Showbiz Roundup: Francis-Pia Magalona’s marriage, John Lloyd Cruz, Leren Bautista vs bashers

The third week of October is perhaps one of the most explosive weeks in local showbiz as the revelation of former flight attendant Abegail Rait sparked allegations of the late Francis Magalona and his wife Pia’s “dysfunctional relationship” — which were ultimately denied by the Master Rapper’s publicist.

Another couple on the spotlight is Ricci Rivero and Leren Bautista whose relationship confirmation was hounded by allegations of cheating and third party issues that led to his breakup with ex-girlfriend Andrea Brillantes.

Meanwhile, John Lloyd Cruz’s Europe trip with visual artist Isabel Santos and her family caught the attention of netizens, which was eventually followed by the actor’s confirmation of their relationship.

Take a look back at INQUIRER.net’s entertainment headlines of the week of Oct. 20 to 26 where celebrity couples took centerstage.

Pia Magalona’s silence 

Before uploading the video of Francis Magalona’s alleged secret lover, Jayson Luzadas of “Pinoy Pawnstars” claimed he made an effort to inform the rapper’s wife, Pia, but that he did not receive any response from her.

Luzadas, also known as Boss Toyo who collects items of local artists and documents it through the YouTube series “Pinoy Pawnstars,” paid half a million pesos for a Francis M-jersey from Abegail Rait, a former flight attendant who claimed to have a relationship with Magalona, and that they have a 15-year-old daughter.

In his interview on “One Balita Pilipinas” last Oct. 18, Luzadas admitted that even he was taken aback by Rait’s revelation, saying that aside from the jersey with a hefty sum, it was made even more valuable because of what it symbolized. Still, he was initially torn on whether he would upload the vlog or not because he was considering the “other side of the story,” apparently referring to Francis’ family with Pia.

He then claimed he had reached out to Pia to notify her of his video about Rait, but that she did not reply to him. “I texted Ma’am Pia. I informed her na naka-schedule po ‘yung upload [nung video]. I didn’t bother to call kasi nakakahiya.”

“It was really hard for me. Actually, it took me hundred times before I decided to upload it [because I knew] it will really spread like wildfire,” he continued, but that it couldn’t be helped since talks of Francis’ supposed affair have already been on the internet since 2009. “Sabi ko darating din ‘yung punto na malalaman ng tao so I will take the risk for my show.”

When asked if he had doubts about Rait’s claims, Luzadas said he had none, noting the strong resemblance between Francis and Gaile Francesca.

Francis and Pia’s alleged ‘dysfunctional’ marriage

Concert producer Robby Tarroza, who claimed to be a close friend of Francis on Facebook, said the late rapper and his wife had already been having a tumultuous relationship when he met his “real love,” Abegail Rait which resulted in the birth of Gaile Francesca.

“So for all you judgmental people that did not know the real story, Francis and Pia were already separated before he got into this amazing relationship. He deserved to experience real love at least once in his lifetime,” said Tarroza.

The former model also said that while Magalona and Pia had six children together, he said the rapper had confided to him that the couple had a “dysfunctional and destructive relationship,” and that he was a witness to their “bloody fights.”

“I knew them both, Pia and Francis, I witnessed bloody fights between them. Very destructive and dysfunctional. He told me he only stayed for the kids and wished he was free from ‘that f****n b*tch,’ those were his words,” he said, while noting that Francis only stayed with Pia “for the kids.”

Francis then told him about his being with “another woman who is totally the opposite” of Pia, saying the mysterious woman was the one who made him feel what “real love” is about.

Tarroza, however, didn’t disclose the identity of Francis’ alleged other woman, although he hoped to meet her and their “love child” which was “conceived by real love” someday.

His claims, however, were firmly denied by the late rapper’s former publicist Pilar Mateo in an interview with Inquirer Bandera, saying that while their marriage “wasn’t perfect,” they were a happy and loving couple.

Maxene Magalona on ‘transmuting rage’

Maxene Magalona caught the attention of netizens after reposting a quote about “transmuting sacred rage into acts of kindness” on Instagram last Oct. 18, following Abegail Rait’s claims about being romantically involved with her father Francis Magalona prior to his death.

“Shout out to everyone who’s learning how to transmute sacred rage into acts of kindness,” read Dawn’s post, which Maxene reposted on her Instagram Story.

Prior to her post, Frank then intrigued netizens after liking a post from X (formerly Twitter) user @JoselKnow which accused the former flight attendant of being a “homewrecker” and “mistress.”

Despite the backlash from her explosive reveal, Rait thanked Luzadas of “Pinoy Pawnstars” for giving her the platform to be part of the Master Rapper’s legacy.

Throughout the controversy, Pia and their children have opted to remain quiet on the matter surrounding Rait’s revelations, and now, of Tarroza, as of writing. She was spotted bonding with her grandchildren Pancho and Vito, the sons of her daughter Saab with Jim Bacarro earlier this month.

John Lloyd Cruz’s Europe trip with GF

John Lloyd Cruz seems to have become closer to the family of his girlfriend, artist Isabel Santos, as they all went together on a trip to Europe.

Cruz, Isabel, her parents and siblings visited the Scottish Highlands in Scotland in England, as seen on Isabel’s Instagram page last Oct. 17. “The highlands were something else!” she wrote.

They also appear to have taken a stop at England as Isabel and her sister Carina showed photos taken at a park in London and at the Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire.

Cruz, who has been romantically linked to Isabel since 2021, confirmed their relationship during a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview in October.

Angel Locsin’s marriage with Neil Arce

Angel Locsin has been taking her time off the entertainment industry and seemed to be enjoying her married life with her husband, Neil Arce, according to her close friend Dimples Romana.

Romana gave an update about Locsin’s current whereabouts during an interview with entertainment journalist Kiko Escuadro, while noting that she’s “fond” of people who are “checking up” on Locsin as it comes from a place of “concern” and longing.

“Ngayon na inaalagaan ni [Angel] ang sarili niya, nandyan si Neil, ine-emjoy niya ang married life niya. Tahimik ang buhay niya ang saya-saya ko para sa kanya,” she said. “She was very selfless. She was always giving herself. And this time when she chose to remain calm, be in the house, [and] enjoy married life, ‘yun ang sa akin ay kabilib-bilib. It’s a big choice but it’s also a choice that I feel is making her happier,” she said.

Romana also shared that she was supposed to do a project with Locsin, but it “didn’t materialize” due to the pandemic. Despite this, she wants the latter to “enjoy her time” with Arce.

Apart from her showbiz career, Locsin remains quiet on social media. Her last X post was made in August 2022, while her Instagram is currently set to private. She was last seen on Arce’s Instagram post last November 2022.

Leren vs bashers

Leren Bautista was in fighting form as she defended herself and boyfriend Ricci Rivero from bashers after the latter finally admitted to their relationship a few months after breaking up with actress Andrea Brillantes.

Rivero finally confirmed his relationship with Bautista last Oct. 22, after which they were hounded by bashers who continued to bombard them with allegations of cheating.

But before their confirmation, the beauty queen-turned-politician took time to engage bashers in a word war on Facebook last Oct. 20, after some netizens who “want to push [their] own version of the story” chose to dismiss their explanation on their relationship.

One Abby Gail shared a photo of the Los Baños councilor’s statement in June denying a romance with the baller, saying this needs to be clarified. “Ito lang po talaga need ng clarification. And mag mo move on na ang lahat. Ganon lang.”

In Bautista reply, she said: “Again, we already explained ourselves and told the truth. Now, if you still wanna push your version of the story, then don’t ask us anymore. You can answer your own questions and get the answer you want. To end this, ask her,” apparently referring to Brillantes.

Bautista was also again asked if she’s the mysterious woman that was seen by Brillantes in Rivero’s place, but she did not directly answer the netizens’ queries and instead reverted to her chosen retort: “Ask her.”

It would be recalled that Brillantes had claimed to have seen a naked woman in Rivero’s apartment unit. The athlete then explained that said woman was “not his,” but “just a companion of one of his friends.”

Brillantes, on the other hand, has yet to make a comment about her ex and his new girlfriend, as of this writing. She, however, spoke about being in a better place after loving “undeserving” people during an Oct. 24 episode of “It’s Your Lucky Day.”