If Danita escaped from ‘hell,’ would she look as pretty?

Thanks to The Filipino Channel (TFC, sister company of ABS-CBN) and Pinoy TV (of GMA), Filipinos around the world are kept posted on showbiz goings-on back home.

I was in L.A. over the weekend for the Enchanted press junket (more on the stars — Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams and James Marsden — in a few days) and everywhere Raoul Tidalgo (who flew in from New York to join me) and I went, the question showbiz-watchers were asking us was, “Why did Danita Paner say all those things?”

“Those things” included Danita’s description as “impiyerno ang bahay na ‘yon,” referring to the cozy home her adoptive parents, Daisy Romualdez and Manny Paner, raised her in for 18 years, from the time she was a few weeks old — so full of skin diseases that Daisy’s friends (this one included) wondered how she could turn the baby into a “swan” — to the time she studied at O.B. Montessori (no less!) and at an expensive school (tuition fee for one year was P300,000) for college.

Danita mentioned “impiyerno” when she guested on The Buzz two Sundays ago. It would have been understandable and/or “forgiveable” if she said that her Mama Daisy was unreasonably strict (for not letting her have a boyfriend Mama didn’t approve of and reprimanding her bad behavior like smoking and throwing destructive tantrums when, according to Daisy, Danita would break her guitar or hurl an ashtray, etc.!?!), but to say that she escaped from hell was, I agree with our kababayan abroad, just too much.

“If Danita escaped from ‘hell,’ would she look as pretty?” they asked.

I seconded the motion by asking, would she be as flawless and would she have enjoyed such perks as a coming-out party (held only a few months ago) at a five-star hotel?

“She’s an ingrate,” concluded our kababayan abroad and, again, I agree with them. “Wala siyang utang na loob. The nerve of her to bite the hand that feeds her! She should be afraid of karma.”

The latest word has it that Danita, reported to be moving from one “hideout” to another (coddled by people suspected by Daisy to be giving Danita the “wrong” advice), has been calling Daisy who was so deeply hurt by the “impiyerno” thing that she refuses to get the calls. Friends are telling Daisy that her “sin” was having spoiled Danita with her over-protectiveness, and “too much loving and caring.”

“I have already referred the case to the DSWD which has authority over cases of adopted children,” Daisy told Funfare. “No, she won’t ever go back to the impiyerno but to the haven for (runaway/disobedient) children.”

Take note: Haven is spelled without an “e” between “h” and “a.”  

STARman asked Angelina the ‘little question’

Here’s a brief dispatch from UPI, datelined “Los Angeles, Nov. 5,” and headlined Jolie not happy about Aniston question:

Actress Angelina Jolie refused to answer a question about companion Brad Pitt’s ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston, at a recent Beverly Hills press conference.

W magazine released its November issue with nine celebrities on the covers, including Jolie on one and Aniston on another.

Jolie turned out to talk about her new film, Beowulf, Saturday, but was asked by a reporter what she thought of the magazine’s decision.

“Why would I comment on that?” Jolie said, according to Usmagazine.com. “That matters because...”

Jolie, who recently starred in A Mighty Heart, previously told Vogue she would be willing to meet Aniston.

“That would be her decision, and I would welcome it,” Jolie said.

Just for the record: It was Raymond de Asis Lo, one of The STAR’s L.A. correspondents (the other is Baby K. Jimenez), who asked that little “controversial” question.

“I didn’t expect Angelina to react that way,” said Raymond who found Jolie “an absolute delight” during the presscon and, later, the round-table session. “She didn’t have any ‘airs’ at all. Mabait siya.”

Raymond’s interview with Jolie is coming out this weekend.

Make way for the new Rivermaya

Finally, the Rivermaya has found a new member to replace Rico Blanco who left the group to embark on a solo career.

He’s none other than Jayson Fernandez, 18, a Bicolano. His father is Greek and his mother a Filipina.

Born in the Philippines, Jayson was seven years old the first and last time he saw his father who came for a visit. He left Jayson and his mom because he has another family in Cyprus.

“I haven’t seen or heard from him since then,” said Jayson who still hopes to see his father again, “even just for one hour, so I will feel how it is to have a father.”

Does he harbor any bitterness toward his father?

“No,” said Jayson. “Anyway, my mom and my lola are around to take care of me.”

Jayson hopes to continue his studies and to build a decent home for his mom and lola.

Briefly Noted

• Instead of having the usual debut, Shaina Magdayao (who turned 18 last on Nov. 6) opted for a family trip to Japan. Very practical. Shaina started as a child actress and has successfully moved out of her Ate Vina Morales’ shadow. She is in the cast of Lobo, the new ABS-CBN teleserye topbilling Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin; and in two Metro Filmfest entries, Regal Films’ Bahay Kubo with perennial loveteam-mate Reyver Cruz, and Maverick Films’ Katas ng Saudi as the daughter of Jinggoy Estrada (with Lorna Tolentino as his wife).

• Touched by the plight of the street children who posed as modern-day “apostles” in artist-writer Joey Velasco’s version of The Last Supper, entitled Hapag ng Pagasa (Table of Hope), several readers are asking where they can buy copies, including Rose Villacorta, Daniel Dabalos, “Shirley,” Dr. Eduardo M. Leano, Ana Liza Baviera, Margot Manosa, Perla Fickenscher (of Anaheim, California), April Romasanta, Carmen Ventura, Danny Pagsambugan (of New Jersey, USA), Vicky-Cruz Montano, Jim-Bel Lim and “Danny.” You may get in touch with Joey at 0917-8417260.

From Archie del Rosario, tainor of The Little Voices Choir of Sta. Teresita Parish, Iloilo City: I am 73. Your story (Funfare, Nov. 2, 2007) about the Hapag ng Pagasa moved me to tears. I serve a parish where many of the parishioners are poor. We have a children’s choir and we encourage our members to be compassionate. The children are not from rich families but they are aware of the miserable situation of others who are less fortunate than they. This Christmas they will go around the city to give Christmas gifts to street children. With your permission, I will make your story the theme of our children’s apostolate. God bless you and Joey Velasco. (Note: Permission granted.)

• Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule for this month: Nov. 8 (today), Nov. 10 (Saturday) and Nov. 17 (Sarturday) 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite; Nov. 19, Monday, 1 to 5 p.m., at St. Anthony’s Parish, San Andres cor. Singalong Sts., Manila; and Nov. 24, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite. (Note: For further inquiries, call 046-434-8759 or 046-878-0069, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.)

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