John Estrada (left) and Priscilla Meirelles —CONTRIBUTED photo
Since John Estrada and his wife, beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles, are close friends of mine, I feel sad that their domestic front has turned into a battlefront once again. Last April 2023, their marital woes were the buzz du jour, just as it is now, but they were able to patch things up.
During John’s 50th birthday bash in June last year, he even paid tribute to Pri in his “thank you” speech. When the fab couple came to my nth debut last September, they seemed like honeymooners all over again.
What sparked the controversy about the couple anew was Pri’s comment on John’s Instagram post, “Looking very divorced, Mr. Estrada” and her tagging his alleged companion in Boracay, Lily Hallman.
John clarified via his IG stories that he is not in a relationship with Lily or any other woman. He also said that he and Pri agreed to go on a mutual break. In her IG stories, Pri fired back by refuting John’s statement on their mutual agreement regarding separation. She emphasized that they are still married.
Amid the social media circus, I reached out to both of them. But out of respect for our friendship, I am not at liberty to divulge their messages to me. Suffice it to say that, as long as one of them wants to save their marriage badly enough, it can still happen.
Now that Pri is back home in Brazil with their daughter, Anechka, may their time apart make the Estradas see what they really had together.
As John and Pri are embroiled in yet another controversy, I suddenly miss our fun bonding moments in “Boradise” and in their cozy home. What a laugh trip the three of us had when Pri described the crazy ways she tried to cure John’s extreme snoring, which were all in vain, and how she mistook him for a stalker when he started making the moves on her.
Hopefully, those memories (and more) will serve as a reminder of what kept them together and urge them to keep on loving so it will stop hurting.
Maxine Esteban’s Olympic adventure
Since I grew up in show biz, I hardly get starstruck by actors. But with athletes, I turn into a fan girl. Just like when I met fencer Maxine Esteban, who will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 23-year-old charmer ranks 27th in the world, based on the latest list released by the International Fencing Federation. Although a Filipina by birth, Maxine will represent Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) in the Olympics. She would rather not dwell on the unfair treatment she got locally, which led her to join a foreign fencing team.
Maxine Esteban —MAXINE ESTEBAN/ INSTAGRAM
“This is for Ivory Coast, the country that embraced me, believed in me and supported me all the way, and for the Philippines, the country my heart will always be proud of,” she beamed.
Maxine’s show biz faves are Daniel Padilla and Marian Rivera. I teased her, “What If Daniel courts you?” She shot back, “I’m already taken.”
Although our Olympian will be waving a different flag, it’s the Pinay in Maxine who is going to make her shine to the max.
Ara Mina —NICE PRINT
Ara Mina’s anniversary concert
Ara Mina lived up to the title of her 30th show biz anniversary concert, “All of Me.” She really gave her blood, sweat and tears to each number. Ara’s soulful renditions reminded the audience that before she became an actress, she was a chanteuse first.
Her duets with Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid and Bong Revilla added spice to the show. But the highlight was Ara’s duet with her unica hija, Mandy. The Taylor Swift medley that she performed with her sis, Cristine Reyes, provided the show’s millennial vibe.
After three decades, that “Mina girl” remains to be a goldmine.