Showbiz Roundup: Anthony Jennings’ GF, Maita Sanchez, Maiqui Pineda

The relationship between Anthony Jennings and Jam Villanueva once again reached the rumor mills, after the latter alluded to an “ex-boyfriend and workmate” who “completely went beyond their boundaries.” Neither Jennings nor Villanueva, however, have yet to address the speculations hounding their romance.

Actor-turned-politician Maita Sanchez, on the other hand, died after her battle with endometrial cancer last November 3. She is survived by her husband, former Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito, and their six children.

Meanwhile, Maiqui Pineda denied the allegations that she only had a few months left to live, while warning her followers to be careful when it comes to fake news about her health.

All these and more, as we look back at the biggest entertainment news from November 1 to 7.

Anthony Jennings’ GF vs ‘inappropriate workmate’

Amid her rumored split with her boyfriend Anthony Jennings, Jam Villanueva alluded to a cheater ex-boyfriend and his workmate who supposedly crossed their work boundaries.

Villanueva said this during a question-and-answer session on her Instagram Stories last Nov. 1.

“Sis, bakit ‘yung galit mo parang kay Ate Girl lang? ‘Di ba dapat mas galit ka sa ex mo? Char,” one of the questions read.

“Honey, do you even read what I’m saying [in my Stories] about men who cheat? Or maybe you just wanna take and absorb lang what you can and ano ‘yung pasok sa tolerance niyo?” Villanueva said without dropping names. “They are just the same, the one who cheated and the one who tells and [does] inappropriate things to her workmate na ‘di naman kasama sa trabaho.”

Villanueva stressed that she respected her ex-boyfriend and his workmate’s “work and industry.” “I know the boundaries, and they completely went beyond that,” she said.

Jennings and Villanueva have been hounded by breakup rumors since September after netizens noticed the latter’s social media reposts that are about heartbreaks and betrayal. Some have also been linking Maris Racal, Jennings’ loveteam partner, to the couple’s supposed split.

Jennings and Villanueva have yet to publicly confirm or deny the speculations as of this writing.

Maita Sanchez, 55

Actress-turned-politician Maita Sanchez, also known as Girlie Javier-Ejercito, died after a battle with endometrial cancer, her husband, former Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito said. She was 55 years old.

Ejercito confirmed Sanchez’s death in a statement on Facebook, saying she died at 12:01 a.m. on November 3. He also thanked his wife’s supporters for their “love and prayers.”

“Mayor Maita was an outstanding multi-awarded local chief executive (2010-2019) who brought life, joy, and integrity into the significant programs and projects of Pagsanjan, which is now recognized as the tourist capital of Laguna,” he said.

Sanchez was the mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna from 2010 to 2019. She is survived by her husband and their six children: Eric, Jet, Jerico, Jhulia, Diego, and Gabriela.

She appeared in several films including “Sa Dulo ng Baril,” “Epifanio Ang Bilas Ko: NB-Eye,” “Katabi Ko’y Mamaw,” “El Presidente,” “Muslim Magnum .357: To Serve and Protect,” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme.”

Maiqui Pineda denies she has months to live

Maiqui Pineda, wife of TV host Robi Domingo, slammed a false report claiming that her husband had supposedly confirmed that she was dying due to her autoimmune disease.

Pineda took to her Instagram Stories on November 4, to share a screenshot of a false report from a Facebook page under the name Pinoy Spotlight.

The post – which gathered over 80,000 Facebook reactions and over 700 shares – includes a photo of the couple with a supposed quote from Domingo that reads: “Sobrang sakit! Ilang buwan ko na lang siya makakasama.”

“I don’t use Facebook so I don’t see posts like these but thanks to people for sharing with me. Probably why people would ask me if I’m okay,” she said.

Pineda then noted that she only frequently shares her health updates on Instagram as she has built a “good relationship” with her followers on the platform. “You guys know me best. If ever you have the time, please help me report this post for false information on health. Thank you!”

Pineda has been diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness, inflammation, and a skin rash. Domingo and Pineda first revealed this in August 2023 while they were preparing for their wedding.

Dominique Cojuangco appeals not to take photos of baby

Dominique Cojuangco appealed to her followers to refrain from taking photos of her daughter Penelope Eloise when the child is out in public.

The celebrity mom took to her Instagram Stories last October 31, to speak about the child’s privacy. While Dominique posts about her daughter on her social media pages, she only shares photos that do not show the baby’s face.

“If you see me out with my child, please don’t take a photo. Her privacy is so important to me,” she said.

Dominique, however, did not immediately say what prompted her plea.

Dominique, the only daughter of actress Gretchen Barretto and businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, got married to her businessman husband Michael Hearn in March 2023. She announced her pregnancy in November of the same year and then gave birth to Penelope Eloise in May 2024.

John Estrada seen with mystery woman in bar

John Estrada once again drew curious eyes after he was spotted with a foreign woman in an unknown bar.

In a video uploaded by user Keken Quiñonez on Facebook, Estrada is seen entering the bar with the unnamed woman. His hand was placed on the woman’s shoulder and appeared to be caressing it at one point.

The pair smiled as they interacted with other people at the bar. In another clip, they were captured talking to each other as they sat in the bar area.

“Ang ganda ng bagong partner niya,” commented one netizen.

“OMG, John Estrada, you are really a man without honor. I was so impressed pa naman sa kasal niyo ni Priscila, ganyan lang pala gagawin mo sa kaniya. You are leading your life in the wrong direction,” another netizen said.

Estrada previously announced that he and estranged wife Priscilla Meirelles “mutually agreed” to take a break from their marriage, even as he also denied any romantic involvement with a certain Lily Hallman.

“I want to make it clear that I am not in a relationship with Lily Hallman or any other woman for that matter. I just met her in Boracay,” he said at the time.

Meirelles then denied having a “mutual agreement” to separate from Estrada, saying she was “shocked” that her husband made such a remark on social media.

Despite being spotted at the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore, Meirelles clarified that it was only a “work gathering.”

Priscilla Meirelles goes cryptic anew

After John Estrada was seen with a mystery woman in a bar, his wife Priscilla Meirelles made a cryptic remark on social media about dealing with someone who treats people “like an option.”

Meirelles took to her Threads page on November 2, to say that people who treat people like an option should be relegated to the memory. She later shared the post on her Instagram page.

“When someone makes you an option, make them a memory,” she wrote.

Meirelles also reshared a clip from Instagram user @createwithelyse which states that “karma is real” and people’s harsh treatment toward others will “come back” to them.

“Karma is real. The way you treat people in the world will always come back to you. So never lower yourself to somebody else’s level. You do the right thing and it always comes back every single time,” according to the video.

The apparent breakdown of Estrada and Meirelles’ marriage has been making headlines since March 2023. While the pair mended their relationship weeks later, their domestic front was again tested after the beauty queen accused the actor of “looking very divorced” on a Boracay trip in July 2024.

Kobe Paras confirms he’s dating Kyline Alcantara

After months of keeping mum about their true relationship status, Kobe Paras finally confirmed that he is dating Kyline Alcantara.

Paras opened up about their relationship status in an interview uploaded on Cosmopolitan Philippines’ YouTube channel last November 1, when asked about his “biggest crush.”

“Who’s your biggest crush, celebrity, or otherwise?” the text on the video read.

A smiling Paras said: “Kyline Alcantara because we are dating.”

After a brief silence, the baller was then asked when he realized he had a crush on the “Shining Inheritance” actress. “Early this year,” he said.

However, Paras didn’t disclose when exactly he started wooing the Kapuso actress. Alcantara, on the other hand, has yet to address the baller’s revelation, as of press time.

Paras and Alcantara have been hounded with relationship rumors after they were spotted as a pair on multiple occasions since early 2024.

Among their numerous encounters included being each other’s date at the GMA Gala, bonding with each other’s families on separate events, walking the runway on separate Spring/Summer 2025 shows at New York Fashion Week, and a recent beach getaway in Quezon Province, among many others.

Paras’ mother, Jackie Forster, expressed her support for the pair in September 2024, after their appearance on New York Fashion Week.

The pair recently showed off their chemistry in the online series “Miss Legends” which was released in September 2024.

Ion Perez drops councilor bid in 2025 elections

Ion Perez withdrew his bid to become a councilor of Tarlac province’s Concepcion town.

Perez made the announcement – a month after filing his certificate of candidacy – via his TikTok account on November 4, while apologizing to his supporters for his decision.

“Sa mga kalugar ko diyan sa Concepcion, una po, maraming salamat sa tiwala at suporta niyo na ibinigay sa akin. Pinapaalam ko lang po na hindi na po ako tatakbo o tutuloy bilang konsehal ng Concepcion,” Perez said.

The “It’s Showtime” host said he wanted to first make sure that he is prepared for the job of a public servant before joining the race for government office.

“Gusto ko po munang ihanda ang sarili ko para hindi mapahiya [sa inyo] at mapaglingkuran kayo nang tama. Muli po, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong tiwala. Paumanhin po,” Perez said.

Perez is one of the many celebrities who filed their certificates of candidacy for the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections. Marco Gumabao, content creator Rosmar Tan, and Marjorie Barretto, among others, are vying for different public posts via next year’s polls.