Regine & Ogie: The truth has set them free'

Curtain-raisers:

• Yes, Lani Misalucha will go on with her solo concert as part of tonight’s Gabi ng Parangal of the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival at the  of Asia even if she’s in pain due to a seven-centimeter cyst in her ovary. (Other performers are Christian Bautista, Ronnie Liang, Gian Magdangal and the UP Ambassador Choir.) Lani flew in from Las Vegas early Friday morning but will take the first available flight to the US tomorrow morning. She might undergo surgery, something she cannot go on avoiding. (For tickets, call the Ticketnet outlets at 911-5555 or the Ticket World outlets at 891-9999.)

• It’s “Viva, Las Vegas!” for Martin Nievera (photo) after all, despite his sad/bad experience with a neophyte Filipino concert producer who bungled Martin’s series of shows, also in Las Vegas, last year by vanishing into thin air and leaving Martin holding an empty bag. The good news is that starting on Feb. 13, Martin will be joining the Society Of Seven (SOS) full time at The Flamingo when the SOS returns from a hiatus. Co-performing with the SOS these past years is Lani Misalucha.

• An unimpeachable Funfare DPA relayed the sad news that KC Concepcion and Lino Cayetano have parted ways. The two never really admitted that they were going steady. Was there any third party involved? “No, there was none,” said the DPA. “I guess they simply outgrew each other. Or, to put it more accurately, KC outgrew Lino.” Did KC find out anything “unpleasant” about Lino? “I’m neither denying nor confirming it,” the DPA suddenly turned evasive. “Let’s just believe KC when she said that she is ‘single and happy’.” Oops, a loaded statement, ‘no?

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Now it can be told: During the years when they were trying to hide the truth about their relationship — for, I must say, an understandable reason — Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid suffered from all sorts of ailments, she from recurring migraine and he from recurring fever.

“But after we came out with the truth,” Regine told Funfare, “I never had any migraine attack. It’s always like that when I’m under a terrible stress. May lumalabas na physical symptoms.”

Years ago when she had a problem with the US Embassy (which “exonerated” her from suspicions of “human smuggling”), Regine got so depressed that she suffered from falling hair.

The truth has set her and Ogie free and they feel lighter, healthier and happier. No more emotional load to weigh them down.

“At that time,” recalled Ogie, “I was always having fever or mga flu symptoms.”

At peace with themselves and the people around them, Regine and Ogie look forward to a brighter 2008, thankful that they have survived 2007, their most trying year ever.

The sweethearts spent Christmas with Ogie’s estranged wife Michelle van Eimeren and his daughters Leila and Sarah in Australia. They came back in time for Regine to spend the New Year with her family, a “tradition” she hasn’t broken in years.

They plan to spend Valentine’s Day together.

“Ako walang show,” said Ogie, “sana wala ring show si Regine.”

 Anytime now, they will start shooting the romance-comedy Love is Blind, Love is Deaf, the movie was put on hold after the controversy involving them broke out last year, jointly produced by Viva Films and GMA Films.

Asked about any wedding plans this year, Regine and Ogie only looked at each other, laughed a bit and made no comment.

What about, ehem, having a baby?

“Every year naman,” joked Regine, “hinuhulaan na mabubuntis ako. Again, hinuhulaan that I will get pregnant this year.”

Ogie said in jest, “Sana ako ang ama.”

Regine laughed, “According to the blind item, iba daw ang tatay, eh!”

As you can see, the sweethearts are so comfortable with each other even in public that they can actually make fun of themselves.

Cesar wooing Sunshine again

BREAKING NEWS: No, Sunshine Cruz hasn’t gone back home despite the pleadings of her husband, Cesar Montano, who has taken all the blame for their fight (over a 16-year-old Brazilian model) last Christmas.

That’s why the repentant Cesar has been courting Sunshine like he has never done before, but Sunshine has remained steadfast in her decision not to go home — that is, not to their conjugal home in Quezon City.

However, a Funfare DPA said that Sunshine has agreed to move into a condo unit Cesar is renting for her and their three daughters, and even went with Sunshine to shop for appliances at Anson Emporium.

A light at the end of the tunnel, at last?

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