Lani is back but not for good

After conquering The Strip in Las Vegas with an extended series of shows at Ballys Hotel, with the Society of Seven (SOS) as co-performer, Lani Misalucha flew back home early yesterday morning on a PAL flight. She has been away for two years.

Is she back for good?

Unfortunately, not. She’ll be here not for a vacation but for special shows at the Ayala Malls, on May 19, 5 p.m. at the Ayala Center Cebu; May 20, 6 p.m. at the Alabang Town Center; and on May 21, 6 p.m. at Glorietta. And then, she’ll fly to Hong Kong for a corporate show and back to the US on May 26.

The original plan was for her to have a concert at the Araneta Coliseum which was scrapped in favor of the Ayala Malls and Hong Kong shows. The Big Dome show is tentatively scheduled March next year. When Sergio Mendes came for a concert several weeks ago, Lani was reported to be a special guest, but it turned out to be the result of miscommunication.

"But I’ll be back in July, this time for a vacation," assured Lani who came alone. Her husband, Noli Misalucha, didn’t come with Lani because their two children, Lougen (15) and Lian (12), still have classes. "Next time, they’ll come with me. It will be our first family vacation in two years," added Lani in an exclusive interview with Funfare yesterday noon.

According to Rowena Tomeldan, vice president and deputy head of the Ayala Groups, "Ayala Malls prides itself in giving its shoppers world-class entertainment that’s why we are very excited to have Lani in her public concert in the country. This is our way of thanking our shoppers for their continued patronage of Ayala Malls and we take this on as our challenge to always give them a memorable experience."

Lani and her family left in May 2004 amidst rumors that she was giving in to the offer for her to move from GMA (she was a regular on the station’s Sunday show S.O.P.) to ABS-CBN. Lani now debunked that rumor, saying her contract with GMA is, in fact, technically still good until middle of this year.

"There’s no truth to the rumor that when I come back," clarified Lani, "nasa ibang network na ako. Our decision to migrate to the US was for the family, not a career move." (Lani holds an extraordinary ability visa).

A star in her own right in Las Vegas, Lani agreed that competition "out there" is madugo, really tough.

"There," she said, "there’s a show in every corner. You can stay there for one year and still not be able to watch all the shows. Marami talaga. In one hotel alone, there are three to five shows every night."

Her success in Las Vegas is nothing short of phenomenal because she made a name and created her own following (both fellow Pinoys and foreigners) in so short a time.

Early this year, tragedy struck when Gary Bautista, an SOS member, suffered a fatal stroke during a show with Lani and Martin Nievera at a wedding-anniversary event in Los Angeles.

"But the show had to go on," said Lani. "A week after Gary died, we had to go on a concert series around the US, so a former SOS member, Bert Maligmat, was invited back to take Gary’s place."

They’ll be back in Las Vegas in August, this time at Flamenco.

Asked if she didn’t regret having migrated to the US at the peak of her career here, Lani said, "Nakakalungkot. But as I said, Noli and I did it for our children. It wasn’t a matter of moving into a greener pasture career-wise. So far, we are okay in Las Vegas."

From Las Vegas, what? An international recording career, perhaps?

"There are proposals but we just don’t want to jump into anything," said Lani. "We’re weighing and studying things very carefully. We are relatively new there and we don’t really know yet the kalakaran there."

Miss Philippines-Earth tilt continues to reinvent itself

Launched in 2001, the annual Miss Philippines-Earth search continues to re-invent itself, or so say Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Gery Yumping, Joey Cezeare and Francis Calubaquib.

"The search for a true Filipina beauty who cares for and helps preserve our environment is conducted by Carousel Productions which holds regional contests all over the country for the national competition," said the "beauty experts." "Another innovation introduced this year is the inclusion of foreign-based Filipinas who have won in their respective communities abroad."

The three women at the helm of Carousel Productions know what they are doing – and how! – because they themselves were once beauty-title holders: Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president, was 1979 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia; Peachy Veneracion, vice president and project director, was 1977 Mutya ng Pilipinas-World and Joji Felix Velarde, vice president for external affairs, was the first Miss Caltex in the ’50s.

The 2006 Miss Philippines-Earth will be chosen from a field of 24 candidates and crowned tomorrow night at the UP Theater, Diliman, Quezon City, to be aired starting at 9 o’clock by ABS-CBN, hosted by Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby and Derek Ramsey. The 2006 Miss Earth will be held in Chile, first time out of the Philippines. More than 80 contestants from all over the earth are expected to compete.

The "beauty experts" were at the press presentation last April 26 at Patio Victoria in Intramuros, Manila. As usual, they noticed showbiz lookalikes among the girls. Find out tomorrow who are the deadringers for Sherilyn Reyes, Aileen Damiles, Michelle Madrigal, Cassandra Ponti, Bianca Gonzalez, Tootsie Guevarra, Joey Albert, Nina Ricci Alagao, Patricia Javier, Shiela Dizon, Jenette Fernando and Nancy Castiglione.

And here’s the "beauty experts’" most-likely dozen (at random):

• No. 3, Francis Dianne Tolentino Cervantes (Central Luzon), 24, 5’9", 119 lbs., 33-23-34. A 2001 Bb. Bulacan and a B.S. Education graduate from Bulacan State University, she was a semi-finalist in the same pageant two years ago and was chosen Miss Golden Sunset Resort during the swimsuit preliminaries.

• No. 19, April Love Antolo Jordan (CALABARZON), 18, 5’8", 125 lbs., 33-26-35. A native of Lucena City and a B.S. Hotel and Tourism Industry Management student from PLM, she has already won two special awards, Gandang Ricky Reyes and Ms. Crowne Plaza Galleria.

• No. 15, Stephanie Florence Velasquez Magali (Metro Manila), 23, 5’7.5", 116 lbs., 33-23-33. A licensed Medical Technologist from FEU who now works for the Tropical Disease Foundation, she joined the 2005 Bb. Pilipinas contest and the 2001 Global Queen search.

• No. 18, Catherine Yu Untalan (Metro Manila), 20, 6 feet, 130 lbs., 34-25-35. A UP Psychology graduate, she is the tallest among the contestants.

• No. 13, Andrea Fernando Dimalanta (Metro Manila), 21, 5’7.5", 117 lbs., 34-23-34. Born in Subic, she joined in the 2002 Miss Global Queen contest. An Information Management graduate from AMACC, she is the niece of beauty queen/actress Jenette Fernando.

• No. 24, Ginger Abadiano Conejero (USA), 22, 5’8", 130 lbs., 35-27-35. An AB Political Science graduate from the University of Southern California, she is a crowd favorite, very warm and friendly; and speaks Filipino like a native.

• No. 1, Iris Frances Lim Tan (Cordillera Autonomous Region), 20, 5’6", 114 lbs., 33-24-33. This BS Biology student from UP Diliman is a cross between beauty queens Aileen Damiles and Shiela Dizon.

• No. 16, Katrina Grace Guzman Rigets (Metro Manila), 21, 5’5", 106 lbs., 33-23-33. A familiar face in commercials and print ads, this UERMMMC Physical Therapy student is half Polish. She was 2004 Miss Robinsons and a runner-up in the 2004 Miss Quezon City contest.

• No. 22, Rie Jorge Kojimoto (Japan), 18, 5’5", 111 lbs., 33-24-33. A UST B.S. Tourism student, she was a semi-finalist in last year’s Mutya ng Pasig contest.

• No. 2, Fatima Glenna Julian Cabilatazan (Ilocos Region), 20, 5’8", 110 lbs., 33-24-33. A B.S. Nursing student from the University of Baguio, she hails from La Union.

• No. 14, Royce Ann Katrine Go Estela (Metro Manila), 19, 5’5.5", 105 lbs., 33-24-33. A UST Med Tech student, she is the reigning Miss Chinatown Philippines and recently competed in the 2006 Miss Chinese International pageant in Hong Kong. She was also a semi-finalist in the Miss Teen Philippines pageant both in 2004 and 2005.

• No. 12, Jacqueline Gumabay Boquiron (Metro Manila), 18, 5’7", 110 lbs., 33-23-33. A PUP Masscom student, she is active in stage and school plays. This stunning morena made heads turn during the preliminary evening gown competition with her Brazilian-inspired ensemble.

* * *

E-mail reactions at [email protected]