Pia’s break-up, Teri’s ‘resignation’
We missed Joey de Leon at the grand thanksgiving party we attended last Saturday night at Le Pavillon on Roxas Blvd. given by the enduring TAPE, Inc., producer of long-running noontime show, "Eat Bulaga."
Joey, according to TAPE publicist Jun Nardo, left that same night for a visit (again!) to his daughter in the US. He’ll be away for a couple of weeks, tops, we remember Joey telling us last week.
But somehow, the controversial comedian was still present, as he led, along with Vic Sotto, a feature video presentation tracing the history of "Eat Bulaga" and how the press has stood by them all through its 26 years of existence.
The thanksgiving party was led (physically) by the big bosses of TAPE, Inc. Tony Tuviera and Malou Choa-Fagar. That night proved to be quite grand, where they gave away a huge sum of cash (more than a million!) and other prizes in kind including so many high-end cellphones, digital cameras' and Magic Sing. In the game portions, TAPE even gave away more than P100,000 alone. It was fantastic!
"We’re just going to get together, eat, party, have games and raffle tonight," that’s what the big bosses told us when we inquired of what’s to come in the elaborate thanksgiving at the beginning of the night. We also asked if there will be a press conference of sorts, since "Eat Bulaga" is very much in the news nowadays, especially after the Sexbomb Dancers’ recent "absence" from the show. "None," Malou was quick to point out, "we will just have fun and party tonight. Walang trabaho," she told us smiling. And true enough, they were around all night, but only to mingle with the press and make sure that everyone is having a good time.
The big man behind TAPE, Inc. Mr. Tony Tuviera, whom a lot of our close friends in the industry have only good words to say about him, said this thanksgiving party has long been overdue. "This has been planned a long time ago already. When we were planning it, we already decided to make it grand. Dapat nga February ito, but because there were events that have happened recently, we decided to push it back. Kaya ngayon lang ito. We truly feel in our hearts that we have to thank the press for all the help and support that they have given to us. Napakatagal na naming nandito and the press has always been good to us. Malaki ang utang na loob namin kaya long overdue na ito."
Mr. Tuviera also said that when a person undergoes something very serious in his life, like his heart attack in October of last year, "you really go back to the basics and appreciate those people who have really given their selfless support from the very start. Kaya tayo may engrandeng thanksgiving ngayon. Salamat ng marami sa lahat ng tulong," he said.
The rest of the members of "Eat Bulaga" (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Francis Magalona, Gladys Guevarra, Allan K, Teri Onor, Pia Guanio, Jimmy Santos, Janno Gibbs, Michael V, Lana Jalosjos, Paolo Ballesteros, Ciara Sotto, Ruby Rodriguez, Toni Rose Gayda, Anjo Yllana, Wally and Jose, ) were present and they held a minishow just for the press, complete with the popular game segments "TKO" and "Laban O Bawi" which gave away more than P100,000 in cash prizes.
The press responded very well, came in full force and didn’t leave the party until it was over a little past 11 p.m. Everybody was happy.
* * *
Before the party started, we were able to chat with Pia Guanio who confirmed to us that she and her boyfriend of seven years, stockbroker David Jacob have already parted ways.
Quick to deny that Vic Sotto is not at all the reason for it and that there is nothing going on between them except friendship and professional connection, Pia said she and David "have grown apart."
"We have been together for seven years. It was not easy to call it quits. That’s why even if there were signs already, it still took me about a year to finally decide to break up with him. It was not the same anymore. I would be very busy working, and enjoy that time (away from him) so much. I don’t find myself missing him just like before. Hindi na ako lagi nagtetext. We’ve clearly grown apart," Pia explained.
Right now, she says she is happy to be single again, that much Pia managed to let us know before she was whisked off by Malou to join the other hosts at the far end of the room.
* * *
Teri Onor didn’t look sad or anything, considering the reported "disappointment" he suffered after his "kuyas" Richard Gomez, Benjie Paras, Joey Marquez, and Raymart Santiago failed to show up in his Zirkoh show recently, when we saw him at the party.
When we asked him why he resigned from GMA 7’s "Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita," Teri quicky denied it saying, "Hindi pa po ako nagre-resign. Si Kuya Jun (Nardo, his manager) po nag-text na resigned na ako kasi initial reaction po kasi yon. Medyo mainit pa ang situation noon. Pero po ngayon, okay na lahat. Nagkausap naman na po kami nila Kuya Richard. Nagkaroon lang talaga ng miscommunication. Ayaw din naman po nila Kuya Richard, Raymart, Joey and Benjie na mag-resign ako."
Teri said "ang nangyari po talagang hindi na-remind sila Kuya Richard. Yun po ang kamalian sa part namin. Kasi akala po kasi ni Kuya Jun, yung EP na ang bahala sa lahat. Kaso hindi pala nagkaintindihan."
Teri also clarified that when they informed Richard and the rest about the show, they knew that they will be part of the show’s program. "Klaro po iyon na guest sila, na part sila talaga ng show kasi harap-harap pa po kami noon. Hindi lang po talaga sila na-remind."
Teri said it will not be his decision to resign from "Lagot Ka…" "Ayaw ko pong mag-resign sa show na yon," he said adding, "kaya lang hindi ako nakapunta dun sa taping last Wednesday kasi hindi ako napadalhan ng script."
So what if he doesn’t get a script again for this week, we asked Teri, "gagawa na lang po ako ng sarili kong script. Basta hindi ako resigned from that show," he said laughing.
* * *
Since we have mentioned the Sexbomb Dancers already, looks like there is finality already from their end about the group’s fate in the long-running television show.
Joy, who have yet to respond to our request for interview with her, texted to us the following message very early Monday morning, "Pahingi lang po ng suporta for my Sexbomb shows. Every Monday sa Mugen sina Sexbomb Daniel and Jovel with Jackie Esteves; Tuesday, Sexbomb Dancers; Wednesday, Sexbomb Girls sa Laffline; every Thursday Sexbomb Girls sa Punchline. Wala na po akong live show to promote. Sana po matulungan nyo ko. God bless."
Looks like it is time for the girls to let go. While they still harbor hopes of going back to the show even after Vic Sotto’s announcement on TV a couple of days back, that Sexbomb already left and will not be back anymore, Joy’s pronouncement via the text message should dash all hopes.
I remember watching the members of the Sexbomb Dancers crying when Joey Marquez asked them whether they expect to be back on "Eat Bulaga" in last Sunday’s "S Files" on GMA 7. They say, "sana po maayos ang lahat. Mahal namin ang ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Doon po kami nagsimula, sila ang gumawa sa amin."
Oh well, we don’t envy the position of these girls.
* * *
We have been hearing this beautiful song on the radio of late, "Never Easy" by this relatively new band Solace. We thought at first that the song was a new release from a foreign band but a check with some of the DJs revealed that no, that song was by a local artist.
We thought it’s worth mentioning it here because the song truly has a world-class flavor. It’s pop but it’s not just pop. It’s rock but it’s not exactly rock. You have to listen to it to know what I’m talking about.
Anyway, we asked some DJ friends about their comment on this new artist to hit the local band scene and they told me that Solace’s "Never Easy" is actually contained in its debut album under Paragon Records.
Louie D. of RX 93.1 says, "the album is extremely well done, both in terms of sound quality and lay-out. Each song is filled with energy poured into old school/new school mix of music styles, showing the potential to be the local music’s next big thing."
Cris Hermosisima of NU 107 says of the song, "the music grows on you. Once you hear their song you’ll get hooked to it" and Jude Rocha of RX 93.1 says the album "is an effortless debut."
Our recommendation: Grab a copy of Solace’s album because we think it is a band to watch out for. They offer something new in the much too popular band scene nowadays.
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