Showbiz Roundup: Daria Ramirez’s annulment status, Sharon Cuneta’s apology to KC Concepcion
(From left) Daria Ramirez, Joey de Leon, KC Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta. Images from Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
The whole month of October went by in a blur but dropped many revelations in the entertainment scene, and the final week was no different. Leading the pack is the news on Daria Ramirez’s disclosure that she did not sign any document pertaining to the annulment of her marriage with Joey de Leon, along with a plea for financial assistance from the E.A.T. host.
Another highlight of the week was Sharon Cuneta’s heartfelt apology to her eldest child KC Concepcion for not “giving [her] a complete family” after her split with ex-husband Gabby Concepcion.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s (MTRCB) denial of a supposed summons on Vice Ganda following his fried chicken ad, also trended online even if the claim just came from a satirical account on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, Martin Nievera lamented that he wasn’t able to celebrate his youngest son Santino’s birthday because of “forces stronger than God.” In other news, netizens showed appreciation after longtime friends Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda reunited in New York.
Take a look-back at some of the hottest showbiz news on INQUIRER.net’s entertainment section of the week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.
Daria Ramirez’s annulment from Joey de Leon
In her appeal to her ex-husband Joey de Leon for financial help, Daria Ramirez revealed she didn’t sign any documents related to the annulment of their marriage, which made her question the status of their marriage. She, however, clarified that she doesn’t intend to intervene with his current marriage.
Ramirez revealed during an interview with Ogie Diaz on his YouTube channel last Oct. 30 that she spent P1 million over an annulment case in which she was “defeated,” saying de Leon didn’t give her anything after their separation.
“Wala namang ni-offer e, paano ako hahabol? Wala na akong perang gagastusin,” she said. “Talo ako—[‘yung kaso ko for] annulment. Annulled nga daw ako e. Hindi ko alam paano ako na-annull e wala naman akong pinirmahang annulment papers.”
“Tinawanan ko na lang, although nag-isip din talaga ako nung umpisa, ‘Bakit wala naman akong napirmahan? Annulled na pala ako. Ay, kinasal na. Ah, okay,’” she continued, referring to de Leon’s 2018 wedding to his now wife Eileen Macapagal.
The actress also shared that it was her who asked de Leon for an annulment along with monthly financial assistance and a place where she could stay—which the TV host apparently agreed to give her.
She then pleaded with de Leon to give her a copy of their annulment documents, as she still uses his surname because she does not have the papers to prove that they are already annulled.
Ramirez also hoped that Macapagal would talk to de Leon and help the former with her appeal. “Hindi naman ako nakikipag-away. Sana ma-realize niyo naman na may isang tao kayong napabayaan o ayaw niyong lingunin—’wag naman.”
De Leon, who shares two children—Keempee and Cheenee—with the actress, has yet to make a statement, as of this writing.
Sharon Cuneta’s apology
During her “Dear Heart” reunion concert with Gabby Concepcion last Oct. 27, Sharon Cuneta reunited with their daughter KC, who received not only a song dedication but also an apology from her mom.
Concepcion fetched KC who was sitting with the audience and took her to the stage where Cuneta was waiting for them, as seen in a video on Christine Bersola-Babao’s YouTube channel.
“Ito ang madalas kong ipinagdadasal—na sana one day, we could sing a song together, tayong tatlo,” Concepcion said, where he and his ex-wife decided to have an impromptu performance for their daughter.
Before singing “Ikaw” for KC, Cuneta said, “I have four children. I do not have three; I have four. The first child to come and make me feel like a mother was this not-so-little girl [anymore] beside me.”
“She made my life complete and if there’s anything I regret…,”she continued, but took a pause as she tried to hold her tears from falling. “Sorry, KC. We couldn’t give you that complete family, but you have two families. Papa and I never stopped loving you, and you were never the problem.”
KC then tried to cheer her mom up, while teasing the ex-couple for being affectionate with each other. She also sang a few lines from the song as she assisted her mom who broke down in tears while singing.
“Ang sarap niyo makita together sa isang stage,” KC told her mom and dad after their performance.
MTRCB’s ‘summons’
The MTRCB denied allegations it had called to testify a popular television personality, believed to be Vice Ganda, in connection with his new advertisement for a fast food chain where he can be seen eating fried chicken.
Rumors of the “It’s Showtime” host being summoned by the regulatory board circulated on social media, after a satire account on X claimed that Vice Ganda’s way of eating fried chicken in the fast food commercial was not acceptable to the government agency.
The MTRCB through chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio called this “malicious and false,” claiming it had not summoned a “certain celebrity who appeared in a recent TV commercial of a fast-food chain.”
“In this digital age, it is crucial to verify the news and be mindful of sources of information before sharing. This incident underscores the importance of media literacy and critical thinking,” their statement read. “We believe that we must put an end to the era of fake news and let truth prevail.”
Vice Ganda has yet to issue a statement addressing the claims, as of this writing.
Forces ‘stronger than God’
Martin Nievera spoke about his dismay after he was not able to be with his youngest son Santino on his 17th birthday, where the former claimed that he was apparently kept away by “forces even stronger than God.”
“Oh, I was in town alright and no, I was not busy at all. I fixed my whole life so that I would be here just as I do every year, but there are forces even stronger than God that kept me away!” he continued.
Nievera said he was present at the party held for Santino, who is diagnosed with autism, prior to the kid’s birthday but the singer did not get to spend time with the latter on his actual birthday.
While he opted not to give further details on what kept him from being with his son, he underscored that he hates confrontations and that he will “always choose peace over war every time.”
“I hope my son will forgive me. My whole month of October ruined in a day [because] of pride and anger and pain. Can’t get into much detail [because] I am not one to do my laundry here, but I just feel so guilty for missing this hug with my Santino and I figured venting here may help,” he said.
“I missed so many birthday hugs with my other two sons as it is so I have been trying to be better at that with Santino, but oh well that’s all ruined now,” he added, referring to his two older sons Robin and Ram Nievera.
Fans and fellow celebrities sympathized with the singer in the comments, while some seemed to have disagreed with his remark about “forces even stronger than God.”
Santino is Nievera’s child with his former partner Katrina Ojeda. Robin and Ram, meanwhile, are his children with ex-wife, fellow singer Pops Fernandez.
Boy and Kris’ reunion
Kris Aquino delighted fans after she revealed that she had a reunion with her longtime friend and “other brother,” King of Talk Boy Abunda, in California.
Aquino documented her three-hour conversation with her former “The Buzz” co-host and announced that it would be shared with the public soon, per her Instagram last Oct. 27.
Kris clarified that Abunda’s interview with her was impromptu and that it was only filmed on a mobile phone, with the help of her son Bimby and Batangas vice governor Mark Leviste, who had earlier flown to California to be with Kris.
Kris then apologized to the team of GMA magazine show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (KMJS) as she was not able to accommodate their request for an interview.
“Boy never asked for anything pero sa laki ng utang na loob namin sa kanya…binigay ko ng buong-buo yung medyo naputol ng ilang beses na footage,” Kris said.
“Happy Birthday (Oct. 29) to the keeper of all my secrets, the one who assured me [that he’ll] be there for my sons, and the friend who until now fights my battles with me,” she addressed Abunda. “To my other brother, I love you completely.”
