Matinee idol Richard Gutierrez has fully recovered from that near-fatal car accident he figured in recently, and in fact he has resumed taping for “Zorro,” his current top-rating show on GMA-7, which will take till July to finish (and with the strong possibility of an extension).

The first thing Richard did when he was pronounced well enough to check out of the Asian Hospital was to go to the wake of his personal assistant (PA) Nomar Pardo who was the sole fatality in the accident. Richard felt so bad about what happened to Nomar that he has vowed to himself to help his family, especially his children.

At the recent thanksgiving mass for the actor at the Christ the King Parish Church in Greenmeadows, Quezon City, Richard’s mom Annabelle Rama told us her son would like to do everything to help Nomar’s family, “lalo na ang mga anak niya. He has inquired about insurance and educational plans, pero sabi ng iba, ilagay na lang daw sa banko, parang trust fund. Whatever, Richard will help them.” At the wake, Richard felt the animosity of the family, but he took this as a natural reaction from them because they lost a loved one. Still, the Gutierrez family did what they could to help, especially during the wake where Annabelle even had the food catered, and it won’t stop there surely, knowing Richard’s kind heart and because he and Nomar went a long way.

At the thanksgiving mass, attended by the Gutierrez family, close friends, execs from GMA-7 and Annabelle’s talents, Richard still had bruises all over his body. Signs of the operation in his eyebrow near his left eye was still visible, but otherwise he has recovered. He thanked everyone – his fans and supporters who prayed for him, the two giant networks, GMA-7 and ABS-CBN, the staff and crew of “Zorro,” his family and fellow Kapuso stars – but most especially God who gave him a second lease on life. “I appreciate everyone’s concern and prayers,” Richard said.

“Talagang milagro ang nangyari,” Annabelle said. “When I saw his car – na totally wrecked – sabi ko paano nakaligtas ang anak ko, except it’s God’s will.” At the earliest possible time, Annabelle flew to Cebu to offer her thanksgiving at the Sto. Niño Shrine.

Annabelle said that the first words that his son said when she and Eddie first saw him at the hospital were “I’m sorry Mom, I should have listened to you.” Because when Richard told Annabelle he wanted to drive going to his taping for the Koreanovela “Full House,” his next show on GMA-7, she objected. She wanted him to use the van and have a driver. “Pero sabi niya, malapit lang naman ang Tagaytay, gusto niya mag-drive kasi nami-miss na raw niya ang mga kotse niya. So pumayag din ako, pero sabi ko mag-ingat siya. Nag-rosaryo na lang ako. Nag-sorry siya kasi hindi siya sumunod sa gusto ko.”

Eddie’s advice to Richard

Richard’s dad Eddie advised his son not to let himself be traumatized by the accident, so he told him to drive when he was discharged from the hospital. Eddie himself figured in a car accident that nearly killed him many years back. “It was natural for him to feel fear to drive after what happened, but I told him he has to conquer that fear otherwise he will be forever traumatized.” So Richard did what his father told him, he drove on his way home from the hospital.

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‘Eat Bulaga’ made happy 30 students deemed ‘E-BEST’

Last May 23, “Eat Bulaga” presented and recognized 30 students from the underprivileged sector of society from all over the country. These poor yet deserving youngsters were selected for “Eat Bulaga’s Excellent Student Awards (E-BEST),” which is the long-running show’s 30th anniversary project.

The E-BEST student awardees, who graduated from their respective schools as valedictorians, salutatorians and first honorable mentions, were accompanied by their parents as they received their most memorable graduation gifts from TAPE, Inc., the producer of the noontime program – P20,000 in cash plus four-year scholarship grants.

Aside from these, each of them will receive P30,000 allowance annually, divided into 10 months, and to be distributed every month. Also, beginning next year and the succeeding years, P5,000 will be allotted for them for their basic needs in school.

In addition, the honorees were provided with complete school supplies, bags, shoes, slippers, rainboots, and raincoats for the school year. They also received gift packs from the sponsors – Eight O’Clock, Rebisco Sandwich, Sunsilk, Solmux for Kids, Nutriplex and others.

After 30 years of unequalled success on television, “Eat Bulaga!” opted to celebrate its “Tatlong Dekads ng Dabarkadas (30th Anniversary)” via a scholarship project instead of a pompous and extravagant affair.

Through the Excellent Student Awards, “Eat Bulaga” has opened more doors for the kids’ future as calls from kind-hearted Filipinos here and abroad (as far as Texas and Canada) poured in to express their congratulations and to extend their financial support through donations and pledges.

Indeed, the show has done something really great in changing and shaping the lives of these 30 young people.

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Congress approves Anti-Cyber-BOSO Bill

A happy person these days is Rep. Irwin Tieng of Buhay Partylist. It’s because House Bill 4315, otherwise known as the Anti-Cyber-BOSO bill, which he authored along with fellow lawmakers Carissa Cosculluela and Rene Velarde, has been approved by Congress.

Long before the outbreak of the Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho sex video scandal, Rep. Irwin has foreseen that such degrading acts will forever haunt the country if a bill will not be passed to protect the victims. And this is the reason they filed House Bill 4315, which aims to penalize the mere act of recording or any attempt of recording the private act or acts, including but not limited to sexual acts, and other violations of the privacy of an individual without the consent of the parties, and which would cause public ridicule.

The bill provides that not only the participants but also the owner and sharer of the materials will be punished. The proposed punishment for this unlawful act is not less than six months or more than six years imprisonment and a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000. If the offender is an alien, he shall be subject to deportation proceedings, after complying with the penalty of imprisonment and fine for such violation.

“We have to protect the dignity of the Filipino people,” Rep. Irwin said. “This is our duty as Filipinos.”

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for June 6, go to Criselda “Gay” Gloria, Greg Lerma, and Monette Flores… Happy wedding anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Larry delos Santos…