Jennylyn bats for battered kids

Because she was a battered child (whose black and blue face was featured on the front page of a tabloid several years ago), Jennylyn Mercado has a soft spot for victims of child abuse.

"I’ve been through it and I know the trauma that they are going through," Jennylyn told Funfare a few days after she and loveteam-mate (and former boyfriend) Mark Herras came back from New York where they (with Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin) did a three-week shoot for the GMA teleseries I Luv NY.

"Up to now," added Jennylyn who is producing the concert, "I don’t think I have totally overcome the trauma."

So it’s but fitting for Jennylyn to donate the proceeds of her 19th birthday concert entitled Jen: Music In Me slated for Monday, May 15, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum, to the Bata Foundation (in Cavite) which takes care of, among others, battered children. (I Luv NY also starts telecast on the same date. On May 27, Jennylyn will open her own boutique, Jennylyn’s Dresses, at the StarMall on EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.)

"This concert will show the side of Jennylyn that many people don’t really know about," said Becky Aguila, Jennylyn’s manager. "I mean, the singer in Jennylyn. People must have overlooked the fact that before she joined StarStruck (batch one), she was a singer. This concert has been postponed four times."

Besides Mark Herras, the guest list includes Janno Gibbs, Hale and Aiza Seguerra, plus newcomers Ava and Miguel Aguila.

Asked if it’s true that she and Mark reconciled in New York, Jennylyn said no, even if they were often seen holding hands in-between takes.

"It was cold in New York," said Jennylyn, "at walang kahulugan yung pagho-holding hands namin ni Mark. He was even putting his arm around my shoulders to make me feel warm. It was just a friendly gesture na hindi dapat bigyan ng malisya."

Asked what song she’d like Mark to sing for her at the concert, Jennylyn said, "For You. That’s what we always sing together."

(Note: Jennylyn’s concert is sponsored by GMA 7, GMA Artist Center, GMA Records, Becky Aguila Entertainment & Marketing Services, Bambini, Particles, Muncher Corn Bits, Converse, StarMall, Calayan, 90.7 Love Radio, Faremo, Fanatxt, Gerry’s Grill, Kopi Tiam, PCSO, Placenta, J&G Entertainment & Studios, Finds Superstore and YES! FM 101.1. Tickets priced at P1,200, P1,000 and P500 are available at Music Museum, Ticketworld outlets with telephone number 891-9999, EDSA StarMall and National Bookstores.)

Cory perfect endorser for Biolink skin care products

Biolink Pharma will soon manufacture a five-item line of CocoZen body oils and lotions to be known as Cory Quirino Scents, designed to help (especially) women protect their skin in these sweltering summer days.

Because she has sensitive flawless skin/complexion, Cory will have to stay out of the sun when the Cory Quirino Scents are launched maybe in Boracay.

"It will be a walk in the moonlight," said Cory in jest, "not a walk in the sun."

The sun, she added, is very damaging to one’s skin. Cory should know whereof she spoke.

"The sun between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. is the most damaging," said Cory who has written a book entitled Forever Young and who hosts a program on "keeping young" early Sunday nights on DZMM. "If you have to, stay in the sun only in the early morning hours. Did you know that the more fair your skin is, the more vulnerable you are to the sun?"

To protect the face and skin, Cory advises women (and men, too) to apply egg before bedtime.

"If you have oily face/skin, apply only the white part of the egg, with a few drops of calamansi. Let it stay on your face for five minutes. If you have dry face/skin, apply the red part of the egg and follow same procedure."

Cory attributes her "forever young" looks to discipline in eating habits (she hasn’t eaten beef or pork for 18 years) and having a positive outlook in life.

"I always remind my listeners, ‘Ang ugat ng kagandahan ay kalusugan’," said Cory who was born in Malacañang when her grandfather, Elpidio Quirino, was President of the Philippines.

She’s also a discipline of the deep-breathing technique which, she claims, can lower your blood pressure.

Okay, everybody now:

Inhale deeply and slowly through your nose, counting one to six. Hold for about two seconds. Exhale slowly again through the nose, counting one to six. Do the routine for 10 minutes. Do it as often as you can.

You feel better now, don’t you?

Briefly Noted:

• Barely a year after his Manila concert last year, Engelbert Humperdinck will be back for another concert (The Romance is Back) on June 27 also at the Araneta Coliseum, produced by Viva Concerts & Events. Which means Engelbert’s fans will be grooving to such enduring favorites as Quando, Quando, Quando; The Last Waltz; World Without Love; The Way It Used To Be; Release Me; and many others. I did an exclusive interview last year with Engelbert and another one just recently. Watch for it in a future Conversations with Ricky Lo. (Note: Tickets to Engelbert’s June 27 Big Dome concert, priced at P6,000 for patron, P5,000 for lower box, P3,000 for upper box A, P1,500 for upper box B and P500 for general admission, are available at all SM Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum. For inquiries, call 911-5555 or Viva Concerts & Events at 687-6181 locals 620 and 715.)

• The photos of Los Angeleña Ginger Conejero (California’s bet in the 2006 Miss Philippines-Earth contest) on this page were taken by Fadil Berisha, official photographer of the Miss Universe, Miss Teen USA and Miss USA contests, whom Ginger met through her friend Valbona Coba, a former Miss Albania. Other celebrities photographed by Berisha include Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, Donald Trump, President Bill Clinton, Snoop Dog, Sugar Shane Mosley, Jennifer Beals, Beverly Johnson, Robert Evans and Jamie Lynn Sigler. Said to be among the front-runners in the Miss Philippines-Earth contest (grand finals is set this Sunday night, May 14, to be covered by ABS-CBN), Ginger used to work at an Internet legal company in L.A.

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