babae, ‘diba?” he said, without mentioning Vigier’s name.

“Hindi ko siya dine-deny. It’s just that ako and her decided not to share it to everyone kasi ‘yung relationship na ‘yan, eh kami lang naman ‘yung parte du’n,” he further added.

Garcia then explained that he wanted to keep his apparent romance with Vigier private, saying that his being vocal in previous relationships didn’t sit well.

“Galing na kasi ako sa iba’t ibang klase ng relationships and everytime na sine-share ko siya sa lahat, parang nagkakagulo, nagiging shaky ‘yung relationship eh,” he said. “Hangga’t maaari kasi, sa panahon ngayon, mas okay kung private na lang tayo.”

Garcia and Vigier previously sparked dating rumors after eagle-eyed netizens noticed the similarities in the photos they shared on Instagram last July.

MTRCB on Joey de Leon’s ‘lubid’ remark

The MTRCB will review the complaints against noontime show “EAT” after mainstay host Joey de Leon was criticized for his remarks about the use of “lubid,” in order to “determine” if his remarks would be deemed a “valid” issue.

“Taking cognizance of the complaints from the viewing public in relation to “EAT’s” Gimme 5 segment aired last 23 September 2023, the MTRCB shall determine if the same are valid and presumably violative of Presidential Decree No. 1986 and/or its Implementing Rules and Regulations,” their statement read.

Incidentally, MTRCB is chaired by Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, a daughter of de Leon’s co-host, former Senator Tito Sotto.

De Leon has previously faced backlash after mentioning the use of rope as an object that can be put around someone’s neck during a “Gimme 5” segment of the TV5 noontime show, perceived as a reference to suicide.

The noontime show’s production crew has since apologized to the regulatory body, as of this writing.

In October 2017, the veteran host-comedian also drew flak for his apparent dismissal of depression as a “made-up illness” in the noontime show “Eat Bulaga,” to which he apologized days later.

Iya Villania denies 5th pregnancy

Iya Villania-Arellano set the record straight and said she will not be welcoming another addition to their family anytime soon, in response to fans who appear to be looking forward to the actress-TV host’s fifth pregnancy.

Speculation of Villania’s supposed fifth pregnancy arose among fans after the TV host danced to Rihanna’s “If It’s Lovin’ that You Want” alongside a production staff, as seen on her TikTok page last Sept. 20.

In the video, Villania wears a white top with a huge raffle which seems to have created an illusion of a bump in her abdomen area. Seemingly overwhelmed by congratulatory greetings, she then clarified that she’s not pregnant at the moment.

“For the record—no, I am not [pregnant]. Thank you for these comments, guys, [but] no,” she said while flashing the fan comments celebrating her supposed pregnancy.

Villania and her husband Drew Arellano, who tied the knot in 2014, have four children together. The couple welcomed their firstborn Primo in 2016, their second son Leon in 2018, their daughter Alana in 2020, and their fourth child Astro in 2022. EDV