Another boy for Kristine & Oyo

Less than a month from now, Kristine Hermosa will deliver a baby boy she and husband Oyo Sotto are naming Vin, the couple’s fourth child after Kiel, Ondrea and Kaleb.

Asked if Baby Vin would be the final addition to their family, Kristine revealed that she and Oyo agreed that if their next child was going to be a girl, that would be the end to her child-bearing days.

“Kasi Ondrea has been asking for a sister,” Kristine told a friend. “Stop na sana kami, para two boys, two girls. Pero hindi, naging boy. I think the Lord was telling us, ‘No, you cannot stop yet.’ Hindi kami ni God pinag-damutan ng baby, so we are thankful that our family is growing.”

The couple welcomes their fourth child, Vin, either first week or second week of November, with an Aprica stroller ready for him.

The friend said that Kristine, who came from a small family, always wanted to be part of a big family. “Kasi gusto ko,” Kristine was quoted as saying, “pag may gathering, masaya. So thank God, answered prayer.”

During the early years of their marriage, Kristine and Oyo decided not to have household help and only recently hired yayas, helpers and a driver. Still, even if she’s just a month away from giving birth, Kristine continues to run the household, take care of the kids and shoot for her and Oyo’s weekly GMA show Hay, Bahay!

“Medyo nakaka-harass,” admitted Kristine. “Our daily routine revolves around our TV work. When we didn’t have a driver, Oyo and I would drive the kids to school and back home. Same when we had shoot or we had to attend a party, ganoon. When we didn’t have a cook, I prepared the food for the family. We would wait for the kids to come home, spend time with them and help them with their homework.”

Her priorities have also changed. When she was single, she splurged for herself. Now, it’s all for the kids.

Even if she’s heavy with Baby Vin, Kristine continues to shoot for Hay, Bahay!, her Kapuso sitcom with Oyo

“She can’t resist getting the newest and cutest items for the kids,” said Kristine’s friend, including a lightweight infant Aprica stroller for Baby Vin.

These days, free from pressure, Kristine chooses the projects that wouldn’t get in the way of her family duties.

“I’m okay with my career now,” according to Kristine. “Solved na ako d’un. I have done what I wanted to do kahit papaano. It’s really up to you when to stop and when to go on. Hindi kasi puede buong buhay mo career na lang because you just can’t give it up.”

Reminder to Pia: Think before you click!

I agree with netizens that Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach shouldn’t have faulted them for monitoring her love life because she herself is the one posting romantic items on her Instagram. Yes, she has stopped reporting about the “sexiest doctor” linked to her and has lately posted her picture with Marlon Stockinger, the award-winning racer who is a deadringer for Albert Martinez. Beside Pia, Marlon stands a few inches shorter, especially if Pia is wearing heels.

Pia should follow what she has been reminding netizens: THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK!

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and 2016 Miss Universe Philippines. - Photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas

She lamented that netizens were focused on her “romances” while overlooking her charity projects, such as her fight against HIV and AIDS.

Not many people know that Pia recently spent her 27th birthday at home, making it more meaningful by spending time with young people involved in the same advocacy. The Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) through its partnership with UNICEF took Pia and 2016 Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina (her successor) to the UNICEF Philippines office where they exchanged stories and gave them encouragement.

Pia shared her experiences as Miss Universe in New York, while the young people recounted their difficulties in learning how to protect themselves and what sexual health and reproductive rights they are entitled to.

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and 2016 Miss Universe Philippines listen to officers of UNICEF Philippines during their visit as part of Pia’s 27th birthday celebration. — Photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas

UNICEF officials led by UNICEF Philippines representative Lotta Sylwander said that the UN children’s agency is supporting young people by creating safe spaces where they feel empowered, strengthening delivery of adolescent-friendly health services, and helping improve the enabling environment by advocating for laws and policies to protect them.

Since her Bb. Pilipinas days, Pia’s advocacy has always been about spreading HIV/AIDS awareness. Now that she wears the Miss Universe crown, her voice has been louder, her platform bigger. And she walks the talk, too. Pia had herself tested recently and admitted to her birthday guests that she felt nervous doing so.

Maxine, for her part, said she truly began being more proactive about HIV/AIDS awareness when she learned more about it from colleagues in the industry. Since then, she has encouraged people she knows to get tested and, aligning her efforts now with Pia and UNICEF, has taken on the role as their ally in the fight against it.

On a lighter note, the adolescents they visited gave Pia a gift in return — a cake for the queen’s birthday. Maxine, on the other hand, led them in singing the birthday song. It was a quiet celebration for the most beautiful woman in the world, but for Pia — and surely for Maxine, too — its significance is tenfold.

Ryan and his singers in US show

Here’s good news from Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre:

The legendary composer, lyricist and arranger Ryan Cayabyab (photo) and his singers were featured in a concert last night (Manila Time) at the St. Peter’s University Church (St. Aedan’s Church) on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. The event is open to the public.

The performance was part of the Arts on Bergen concert series presented by St. Peter’s University Office of The Provost, Office of Campus Ministry, the University’s Jesuit Community, the Department of Fine Arts and the William E. Simon Foundation. St. Peter’s University is one of America’s most prestigious Jesuit educational institutions.

The Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) has been recognized as the Philippines’ seven-part powerhouse ensemble since 2007. Formed and handpicked by Ryan himself, the group — known as Ryan’s “dream team”— has long held its incomparable standard of showcasing only top soloists and all-around performers as its members.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 19, the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers will take center stage at St. Peter’s University Chapel in a concert also presented by the group behind the Ryan Cayabyab show. It will start at noon (Wednesday) and is open to the public.

The multi-awarded Philippine Madrigal Singers was founded in 1963 by National Artist Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, who led the group to its victory in the 1996 International Choral Competition in Spain. It is the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice. The choirmaster is currently Mark Anthony Carpio.

Tessie Tomas as Miriam Santiago on MMK

Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) will replay an episode on the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago tonight at 8:30. “The episode was shot 12 years ago, directed by Lino Cayetano,” said Tessie Tomas who plays Miriam (with Julia Clarete as the young Miriam and Marita Zobel as Miriam’s mom). “I was very thin then, handpicked by Miriam for the role.”

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