A  MIX  OF  SHOWBIZ  AND  POLITICS

MANILA, OCTOBER 27, 2009 (MALAYA) STUDIO WHISPERS by ETHEL RAMOS (‘Sen. Loren told everyone she had not made up her mind which candidate as president she will choose. She will announce her decision before the end of this week.’)

MOTHER Lily Monteverde threw a party for Manila Bulletin Entertainment editor Crispina Belen at the Penthouse of Mother Lily’s Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.

October 24 was Cris’ birthday and Mother Lily’s instruction to the birthday girl was to invite her friends in and outside of showbiz.

Cris opted to invite only 60 people, though, prompting Mother Lily to kid her: "Ang tipid mo naman."

Cris’ invited friends turned out to be VIPs in showbiz and in other professions, so to speak.

There was Senator Loren-Legarda, who reiterated her intention to run for vice-president in the next elections. She was with her friend, Antique Governor Sally Perez. Sen. Loren told everyone she had not made up her mind which candidate as president she will choose.

She will announce her decision before the end of this week, she said.

At the table where we were seated, there were Mother Lily, Ric Camaligan, president of Metro Manila Theaters Organization; Willy Villarama, former vice-governor of Bulacan; Jackie Atienza, head of Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB); director Boots Plata and his wife, talent manager (to Susan Roces and Carmina Villaroel, among others) Dolor Guevarra and fellow movie columnist Ernie Pecho.

Also spotted were husband and wife Ronnie and Ida Henares (GMA 7 Artists Center head), Malou Fagar ("Eat Bulaga" producer), Aida Espiritu of ABS-CBN, who’ll celebrate her birthday, October 26), Shirley Pizarro (columnist, Manila Bulletin and also the public relations officer of GMA Artists Center), Kaye Villagomez, Cris’ assistant at the Manila Bulletin, Kaye’s husband, Yugel Losorata, writer of Manila Bulletin and Tessa Mauricio, former assistant of Cris, who was based in the US for two years.

Cris, a jet-setter, had some friends from London around. Also present was Norma Japitana, the talent manager of Cesar Montano and Rico Puno, and, by the way, Jun Nardo, the talent manager of Allan K.

Helping Cris attend to her guests were husband, Nards Belen, and son, Walden Sadiri, who was with wife Kathy and their two children.

***

We talked to Rico J. prior to the taping of the episode of "Celebrity Duets," which was shown last Saturday on GMA 7.

Rico J. was Jomari Yllana’s partner.

Like the rest of the contestants, Jomari and Rico J. sang a song from the OPM catalog.

Other pairs were Akihiro Sato with Gino Padilla, Niccolo Cosme with Julie Ann San Jose, Gina Alajar with Ricky Davao, and Joel Cruz with John Lapus.

Meantime, World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim Super Flyweight World Champ Nonito Donaire, Jr. was knocked out of the "Celebrity Duets" arena after receiving the lowest number of text votes during last Saturday’s bluesy Motown-themed episode.

Donaire’s partner during his last performance was former "Celebrity Duets" judge Mitch Valdez.

The song they rendered was the ‘60s smash hit, "I Got You (I Feel Good)."

In another three weeks, the next "Celebrity Duets" champ will be revealed.

The winner will take home a grand prize of P1 million and, of course, limitless bragging rights.

***

Going back to Rico J., he admitted that he is, definitely, running for congressman of the First District of Makati in the coming elections.

He is running in the ticket of former President Erap Estrada’s party.

Former President Erap is running for president.

Rico J. was formerly an elected councilor of Makati.