‘ER’ Estregan as Asiong Salonga and Carla Abellana as Asiong’s first wife.

MANILA, Philippines — Worldbex Services Int’l, a Philippine-based event management company, in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation, presents this year’s grandest Christmas charity bazaar in Manila, the 11th World Bazaar Festival from Dec. 2 to 18, at the World Trade Center Manila.

So far it’s the longest Christmas bazaar to date with three shopping weekends, all for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation. Shoppers are enjoined to drop by and shop from over 600 booths offering selection of products, some of which are courtesy of top Kapamilya stars. Doors open from 12 nn. to 10 p.m. every Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. until midnight every Friday to Sunday.

The event will feature booths from Judy Ann Santos, Bea Alonzo, Angelica Panganiban, Gladys Reyes, Empress Schuck, Phoemela Baranda, Donita Rose, Rica Peralejo, Xian Lim, Matteo Guidicelli, Kathleen Hermosa, plus a lot more who will all be selling personal items and brand-new merchandise.

“Shopping at the 11th World Bazaar Festival is a great shopping experience because you not only get to shop for yourself and for your loved ones, but you also get to shop for those who are less fortunate and could use all the help they can get. Hats off to the organizers of this event,” said Judy Ann Santos.

‘ER’ Estregan as Asiong Salonga

Jeorge “ER” Estregan, now governor of Laguna, plays the infamous Nicasio Rodriguez Salonga in the fourth installment of “Asiong Salonga,” an official entry to the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Entitled “Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story,” it also stars Carla Abellana as Asiong’s first wife. His other “wives” are played by Valerie Concepcion, Paloma Esmeria and Jaycee Parker.

The movie also stars Phillip Salvador, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Dante Rivero, Marissa Sanchez, Baron Geisler, Yul Servo, Ping Medina, Ketchup Eusebio, Dennis Padilla, Amay Bisaya, Gerald Ejercito, Roi Vinzon, John Regala, Ronnie Lazaro, Joko Diaz, Archie Adamos, Soliman Cruz, Jay Manalo, Roldan Aquino, Ding Navasero, Ely Buendia and Jerico Ejercito.

The first “Asiong Salonga” was played by ER’s uncle, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada while Rudy Fernandez starred in the 1978 version. ER first played Asiong in 1988.

“There’s so much about Asiong Salonga that wasn’t featured in the past. This time, it’s a tell-all. Direk Tikoy Aguiluz has come up with a great movie – in black and white – authentic and really awesome,” ER said.

Written by Roy Iglesias, the film is produced by Scenema Concept Int’l and will be released through Viva Films.

‘Christmas Showers’ in Cebu 

The series of benefit concerts topbilled by world-renowned Filipino tenor and philanthropist Sal Malaki starts today, Dec. 2 at the Cebu International Convention Center with Carmencita L. Ybud as pianist. Billed as “Christmas Showers of Grace,” it will also be staged at the Bohol Cultural Center on Dec. 4, and at the Star Theater at the MBC Bldg. at CCP Complex on Dec. 11, this time with Tricia Amper Jimenez and child prodigy Kris Paul Gonzales as guest performers.

For his December philanthropic concert tour, Sal Malaki will be helping various beneficiaries and these include the Living the Gospel Community for the ongoing construction of a family formation center in NZareth, Mantalongom, Cebu for the use of dysfunctional families; Liloan Boys Home for the care and formation of 120 poor, neglected and orphaned boys aged 1-20; the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters’ indigenous people’s apostolate for the Mamanwas of Surigao and Higaonons of Cagayan de Oro; and the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Dec. 2, go to Vivian Velez, Nora Daza, Lilia Rianzares, Mila Magsino, Frederick D. Bonoan, Aurelio Mandapat, Bebs A. Zafra, Shirley Bangayan, Maria Cristina de Jesus, Dolor Guevara, Mark Christian Paralade, Noel Moldez Macale, Savanah Llamsen of Star Magic and Lyn Ching-Pascual of GMA-7’s “Unang Hirit.” Today at 6 p.m., Centris Walk lights up its giant Christmas Tree. Kids will have a “meet and greet Santa Claus” on Fridays and Saturdays. There will be performances by Raymond Roldan and Jeanelle Bihag on Dec. 3 and 9 from 6-9 p.m., Velvet Mood Ensemble on Dec. 10 and various choirs starting Dec. 16. There will also be a “Simbang Gabi sa Centris” starting on Dec. 16…