In the romance department, Ellen Adarna has the most colorful lovelife. She hit the headlines with her love affairs, first with Baste Duterte, and later with John Lloyd Cruz, whose child she’s now allegedly carrying.
Many stars walked down the aisle. Ai Ai de las Alas with her 3rd husband Gerald Sibayan. Camille Prats and her 2nd husband JC Yambao. Ehra Madrigal and businessman Tommy Yeung. Dr. Vicki Belo with Hayden Kho in Paris. Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff in New Zealand. Max Collins and Pancho Magno at Marriott Hotel. Rochelle Pangilinan and Arthur Solinap in Tagaytay. Wendell Ramos and Kukai Guevarra in Paranaque. Julia Clarete and Irish groom Gareth McGeown in Ireland. Frencheska Farr and non-showbiz BF Gino Jose in Las Vegas.
Not all couples have a happy ending. Those whose relationships ended in a breakup, some even bitter, include Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga, TV hosts Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho, Thea Tolentino and Mikoy Morales, PBB discoveries Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida, Paolo Ballesteros and dancer Roland Anog, Charice who became Jake Zyrus and Alyssa Quijano.
Those who became mommies are Kylie Padilla (dad is Aljur Abrenica), Rufa Mae Quinto (dad is nonshowbiz guy Trevor Magallanes), Bangs Garcia (dad is British guy Lloyd Birchmore), Nerissa Naig (dad is Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda), Pauleen Luna (dad is Vic Sotto, who has five grown up kids with other women), singer Maya (dad is Geoff Eigenmann), Erika Padilla (dad is cager-coach Jeffrey Cariaso), Regine Angeles (dad is Van Victor Leano), Karen de los Reyes (dad is not revealed), Michelle Madrigal (dad is American athlete Troy Woodfolk), Nikki Gil (dad is BJ Albert) and Kaye Abad (dad is Paul Jake Castillo). Second time moms are Camille Prats, Pia Guanio, LJ Moreno and Melai Cantiveros. Currently preggy with their second babies are Jolina Magdangal and Sarah Lahbati.Winwyn Marquez is the only local celebrity-beauty titlist who was blessed enough to win in an international beauty pageant, the Reina HispanicoAmericana held in Bolivia. The others are not as fortunate and didn’t even make it as a finalist.
Other standout stories of 2017: The hit shows of the year are “Probinsyano” of ABS-CBN on primetime now on its second year, “Ika-6 na Utos” of GMA-7 in the afternoon which just celebrated its first year and is seen from Monday to Saturday.
The first teleserye of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, “Destined to be Yours”, didn’t become the mammoth hit that their fans expected. It was cut short as they’re said to be shooting a new movie, but the year has ended without any new movie in sight. Instead, Maine wrote a scathing letter to her meddlesome fans saying she and Alden are just a love team and their relationship was never for real. She then left and had a long vacation abroad. Barbie Forteza was paired with four leading men in “Meant to Be”, a big hit. Ken Chan got her on TV but off cam, the lucky guy who won her heart is Jak Roberto.
Sharon Cuneta made a comeback in the Cinemalaya film, “Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha”, but lumuha sila sa box office. She made a more successful return on the big screen in “Unexpectedly Yours” with Robin Padilla.
Angel Locsin and Luis Manzano broke up and Luis quickly found a replacement in Jessy Mendiola, while Angel is now cozy with producer Neil Arce who just broke up with Bela Padilla who’s now being linked to Zanjoe Marudo.
Diego Loyzaga denounced his dad Cesar Montano in public with so much bitterness, saying “Sana lumabas lahat ng baho mo, duwag!” Cesar had the good sense to just keep quiet.
Comedian Atak Arana was sued and arrested for allegedly molesting a bellboy in Okada Hotel. Mark Anthony Fernandez was freed from the Pampanga Provincial Jail after being detained for one year for possession of marijuana in his car.
And for the last time, let’s pay our last respects to showbiz denizens who left us in 2017, starting with producer-actress Donna Villa who suddenly passed due to the big C in January. She was followed by Directors Gil Portes and Emmanuel Borlaza, 60s matinee idol Romeo Vasquez, comedian-talent manager Angge aka Cornelia Lee, scriptwriter Jake Tordesillas, singers Eugene Villaluz and Ric Manrique Jr., director-comedian Soxie Topacio, director-actor Herminio “Butch” Bautista (dad of Mayor Herbert), entertainment writers Alfie Lorenzo, Richard Pinlac and Gas Gayondato, film critic Mario Hernando, actress Zeny Zabala, actor Ernie Zarate, radio broadcaster Joe Taruc, TV news anchor Amelyn Veloso, actor Chinggoy Alonzo, scriptwriter-columnist Tony Calvento, actress Isabel Granada, actor-stunt director Baldo Marro, rapper Vincent Daffalong, Hashtag Franco Hernandez and composers Willy Cruz and Margot Gallardo. Let’s all pray for the repose of their souls.
2017 is a good year for me and my family. Here’s praying that the new year 2018 will be a better, peaceful and more productive one for us Filipinos and the rest of the world.
