Showbiz Roundup: Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, and other stories

(From left) Alden Richards, Kathryn Bernardo. Images: Instagram/@aldenrichards02, @earlsemitara, @bernardokath

Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards took the entertainment scene by storm when the actor showed up at her intimate birthday dinner recently, follow-up from their recent outing when he attended the actress’ Palawan birthday getaway last month.

Bernardo and Richards worked together in the 2019 film “Hello, Love, Goodbye” as Joy and Ethan, respectively, stoking a strong fanbase through the years. It remains unknown if they would have a follow-up project but it seems their close friendship lasted beyond the commercial success of their movie.

Their onscreen and off-screen chemistry made it to the top of the news in the week covering March 29 to April 4.

The rise of Kathryn Bernardo-Alden Richards tandem

Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo. Image: Instagram/@boopyap, @earlsemitara

Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo thrilled “KathDen” fans as the pair bonded at a surprise party for her birthday, with the actor gifting the latter with a big bouquet of red roses.

Bernardo was treated to a surprise birthday party by her close friends and glam team, as seen in the photos and clips shared on Instagram by creative director Earl Semitara and celebrity stylist Boop Yap-Tañedo.

Also present at the intimate gathering, which was decorated by event designer Gideon Hermosa, were industry friends Filipino designer Mark Bumgarner, Tañedo’s sister and fellow stylist Kimi Yap-Sy, and the Bernardo’s mom Min.

In one of the videos shared by Tañedo, Richards can be seen arriving at the party with the blooms and a paper bag from a luxury crystal brand. The “Hello, Love, Goodbye” star immediately walked to Bernardo, who was clearly surprised by his presence.

In another clip, Bernardo and Richards were taking photos at the bar area and were later approached by her friends to be photographed.

However, Bernardo and Richards’ interactions drew flak from the latter’s fans with his former onscreen partner, Maine Mendoza, on social media.

Bernardo just last November 30 broke up with her longtime boyfriend Daniel Padilla. Meanwhile, fans of Bernardo and Richards are hoping they will do a follow-up movie together.

Jake Ejercito claps back at basher

Jake Ejercito and Andi Eigenmann | Images: Instagram/@unoemilio, @andieigengirl

Jake Ejercito responded to a basher accusing him and his ex-girlfriend Andi Eigenmann of “staying quiet” when Albie Casiño was being suspected of impregnating his actress-girlfriend.

On Facebook, one Ivan Peñaflorida poked fun at a sample question on the Civil Service Exam Masterclass and making his own grammar example implying a past issue involving the actor, Eigenmann, and Casiño.

Peñaflorida wrote: “Jake WAS silent during the times when Albie Casiño was being assaulted for allegedly impregnating Andi Eigenman.”

Ejercito did not hold back and replied, “Ivan IS a clout chaser who comments without knowing the facts and the whole story. He can’t even spell names right.”

The “Linlang” actor then shared the screenshot of his discourse with the netizen on his Facebook Story and wrote, “Baka kailangan mong mag visita iglesia Ivan Peñaflorida,”

In 2011, Eigenmann sparked pregnancy rumors, with either of the two actors being suspected as the father. However, Casiño vehemently denied being the father of Eigenmann’s child. After five years, it was revealed that the biological father was Ejercito.

Gabby Eigenmann defends Andi Eigenmann

Gabby Eigenmann defends sister Andi Eigenmann from bashers | Images: Facebook, Mell Navarro/Instagram, @andieigengirl

Gabby Eigenmann defended his paternal half-sister, Andi Eigenmann, who was criticized for her recent public posts about her mother, the late Jaclyn Jose when the veteran actress could no longer read and appreciate them.

One Instagram user @kittcath8 took time to comment on a picture posted by Andi of her mother and herself when she was just a toddler. The user however appeared to criticize her for her appreciations posts for Jose too late.

Gabby, however, did not let the comment pass, as he called for understanding and kindness for his sister on the sidelines of “My Guardian Alien’s” mediacon, per an interview with Bandera.

He stressed that bashers have no idea about the true state of Andi’s relationship with her mother for them to question his sister’s way of grieving her loss. “Bakit may time ba? May schedule ba sa pagpo-post? Ako nga, noong inurnment lang… Bakit, alam ba nila ang huling usapan nila? Hindi naman nila alam.”

Gabby then urged the netizens to be sensitive saying: “Kung ano ang nababasa niyo, ‘wag niyong titingnan sa gano’n. Buti nga nakikita niyo. But don’t judge it, let’s be kind.” He also reflected on past deaths their family had to endure prior to Jose’s passing, saying they are trying to recover as “life goes on.”

Kim Rodriguez vs Marc Pingris vs Danica Sotto

(L-R) Marc Pingris, Danica Sotto-Pingris and Kim Rodriguez. Image: Instagram/@jeanmarc15, @akosikimrodriguez

Kim Rodriguez denied cheating allegations with Marc Pingris, Danica Sotto’s husband, as she firmly pointed out these were not true.

In an episode of Rodriguez’s talent manager Ogie Diaz’s vlog “Showbiz Update,” Rodriguez said, “Tito, hindi po ‘yan totoo,” after Diaz asked the actress about the cheating rumors.

Rodriguez first clarified the pictures of her and the basketball player being in the same gas station posing with a girl, who’s a fan, saying that they were not together at the time.

“Hindi po kami magkasama niyan. Kahit itanong niyo po sa girl na yan kung magkasama kami ni Marc Pingris kung pareho niya kaming nakita na same time, I’m sure alam niya ang totoo,” Diaz quoted Rodriguez as saying.

The “Strawberry Lane” actress then explained the second picture that went the rounds online, where she and Pingris had the same background, which is the Opera House in Australia. She affirmed that “almost everyone who went into that country had a picture in that tourist spot.”

Before this, Pingris released a statement debunking the rumors, saying that there was “nothing romantically happening between him and Rodriguez,” even as he also asked for respect for his wife and children.

Pingris and Sotto were recently seen together on an Easter Sunday getaway in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Sarah Lahbati’s mystery man

(From left) Sarah Lahbati caught the attention of netizens after she was seen with a mystery man in Hong Kong. Images: Instagram/@sarahlahbati, YouTube/Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update

Sarah Lahbati piqued the attention of netizens after she was seen dining out with a mysterious man at a restaurant in Hong Kong, as revealed by talent manager and showbiz insider Ogie Diaz in an episode of his Showbiz Updates vlog on March 31.

“May nagpasa lang ng mga litrato sa’kin ng sightings ng isang kababayan na sobrang avid viewer… nakasabay daw niya sa restaurant sa Hong Kong si Sarah Lahbati,” he said while citing an anonymous source. “Nasa kabilang table si Sarah at merong kasamang lalaki si Sarah.”

Days later, Lahbati clarified the mystery man was just a friend, as she pointed out that it’s normal for “single women” to be met with speculations about their dating lives in an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Marfori via Tiktok on April 2.

The actress said she visited Hong Kong to attend the Art Basel fair and meet up with friends including the mysterious man, who she said was just a friend.

Lahbati then pointed out that the photo doesn’t bother her, although she stressed that it’s normal for women to have guy friends. “Is it unfair? Is it bothering me now? It takes a lot more for something to bother me.”

The actress also reiterated that it’s normal for single women to deal with speculations about their dating lives.

Lahbati confirmed she parted ways with her estranged husband Richard Gutierrez last month in March.