Showbiz Roundup: Kris Aquino on Mark Leviste; Cesar Concio Jr.’s death; Ricardo Cepeda’s arrest

(From left) Mark Leviste, Kris Aquino, Cesar Concio Jr., Ricardo Cepeda. Images: FILE PHOTOS

Kris Aquino’s dismay towards Batangas vice governor Mark Leviste after he uploaded photos with her ex-partner Philip Salvador made a buzz in entertainment this second week of October.

Charo Santos-Concio’s husband, businessman Cesar Concio Jr., died last Oct. 4 at the age of 91, while seasoned actor Ricardo Cepeda was arrested in Caloocan City for syndicated estafa.

Pura Luka Vega, meanwhile, made their first public appearance shortly after their release from custody at a fundraising event, where they performed “The Prayer” with their mom Esther.

On the other hand, journalists Zen Hernandez and Atom Araullo made the news after they were spotted celebrating the former’s birthday in Hong Kong.

Look back at INQUIRER.net’s biggest entertainment news on the week of Oct. 6 to 12.

Kris Aquino’s beef

Mark Leviste, Phillip Salvador and Kris Aquino. Image: Instagram/@markleviste

Kris Aquino admitted that she was disappointed after Mark Leviste shared photos with Phillip Salvador, the father of her eldest son Josh, saying she only revealed a “very cleansed version” of her side of the story.

Responding to Leviste’s “thank you post” on her recent post, Aquino said: “You know what you’ve done over and over again… You are so aware of what my sisters and I are going through but heck, anything to gain attention. From the very start I asked you for privacy, yet even that you felt impossible to give. I hated being the last to know. Then now, it’s take 2 with kuya’s dad.”

She was apparently referring to the two separate instances Leviste shared photos of him and Salvador on social media. The first photo, which was posted in August, was when Leviste and Salvador met during an event at the Batangas Provincial Hospital, while the second one took place at the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ event a month later, which was taken down from the latter’s account.

She said that posting the “unwanted pictures” twice that inadvertently hurt her feelings, “because I knew attention at the expense of an innocent like kuya is so evidently an exercise in showing that you can get away with everything.”

Aquino unfollowed Leviste last September.

Cesar Concio Jr., 91

Image: Instagram/@abscbnpr

Businessman Cesar Concio Jr., husband of actress-media executive Charo Santos-Concio, died last Oct. 4, a few weeks before his 92nd birthday.

Concio’s passing was confirmed by ABS-CBN as it extended its condolences to Santos and her family, through Instagram three days later.

“ABS-CBN sends its heartfelt condolences to Charo Santos-Concio and her family on the passing of Cesar Concio Jr. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time, Kapamilya,” the post read.

No further details on Concio’s wake and cause of death were disclosed, as of this writing.

Santos and Concio have two sons together, namely, Francis and Martin.

Ricardo Cepeda’s arrest

Ricardo Cepeda

Ricardo Cepeda was nabbed at a ribbon-cutting event in Caloocan City for syndicated estafa, authorities confirmed last Oct. 8.

According to a spot report of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), operatives of its Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) collared Cepeda on Saturday around 11 a.m. in a resto-bar along Mabini St, Maypajo. Police said the actor did not resist arrest. He was then brought to Camp Karingal for proper documentation.

Cepeda’s arrest stemmed from an arrest warrant issued by Executive Judge Gemma Bucayu-Madrid of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan Regional Trial Court (RTC). Aside from the actor, several others who were supposedly complicit to the crime were also subject of a manhunt.

No other details were provided on the criminal case of the actor.

Despite his arrest, Cepeda maintained that he is innocent of the charges filed against him during a 24 Oras interview last Oct. 10, saying he is not connected at all to the company except as its “model.”

Syndicated estafa is a non-bailable offense under Art. 315, (2) (a) of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Presidential Decree No. 1689, and carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment, once proven beyond reasonable doubt that “the swindling (estafa) is committed by a syndicate consisting of five or more persons formed with the intention of carrying out the unlawful or illegal act, transaction, enterprise or scheme.”

Pura Luka Vega performs with mother

(From left) Pura Luka Vega, their mother Esther. Images: X/@MxNoelle, Instagram/@puralukavega

Shortly after their release from custody on bail, Pura Luka Vega held hands with their mother Esther while doing a lip-sync performance of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s “The Prayer” at a fundraising event.

Pura Luka, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente, goes by the pronouns they/them. Their appearance took place a few days after their arrest in Manila, after which he was released on bail last Oct. 7, three days later, although their motion for bail was granted the day prior.

The performance, where a snippet was uploaded on @MxNoelle’s X (formerly Twitter) page last Oct. 8., took place a few days after their arrest in Manila, after which he was released on bail last Oct. 7, three days later, although their motion for bail was granted the day prior.

Another video from @FEUAdvocate showed Esther wiping her tears while holding Pura’s hands, whose real name is Amadeus Fernando Pagente, goes by the pronouns they/them.

The fundraiser event, dubbed as “NKKLK,” was organized by “Drag Den Philippines” season one winner Naia Black, which included various performances from drag queens including Precious Paula Nicole, Turing, Veruschka Levels, Lady Morgana, Corazon Filipinas, and Aries Night, among others.

Zen Hernandez with Atom Araullo in Hong Kong

Atom Araullo and Zen Hernandez. Image: Instagram/@ryan_chua

Zen Hernandez and Atom Araullo fueled romance speculations anew after they were spotted together in Hong Kong for her birthday last Oct. 4.

The twosome enjoyed a meal with fellow  journalist Ryan Chua and his partner Chowee Kailani at a Japanese restaurant, as shown on Hernandez’s and Chua’s Instagram posts last Oct. 9.

Aside from Hernandez’s birthday, the gathering appeared to be a celebration as well for Chua and Araullo who also mark their birthdays in October.

Speculations of romance between Araullo and Hernandez arose in June 2021 after broadcaster Pinky Webb shared a photo of them together in Balesin.

Araullo seemed to have further fueled the dating rumors in October 2022 after he greeted Hernandez on her birthday by showing a black-and-white photo of them. EDV