In “Showbiz Central” last Sunday, Dr. Vicki Belo tries to clear misconceptions about her former boyfriend Dr. Hayden Kho. When Mo Twister asked her if her success was what appealed to Hayden, and if he was a gold-digger Vicki said he wasn’t like her previous boyfriend. Hayden never asked me for anything, she said. In fact, he tried to match whatever gifts she gave him, she added.

And she admired him when he insisted to return the car (a BMW) she gave him, she said. “I told him not to kasi regalo ko naman sa kanya yon, but when I returned from a trip, the car was already in my garage with a note saying that he will feel better daw if I accept it back.”

Vicki confirmed that there was indeed a video tape that confirmed her suspicion that Hayden was being unfaithful to her. No, it wasn’t a sex video between Hayden and Katrina Halili but their conversation was recorded. Hayden was saying “mahal na mahal kita” but what hurt her so much, Vicki said, was what Katrina told Hayden: “Girlfriend mo lang siya (referring to Vicki), ako asawa mo.” It hurt her because she was so close to Katrina, who was one of the Belo endorsers, Vicki said.

Vicki also cleared the issue that it was her daughter Cristalle Henares who Hayden was actually courting before she came into the picture. Vicki recalled that she and Hayden were invited to judge in a competition at UST, and she saw how handsome and popular Hayden was with the audience. “I always wanted Cristalle to be a doctor, or at least marry a doctor, so when I saw Hayden, I told Cristalle that I’ve found someone for her who’s a doctor. But she wasn’t interested because then she had a boyfriend, and Hayden also had a girlfriend. My daughter was faithful to her boyfriend and I’m proud that she grew up with the right values.” It was Vicki who fell in love with Hayden.

As to rumors saying Hayden and Rufa Mae Quinto also had a fling, Vicki said she had a feeling but little evidence that they did. As to the question hurled by Mo if Hayden deserves a second chance, Vicki was vague in her answer, that she is leaving everything to God.

Is Boy Abunda ugly? This was what many believed was the connotation of Vicki’s saying, “If you want to look like Boy Abunda, go to Calayan; if you want to look like Dingdong Dantes, go to Belo.” Vicki was reacting to Mo’s statement about the cutthroat competition among cosmetic surgeons these days. “I started it,” Vicki said referring to the practice of getting celebrity endorsers for her company.
Did she forget, or she didn’t know that Dingdong was a Calayan endorser first before she joined Belo, someone said. What she said was uncalled for, and cruel, Boy said.

Here’s a statement from Dr. Manny Calayan about the issue: “I’m behind Boy Abunda 110%. I understand his feelings and reactions to the ridiculing and insulting remarks he sustained from Dr. Vicki Belo. Promoting one’s business or services by stepping on someone else’s toes is always uncalled for. Besides, Dingdong Dantes used to be my endorser and part of what he has become came from our services and so did the other big name endorsers of hers like Claudine Baretto, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Katrina Halili. There’s reason behind our ‘C to Believe’ campaign and it’s more about inner beauty that emanates from a good and sincere heart like Boy Abunda’s which transcends outward of a person’s life and touches other people’s lives. And through that inner beauty we see and believe in the beauty of other people and we believe in their goodness! We accept whoever you are, we make you look good and make you feel good. That’s the Calayan experience and that’s ‘C to Believe!’”

Did Alma get married or not?

Recent reports say sexy actress Alma Moreno (Vanessa Lacsamana in real life) got married to a 42-year-old mayor from Marawi City before Valentine’s Day. It was said that Alma, who is a councilor in Parañaque City, and said mayor met during an event of the Councilors League of the Philippines last year.

Everybody was happy for Alma. Lorna Tolentino, widow of Rudy Fernandez who was Alma’s first live-in partner and father of their love-child Mark Anthony Fernandez, and Joey Marquez who was Alma’s former husband, expressed congratulatory remarks for Alma. Her friends and supporters were also happy that she has found love once more, after her break-up with actor Gerard Madrid who was much younger than her.

It was just a civil wedding, reports said, but a royal wedding is being planned for them in June this year.

But last Sunday on “The Buzz,” segment host Jobert Sucaldito said that the spokesperson of said mayor sent him a text message saying it’s not true that the said mayor and Alma got married. The mayor can’t marry Alma or anyone else because of his wife of 21 years now whom he loves very much, the spokesperson reportedly said.

But isn’t the mayor a Muslim and as such could have as many as four wives? Anyway, according to Boy Abunda, Alma herself said “tuloy ang kasal!” She’ll clear things when she appears on “The Buzz.”
Alma also had Dolphy for a lover in the past. Their offspring is Vandolph, himself a family man now.

‘Four and a Half’ at Ratsky Morato

From Desk Entertainment comes another exciting show billed as “Four and a Half,” to be staged on Feb. 27 at Ratsky Morato. This production is in cooperation with Globe Asiatique, People’s General Insurance Corp., Pan de Pidro, Pervil Cosmetic Phils. and Madam Vicky Cu of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Topbilled in the two-hour show are some of the country’s sought-after performers: Big Band crooner Richard Poon, and mainstream band Cueshé. Guest performers include bossa nova queen Sitti, remarkable stand-up comedian Chokoleit and former Sex Goddess Rosanna Roces who said “makiki-jam ako sa Cueshé “gustong-gusto ko ang grupong ito, and it’s been a while since I last performed on stage. Excited ako at the same time kinakabahan. Basta, panay ang practice ko lately para maipakita ko naman sa audience ang other side of me.” Osang is currently the star of the indie movie “Pasang Krus” where she does a truly dramatic performance.

Richard Poon is now one of the country’s most popular singers, and his schedule is already full til May. His version of “You and I” in his new album is making real good at record bars as well as in the airwaves. With Cueshé, Sitti, Chokoleit and Ms. Roces, the show “Four and a Half” will indeed be a most exciting and memorable experience, at Ratsky Morato, on Feb. 27. Producer-director is colleague Jobert Sucaldito.

By the way, the major sponsors include Rural Bank of Norzagaray, Belo Essentials, Quadro Frames, New Placenta by Psalmstre, MET Tathione, Aficionado Germany Perfume, Bodega ng Bayan, Charms & Crystals by Joy Lim, Faces & Curves, Myrna’s Bulalo Haus and Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri.

Events slated to happen today

Auditions for “Survivor Philippines Season 2” will start today and tomorrow at CSI, City Mall Lucao in Dagupan City. On March 3 and 4, auditions will be held at SM City Baguio. Next stop will be in LCC Mall in Naga City on March 9-10. Down south, the auditions will start in Iloilo on March 12-13 at SM Iloilo. Next will be at SM Cebu on March 15-16. And finally, at SM Davao on March 18-19. Back to Luzon, SP Season 2 auditions will be held in SM Lipa Batangas on March 23-24; SM North EDSA on March 27-28 and SM Mall of Asia on March 29-30.

Now on its fourth year, the MYX Awards is set today at ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theater. The biggest names in the local music scene will compete in 19 categories. After winning four MMA trophies in 2008, pop princess Sarah Geronimo leads the pack this year with seven nominations including “Favorite Female Artist” where she’s up against Regine Velasquez, Kyla, Rachelle Ann Go, and Yeng Constantino.

Rock band Sandwich and ex-Rivermaya vocalist Rico Blanco have six and five nominations each, respectively. Rico faces off with balladeers Christian Bautista, Erik Santos, Richard Poon and hitmaker Ogie Alcasid in the “Favorite Male Artist” category. Sandwich will battle it out with 6cyclemind, Callalily, Pupil and Sponge Cola for “Favorite Group.”

Broadcast journalist Daniel S. Razon will do an encore exhibit of some of his photographs at the Palawan Room of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel today at 7:30 p.m. Recently, Razon who’s dubbed “Mr. Public Service” did a successful launch of his photography coffee table book entitled “In My Eyes.”
Razon’s one-day exhibit today is entitled “Looking Beyond.” The photos exhibited will be up for sale and the proceeds will benefit the indigents being supported by him and Bro. Eli Soriano of “Ang Dating Daan” TV program, and more especially for the recently established free transient home for the homeless located along EDSA, QC.

High School Class ’59 of De La Salle University will hold a dinner-dance on March 8 at the North Forbes Social Hall in Makati City to mark its golden jubilee this year. This is after the annual alumni homecoming to be held March 7 at the Taft Campus in Manila. The golden jubilarians will have two weeks of activities that started with a gold tournament at the Alabang Country Club yesterday, followed by a walking tour of Binondo today, Feb. 26, with Ivan Mandy as tour guide.

At the alumni homecoming on March 7, a medley number and a conga-like dance number will be performed by Class ’59 members. E-mail inquiries to fcg@gonzalezfund.com.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Feb. 26, go to Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Assunta de Rossi, veteran character actress Chanda Romero, Angelique Lazo, Ching Villanueva, Mel Canchela, Romy Sarao, Erik Escarez, Erika Ann E. Bautista, Luisita P. Gabriel-Antonio, Pacita Fuentes, Sofia Antonia Bersola-Babao, and Lorelie Dionisio of ABS-CBN Corporate Communication… Belated b-day greetings to Bong Velasco of 360 bar and Rest. at the 2nd floor of A. Venue Mall, Makati Ave., Makati City…