Mercy Sunot, Chelsea Manalo in the Miss Universe 2024, Gee Canlas and Archie Alemania. Image: Facebook/The Aegis Band; Instagram/@themissuniverseph, @geecanlas
Showbiz bits and pieces were among the top headlines this week, with the 2024 Miss Universe pageant earning the most buzz in the entertainment section.
To refresh everyone’s memory, here’s a recap of the entertainment news that trended in the past week:
Miss Universe pageant
Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig. Image: Instagram/@missuniverse
The global tilt was held in Mexico last Nov. 17, with Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig emerging as the 2024 titleholder. Chidimma Adetshina of Nigeria settled for the first runner-up spot; Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico the second runner-up; Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand the third; and Ileana Marquez Pedroza of Venezuela finished as fourth runner-up.
Philippines’ bet Chelsea Manalo ended her pageant quest as part of the Top 30 after she fell short of entering the Top 12. Nonetheless, Manalo was crowned the first continental queen of Asia.
Other continental queens are Miss Finland for Europe and Middle East, Miss Peru for the Americas, and Miss Nigeria for Africa and Oceania.
Mercy Sunot’s demise
Mercy Sunot of Aegis | Image: Facebook/Mercy Sunot-Aegis Band
Sunot, the lead vocalist of OPM rock band Aegis, died after battling breast and lung cancer. She was 48.
Just days prior to her death, Sunot was emotional as she made an appeal to fans to pray for her following a critical lung surgery.
Sunot’s fellow band members then issued an appeal as well after her death, asking the public to respect the late singer and her loved ones amid talks on social media about her alleged “bad habits.”
Aegis, who rose to fame in the 1990s with their hit songs “Halik” and “Sayang na Sayang,” among others, is composed of Sunot and her siblings Juliet and Ken. Also part of Aegis are Stella Pabico, Rey Abenoja, Rowena Adriano, and Vilma Goloviogo
Archie Alemania drops ‘truth’ quote
Archie Alemania (right) and his wife Gee Canlas. Image: Instagram/@geecanlas
Alemania has yet to publicly address the act of lasciviousness complaint filed against him by fellow Kapuso actress Rita Daniela, but fans were abuzz after his wife Gee Canlas made a cryptic post about “truth.”
“The truth doesn’t need defending; it speaks for itself,” Canlas’ post last Nov. 17 read.
Daniela filed an act of lasciviousness complaint against Alemania—with whom she worked in the GMA TV series “Widows’ War”—before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Bacoor City last Oct. 30.
While Alemania has yet to address the matter publicly, he reportedly denied Daniela’s allegations in a conversation with veteran columnist Cristy Fermin. As per Fermin, the actor will file a counter-affidavit to respond to the actress’ complaint.
However, no confirmation from Alemania was immediately made public.
Nadine Lustre’s casino endorsement
Nadine Lustre. Image: Instagram/@nadine
Lustre, a known advocate for animal rights and environmental causes, drew flak from her fans after she promoted online gambling as a brand ambassador of an online casino.
Netizens expressed this dismay over the actress, with some pointing out how her “advocacies are not aligned” and that she supposedly has a “selective compassion.” Nonetheless, there were those who came to Lustre’s defense and urged fans to just “respect [the actress’] hustle.”
Lustre, who was announced as the online gambling platform’s “muse” last August, did not immediately comment on the matter.
‘Hello, Love, Again’ in the box office
Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards in ‘Hello, Love, Again’ official trailer. Image: screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN Star Cinema
“Hello, Love, Again,” which stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, premiered last Nov. 13 and has since been making record-breaking earnings in the local and global box office.
The Cathy Garcia-Sampana-helmed film recorded the highest opening gross for a local move at P85 million. It also earned over $2 million in first-day gross in North American cinemas.
Just 10 days after its opening, “Hello, Love, Again” became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, amassing over P930 million in worldwide sales. It bested the Metro Manila Film Fest 2023 film “Rewind” which recorded a worldwide gross of P924 million.
The Bernardo and Richards starrer, which is the sequel to their blockbuster hit “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” also earlier closed the 2024 Asian World Film Festival in California. The film festival awarded Bernardo as well with its Snow Leopard Rising Star accolade.