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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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MANILA --- Remember Donna Cruz, former Viva recording artist and contract star?
 She quit showbiz five years ago when she married eye doctor Yong Larrazabal. She’s now permanently based in Cebu where the Larrazabals own a hospital.
Although she is out of the limelight, she makes sure that she is aware of the happenings in showbiz, courtesy of her talent manager, Shirley Kuan. Yup, Donna has maintained Shirley’s services as talent manager.
It was from Shirley that we learned that Donna and her family, actually, the entire Larrazabal clan, nearly became victims of the tsunami which hit parts of Asia and Africa. All of them were on board the Star Virgo luxury liner when the tsunami struck.
Star Virgo is the same luxury liner which was featured in the blockbuster movie, “All My Life,” starring Aga Muhlach and Kristine Hermosa.
The Larrazabals were to supposed to go to Phuket, one of the worst hit areas in Thailand, for one of their stopovers. They were surprised when the ship captain announced they were taking a different route instead.
It was after they were back in their rooms that they were told about the tsunami.
“Ang lagay palang ‘yun, kung nagkataon at naka-dock ang ship na sinasakyan namin, malamang na maitaob ito ng malalakas na waves na dala ng tsunami. Who knows what could have happened to us if we were in one of the beaches there?
“Kaya labis-labis talaga ang pasasalamat ng buong angkan ng Larrazabal sa Diyos sa pagkakaligtas namin sa malagim na nangyari,” Donna told Shirley. (MNS)
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PUTTING ON MASKS: Kris Aquino and Eric Quizon tackle the pains of being single in one of their movies.
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MANILA --- “Happy Together,” starring Eric Quizon and Kris Aquino, is the second top grossing movie in the last Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The movie’s successful box office result is the reason Kris is seen grinning from ear-to-ear nowadays.
When her last movie, “Feng Shui,” shown last September, made a killing at the tills, there were those who attributed the film’s success to its producer, Star Cinema, and its competent director, Chito Roño. They said with Star Cinema and Roño, “Feng Shui” would have made money even if it was not Kris who starred in it. But “Happy Together’s” success proves that Kris truly has drawing power.
“Ang isa pa sa ikinatutuwa ko sa pagkita ng movie ay dahil iba ang role ko dito. May pagka-comic naman ako.
“‘Feng Shui’ was a horror flick. Kaya, iba din doon ang acting ko. In the same manner na iba rin ang naging approach ko sa role ko bilang battered wife ni Eric (Quizon) sa ‘Mano Po’,” said Kris. She won a best supporting actress trophy for her performance in “Mano Po.”
Meanwhile, Kris has denied the rumor that she and Jomari Yllana are an item. She said the two of them happen to be close because she is one of the baptismal sponsors of Andre, Jomari’s son by Aiko Melendez.
Their date at a restaurant before the New Year was just a friendly date, she explained. She said that when Jomari called her up on that particular day, both of them happened to have time in their hands so they decided to meet. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Can there be truth to the report that Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez have reconciled?
 Martin and Pops, together with their sons, Robin and Ram, are still in the US for their yearly Christmas vacation. They have been doing this even before the annulment of their marriage four years ago.
“They were supposed to be home by now. What’s keeping them from coming home is a puzzle, especially to Pops’ mom (Dulce Lukban),” said a kibitzer.
Though their marriage has been declared null and void, Pops and Martin have kept in touch, not only because of their children but also because they are friends. It is common knowledge that they know of each other’s activities, including their respective romances.
“‘Di ba si Martin pa nga ang nagbuko na sina Pops na at Brad (Turvey)? Likewise, sa kanya rin nanggaling na break na ang dalawa,” the kibitzer related. Pops knew of Martin’s romances, too. But she kept these to herself.
The kibitzer continued: “If this report [of reconciliation] is true, their respective moms will be very happy (referring to Pops’ mom, Dulce Lukban, and Martin’s mom, Conchita Razon). They’ve both been praying that the two will reconcile, not only for the sake of the kids but because they believe the two can still make a go of their relationship.” (MNS)
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 MANILA --- Sharon Cuneta did not look desperate about her weight nor panicky to get rid off the extra pounds in her interview with Boy Abunda in “The Buzz.”
She even admits that it will probably take a while before she loses all the extra pounds she gained while still pregnant with her youngest child, Mariel, who is three months old.
According to Sharon, she had planned to stay away from television until such time she thinks she’s back to her old shape. “Kaso ABS-CBN made me an offer that I could not refuse,” she explained. “For my birthday special, 39 persons will have their wishes granted in the show, ‘Wish Upon a Mega.’
Well, that’s a lot of people I can make happy.”
Sharon turned 39 on her birthday last Jan. 6. Her life today, she confessed, is more than what she can hope for. Sharon and her husband, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, are extremely proud of their kids. KC, their eldest, is studying at a university in Paris. By the way, KC is now officially a Pangilinan, as she has been adopted by Kiko.
Frankie, the second daughter, is a precocious four year old. Do you know that she performs songs with lyrics that she herself taught of?
We remember the three-year-old Frankie singing “Tomorrow” with correct gestures.
“Ay, naku,” said Sharon, “at her age, feeling star na siya.”
Sharon will soon have a regular television show. She will be doing a movie, too, possibly with Star Cinema and Unitel Pictures.
At the moment, what’s keeping her busy is a movie which she is producing for Unitel Pictures with Robin Padilla as the star. (MNS)
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