IT'LL  BE  NICE  IF  I  COULD  GIVE  A  SON  TO  KIKO - SHARON

MANILA, MARCH 26, 2008 (MALAYA) DREAM F ACTORY by ('Kaya lang, ngayon lang ako uli pumayat after delivering Miel. When I get pregnant, siguradong tataba na naman ako nang husto.-Sharon Cuneta')

A LOT of people are puzzled by Gretchen Barretto. She keeps on proclaiming her love for Tonyboy Cojuangco and insists that they're still together. But she doesn't hide the fact at all that she continues to go out with rumored lover Dodie Puno, who has sired a son with former beauty queen Alma Concepcion.

After taking Dodie with her when she confronted Nadia Montenegro at Hotel Rem-brandt, there were several other sightings of Gretchen with Dodie. The latest was in the debut of Tana Puno, granddaughter of former newscaster Dong Puno. Someone close to Gretchen said this is not the first time she was invited to a Puno family gathering and she likes that as she feels the entire family of Dodie welcomes her, unlike the family of Tonyboy which doesn't hide the fact that they don't like her for him.

"Mas friendly talaga kasi sa kanya ang members ng Puno family," adds our informer. "Wine-welcome talaga siya. Not only that, Dodie says he's willing to marry her, pero si Tonyboy, never talaga siyang inofferan ng kasal."

Gretchen herself has said: "I have high respects for the Puno Family who I love so much. It's from them that I learned ang pagpapahalaga para sa pamilya. I will continue to attend all the affairs and occasions in their family as long as they continue to love and accept me as I am."

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Sharon Cuneta is supposed to leave on April 1 to shoot "Caregiver" with director Chito Rono in London. She'll be away for three weeks. Her husband Sen. Kiko Pangilinan won't be with her so she advanced a five-day vacation during Holy Week with him in Thailand before she buckles down to work in London.

"Bale second honeymoon namin ito," she says. "Kaya lang, kasama namin ang daughters naming sina KC, Frankie and Miel."

Is she still hoping they'll have another baby as a result of their second honeymoon?

"Ay, hindi na siguro, even if the doctor says puede pa talaga ako to bear more children. And honestly, it will be nice if I could give a son to Kiko, 'di ba? Kasi, apat na kaming babae sa family namin and he's alone. Kaya lang, ngayon lang ako uli pumayat after delivering Miel. When I get pregnant, siguradong tataba na naman ako nang husto. Also, mas gusto ko na lang yatang tapusin ang studies ko sa UP Open University. If I get pregnant, baka ma-neglect ko ang studies ko."

Thailand is a special place for Sharon. She just loves what its government has done to its infrastructure to attract more tourists who help augment its national income and economy.

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Luis Manzano is very proud to be the son of Gov. Vilma Santos Recto, who's highly successful in both her showbiz and political career. He's happy that his mom is also being touted as a possible vice presidential candidate in 2010. "The decision, of course, will depend on my mom herself," he says. "But I think it's still premature to talk about it at mahirap pangunahan yan. As of now, basta ang concentration ni mommy is serving the whole province of Batangas. Mas lumawak na kasi ang area of responsibility niya at hindi Lipa City na lang."

He's elated to be added as co-host of "PBB Teen Edition Plus" which started Easter Sunday. "Ako yung plus kina Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez and Bianca Gonzalez," he says. "My mom is a big fan of all the PBB shows so I'm happy na mapapanood niya ako ngayon lagi in 'PBB Teen Edition Plus.'"

Among his three co-hosts, it's only with Bianca that he's not romantically connected as it is common knowledge he was linked to Toni and Mariel before. "But who knows? Malay natin, 'di ba?" he laughs, as it's also bruited about that Bianca has reconciled with director Lino Cayetano.

Luis is one of our few actors who have a really good and hunky physique. Will he be willing to be an underwear model and have his photos taken with him wearing skimpy briefs?

"Wala akong problema sa ganyan," he says. "As long as I have physically prepared my body for it, ready ako."

***

Katrina Ha-lili's threats that she won't renew her expired contract with GMA-7 anymore and she might just transfer somewhere else worked. After her much talked about performance as the villainous Angelika in "Marimar" who met a very horrible death, she's now slated to play her first lead role in the remake of "Magdusa Ka," the movie which won for Dina Bonnevie her first best actress award.

Dina herself already expressed her desire to play the mother role in the movie, then played by the late Nida Blanca, who scored a best supporting actress grand slam for her portrayal of the unforgiving mom. But with Dina now still busy with "Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita," I wonder how she can do this project also. Directing the remake is Maryo J. de los Reyes, taking the place of the original director, the late Leroy Salvador.

***

We want to give way to some e-mails from our readers. This is from Rose Lee Tumandag of Canada: "I just want to congratulate Ciara Sotto (kahit mali ang spelling ng name niya sa credits at ginawang Sierra) dahil sa napakagaling niyang pagkanta sa ating Pambansang Awit sa laban ni Pacman. All those voice lessons she had in college at UST and her classical training obviously paid off very well. Sa totoo lang, mas nag-enjoy pa akong panoorin siya kaysa sa mismong laban ni Pacman that is so boring. Pacman has become so slow. Maybe he should retire na."

From Cherry Ty Ramirez of New Jersey: "Habang kinakanta ni Ciara Sotto ang 'Lupang Hinirang,' handa na kaming mamintas ng pamilya ko. Pero to our amazement, her version of the National Anthem moved us to tears. Matindi ang dating nito sa amin na dito na ngayon nakatira sa America. We are so proud of Ciara. Her facial expression, her posture, and her vocal interpretation are all just so touching. I felt we're all watching our 'bunsong anak' while singing for our country. Ciara, you gave honor to your country that is, for us, even beyond what Pacman did. John Lloyd Cruz, eat your heart out."

We hope Helen Gamboa and Tito Sotto will be able to read these praises about their youngest daughter who's now cultivating her own musical career in Las Vegas.

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In a message Kris Aquino texted to her fans, she told them that her obstetrician Dr. Greg Pastorfide has confirmed that she is now preggy with her second baby with husband James Yap.

She even asked them to "please pray for my good health and safe pregnancy" as her pregnancy with Baby James was very risky and she had to take a long bed rest. Kris is hoping it will be a baby girl this time and she plans to call her Samantha Kristina Yap, with SKY as her initials. Sky will also be her nickname.

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In the first "Manay Po, " a big hit, Polo Ravales played a gay architect who's into a serious relationship with Luis Alandy. This time, in "Manay Po 2: Overload," Luis will be replaced by Sid Lucero, the son of Mark Gil who just appeared in a gay-themed movie, "Selda." Polo and Sid will have a gay marriage in the sequel written by Dinno Erece and directed by Joel Lamangan.

Those who ask why Luis is not in "Manay Po 2," it's because he felt slighted when he was not given proper billing in his last project with Regal, "Desperadas," where he also played a role as the lover of Wendell Ramos. Well, Luis' loss is Sid's gain, since Sid doesn't mind playing the substitute. As for Polo, his career is really on a roll as he's also shooting "Love Is All That Matters" with rumored girlfriend Jean Garcia.