Krista K. engaged

Remember what Funfare was hinting at a few issues ago about Krista Kleiner preparing an “important announcement”? She held back from doing it during her show (that doubled as her album launch) in Kuala Lumpur with Craig David and Taboo (of Black Eyed Peas).

Last June 15 at Il Cielo, a famous restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, Krista finally made that announcement during her birthday party — her engagement to Patrick Grove, who is (as Krista described him in a letter to Funfare) “a Singaporean/Australian Internet and a new media entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder of numerous successful business companies on the stock exchange.”

Il Cielo is the same venue of parties hosted by A-listers like Selena Gomez and the Kardashians.

“The bar area of the restaurant used to be a parlor,” said Krista, “the same parlor where Marilyn Monroe first appeared as blonde.”

Krista flew to her home in California to personally announce their engagement to the delight of their very close friends and relatives. Dr. Brian Kleiner, Krista’s dad, made a short speech to share some information about Patrick and his funny experiences with him when Patrick invited him and Mrs. Kleiner for lunch purposely to ask their permission to marry Krista.

Patrick gave a speech, expressing his thanks to the Kleiner family for making him feel like one of their own, funny jokes of how he fell in love with Krista, and promising to always do all that he could to keep Krista happy.

In return, Krista gave the last speech of the evening sharing her overwhelming feelings of happiness that Patrick came into her life and being able to share this special announcement with her loved ones and friends since childhood.

“Aside from the formal dinner Saturday night,” related Krista in a separate letter to Funfare, “we rented a six-storey mansion in Bel Air on the famous Muholland Drive for the weekend for close friends to stay with us from Orange County (my hometown).

“After the dinner event, close friends or 40 people all got in a party bus that took them to the Drai’s Hollywood nightclub at the W Hotel of Hollywood. There, we enjoyed two cabana tables and celebrated the night away.”

Krista didn’t say where and when the wedding would be.

Will her immediate ex-boyfriend Jay-R be invited to be a secondary sponsor (for cord, maybe)?

Coming soon: Imelda musical

An original musical about the life and loves of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos will soon be mounted in Manila, written by a Filipino for the Filipino audience and for the world to see.

Titled Imeldarella (A Rock Opera), the musical’s libretto is written by Francis Tanseco, a Filipino artist (literary and visual) who used to be based in London but now shuttles between San Francisco and Manila. Curiously, he is a Waray from Leyte just like the former First Lady.

Said Tanseco, â€œImeldarella is not only about Mrs. Marcos. It is also about us Filipinos, our aspirations and strife as a people, our successes and failures, charting the conflicting issues besetting the Philippines today. The opera’s heart lies in the complex issue of identity, juxtaposing mirth and merriment with destitution and despair set into traditional Pinoy music and an exquisite original composition. It is told from an apolitical point of view and after watching it, the audience is expected to have ambivalent feelings. Will you love the central character, empathize with her or chastise her?” 

Tanseco’s team is now in the pre-production phase. Auditions will be held in September for a July 2014 staging in time for Mrs. Marcos’ birthday.

The theme song Darling Philippines, It’s only Me will soon have an initial release through YouTube.

(For more information about the musical, please log on to www.imeldarella.com or www.francistanseco.com.) 

Former model crowned Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2013

Ruby Jane Lehmann, a 39-year-old mother and former model, beat 17 other hopefuls for the 2013 Mrs. Philippines-Globe title. A restaurateur, she’s a good singer who often accompanies on the piano.

The contestants first walked down the ramp in colorful wraps by Dita Sandico-Ong, then showed their well-shaped figures in floral swimsuits by Danny Booc and their grace in Arnold Galang’s cocktail wear. The finalists also looked stunning and elegant in their cocktail wear and evening gowns created by top designers Ronald Enrico, Pablo Cabahug, Jonti Martinez and Edwin Uy.

The panel of judges was composed of former beauty queens including National Pageant Director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo, Mrs. World-Philippines 2008 Eimee Cragun, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1985 Joyce Ann Burton, Bb. Pilipinas Young International 1982 Sharon Hughes-Bediones and Miss Philippines-International 1968 first runner-up Consul Fortune Ledesma.

Ricky Davao, Mei Afable-Avancena (Maquillage Professionel School of Make Up Artistry program director), Ernest Loquinario (Solane brand and product manager) and Dr. Leslaw Rudy (Galderma Philippines president and country manager) also helped determine the pageant’s winners.

Lehmann was given P300,000 worth of prizes. She will also have the honor of representing the Philippines in the Mrs. Globe World Finals on Oct. 20 to 30 at Shenzhen, China.

The other winners were Maria Rizza Padilla-Singson (Woman of Substance), Maria Adelaida Paltu-ob (first runner-up), Rachel Ann Felix (second runner-up) and Jessica Eribal (third runner-up).

Special awards were also given to some candidates who stood out during the competition. Lehmann won as Most Elegant Woman, Padilla-Singson was chosen as Mrs. Restylane Body Beautiful, Paltu-ob bagged both Best in Talent and Wacoal Career Woman of the Year awards, and Felix won the Make Up Factory Most Beautiful Face award. Similarly, Arah Margarita Ty was voted by her co-finalists as Mrs. Friendship, Ruby Papio won the People’s Choice Award, Michelle Garcia received the Life Story Award, and Jessie Lou Lucero was chosen as Solane Mother of the Year.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)