IS  NOYNOY NOT  THE  MARRYING  KIND?

[PHOTO AT LEFT - Sen. Noynoy Aquino and sister Kris]

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 (STAR) FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo -  Last Wednesday night on the ABS-CBN’s late-night showbiz newscast SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon), Kris Aquino said that she and the other Aquinos would support their brother, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, in whatever decision he would make — you know, to run or not to run for president as LP standard-bearer in 2010.

In the next breath, Kris gave Noynoy perhaps an unsolicited sisterly advice: “Stay single.” That’s also what Kris’ son Joshua has been reminding his Tito Noynoy, “Don’t get married.”

Noynoy, 50, is being romantically linked to Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad who, like Noynoy’s ex-girlfriends Korina Sanchez (soon to be Mrs. Mar Roxas) and Bernadette Sembrano (now Mrs. Emilio Aguinaldo), was a TV host (on UNTV) before she entered politics.

I think Kris and Joshua need not worry. Funfare consulted a manghuhula (not the turbanned type) and she said, “Noynoy is not the marrying kind. At his age, it’s hard to change the course of his private life.”

I asked Kris why she wanted Noynoy to stay single and, for once, she was tongue-tied.

Then I asked about her reaction to Korina’s... potshots?... at, among others, Noynoy (whom Korina didn’t mention by his name, referring to him only as “ang anak naman gustong tumakbo”), and Kris was also intriguingly quiet.

What about Sharon Cuneta whose husband, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, was included in Korina’s hit list?

Sharon opted not to make any comment... for now.

Oh my. Is it the calm before the storm?

* * *

The fun and music continue to delight audiences at the Sky Dome in SM North EDSA. Up next is the APO in Kayang Kaya Pa, also produced by Viva Concerts & Events, on Sept. 25 and 26.

The last time the APO — Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garovillo — performed at a concert was a few months ago at the Araneta Coliseum. What a show it was! The audience sang along with almost every song the APO did, the same ones — and more! — they are doing at Sky Dome, including Yakap Sa Dilim, Prinsesa, When I Met You, Tuyo Na’ng Damdamin, Salawikain, Pumapatak Ang Ulan, Panalangin, Nakapagtataka, Mahirap Magmahal Ng Syota Ng Iba, Kaibigan, Kabilugan Ng Buwan, Ewan, Doobidoobidoo, Batang-bata Ka Pa, Awit ng Barkada, Di Na Natuto and others that have become classics and kept the APO on top of the local charts.

An APO show is an enjoyable mix of music and laughter and Apo Kayang Kaya Pa in the intimate setting of the Sky Dome will be a great treat. Apo Kayang Kaya Pa is sponsored by The Philippine STAR, the Manila Bulletin, People’s Journal, Business World, PBO, Viva Prime and Viva Cinema. (Note: Tickets are available at all SM Ticketnet outlets. Prices are P2,000 for Gold reserved seats; P1,500 for Silver; and P1,000 for Bronze. Call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Viva Concerts and Events at 687-6181 local 627 or 620.)

The Sky Dome at SM North EDSA is the newest happening place for concerts in Metro Manila and Viva Concerts & Events has several special shows planned in the coming months. Also scheduled are Men of the 80’s with Raymond Lauchengco, Randy Santiago, Louie Heredia and Gino Padilla; and, together for the first time, champions Rachelle Ann Go and Jed Madela in True Champions plus many others.

Reader’s reaction

Dear Mr. Lo,

I am a playwright/director based in New Jersey. Having read your piece about Ms. Lorli Villanueva, I could not help but give some additional information.

I happen to be introduced to Lorli way back 2002 as she is a close friend of a good friend of mine, Dr. Jorshinelle T. Sonza, a prolific New York-based Filipina writer who is several times a recipient of the prestigious Palanca award (her latest was as first-prize winner for a one-act play in 2008). Lorli and I would meet during Dr. Sonza’s plays and reading presentations.

In 2004, Dr. Sonza and I watched in Theatre Row in New York the play Waiting For Godot which was directed by Lorli. Last year, during my back-to-back play with Dr. Sonza (for her play How To Cook Adobo and my Ang Nobya Ko’ng Arabyana, both of which I directed) Lorli was not able to come. When we met during her concert in Don’t Tell Mama, she promised to watch my next play so long as I notify her in advance.

Seeing her around here in the NJ-NY area makes an artist like me feel so privileged in experiencing her artistry and talent. And as my friend and I watched her perform during her concert, we could not help but really admire the artist in her. She’s one talented Filipina indeed: Actress, educator, director, singer. Though somehow it’s saddening that she could not be experienced by our kababayan back in the Philippines, what probably matters is where she feels content and fulfilled.

— TINO AQUINO CAPILI

Playwright/Director

Jersey City, New Jersey

What’s up?

• Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently inducted into office the new FAMAS officers. They are: Angelo “Eloy” Padua, president; Alice H. Reyes, lst vice president; Elvira Gonzalez, 2nd vice president; Amalia Rosales, treasurer; Florence D. Tanagras, secretary; Dennis Aguilar, PRO; Art Tapalla, auditor; and Domingo Landicho, Saturnino Sifranes, Reynaldo Duque, Efren Montano, Ner Jedeliz Jr., Apolonio Reyes, Wilberto Villamin and Edgar Godin, directors. Committee chairs are Junne Quintana and Brian Lu, external affairs; Junne Quintana, special awards committee; Vir Mateo, screening commitee; Elvira Gonzales, membership committee; and Alice H. Reyes, internal affairs. Legal counsels are Rhoniel O. Redula and Raul Marifosque; and advisers are Tita Arcilla and Fernan Reyes. The new officers were elected after the death of Arturo M. Padua late last March.

• The Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii, in cooperation with ROCA, ROSA, Club 513 and mission partners, will sponsor Kasaganaan, a concert featuring Jose Mari Chan, harpist Noelle Cassandra and Choir Olympics Champion Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, on Sept. 8, 7 p.m., at Crossroad 77, Mother Ignacia Ave. corner Scout Reyes, Quezon City. The event is a celebration of Mother Nature and the Mother of Life, Blessed Virgin Mary, on the occasion of her birthday (Sept. 8). Proceeds from the concert will go to the maintenance of the 10,000 trees at the RICA Ecological Sanctuary in Tanay, Rizal. For tickets, call (02)372-5327 or 0919-2694268.

* * *

Beware of a crook posing as ‘Ricky Lo’

Now I know how it is to be a victim of “identity theft.”

Last Wednesday night, Alyssa Alano, my co-host in Startalk, called to ask if I received the P50,000 worth of SM gift certificates she said she sent through her assistant at a meeting at a Tokyo Tokyo restaurant. Alyssa said she got text messages from somebody claiming to be “Ricky Lo” who promised to write articles about her in exchange for, that’s it, the gift checks (which Alyssa bought at SM Marikina).

When I said no, I never asked her for gift checks and never texted her for interviews, she was surprised to say the least. It turned out to be budol-budol.

I told Alyssa that she should have called me to check before she sent her messenger to give the checks to a representative of the “fake Ricky Lo.” The representative told Alyssa’s assistant that the “Ricky Lo” would follow. He never showed up.

I requested my friend, SM executive Ricky Lim, to warn SM sales ladies not to honor the gift checks. Startalk co-host Butch Francisco also called SM Makati to also warn the sales ladies there.

Then I told Alyssa to file a formal complaint with the authorities who promised to track down the culprits — soon, hopefully.

A month ago, Lovely Romulo, wife of Foreign Affairs Sec. Bert Romulo, got a call on her landline from a certain “Ricky Lo” who was asking for her help to expedite the passport application of somebody. According to Mons Romulo-Tantoco, daughter of Lovely and Bert, her mom promptly called a DFA staffer to act on that “Ricky Lo’s” request. I told Mons that I didn’t even know her mom’s landline. It was too late when we realized that, again, it was a “scam.”

I don’t know if the crooks involved in the two incidents are one and the same person.

I’m writing about these incidents to alert everybody to kindly call The STAR (landline 527-7901 local 118) to confirm if somebody who claims to be “Ricky Lo” calls them to ask for favors or for any other purpose for that matter.