Korina finally quits

Curtain-raisers:

* Could it be true that Karen Davila is on her way out of GMA 7? Will she (voluntarily) resign? Or will the GMA management, well, take the initiative? If things couldn't be ironed out soon, it would be a sad parting between Karen and her home station these past years.

* Now, who's the nocturnal visitor paying a TV actress-host a call after the stroke of midnight at her cozy place in an uppity subdivision? Could it be possible that they're trying to console each other (misery loves company, you know) because they're both estranged from their partners? Or is it a persistent case of, yes, "first love never ever dies"?

* A friendly advice to Geneva Cruz and Paco Arespacochaga: Please stop this foolishness fighting over your son Heaven (whose life is turning out to be the opposite of what his name stands for, no thanks to his selfish parents who think only of their own feelings and not that of the child). At the rate they quarrel at every turn (the latest dispute having been over Heaven's birthday bash which Paco attended complete with a TV crew), they have become the public's favorite circus players whose antics are not getting any funnier. So, stop it already!

She will, she will not; she will, she will not; she will, she will not.

Finally, she did -- quit, that is.

Korina Sanchez, ace radio-TV News anchorperson and host for ABS-CBN Broadcasting, has left the seven-month-old late-night newscast Pulso: Aksyon Balita aired daily at 11 p.m. over Channel 2. Last Monday night was Korina's last anchoring for Pulso with Dong Puno and formerly with Ted Failon who left three months earlier.

Amidst a lot of speculations about Ted and Korina's stint in the newscast, Korina has finally spoken, "I was given a choice whether I wanted to carry on or not. I reminded management of my original and unwavering stand that if it were a choice between my morning radio show and the late-night newscast it would definitely be radio. Kung puwede lang pareho, tutal pareho namang successful 'yan, eh di bakit hindi?

"But four hours sleep everyday for the last seven months had caught up with me and it's simply ridiculous. It's no way to live. Women should be resting, having fun or being with the ones they love at that hour! But I'm happy to have been part of the foundation for Pulso. Ted and I couldn't leave at the same time so as to make the transition easy."

Ratings and advertising load at this time is surely something to smile about for ABS-CBN Management. "Whatever audience there is at that time I believe we have cultivated and the way has been paved for whoever will take over. I believe they're still trying out others."

Korina believes it is her voice on her highly-rated primetime radio program over DZMM 630 khz Tambalang Failon at Sanchez which she hosts with Ted daily at 8 to 10 a.m. that has carved her real niche in the industry. She bagged the Best Female Public Affairs Host for Radio in the last KBP Golden Dove Awards.

"Walang mukha sa radyo. Boses at isip lang. Iyan ang tunay kong puhunan at iyan ang magtatagal. I will not be happy just reading the news. That's why you see me going out reporting exclusives once in a while. In radio I have the power of opinion and, by this way, can move the country in my own little way. Well, not so little...," Korina laughs.

Korina can still be seen daily in her longer-running success called Balitang K Monday to Friday at 5:30 to 6 p.m. and heard on her daily radio show.

This is a merry-go-round:

Rufa Mae Quinto's loss (Quezon City Councilor Dingdong Avanzado, who else!) is Jessa Zaragoa's gain. But Jessa's loss (the lead role in an episode of the GMA Phillip Salvador starrer Code Name: Verano) turns out to be Rachel Alejandro's gain.

So what's the significance of Rachel's choice as replacement for Jessa in the Verano episode? Well, Rachel is one of Dingdong's "exes," or have you forgotten?

When Jessa walked out of the Verano taping Tuesday last week because she didn't want to meet face-to-face with Verano co-director Jose "kaka" Balagtas (who made Jessa strip her bra in a torrid love scene with Joko Diaz in Masamang Damo a few years back, an experience that drove Jessa to a suicide attempt), the people behind the show had the last laugh when they took in Rachel (who didn't have any second thoughts about accepting the offer, as in "wala nang maraming kaartehan," said somebody connected with Verano). It's a mild slap on Jessa's face, in case you haven't noticed.

Rachel fits the role to a T: A singer who uses a record producer to achieve stardom. Scriptwriter Mary Ann Bautista insists that, originally written for Jessa, the story is pure fiction and any similarity to real-life characters and situations is coincidental.

"Rachel was fun to work with," said the Verano staffer. "She didn't give us any problem. In fact, she came out far better than Jessa could ever be. That's why we are thanking Jessa for walking out. At least, mas maganda at mas mahusay ang naging kapalit niya."

Last March 4, Rachel did a concert with Joey Albert and Janet Basco in Washington DC. She's scheduled to perform with Martin Nievera in Melbourne on April 1, Brisbane on April 2 and Sydney on April 8. Tomorrow night (March 23), she's performing at Ratsky in Malate starting at 10 o'clock.

She's all set to start recording her new album for Viva Records.