Rica & Bernard: Going strong(er)

Have they or haven’t they – split up, that is?

The rumor has been spreading that Rica Peralejo and Bernard Palanca (whom Rica fondly calls BJ) have called it quits after going steady for more than three years, no doubt fanned by Sharon Cuneta’s show last Sunday featuring actresses and their "exes," with Rica among the panelists.

Rica has kept mum about the matter, until yesterday when she met the movie press for the launching of her own Rica’s Deepest Secret Calamansi Whitening Soap. Veering away from the discussion of the soap’s "beautifying qualities," Rica said she was talking about her and Bernard once and for all, for all and sundry, hoping to put the (non-)issue to rest.

"No," she said in her husky voice (like Kris Aquino, she has nodules in her throat, that’s why she has stopped smoking), glowing with the "calamansi radiance" of her Rica Soap, "BJ and I haven’t broken up. The truth is that we are into a stage where our relationship is getting better and better, stronger and stronger. It helps that BJ and I are the best of friends."

So close are the lovers (both accepted by their respective families) and Bernard practically lives in the Peralejo home. Because he’s always at Rica’s place all the time, Bernard decided to rent a place next to the Peralejo home.

"But we’re not living-in," Rica hastened to clarify. "And neither does BJ sleep in my room."

Loud and clear?

Prettiest Binibini Batch

This year’s 25 candidates (from more than 160 aspirants) in Bb. Pilipinas Pageant slated tonight at the Araneta Coliseum (covered by GMA 7 starting at 9 :30) is said to be the prettiest so far, according to Funfare’s "beauty experts" Gery Yumping, Francis Calubaquib, Joey Cezare and Felix Manuel who picked the "Lucky l3 Most Likely to Win" during their series of close encounters with the Binibini hopefuls. Here they are (at random):

• Maricar Manalaysay Balagtas (No. 19, 5’8", 35-24-35) – A Miss Universe potential, the 21-year-old Bulakeña is not new to the Binibini search, having finished second runner-up in 2001, the same year she won as Miss Globe in Turkey.

• Margaret Ann Awitan Bayot (No. 17, 5’9", 35-24-35) – Another Binibini suki, she was first runner-up in 2002, a Tourism graduate from CEU.

• Aizza Francesca Velarde Briñas (No. 11, 5’9", 36-26-36.5) – This 19-year-old Manileña was Best Model 2002 fourth runner-up and the country’s representative in the Miss Tourism International 2003 (she was among the Top 10). A European Studies student at Ateneo, she speaks fluent French and a little Spanish.

• Gemma Carlos Gatdula (No. 9, 5’8", 35-25-36) – Another pageant veteran (fourth runner-up in the Miss Philippines Earth 2001). She’s from Pampanga (like reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Carla Gay Balingit).

• Honeylet Christine Marquez Gascon (No. 14, 5’10", 34-25-36) – Yet another pageant regular, this Kapampangan was fourth runner-up in the Miss Philippines Earth 2002. She plays basketball.

• Frances Anne Martin Meneses (No. 15, 5’9", 35-26-36) – A Med Tech graduate from UST, the 23-year-old Bulakeña joined Bodyshots in 2002. She loves to cook and play the piano.

• Mary Joan Santos de Mesa (No. 13, 5’10", 34-25-36) – The tallest in the batch, the 23-year-old UP Los Baños B.S. Agriculture student was one-time Super Model of the World (Philippines) title-holder.

• Maria Karla Rabanal Bautista (No. 10, 5’9", 34-25-35.5) – A former Miss Cebu, the 19-year-old UP Cebu Masscom student is a good orator and writes inspirational pieces for ther school paper.

• Tracy Ann Yusay Javelona (No. 20, 5’8", 34-24-36) – A native of Bacolod, this 20-year-old charmer is an International Studies (major in European Studies) graduate from La Salle.

• Princess Jasmine de los Santos Tiongson (No. 1, 5’6", 35-24-35) – A Masscom graduate from St. Louis University in Baguio, Princess wants to follow in the footsteps of her deaf-mute mother who was once Miss Baguio. A former deejay, she works as a call center representative.

• Grace Patricia Tizon Francisco (No. 25, 5’5.5", 34.5-24-35) – This 18-year-old UP Diliman Broadcast Communication student is an oration champion an avid chess player and a judo buff.

• Liane Mae Bautista Tablante (No. 18, 5’8", 34.5-24-35) – This 18-year-old Bulakeña was a runner-up in the Miss Global Queen Search in 2003. She’s a nursing student at Our Lady of Fatima University.

• Mary Anne Gardon Bago (No. 16, 5’9", 35-25.5-35) – The youngest in the batch, Maan is a Communication Arts student at UST.

Incidentally, because she’s in the hospital (feeling symptoms of early pregnancy, four weeks), Ruffa Gutierrez will be replaced by Miriam Quiambao as host of tonight’s pageant.

Fr. Corsie’s Healing Sked

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for March:

• March 8, Monday, Holy Eucharist Parish, Moonwalk, Parañaque City

• March 11, Thursday, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Soldiers’ Hill, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite

• March 12, Friday, Immaculate Conception Parish, Naic, Cavite

• March 15, Monday, Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

• March 18, Thursday, Mater Dolorosa Church, Pembo, Makati City

• March 19, Friday, Immaculate Conception Parish, Sta. Maria, Bulacan

• March 22, Monday, Coming Home retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

• March 24, Wednesday, St. John of the Cross Church, Comembo, Makati City

• March 26, Friday, Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

• March 27-28, Saturday/Sunday, Retreat: Spiritual Empowerment Through Meditation, Coming Home and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

(Note: All healing sessions are from 1 to 5 p.m. For inquiries, call Araceli Altmann Linsangan at landline 644-2885 or 0917-6055428.)

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