The real score about the Eugene-Jose ‘split-up’

The followers (this one included) of Celebrity Bluff are grieving over the sudden “demise” of the game show that has been enlivening Saturday nights for almost four years. The show hilariously hosted by Eugene “Uge” Domingo had its last airing last Saturday, Feb. 6, to be replaced by Lip Sync Battle Philippines. Personally, I will miss CB like I sorely missed my two front teeth way back when. I don’t know why the Kapuso Network would axe a show as widely-followed as CB.

There are all sorts of speculations what happened to CB. Was it precipitated by a rumored fight between Uge and co-host Jose Manalo? The two were such a perfect match, a casting comic coup, that proved to be as much a delight as the celebrities pitted against one another in the games. Early on, the show was almost shelved until its rating started getting higher and higher, prompting the network to let it go on indefinitely...until last Saturday. Well, some good things never last, do they?

According to Funfare sources, the quarrel between Uge and Jose has nothing to do with the show’s axing.

“Yes,” confirmed the sources, “Uge and Jose did have a misunderstanding after Jose made a comment that offended Uge. On screen, good actors as they are, they were acting a-okay when actually they were not talking to each other on the set, as in walang kibuan, each pretending that the other didn’t exist. But Jose did apologize and that patched things up.”

At that time, Jose disappeared from the show because he ran an errand (“very personal”) in the US, came back home but not to the show. Along with him also disappeared Brod Pete. Minus the two, the show wasn’t the same.

The good news is that Celebrity Bluff might come back — that is, after the Lip Sync Battle Philippines finishes its allotted one season. Meanwhile, Uge will host Dear Uge on an early Sunday afternoon slot (which was used to be occupied by Lovingly Yours, Helen). DU is an advice show with a comic twist (not like the Ate Helen/Tiya Dely/Ate Charo serious type). With sidekick Divine, Uge will first dramatize (rather “comedize”) stories sent via e-mail (not via letters like the good old days) before dishing out pieces of sisterly advice.

If and when Celebrity Bluff returns, will Uge still have Jose (and Brod Pete) as hosts?

“Anything is possible,” said Funfare’s “insider” source.

Oh well, as they say, in showbiz there’s no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.

1971 Plaza Miranda bombing good material for a movie

Rep. Amado Bagatsing and nephew Raymond Bagatsing: Perfect for the role

Forty-five years ago, the Liberal Party proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda was rudely disrupted by a series of explosions, leaving many of the party bigwigs wounded, one of them then Manila Mayoralty candidate Ramon Bagatsing.

“I was there when it happened,” said Rep. Amado Bagatsing, then in his early 20s, son of Mayor Ramon. “I always accompanied my dad wherever he went. That tragedy is now part of our history, every bloody detail known to the public…who got killed and who got wounded. My dad lost a leg in that bombing. I will never forget that tragedy. Everything is vivid in my memory.”

According to Rep. Amado, his dad’s astrologer-friend warned that the date was not right for the proclamation.

“Sabi niya, ‘The stars are not in your favor.’ But my dad said, ‘I’m just a minor player.’ The astrologer said, ‘Okay but the proclamation should end at 9 o’clock.’ There were fireworks at 9 o’clock at sumabay ang bombing.”

The Plaza Miranda bombing would make a good material for an action-drama movie, wouldn’t it?

“Why not?” agreed Rep. Amado. Told that his nephew, Raymond Bagatsing, is perfect to play him (Rep. Amado from whose point of view the story should be told), he added, “Raymond is a good actor, mahusay sa action at drama. The best! I couldn’t think of any other actor.”

Rep. Amado is running for mayor of Manila. Asked if he would “dare” be proclaimed at Plaza Miranda (now occupied by vendors), he said, “Okey lang. Remember what they used to say, Can you defend it in Plaza Miranda?”

Anyway, here are Rep. Amado’s plans in case he gets elected:

• Revival/reconstruction of the Metropolitan Theater;

• Inventories of movie theaters and more support for the Manila Film Festival;

• Displaying the glory of Manila through float parades, showing of history, arts and culture; revival of Intramuros; and making Roxas Boulevard a place for painters and musicians (not beerhouses).

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