The ‘sleeping beauty’ in 7650

Until last Wednesday night at the presscon for Imus Productions’ Ang Kapitbahay when she virtually admitted that she could be "it," the girl in Nokia 7650 was somebody I wanted to simply call the "sleeping beauty." I’m referring, of course, to the series of three nude photos circulated in December last year in the Internet and in cellphones with a camera.

The photos, obviously taken with the Nokia 7650 (which had just came out in the market at that time), showed the "sleeping beauty" with her private part exposed, with the hand of apparently a man (the vicious "photographer"?) caught in one shot lifting the girl’s underwear for, you know, a good "angle."

The girl’s face is very identifiable; she’s in sweet slumber (could she be drunk? could she have been, perhaps, "drugged"?), oblivious to the gross and cruel intrusion into her privacy. I pitied the poor girl, the "sleeping beauty," and I cursed whoever did that dastardly cowardly and ungentlemanly act. (The "culprit" is said to be somebody from "an exclusive school" and the "crime"reportedly committed in Boracay).

Yes, Michelle Estevez could be "it," that sweet-sexy girl in the ABS-CBN sitcom Klasmeyts. When those disturbing photos came out, Michelle chose the better part of discretion by, upon the advice of the ABS-CBN Talent Center, keeping mum on the matter. Since then, Michelle has cut her hair short (the "sleeping beauty" wore shoulder-length hair).

At the Ang Kapitbahay presscon (the movie also stars, among others, Joel Torre, Belinda Bright and Albert Martinez) it was inevitable for Michelle to be asked about the nude girl in Nokia 7650 and she was caught momentarily speechless. Michelle didn’t directly admit that she was "it" but she did say that more than her, it was her family that was badly affected by it, even joking that next time, "Dapat siguro gising ako.... hindi tulog." She didn’t say, not even hint, where the photos were taken and by whom (although she knew where, when and by whom, I’m sure).

No, Michelle said she had decided to go sexy in her foray into the movies (she’s also one of Bong Revilla’s leading ladies in Putik, Imus’ entry to the Manila Filmfest next month) not because of those nude photos but simply because she started in showbiz (discovered through MTB’s Calendar Girl search) with a sexy image.

So, what lessons could be learned from the experience of, uh, the "sleeping beauty"? Well, 1) make sure that when you go out with guys, there’s no "hidden" camera around, 2) wear a chastity belt if necessary, and 3) don’t go on "gimiks" with guys you don’t trust or don’t know well.

Loud and clear?

Ronnie’s brod fought in Iraq

Five or so weeks ago, Ronnie Ricketts and wife Mariz left hurriedly for California to bid his brother Alex goodbye. Alex was going to Iraq with the US Army reserves. The sad news was that Ronnie and Mariz didn’t catch Alex who was deployed on a barely 24-hour notice to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, en route to the Middle East.

Alex is a Sergeant First Class with specialties in Airborne, Civil Affairs and Artillery. He expects his assignment in the Middle East to last at least one year. Ronnie is thinking of producing a movie based upon the story of Alex, who migrated to the US some years ago with the childhood dream of serving in the US military service. After six years of active duty in the US Army, Alex had settled down to a more sedate family life in San Diego with his wife, Mariebeth, who is a nurse, and two sons, Jaime and James.

While in San Diego, Ronnie and Mariz were invited by Tito and Nene Velasco as guests at Toyota of Mission Gorge. They also went to the East Coast for the wedding of Mariz’s sister, Vivian Camarungan, who is marrying Warren F. Connolly.

Ronnie’s parents, Max and Edith Ricketts, realtors in San Diego, had not seen Ronnie for six years. They were so happy that Marvic Productions was able to let him go after the production of his soon-to-be-released film, Dayo. Ronnie is back, now busy promoting the movie. He and Mariz said that they needed the vacation after years of continuous work.

Family and friends were persuading the couple to settle in the States. But, Ronnie and Mariz said they still preferred to stay in Manila. The Barn restaurant, which Ronnie and Mariz co-owned with friends (located on Katipunan St., in Quezon City), occupies much of Mariz’s time.

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