Gretchen, Nadia kiss and make up

Author: Mario E. Bautista
Column: Freehand

THE Professional Artist Managers Inc. (PAMI) gave a meaningful and touching eulogy to their first chairman, Douglas Quijano, last Thursday night. It was a star-studded affair. Present were Gov. Vilma Santos, Mother Lily Monteverde, Susan Roces and her daughter Grace Llamanzares and niece Sheryl Cruz, Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres, Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales, Gretchen Barretto and Nadia Montenegro (TV crews quickly gathered when they kissed and made up as it's the first they saw each other after their much publicized feud), Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, Tirso Cruz and wife Lyn Ynchausti, Joey Marquez, Gelli de Belen, John Estrada, Maricar de Mesa and cager hubby Don Allado, Christian Vasquez, and others.

Pops Fernandez sang "Paano Kita Pasasalamatan," Tirso sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and Erik Santos, "Hindi Kita Malilimutan. " Manay Lolit Solis paid a funny but touching tribute to Douglas, who enticed her to leave the police beat and join the showbiz press, revealing that Douglas even had a girlfriend when she first met him in 1968.

The end of the Holy Mass saw the other talent managers like June Torrejon, Ethel Ramos, Annabelle Rama, Shirley Kuan, Ed Instrella, and others. They each gave a red rose to Tito Doug. Movie writers present were Ricky Lo, Nora Calderon, Ronald Constantino, Shirley Pizarro, Salve Asis, Lea Salterio, Nitz Miralles, Ricky Calderon, Francis Simeon, Pilar Mateo, Wilson Lee Flores, and Douglas' confidante Ces Evangelista. Douglas' remains will be cremated today and brought to Antipolo, then Lucban . To Douglas, rest well in the bosom of our Lord.
KRIS MUM ABOUT KATRINA

KRIS Lawrence, the R&B singer who's Katrina Halili's former squeeze, sings six of the 10 songs in the album, "Soul Sonatas," all original compositions of Samantha Riviera, a U. S. -based songwriter and book author. The tunes he interprets are "I'd Do Anything", "How Could You", "Love at First Sight", "Kahit Anong Anyo", "Lover's Prayer", and a duet with Jenine Desiderio.

At the presscon for Sam organized by their mutual friend RS Francisco, Kris struck us as someone who's not very communicative. You ask him a question and he just keeps quiet. It's understandable if he doesn't want to talk at all about Katrina. But instead of just keeping silent, he could have said: "Sorry, I don't want to talk about her as people are already accusing me using her to promote myself. " It's only when we asked him if he's praying for Katrina that he said "Yes, I do. "

When we asked him about his best friend Jay-R's breakup with his longtime girlfriend Liza Calove, he was again silent, when he could have said "I think it's better that you ask Jay R yourself. "

The album of Sam Riviera's song comes with the publication of her book, "S. A. M. Chronicles of a Woman Who Lives and Loves". S. A. M. stands for sentimental strong, affectionate amorous, modern martyr. It's about her failed marriage with the man she calls Robot who she loved but who later left her and her kids. Its back cover has endorsements from stars who've read it like Gelli de Belen, Alex de Rossi, Sunshine Dizon and Katrina Halili.

RS Francisco said Sam came home last year and told her friends she wants to share her music. "We listened to them and everyone's raving about the songs, especially when they were arranged na by Marcus Davis and Sherwin Castillo. They're listener-friendly and carry good messages about life and love. "

On July 3, 7 p. m. there will be a free concert at the Music Museum to launch both the album "Soul Sonatas" and the book "S. A. M. " featuring Kris Lawrence, Jenine Desiderio, new lounge singer Kaji Wara, and other friends of Samantha Riviera who will be coming home for the show.

"Writing the songs was cathartic for me," Sam writes in the album's liner notes. "I was able to write the lyrics of five songs in just one night. They're all about my life so they're all truthful. I hope people will later claim the songs as theirs because they'll hear their own stories in mine. One lesson I impart is that in love and life, we must always do what's right. "

DIREK JOEL WRITES OFF SNOOKY'S CHARACTER

ON the last shooting day of the political film "Dukot," what Gina Alajar warned Snooky Serna about at the film's storycon happened. The calltime is 9 a. m. but Snooky came at 11:30 a. m. They were shooting a big rally scene involving other stars like Robert Arevalo, Raquel Villavicencio, Gina, and hundreds of extras so it's important they start on time. The staff kept on calling Snooky on her cellphone to remind her that they were waiting for her.

Still, she came so late so Director Joel Lamangan was already understandably losing his temper. At one point, he got the staffer's cellphone and talked to Snooky in an angry tone to give her a piece of his mind. When Snooky finally arrived, she won't get off her car and had a discussion first with the staffers as to why Direk Joel shouted at her on the phone.

At this point, the director lost all his remaining cool and told Snooky to just pack up and go home as she's already causing more delays. He was afraid it will rain and they still hadn't shot that important scene. The script was rewritten and they just made it appear that the character Snooky plays is so busy that day and cannot come to the rally. Snooky later wrote about it on her blog and complained that Direk Joel was unfair as other stars also came late at other times but they were not reprimanded in a humiliating manner the way he scolded her.

CARLOS ADMITS AFFAIR WITH DRA. BELO

Carlos Morales was once linked to Dr. Vicki Belo, way before Hayden Kho, but he swears they were never romantically involved. "When I was being managed by Dondon Monteverde, Belo Clinic took care of his talents sa facials, scrubs and that's when I met Dr. Belo. When she found out I was looking for my American dad in the U. S. , she helped me and I'm thankful to her for that. Yun lang. Sila pa ni Sir Joey Santos at that time. "

But later, in another interview, he admitted that they did have a short affair. How did he feel when Dr. Belo's younger boyfriend became controversial because of the sex videos. "Would you believe I haven't seen those videos? Kasi for me, kawawa 'yung mga babae, kaya ayokong panoorin. But I feel sad for Dr. Belo na nasangkot pa siya diyan. She doesn't deserve it. "

He's now the host of the boxing show, "Warriors: The Celebrity/Amateur Boxing Series" shown Saturdays 9:30 p. m. on Channel 9. The producer, Maricar Santos, is a pretty young matron who earlier produced the Holy Week movie, "Pasang Krus". How come he's now being linked to Maricar?

"Actually, about 7 years ago pa kaming nagka-kilala through a common friend. She used to produce shows in Japan at kapag napupunta ako roon, nagkikita kami. We became good friends. Then she asked me what business she could venture into so I suggested nga itong 'Warriors' ni Director Richard Arel-lano. They met, nag-usap sila at yun nga natuloy ang production ng 'Warriors'. I really wish this would be successful so she could produce more shows. Maganda naman ang layunin nitong 'Warriors' dahil it projects the benefits of boxing as a sport and it also helps new boxers to train ang abilities nila. "

It was once reported that he's about to get married. Did this push through? "No, hindi natuloy. Single pa rin ako. But I'm looking for a serious relationship kasi 30 na rin ako, kaya lang, wala pang makita. "

MIKI'S PASSION

Miki Hahn used to be in the cast of TV 5's teen show, "Lipgloss", but she had to leave it as her schedule became busy with her graduating this year from her fashion designing course in La Salle and with her recording a new album. "I had to make a choice kasi pag magdamagan ang taping namin, I go to the recording studio the next day to do my album at wala sa kondisyon ang boses ko," she says. "I chose my studies na lang and singing kasi music is more of my passion. "

Her album is entitled "Intimately Acoustic" and features acoustic renditions of favorite songs like "Aint No Sunshine," "Dream a Little Dream," "Never My Love," "Son of a Preacher Man," "Tom's Diner," "Annie's Song" and many more. Its first single, "The Sign," has already been released on radio and the response from listeners is very encouraging. After graduation, Miki plans to put up her own boutique where she will design all the clothes. "I now make my own outfits," she says. "Ako mismo nananahi to make sure I get all the specifications I want. "

VALEEN, ALDRED STILL IN TOUCH

Valeen Montenegro was paired with PBB's Aldred Gatchalian in "Abt Ur Luv," "Crazy for You" and Ysabella. " But now, they hardly see each other and she has gone solo playing contravida roles like in "Underage. "

She also appears on TV 5 in the gag show "Lokomoko" and as a host in "MP3". Does she and Aldred still get in touch? "Yes, kate-text lang niya sa'kin to say he can't come sa birthday presscon ng Star Magic as he's busy taping for 'Kambal sa Uma'," she says.

She turned 19 on June 10 while Aldred turned 18 on June 14. Is she happy with the way her career is going? "At least, hindi ako nawawalan ng assignment. Also, okay lang yung pace ko ngayon as I'm graduating from college this year. " She's taking up fashion design at St. Benilde and she hopes to put up her own design shop later.

Like her, Aldred is also in college taking up associate in arts at the UP Open U. He also appears in the Mel Chionglo project, "Vente", for Sine Direk where he plays a student activist opposite Glaiza de Castro.

AUDITION FOR KIDS

TALENTED kids aged 3 to 7 who want to be child stars can audition in TV 5's "Kiddie Kwela", aired 8:30 p. m. Tuesday nights and hosted by Bayani Agbayani. It holds mall auditions in designated SM Malls Storyland on Saturdays from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. , June 20 at SM Storyland, Batangas and July 4 at SM San Lazaro. In "Lipgloss", aired Saturdays at 5 p. m. , viewers can get a chance to be with their favorite Lindenite barkada in the number one teen-oriented show today, TV5's Lipgloss, through its I Love Lipgloss on-air and online promo.

Just watch Lipgloss and watch out for the fun trivia about the featured cast of the episode scrolling at the bottom of your TV screens. Take note of the trivia and log on to the TV5 website www. TV5. com. ph to answer the question about the featured cast of the week. A weekly winner will be chosen from the pool of entry senders who correctly answers the Lipgloss question online. Weekly winners get to bring three more friends to hang out with their favorite Lipgloss stars plus they will receive Lipgloss and TV5 special gift items. Promo period is until June 27, open to viewers age 13-19 years old.

Source: People's Journal