NEWSFLASH

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BABY ARENAS AS LUCY TORRES' MOM IN REGAL FLICK

Manila, May 25, 1998 - Mother Lily Monteverde knows a blockbuster when she sees one, and she's seeing double when she looks at Mrs. Richard Gomez, who she envisions could be the next big box office attraction in Philippine cinema.

Former model Lucy Torres, now Richard's wife, has become a volunteer with the Philippine National Red Cross, which is grooming her to replace Ms. Rosa Rosal as the organization's image and spokesperson. But Mother Lily sees a more high profile role for her: a glamorous movie star, in a Regal Productions film that would be written specifically for the pride of Ormoc City.

Two weeks ago, everyone thought Mother Lily was joking when she made the proposal. She even wistfully said that socialite/politician Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas would be the perfect on-screen mother for Lucy .

Ms. Arenas is reported to be receptive to the idea, and plans to donate her talent fee to the Father Pio Foundation which was founded by her late mother, the opera singer Remedios Bosch Jimenez.

The only remaining hitch is that Richard has not yet given the project a thought, busy as he is with the movie he is doing with Rosanna Roces, "Ang Babae sa Bintana."

Whatever movie career awaits Lucy will have to wait some more, because after the his film commitment, Richard and Lucy are off to Europe and the U.S. for their delayed honeymoon.

Not one to take no for an answer, Mother Lily is now proposing shooting part of the movie in Europe.