LJ Reyes has come out in the open and admitted that she is indeed expecting a child by her boyfriend, fellow GMA Artist Center talent Paulo Avelino. The young actor expressed his support to LJ in her delicate condition.

A source close to LJ and Paulo revealed to us that the couple already informed their respective parents of the situation as early as the Christmas holidays. Their families are supportive of the couple’s decision to keep the baby.

LJ, who is already six months pregnant, plans to give birth in New York, where her mother is based. She will be leaving in the next couple of days, according to our source.

Paulo, for his part, has given LJ all the support that she needs.

“The two decided to come out and make a clean breast of things because they didn’t want to fool their fans and those around them. They felt it will be much easier to just come clean and reveal the truth,” the source added.

Both are excited for the coming baby and they are in fact, focused on the future. Ultrasound showed that Paulo and LJ are expecting a baby boy.

Paulo said his life will not be the same anymore. “I promise to be more focused on my work. I should be more hardworking not only for myself, but for my coming baby. I am well aware that this is going to be a huge responsibility,” he said.

The source told us that the couple is so much in love. “They were a little bit sidetracked when the rumors started flying about LJ’s pregnancy but now they are more settled and are actually thinking straight. They both want to be responsible.’’

In the meantime, Paulo will continue with all of his showbiz assignments. He is currently seen in “Panday Kids,” taking over the role emptied by JC de Vera. LJ, for her part, has taken a leave of absence from her afternoon soap “Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita” and “Bubble Gang.”

Before leaving for the US, Paulo and LJ will be seen in their exclusive interviews on Saturday and Sunday in the weekend talk shows of GMA-7, “Startalk” and “Showbiz Central.”

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Salonga performs with renowned cellist

Gerard Salonga is very excited when he told us that his good friend, critically acclaimed cellist Richard Bamping, will be performing with him and his orchestra FILharmoniKA in their one-night-only concert on Saturday night at Philam Life Auditorium on UN Ave., Manila.

Bamping, who is currently the principal cellist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, according to Gerard, will be playing FILharmoniKA’s Dvorak’s Cello Concerto while FILharmoniKA, with Music Director Gerard Salonga conducting, will play Antonin Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade Op. 35” in the concert.

Bamping has played all over Europe, the US and Asia to critical acclaim. He was chosen by Leonard Bernstein as his Principal Cellist for the first ever Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, in 1991.

Gerard met Bamping in Hong Kong in 2008, when Lea was invited to perform with the HKPO. “I was her conductor, and Richard was the principal cellist for the concerts that weekend. I was star struck by his playing, and he is such a gracious and kind man.”

FILharmoniKA’s Dvorak Cello Concerto featuring Richard Bamping happens on Saturday night at 8 at the Philam Life Auditorium in Manila.

• • •
Aljur hospitalized

As of this writing, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC)’s resident hunk Aljur Abrenica might be out of the hospital already after he was rushed there last Tuesday due to high fever, and extreme cough and colds.

The doctor, who diagnosed Aljur with viral infection that also affected his vocal chords, advised the young actor to stay in the hospital for at least three days for his much needed rest.

It seems that Aljur has not been getting much sleep because of his tapings and other commitments. His doctor stressed Aljur’s family that the actor really needs to rest and take things slow, at least this week.

GMAAC immediately cancelled all his schedules during the week because of this. His tapings for “The Last Prince” were cancelled, his music video shoot for his new album under Sony Music was also postponed. The album launch was also put on hold.

Aljur says he is following the doctor’s advice because he realized he’s been pushing himself too hard and that is not good at all.

• • •
Isabel more comfy now

Isabel Oli seems to be more comfortable now when being asked by the press about the fact that her former flame Paolo Contis is now a daddy. Paolo’s live-in partner Lian Paz has already given birth months ago.

Isabel, whom we saw in Cebu for the PLDT MyDSL Beyond Broadband event, said she has not seen any photos of the baby. “Lalo namang hindi ko pa nakikita in person ano?” she said laughing. “But it’s okay. I don’t see any need to see the baby anyway,” she responded to the teasing by the press laughing.