Donna Winning Battle With The Bulge

Since she gained some 70 pounds when she got pregnant, Cebu-based Donna Cruz (Mrs. Yong Larrazabal) is having difficulty losing those unwanted pounds after she gave birth late last year -- but she's winning her battle with the bulge, thank you!

How is she doing it?

Simple: Aerobics a la Paula Abdul everyday and regular trips to Marie France. Donna limits herself to 500 calories a day, never mind if she's getting dizzy in the process. It entails a lot of sacrifices to stay beautiful -- and slim -- and Donna is ready, willing and able to pay the price.

Now down to 123 lbs., Donna is losing one pound every two days and she's determined to shed 18 more pounds to get to her ideal weight (105 lbs.). It's not bad for somebody who has been doing it for only three months.

It sounds corny but love can be lovelier (and more understanding, patient and considerate?) the second time around.

Probably because it's the Month of Love, she being a Valentine Baby (Feb. 14), Kris Aquino admitted on her show during a segment on "un-couples" that, why not, she's prepared to let bygones be bygones and reconcile with Phillip Salvador (father of her son Joshua) and, her Mom Cory Aquino will be happy to hear this, even marry him if and when he gets that very elusive divorce. No other "condition" but.

Kris is Valentine-less, or so she claims (unless a certain "M" surprises her with an invitation to a dinner date), and that's what she has in common with Leonardo DiCaprio who, in a recent STAR interview, confessed that he has no girlfriend and that his Valentine date will be his mother (born on Feb. 13).

Incidentally, speaking of DiCaprio (and in answer to questions from his local fans), his next movie (after the forthcoming The Beach) might be the bioflick of Howard Hughes.

"There's an offer but there's no script yet," said DiCaprio.

It's a pity that Rodel Velayo isn't going to attend the 50th Berlin International Film Festival because he's finishing his engagement in Japan until Feb. 15. Instead, his Seiko colleague Leonardo Litton is going. Both star in Seiko's Burlesk King which will open the Berlinale's Panorama Section today at the Cinemax at Potsdamer Platz. Rodel, playing the title role, could have been a hit in Berlin.

Now, could it be true that Rodel doesn't really want to go to Berlin because he's avoiding his stepfather (with whom he doesn't see eye-to-eye)?

Burlesk King is in distinguished company in Berlin. Directed by Mel Chionglo, Burlesk King joins 38 features, 13 documentaries, and 22 short films in the Panorama Section, all of which were produced in 1999/2000.

Burlesk King will have five screenings at the Berlinale, starting with the Panorama Section and to be followed by four others (Feb. 10, 11, 12 and 15) at Cinestar. Participating films in the Panorama Section include Daniel Calparsoro's Asfalto (Spain), Mahesh Mathai's Bhopal Express (India), Ron Mann's Grass (Canada) and Jose Javier Reyes' Live Show (Philippines). Major film producing countries such as Germany, France and the USA are also well represented along with six Eastern European nations.

Last year, Burlesk King was shown in Toronto and competed in Chicago were it was an artistic and commercial success, prompting the Berlinale to make it the Panorama opener, a first for a Filipino film.