Krista Ranillo with Tutay and designers Oliver and David Tupaz

Though controversies still hound her, Krista Ranillo has kept her head up and continues to live a happy, unaffected life in Los Angeles, California, where she reportedly has opened her own boutique. And just recently, she made a special appearance at the recently-concluded LA Fashion Week, held last March 17-24 in downtown Los Angeles, California.

One of highlights of the week-long event was the Fashion Group International of Los Angeles’ (FGILA) 2nd annual “The Designer and The Muse” charity fashion event, staged at the Standard Hotel last March 17. Among the group are two Filipino designers, Oliver Tolentino and David Tupaz, who chose Krista to be his muse.

David has interned for legendary designers such as Oscar De La Renta in NYC. He has also started collaborating with Krista for a street wear line named after her.

For his part, Oliver was represented by LA-based Filipina model Tutay Maristela.

Accompanied by her manager Arnold Vegafria, Krista was a picture of regal elegance as she proudly flaunted her distinctively stylish, gold-accented outfit.

Aside from other prominent names in the fashion industry, the fashion event was also graced by well-loved pop songstress Natalie Cole, who looked equally impeccable in an emerald gown designed by Lloyd Klein.

* * *
GMA-7 intensifies info campaign on elections

As a public service, the News & Current Affairs of GMA-7 has intensified its information campaign on the automated voting, especially how the voters must cast their ballots.

With the SexBomb Dancers as its front-runner, the automated voting information campaign has been found to be very effective as young and old are also singing – and even dancing – to the tune of “Hugis Itlog.”

Since the launching of the campaign earlier at the Mall of Asia, the campaign has gained thousands if not millions of adherents and supporters. The song is easy to memorize, and definitely, voters will not forget the musical instructions when they go to their respect precincts to vote in May.

“Hugis Itlog” has also become a household word. The song has been considered as the best and most effective “theme song” of the 2010 national and local elections. “Hugis Itlog,” yes, simply shades the empty “hugis itlog” before the name of the candidate you are going to vote for. For the presidency, for instance, just shade one empty “hugis itlog” before the name of the candidate you are going to vote. If you shade another one for the same position, your vote for the presidency will be rejected by the machine!

The News & Current Affairs of GMA-7 deserves to be commended for the automated election information it is undertaking, especially the SexBomb Dancers and the composer and writer of the song!

* * *
Stars share talent to help indigent deaf children

Pinky Marquez, Lloyd Samartino, Nikki Gil, Rita Iringan and Ms. Carmen Soriano have agreed to perform in a show on March 30, 2010 to help raise funds for the scholarship of indigent deaf children so they could learn to speak.

The singing stars will perform after the presentation of the musical “Wizard of Oz,” which will be performed by the students of the Philippine Institute for the Deaf (PID). “Wizard of Oz” will be staged at the RCBC Theater, Ayala corner Buendia in Makati City at 4 p.m. (matinee) and 7 p.m. (gala) with Cherry Esguerra Brock as director-choreographer. Cherry is a stage actress, a ballerina, a former CCP ballet scholar and who has been a song-dance-acting teacher for deaf children for many years now. She came home from San Francisco, California to help train our students and teachers for this year’s production, said Dr. Cynthia R. Mamon, PID’s chairman of the board.

Every year, PID, the pioneer and premier oral school for the deaf in the country, through its Miracle Theater (which received a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts this year) conducts theater skills workshops to further train the deaf to further articulate their thoughts and emotions, express themselves in song, dance and acting sequences, as part of their auditory and rhythm training for grace and confidence towards full integration into mainstream society.

Cherry started the Miracle Theater at PID in 1991, and has directed 19 musical productions for the school, in addition to many goodwill performances of PID students for donors and public-awareness stints.

With “Wizard of Oz,” the audience will be amazed to witness that the deaf can speak, sing and dance like anyone else. In inviting everyone to the musical play, Dr. Mamon said they promise a magical and inspiring experience, a memorable kind of entertainment “that will make you cry and laugh.”

* * *
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on March 30 go to artist Al Perez, Gen. Romeo Maganto, Viana Fores, Jennifer Pena, Marilou Custodio, Gilbert Brown, Pros Antonio, Paul Daquiz, Luz de Guzman, Capt. Juan Santos Ruiz, Clenia Dumanche, Jean Gonzalez, Antonio dela Luna, Alice Ma. S. Labao, Dinyo Mateo, Tito A. Lagana Sr. and Enrique Gil of ABS-CBN Star Magic. Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia and Parish Youth Ministry presents a special Lenten presentation entitled “Silang Nabubuhay sa Daigdig” to be held at the Ermita Church on Tuesday, March 30 at 7 p.m., directed by Mards Siping.