LUNCH WITH P-NOY
[PHOTO AT LEFT - Pres. Noynoy 'P-Noy' Aquino with The STAR editors (backrow, from left) Malacañang reporter Delon Porcalla, Tony Paño, your columnist, Tony Katigbak, Isaac Belmonte and Romel Lara; and (front row, also from left) Millet Mananquil, Doreen Yu, Marichu Villanueva, Amy Pamintuan, Rose Anne Belmonte (Philstar.com COO) and Joanne Ramirez. WILLIE PEREZ]
MANILA, OCTOBER 18, 2010 (STAR) FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo - What do I have in common with Pres. Noynoy "P-Noy" Aquino (aside from both of us being un-married)?
Well, yes, Paul Cabral.
Last Wednesday when The STAR editors had lunch with P-Noy in Malacañang, I was gently reminded to be in "business" attire, so I dusted off my Barong Tagalog by Paul Cabral who also designs most of the barong that P-Noy wears every day and, I presumed, one of them he wore during the meeting.
The last time I wore a Barong Tagalog to Malacañang was on Oct. 23, 1993 during the Ramos Administration when First Daughter Jo Ramos and Lloyd Samartino exchanged "I do's" at a sunset wedding (sob and sigh, the couple broke up a few years later, with their teenage son in Jo's custody).
But the first time I ever set foot in Malacañang was in 1987 during the Cory Administration when Tita Cory and Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde invited movie reporters for a special preview of Pido Dida, the Regal "classic" ribtickler (with the late Rene Requiestas) which launched Kris Aquino's showbiz career to the tune of millions at the tills.
One more time with P-Noy (from left): Paño, your columnist, Katigbak, Belmonte, Lara and Porcalla.
The STAR editors prepared a set of "hard" questions for P-Noy. What about the entertainment editor?
Well, on the way to Malacañang on the office bus (couldn't bring my own car because entry into Malacañang would be like passing through the eye of a needle, what with the tight security in the area), I texted Kris if it was okay to ask P-Noy some personal questions and Kris texted back, "I don't think he will appreciate it but you can try."
So I tried.
When my turn came, I told P-Noy that I got Kris' permission "to try" to ask him personal questions although I said my questions wouldn't be that personal.
Questions: They say that it can be very lonely at the top. How do you deal with lonely nights? Do you sleep soundly at night? What's your typical day like?
P-Noy said that he spends "lonely nights" by watching DVDs which are mostly given to him by his sisters (many of them from Kris, I presumed). Yes, he said that he has watched the movie Airport (based on the Arthur Hailey best-seller) which is about a hostage incident, with Burt Lancaster as the besieged airport manager and Van Heflin as the bomb-carrying hostage-taker; and The American President in which Michael Douglas plays the title role linked to a pretty lobbyist played by Annette Benning, a story so similar to what's coming out in the papers about P-Noy's colorful albeit well-guarded private life. With his busy schedule, no two days in P-Noy's life are the same, each day kicked off by a quick, very light, breakfast.
P-Noy with (ex?-)girlfriend Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad.
As a sign of respect for his office, I dared not ask P-Noy whether he and Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad have indeed broken up - and why, oh, why. From those close to Shalani, I learned that Shalani has been crying and crying, suffering in silence as nasty rumors continue to swirl crazily around her concerning her parental background, her having not just one but two love children (something which Shalani's friends deny to death, crossing their hearts and hoping to die!) and her seeing Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian presumably "on the rebound," the same guy who was once Pauleen Luna's boyfriend, a wild rumor that, I believe, Shalani has sufficiently denied.
"One of these days, as soon as she's ready," Shalani's friends assured me, "she will talk to you; she will tell all."
I also asked P-Noy which actor he would pick to play Noynoy Aquino if ever the long-planned movie (by Cesar Montano) was pushed through and he didn't name any, adding that any such movie might veer away from relevant points and come out an all-action flick like what happened to Kumander Dante, the bioflick of the NPA commander Bernabe Buscayno played by Phillip Salvador, which barely glossed over the agrarian-reform issue which was one of Buscayno and his group's primary concerns.
Our lunch with P-Noy lasted for more than an hour (from way past 2 o'clock to a little past 3). Oops! It wasn't lunch but early merienda and we were served two delicious pieces of mini-corndog and mini-fruit tarts, two pieces each. P-Noy politely declined his serving which was, as per protocol, tasted by the presidential taster. (The trick? You prick the food with a thin stick and touch the tip of your tongue with it. If you get dizzy after a few seconds, it means the food is "contaminated." If not, well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, EAT!)
Back at the STAR office, we ordered Jollibee "delivery" for our late lunch.
Czarina going up in the rating
.gracing the cover of a Chinese online magazine.Here's another update on the Miss World contest going on in China (grand finals on Oct. 30), from Funfare's "other beauty expert" Celso de Guzman Caparas:
For the benefit of the flood-stricken island of Hainan, the national gifts brought by the delegates were auctioned off during the Charity Auction Night on Oct. 9 in Shanghai which raised $264,542. Our bet, 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World Czarina Gatbonton's (photo at left) gift was a pearl necklace.
While in Shanghai, the delegates visited the China Pavillion, signed their respective photos displayed prominently at the International EXPO and toured the site by colorful floats.
On Oct. 11, they flew to Sanya where the pre-pageant activities and finals will be held. After the Parade of Miss World Beauties, a welcome dinner reception was tendered by the Crowne Plaza Hotel where they are billeted.
Judging from the photos courtesy of John De La Vega (Czarina's handler, a fellow Bulakeño), Czarina is literally adhering to the queenly pieces of advice of 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj, "To be herself and enjoy the pageant."
Czarina's dusky and exotic beauty merited a cover on www.tianya.com, a Chinese online magazine. She's second after Miss French Polynesia Mihilani Teixeira in an online poll conducted by hainanwel.com (Hainan's online newspaper) and 12th place in globalbeauties.com's Great Wall of Beauty poll which described Czarina as "another Asian stunner, rising like the foam" for making it in their list for the first time.
Ronnie Ricketts' brother Topher dies
From the Ricketts Family, this sad news: It is with sadness and joy that we announce the passing and rebirth to eternal life of Grandmaster Christopher N. Ricketts on Oct. 5, at 3:02 a.m. He was 55 (born on March 21, 1955).
May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. A loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle, he is survived by his wife Beth Ricketts and sons Jason Ricketts, Bruce Ricketts, Brandon Ricketts and Christopher Ricketts Jr.; daughter-in-law Jeanne, wife of Jason and grandkids Jacob, Jennell, Josh and Justin; parents Edith and Max Ricketts; younger brother and sister-in-law, Ronnie Ricketts (photo) and Mariz; and nieces Marella and Marie; and youngest brother and sister-in-law Alex Ricketts and Marybeth and nephews Jamie and James. Master Topher, known worldwide as a consummate martial artist of Filipino descent, was loved by many but more importantly, respected by all.
He was one of the founders and the Chief Instructor of Bakbakan International, a fraternal brotherhood of martial artists established in the Philippines in 1968 whose motto is Matira Matibay (The Best of the Best).
Concerned with training and passing on his knowledge to students rather than collecting accolades and titles, Master Topher's skills and credentials are impeccable and second to none. A senior disciple of the revered Grandmaster Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo and one of the "Five Pillars of Kali Ilustrisimo," he remained loyal to the memory and legacy of his teacher and was the highest ranked Ilustrisimo instructor in the United States.
A close friend and training partner of the late Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite who founded Lameco Eskrima, he was also the highest ranked Lameco instructor in the United States.
With teaching credentials in several martial arts systems including Ngo Cho Kun (5 Ancestor Fist), Sagasa (Filipino Kickboxing System), as well as being a professional boxing trainer and fight choreographer, his was a life befitting a true warrior. A public viewing, requiem mass and farewell offering (Halad) were held on Thursday, Oct. 14, at the California Cremation and Burial Chapel, 5880 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, California 92115.
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