Then, as the plane cruises at 29,000 feet, there is a sudden loud noise.

Here is a brief chronology of the dramatic mid-air mishap:

10:30 a.m. An unexplained bang leaves a gaping hole on the jumbo jet’s right side, depressurizing the cabin mid-flight. Then a roughly 10-minute rollercoaster ride follows for the 365 passengers and crew onboard the Melbourne-bound plane.

10:40 a.m. While strapped to a seat 10 rows away from where debris gusts through, passenger Marina Scaffidi feels the plane re-stabilizing. The pilot announces there has been depressurization and that the flight is seeking shelter in Manila.

11:05 a.m. At the Manila Control Tower, air traffic control receives flight QF-30 pilot Captain John Bartels’ distress call and request for an emergency landing. The plane is still some 160 miles (257.5 kilometers) away from Manila.

The tower says the pilot asked for the runway to be completely vacated as he will be stopping readily upon landing, foregoing the usual taxiing.

11:15 a.m. The plane lands safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and parks at the old Manila terminal to deboard shaken passengers. No one is hurt.

“It was a very good landing. And the passengers applauded quite loudly,” says Scaffidi. 

Tarra V. Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Now, it is being told the way it happened — that is, why Dolphy broke up with Alma Moreno, mother of his son Vandolf. I know that back then, in 1988 when it happened, all kinds of versions came out, by and from different sources, but Dolphy kept mum. Until now.

In the book Hindi Ko Ito Narating Ng Mag-Isa as told to Bibeth Orteza, launched Wednesday night at The Fort, Dolphy is finally telling all. It’s a pity that Alma, whom close friends call Ness (from Venesa), was the only woman in Dolphy’s life who refused to be interviewed for the book, saying in a TV interview that she didn’t want “to tell a lie” (whatever she meant). She could have balanced things by telling her own story.

Anyway, I am printing the portion where Dolphy talks about his romance with Alma. (Thanks to Eric Quizon, Dolphy’s son who published the book as a tribute to his dad’s 80th birthday yesterday, July 25, for giving me the go-signal).

Here it is:

1981 ang bilang ko sa simula namin ni Ness. But before that, nagkapareha muna kami sa Titser’s Pet. Hindi ko masabing type ko na siya agad. Natapos muna ang pelikula, nag-outing kami ng grupo, nauwi sa sayawan. Ang disco, hindi lang mabilis na music ang tugtog, biglang nagkaka-slow drag.

Hindi ko intensyon na maging seryoso ang relasyon. Pirmero, parang barka-barkada. Then, nagbiyahe sina Baby at ang mga bata, si Ronnie lang naiwan. Habang wala sila, do’n kami naging close ni Ness.

Pag-uwi ni Baby, nalaman niya, so sinulatan niya ako. ‘Yon na. 1982, umalis ako sa Blue Ridge, nagsama kami ni Ness sa Greenhills. Pirmero kami lang, saka si Vandolf.

Ang nanay niya, mayro’n ibang bahay na inuuwian, pero natutulog sa amin kung minsan. No’ng nahiwalay ang kapatid niya, si Debra, nakasama rin namin, bago napunta ng US. OK pa iyon, ina at kapatid.

May mga good years kami. Our movies together did well in the box-office, at ilan din ‘yon, Good Morning Professor, My Funny Valentine, Tenteng de Sarapen, The Crazy Professor, at ‘yon na ngang launching movie ni Eric, ang Bata-Batuta. Medyo matamlay na kami sa last picture namin, and this was after Vandolf was born.

Ang nahirapan ako, do’n sa lifestyle niya. Hindi ko type ang palaging may tao sa bahay, mula umaga hanggang madaling-araw. Ibig kong sabihin, OK ang magkabisita, ang dalawin ka ng mga kaibigan mong reporter, pero naging araw-araw na ‘yon, at hindi lang dito sa Manila. Pag nasa Hong Kong kami, at hilig ko nga ‘yong nagpupunta ro’n para mapahinga, kasama pa rin namin ang mga reporter. At mga dancer. Pupunta kaming Amerika, gano’n pa rin.

Madalang na ako no’ng makipagbarkada. Bukod sa patay na si Ading, hindi ako mapakali pag naaalaala ko si Vandolf. Walang kasama ‘yong bata. Nag-iisa, sa malaking bahay na maraming 188 tao. Hindi pinalalapit ‘yon sa usapan ng matatanda, lalo pa’t may kabastusan ang mga biro, mga green jokes. Yaya lang ang kasama niya, e, matanda. Hindi makahabol, pag tumatakbo na ang alaga.

Magbo-bonding si Ness ng pamilya niya, ng mga bakla, ng mga dancer, at kahit minsan nakikipagtawanan ako sa kanila, may limitation. Papanhik na ako, aabutan ko si Vandolf, makikita kong nakadungaw sa ventanillang gano’n, naaawa ako. Kakalaruin ko ang bata. Habang naghaharutan kaming mag-ama, magpapaalam na sila, magdi-disco.

Hindi masyadong malapit si Ness sa mga anak. Pag ‘ando’n, OK. Pero mas involved siya sa barkada. Kaya kami ni Van ang naglalaro, magkatabing matulog, at magkasabay kumain.

Ang parang excuse no’n, kasi raw, may Loveli-ness. May show, na kailangang maya’t-maya ang meeting; katatapos pa lang ng palabas, meeting ulit para sa next. Pero nagka-TV shows din naman ako. Nag-specials na sunud-sunod, never namang nabulabog ang privacy ng pamamahay ko.

Active pa ang RVQ, ‘tinayo pa namin ang Rodessa, pero no’ng araw din, no’ng height talaga ng RVQ, hindi dumating sa gano’n karami ang araw-araw na nasa Blue Ridge na kailangang estimahin at pakisamahan.

Alam kong kailangan ng artista ang media. Lalo na ako at that time, since active movie producer pa ako, nagpapa-press con, and all. Pero looking back, sana lang, nakapag-draw ng boundaries. Hindi ko sila nilalahat. Mayro’n ding mababait do’n, na hanggang ngayon, pag nakikita ko, napi-feel ko ang paggalang nila at respeto. Kaya lang…

Natagalan ko ‘yon until 1989. Of course, alam na ng lahat na sa last two years, mayro’n na akong ibang mahal, pero bago pa ‘yon, muntik na kaming maghiwalay ni Ness, sa dahilang mas gusto ko na lang sarilinin. Tapos na ‘yon, tapos na rin kami, huwag na lang nating ungkatin. Puwede n’yo siyang tanungin, kung gusto ninyo, pero walang manggagaling sa akin.

Basta’t the first time na ginusto kong umalis at tapusin na ang relasyon namin, nag-impake na ako. ‘I know what’s going on,’ kako.

Umamin siya, humingi ng tawad, nakiusap na pumirmi ako. Pinagbigyan ko, alang-alang kay Vandolf, pero nawala na ang lapot ng samahan, naging malabnaw. Hanggang sa kinailangan na rin akong mag-decide.

Ang anak ko kay Ness

As usual, na-sacrifice ang anak, no’ng naghiwalay ang kanyang mga magulang. Pero pinakamatindi ito. Ang ibang mga anak ko, hindi ‘pinagkait sa akin ng kanilang mga ina.

No’ng umalis na ako’t nagpuntang US, maski sa telepono, nahirapan akong kontakin ang bata. ‘Tinawag sa akin ni Rene na gusto raw akong makausap ni Vandolf, ayaw raw ni Ness. Hanggang humagulgol na lang ako sa telepono. Hinahagod ako ni Zsa Zsa. Alam niya ang pinagdadaanan ko’t iyon din ang sa kanya.

‘Yong iyak na ‘yon, sama-sama ‘yon. Ang takot kong naiwan siya sa gano’ng lifestyle, ang awa ko na alam kong wala siyang kalaro, wala talagang nagke-care, at saka ang orchestrated attack laban sa amin ni Zsa Zsa, sa kaliwa’t-kanang bira ng mga movie press na kumampi kay Ness, na hindi man lang inalam ang puno’t dulo ng mga pangyayari. Masakit, masakit.

Nakiusap ako kay Mother Lily, baka pagbigyan siya ni Ness. At ‘yon na nga ang nangyari. Nakausap ko rin ang anak ko, nasa ospital no’ng tawagan uli ako ni Rene. Umiiyak ako talaga.

Pagbalik namin dito, hindi ko ulit alam kung saan siya naro’n. Inalis na sa Brent School sa Pasig. ‘Tinago sa kung saang iskuwelahan. Na-trace ko kung saan, pero ayaw ipakausap ng school authorities, dahil ‘yon daw ang kabilin-bilinan no’ng nanay.

Kinausap ko ‘yong principal, ‘Magandang umaga po, pasensiya na po kayo nagambala ko kayo. Siguro alam n’yo ang nangyayari sa buhay namin ni Vandolf at ng nanay niya. Matagal ko nang hindi nakikita ang anak ko, gusto ko lang ho sanang makausap sandali.’

Naramdaman yata ang sincerity ko at ang paghihirap ko bilang ama. Nilabas ng principal si Vandolf, hinarap sa akin. Iyakan na naman kami ro’n. Pamula no’n, do’n ko na pinupuntahan. Pag umaga, naka-abang na siya sa akin.

May one year ko na siyang hindi nakikita no’ng nadala ni Eric sa Music Museum, sa birthday show ko, in 1990. Na-appreciate ko ang ginawa ni Eric. Siya ang kumausap kay Ness, at humiling na maiharap niya sa akin ang kapatid, sa okasyon na ‘yon.

Ang dami kong nailuha sa batang ‘yan. No’ng naaksidente, bumigay ulit ako. Habang nagdarasal, parang one-on-one akong nakikipag-usap sa Diyos, nakikiusap, ‘Buhayin N’yo naman; bigyan N’yo ng chance na matikman pa ang buhay. Masyado pang bata para kunin.’

RICKY LO
The Philippine Star

Rosanna Roces’s winning money turned into dust after an off-track betting station in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, refused to hand her the P20,000 for failing to properly place a bet on a winning horse.

An aggravated Rosanna Roces berated and mocked a teller of an off-track betting station located in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, after she failed to collect her supposed winning money.

According to GMA News, the former sexy star was fuming mad after the teller identified as Letty Labay failed to register her bet on what turned out to be the winning horse. Rosanna, who is also known as Osang, could have won a handsome amount of P20,000.

Letty, however, argued that she refused to register Osang’s stake simply because the actress only asked a bettor to place a bet on her behalf without even handing any payment.

“Bawal ho ang paki sa amin,” explained Letty to GMA reporter Oscar Oida. “Kasi kung may pera ‘tsaka tataya kahit sino pa diyan, kahit kung ano, hindi ko naman siya kilala e, ‘tapos through telephone, ‘tapos hindi pa niya sa akin tinawag [kundi] sa ibang tao,” she added.

During the commotion, Osang threatened a GMA-7 cameraman who was busy documenting the entire incident. Venting her anger towards the news crew, Osang furiously asked for the camera to be turned off. She even went down from her car to confront the cameraman while being pacified by some bystanders.

BONG GODINEZ
Philippine Entertainment Portal

May ilang detalye raw sa partisipasyon ni Hero sa bagong telefantasya ng GMA 7 na gustong malaman ni Henry.

Ang ikinairita ng ilang staff, ang daming demands daw nitong Henry para kay Hero gayung hindi ito bida sa Dyesebel.

Hindi na ikinuwento sa akin kung anu-anong demands ang hinihingi ni Henry pero nagreklamo na ang ilang staff at nakarating ito kay Kuya German Moreno na nagpasok kay Hero sa Dyesebel.

Ang pagkakaalam ko, si Kuya Germs na ang manager ni Hero. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ang usapan nila ni Henry kaya nakikialam pa rin si Henry sa trabaho ni Hero.

Bago magulo ang lahat, nakipag-usap na raw si Kuya Germs sa mga taga-Dyesebel at ina­yos ito.

Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Kuya Germs tungkol dito kaya hindi ko pwedeng kumpirmahin ang narinig kong tsikang nagkasagutan sila ni Henry.

Sinubukan kong tawagan si Henry pero hindi siya sumasagot, kaya hindi ko siya nakunan ng sagot tungkol sa isyung ito.

Sa totoo lang, kaya naging active uli sa showbiz si Hero ay dahil kay Kuya Germs na nakiusap na bigyan na si Hero ng programa sa GMA 7.

At least, bukod sa Walang Tulugan na co-host si Hero, malapit na itong mapanood sa Dyesebel.

In fairness sa Walang Tulugan ni Kuya Germs, kahit malapit nang sumikat ang araw ng Linggo ito natatapos, never itong nag-zero sa rating.

Marami pa rin ang nanonood nito kaya paboritong porgrama na rin ito ng mga artistang gustong mag-promote ng kanilang pelikula at mga show.

Kini-claim naman ni Shalala (na stand-upper sa mga showbiz news ng Walang Tulugan) na malaki ang naiambag niya sa programang ito, kaya nagri-rate.

Aminado si Shalala na dahil sa Walang Tulugan, lalong duma­dami ang raket niya at minsan ay natatalbugan pa niya si Kuya Germs.

Nakiusap na rin si Shalala kung pwedeng i-promote ko na rin ang radio program nila ni Kuya Germs sa DZBB na napapakinggan tuwing 1:00 PM pagkatapos ng Balitanghali ng QTV 11, mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes.

Kuhang-kuha na ni Shalala ang charm ni Kuya Germs kaya ang dami na niyang nararaket pero ipinapangako niyang nakatuntong pa rin siya sa lupa at hindi raw siya magiging halimaw na lalamon kay Kuya Germs.

May tanong lang ang hitad na Shalala… bakit si Hero pa ang ipinasok ni Kuya Germs sa Dyese­bel at hindi siya?

ABU TILAMZIK
Abante Tonite

Magugunitang ang dalawang de kalibreng artistang ito ay magkasabay na kumandidato sa panlalawigang posisyon noong nakaraang eleksyon.

Si Ate Vi, tumakbo bilang gobernador ng administrasyon at si Boyet naman, nagbakasakali bilang bise gobernador sa ilalim ng bandila ng oposisyon.

Habang nasa kasagsagan ang kampanya, sina Ate Vi at Boyet ay kapuwa tumangging sila’y magkalaban.

Una rito, bago pa man nagsimula ang kampanya, marami ang nagmungkahing magsanib-puwersa na lamang sila. Dapat daw, mag-bise na lang si Boyet kay Ate Vi, na imposibleng mangyari, dahil kapuwa sila nakatali sa kani-kanilang partido-pulitikal.

Sa simula pa lang ng kampanya, lamang na si Ate Vi sa pulso ng publiko. Bitbit niya ang credential ng isang full-termer with flying colors, wika nga, bilang Lipa City mayor.

Si Boyet naman, ang puhunan ay ang kagustuhang magsilbi sa lalawigan at ang kasikatan bilang artista. Kulang siya sa credential na tulad ng kay Ate Vi.

Nang matapos ang kampanya, humupa ang tensyong pampulitika, tinanghal na gubernador si Ate Vi, at tulad ng inaasahan, bigo si Boyet sa kauna-unahang pagsabak.

Ewan kung awa o labis na tiwala ni Ate Vi kay Boyet, ilang araw matapos ang eleksyon, inihayag nito ang planong alukin ng puwesto sa Batangas ang actor.

Aniya, may kinalaman sa turismo ang ibibigay na puwesto kay Boyet. Kaya, sa unang pagkakataon na magkausap sila, inulit niya kay Boyet ang pangakong ’yun.

Pero dahil may election ruling na sinusunod “…na ang sinumang talunang kandidato ay ’di maaaring tumanggap ng puwesto hangga’t ’di lumilipas ang isang taon matapos ang eleksyon….” ’di natanggap ni Boyet ang alok ni Ate Vi.

Ang 2007 elections ay Mayo. Sinusulat namin ito, April 10, 2008. Mayo na sa susunod na buwan. Ibig sabihin, matatapos na ang one-year ban sa mga kumandidatong talunan noong 2007.

Nangangahulugang puwede nang tumanggap ng puwesto si Boyet.

Naalala rin namin ang huli naming panayam ay Ate Vi kamakailan, kung saan ay sinariwa niya ang pangako kay Boyet. “Alam kong preparado na si Boyet sa puwestong inaalok ko,” ani Ate Vi. “Bagay na bagay ang kanyang estado sa aming lalawigan.”

Ang puwestong inilalaan ni Ate Vi kay Boyet ay ang pangangalaga at pagpapaunlad ng turismo sa Batangas. “Napakaraming tourist destination sa Batangas. Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ni Boyet, kaya muli akong nanawagan sa kanya na ikonsidera ang offer ko,” ang paulit-ulit na pahayag ng lady governor.

Hindi pa namin nahihingan ng opinion si Boyet tungkol sa alok na ito ng paborito niyang leading lady. Pero, may higing kami na hindi na ito tumatanggap ng malawakang commitment sa movie career.

Malamang, matutuwa si Ate Vi sa indikasyong ito. Puwedeng ipakahulugan na pinaghahandaan na ni Boyet ang nasabing posisyon.

At kung magkakagayon, manunumbalik ang “naputol” nilang tandem, hindi nga lamang sa pelikula, kundi sa serbisyo publiko na. Abangan!

MAR D’ GUZMAN CRUZ
Journal Online

“Mayroon po akong guesting sa Oprah. Tapos na po akong kumanta para sa isa pong episode ng Oprah,” confirms Charice Pempengco when asked about her reported appearance in the highest-rating American talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show.

There is no stopping 14-year-old Charice Pempengco from becoming a global singing sensation. From Korea to the U.S. to London, Charice has returned to the United States as guest in the highest-rating talk show Oprah, hosted by media superstar Oprah Winfrey.

Based on the show’s teaser for May, this particular episode of Oprah will feature children with stunning talents, including Philippine’s very own Charice.

Charice confirmed this in an interview with ABS-CBN News. “Mayroon po akong guesting sa Oprah. Tapos na po akong kumanta para sa isa pong episode ng Oprah,” she said. Other than that, she refused to divulge any details about her guest appearance.

The young singer just came from London for her guest appearance in the British talk show titled Paul O’Grady Show last Tuesday, April 8. The format of the show is like that of David Letterman and Jay Leno. Charice once again belted her signature song “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the musical Dreamgirls, and once again, the 15-year-old singer mesmerized the audience with her powerful voice.

EXPLORING THE WORLD. Before she gained audience worldwide, Charice first became popular over the Internet through the video-sharing site YouTube. A registered user of the site uploaded videos of her performances in Little Big Star, a singing competition in ABS-CBN where she finished runner-up to winner Sam Concepcion. This led her to have a recording stint for Ten Songs Production, a record company and Extensive Talent Management based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Shortly after that, Charice got her taste of fame abroad when South Korea’s talent show Star King invited her to perform in their program. She wowed the audience even the televiewers when she performed high-pitch songs like “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”

Then, the young Filipina singer was featured twice in E!’s “The Daily Ten.” First, a headline for her said, “A Star is Born,” while the second feature included her in the “Hollywood Royalty” segment with the title “A Queen is Born.”

This was followed by an invitation to appear on the American talk show Ellen, hosted by comedienne Ellen DeGeneres. And before the 2007 ended, Charice impressed the American audience when she perfomed “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” on the said show. With this, she got a standing ovation from the audience including its Emmy Award-winning host.

The young singing sensation continues to be known abroad. In fact, after Charice’s guest appearance in Ellen, DeGeneres remarked, “I got chills! It’s something sitting next to that [Charice's performance], you could just smell the star on her. You could just smell it!”

Charice’s was also asked to comeback in Star King for being voted as the favorite foreign performer. On her second appearance, Charice wowed the Koreans once with her rendition of “I Will Survive.”

Charice’s first Star King performance was also featured in other shows around the globe, including France.

NERISA ALMO
Philippine Entertainment Portal

ABS-CBN’s Maria Flordeluna still holds the top spot in the NUTAM Top Finale Episodes for 2007 to 2008; followed by Marimar, Lastikman, Sana Maulit Muli, and Pangarap Na Bituin.

During the course of its phenomenal run, the local adaptation of the Mexican hit telenovela Marimar managed to shatter rating records. Aside from consistently dominating the primetime block, the show topbilled by Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes surpassed the longstanding record set by GMA-7’s fantaserye, Darna.

Garnering an outstanding 52.6 percent rating in its finale episode last March 14, Marimar beat the 52.1 percent grade previously established by Darna on April 14, 2005 in the Mega Manila race.

But while achieving the 50 percent-plus mark for a finale is definitely exceptional, Marimar still failed to break the record set by ABS-CBN’s Maria Flordeluna in its concluding episode back in June 22, 2007—well, at least in the nationwide survey.

According to the data obtained by PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) from AGB Nielsen Media Research, Maria Flordeluna still holds the No. 1 spot in the Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement) NUTAM Top Finale Episodes for 2007-2008.

Maria Flordeluna tells the story of an 11-year-old girl and all of her efforts to keep her family intact despite difficult circumstances. Written by Marcos Navarro Sacol, the drama series was first heard on radio before TV station RPN-9 made a series in the ‘80s starring Janice de Belen.

ABS-CBN adapted Maria Flordeluna, casting child star Eliza Pineda for the lead role, and aired its first episode on February 12, 2007. The series bid farewell on June 22, 2007 with a rating of 49.3 percent nationwide. Marimar, on the other hand, scored an overall rating of 43 percent in its final episode to settle for second place.

Completing the Top 5 are three other Kapamilya programs.

Vhong Navarro’s Lastikman, which had its last airing on January 25, 2008, notched a 41.4 percent rating followed by Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson’s Sana Maulit Muli with 40.6 percent rating. Completing the list is Sarah Geronimo’s Pangarap Na Bituin, which accumulated 40.3 percent.

HOLY-WEEK DOMINANCE. AGB Nielsen Media Research also provided PEP with the results of the top-performing programs during the Holy Week with ABS-CBN occupying the Top 5 positions.

Leading the way is the TV screening of Vilma Santos’s 2000 blockbuster film Anak, which aired on a Good Friday. Anak, which was inspired by folk artist Freddie Aguilar’s popular hit song during the ‘70s, generated 32.4 percent in the nationwide contest.

Not far behind is Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto’s 2002 romance-drama flick titled Kailangan Kita, which collected 32.2 percent grade when it was shown on Maundy Thursday. Rounding off the list are Maalaala Mo Kaya, Madrasta, and a dubbed version of Jesus.

Top Finale Episodes (NUTAM)

1. Maria Flordeluna (ABS-CBN); June 22, 2007 – 49.3%

2. Marimar (GMA-7); March 14, 2008 – 43%

3. Lastikman (ABS-CBN); January 25, 2008 – 41.4%

4. Sana Maulit Muli (ABS-CBN); April 20, 2007 – 40.6%

5. Pangarap Na Bituin (ABS-CBN); December 7, 2007 – 40.3 %

2008 Top Holy Week Specials (NUTAM)

1. Anak (ABS-CBN) Good Friday – 32.4%

2. Kailangan Kita (ABS-CBN) Maundy Thursday – 32.2%

3. Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) Good Friday – 25.7%

4. Madrasta (ABS-CBN) Maundy Thursday – 24%

5. Jesus (ABS-CBN) Maundy Thursday – 22.9%

Source: AGB Nielsen Media Research, Philippines

BONG GODINEZ
Philippine Entertainment Portal

With the return of her father, Gabby Concepcion, young model-actress KC Concepcion expressed her wish for privacy to avoid further issues. “Any family issue or anything that concerns my family with my father or my family with my mother, really, I’d like to keep private,” she said earlier today, April 2, during her visit at the Marco Polo Children’s Center in Makati City.

Sporting a simple white t-shirt with a logo of the World Food Programme (WFP) modestly inscribed on the left side, a pair of denim jeans and casual rubber shoes, KC Concepcion looked more real and happier in the presence of underprivileged kids.

Exactly five days before her birthday on April 7, KC visited the Marco Polo Children’s Center of the Virlaine Foundation in Makati City and donated 10 sacks of rice in behalf of the WFP. Named as WFP’s National Ambassador Against Hunger last February 21, the pretty model-actress also celebrated her birthday, handed out toys, and played with the 30 children housed by the center.

The children, whose ages range from 4 to 10, likewise had a fun time playing with their popular celebrity benefactor. Children admitted at Marco Polo Care Center came directly from the street or were referred here by individuals and agencies. Many of the children have been physically abused or sexually exploited.

BRINGING THE FIGHT TO MANILA. KC expressed joy with WFP’s efforts to broaden their crusade against hunger and not just concentrate in Mindanao where the group’s focus is more intense.

“It’s WFP’s way of linking the issue of hunger to Metro Manila,” said KC to the press while the kids were busy eating their lunch.

“Because as you know, our focus is Mindanao,” she stressed, “because Mindanao has been known, you know, the image of Mindanao has not been as positive as we’d like it to be. But also it’s not as peaceful as other parts of the country.”

The event was also WFP and Virlanie Foundation’s birthday gift to KC. Unknown to many, KC is very fond of children—particularly those that have been neglected. Whenever she has the time, the daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and former matinee idol Gabby Concepcion makes sure to visit shelter homes around the metropolis.

According to KC, the WFP is constantly thinking of feasible ways to reach more people, not just to distribute food but also to educate those who are not aware of its advocacy.

“Hopefully, people become more aware of hunger being a real issue,” she said. “Not only in the Philippines but all over the world… [it’s] the number killer of children. Like I said before more than tuberculosis, HIV and malaria combined and not a lot of people really know that.”

FAMILY MATTERS. Last Sunday, March 31, KC’s father Gabby Concepcion returned home to Manila after staying in the U.S. for 13 years. In the span of 24 hours since his arrival, Gabby tirelessly did the rounds and even granted a lengthy interview with Boy Abunda of The Buzz where he announced his desire to make a comeback after a long hiatus from acting.

“Honestly, I’d like to keep the issue about Papa private because masyado na siyang…” she paused a bit before continuing, “it’s a sensitive issue… Nagkita kami last year, 2006, and I said a lot already there. Di ba, nagpa-interview na rin ako for publications. It’s something I’d like to keep private only because there’s a right time to talk about details.”

But she’s very happy that her father was finally able to fulfill his dream of returning home to the Philippines after feeling disillusioned with the state of his career in 1995. KC’s also overwhelmed with the attention and warmth shown by the public to her father.

“Maraming nag-aabang sa kanya dito so happy ako for him,” she said. “Pero as a family, di ba, nag-release na rin ng statement ‘yong mom ko and I think we’ll keep it at that. I want to keep it as private as possible.”

KC also refused to comment on the news that Sharon and Gabby have allegedly met clandestinely to iron out whatever issues they still have against each other.

“Hindi ko alam kung nagkita na sila,” she offered, “pero that’s between them.”

She added: “Sinabi na rin nila na there have been a lot of issues…between me and him, that’s all in the past. So kung meron mang developments ngayon, either friendship or anything, that’s not important na for us to know, because that’s all in the past.

“They’ve both matured. Hindi na sila magka-love team ngayon, totoong buhay na po ‘to, di ba? May pamilya na rin siya [her father], may pamilya na rin si Mommy. So let’s keep it as private as we can for them.”

BONG GODINEZ
Philippine Entertainment Portal