Rhian: Playgirl? Who, me?

The Internet sizzles with unpleasant stories about her.

“All of them untrue,” said Rhian Ramos in self-defense, “meant to ruin my image and make me appear as a playgirl.”

The items link her to different guys — from Philip Younghusbands, the handsome soccer player who grew up in the United Kingdom with his brother James, also in the same sport; a guy named Einar whose surname Rhian hardly remembers; Mo Twister, of all people(!); Paolo Paraiso; Richard Gutierrez, her leading man in the GMA fantasy-adventure Captain Barbell; Dennis Trillo; and directors Mike Tuviera and Topel Lee.

“A playgirl!?!” asked Rhian, a niece of GMA’s Artist Center head Ida Henares (sister of Rhian’s mom, Clara Ramos Howell). “How can I be a playgirl when I never even had a boyfriend? Crushes, yes, lots of them. But boyfriend, never!”

After all, added Rhian, “I’m only 17.”

One of the pictures posted on the Internet shows her with a guy kissing her on the cheek.

“Oh, I was 14 when that picture was taken. You know, one of those fun pictures with schoolmates and churchmates. Who doesn’t have photos like that? There was really nothing in that picture but they made it appear ‘malicious’ on the Internet.”

Asked who among these guys she finds most attractive, Rhian named Philip Younghusbands (the guy on the Hanford billboards).

“He has nice arms, maybe from playing soccer.”

The sexiest?

“Richard, of course. He has a well-defined body. Very huggable. You hug him and hug him and it won’t hurt.”

The nicest?

“Dennis. I don’t believe what they say that he has no balls.”

And what is her “type”?

“Before, I had crushes on mestizos. Now, it’s neither mestizo nor moreno. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have any ‘type’ at all.”

As the blurb of Bobson (which she endorses) says, Keep it Real, and that’s exactly what Rhian does as her guiding principle in life: Keep it real. What you see is what you get.

Since she was launched as the ladylove of Richard Gutierrez in Captain Barbell in 2005, Rhian has starred in two other shows, also on GMA, Lupin (also with Richard) and My Only Love; and appeared in two movies (by GMA Films), The Promise and Ouija. She has never tried it but, with her seductively good looks, she’s perfect for anti-heroine roles. “Maybe I should try it sometime,” said Rhian (whose real surname is Howell) who was born in Manila to an English father and a Filipino mother.

What does she think make her “linkable” to guys?

“I’m an easy prey to intriga. That’s all I can think of. May mga taong masaya sa buhay kapag ini-intriga nila ako.”

On Oct. 3, Rhian is turning 18 but she won’t celebrate her birthday the traditional way (not with the usual 18 candles, 18 roses, etc.).

“I will just have a party. I haven’t had a party in three years!”
Between now and her debut, will she perhaps finally find a boyfriend (her first ever, if and when)?

“Whatever. As of now, I can never be with anyone who is less than my best friend.”

And who among the guys linked to her is closest to her?

“Mo Twister.”

Asked if Mo is “harmless,” Rhian broke into a wide smile.

“With me? Yes, he is!”

* * *

Pangasinan (Third District) Rep. Rachel “Baby” Arenas’ birthday, celebrated recently, was memorable to her because it was her first as a congresswoman. With her mom, philanthropist Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas, assisting her, Rachel spent the day with her constituents from the six towns of her district.

“They came in droves despite the rain,” said Rachel.

No less than five caterers were commissioned. The buffet table was packed full with famous Pangasinan dishes (bangus, prawns, crabs, lechon de leche, etc.) and delicacies. The mango grove inside the Arenas farm was gaily decorated with flowers shipped from Manila.

Highlight of the affair was the visit (a rare one) of the image of the miraculous Lady of Manaoag of whom mother and daughter are devotees.

Rachel’s VIP guest/well-wisher was Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whom Rachel entertained at the newly-built multi-purpose hall inside the farm where hundreds of barangay chairpersons and kagawads eagerly waited for her. Then, PGMA and Rachel had a private meeting before partaking a sumptuous lunch with, among other guests, Trade Sec. Peter Favila, House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, Presidential Assistant for Anti-Smuggling Usec. Antonio Villar, Party-List Rep. Carissa Coscoluela, Vice Gov. Marilen Primicias-Agabas and PNP director Avelino Razon.

The affair was capped by the well-wishers applauding the Rachel while singing Happy Birthday to her.

Fr. Joey Faller’s healing sked for February

Here’s Fr. Joey Faller’s healing schedule for February:

• Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., at Damar Village, Quezon City;

• Feb. 2, 9:30 a.m., at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon; and an anticipated Mass at 5 p.m. at the Luklukan ni Maria, same venue;

• Feb. 3, 8 a.m., NBN Channel 4; and 9:30 a.m. at SM North EDSA;

• Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m., at St. Ignatius Parish, Tituan, Zamboanga City;

• Feb. 6, 12:15 p.m., at SM Megamall (fifth floor, Building B); and 6 p.m., at Narra Park (DVMI), Ayala Alabang;

• Feb. 7, 2 p.m., at Sto. Niño Chapel, Iloilo City;

• Feb. 8, 5 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi, Sariaya, Quezon; and starting at 10:30 p.m. a vigil for the relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus at the Lipa Cathedral, Lipa City;

• Feb. 9, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon; and at 4:30 p.m. at the Carmelita Monastery in Lipa City;

• Feb. 10, 9 a.m. in Bacoor, Cavite; and at 10:30 p.m. at Sta. Teresita Parish, Batangas City;

• Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon;

• Feb. 12, 5 p.m. at Dambana ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo, Cabanatuan City;

• Feb. 13, 5 p.m. at Sta. Clara de Monte Falco, Canugan, Pasig City;

• Feb. 15, Guadalupe Church, Cebu City;

• Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon;

• Feb. 17, 6 a.m. at ABS-CBN Channel 2; and 8 a.m. at NBN Channel 4;

• Feb. 18, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon;

• Feb. 23, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon;

• Feb. 24, 9 a.m. in SM Bacoor, Bacoor, Cavite;

• Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon;

• Feb. 26, 9:30 a.m. at Buklod ng Pagibig Healing Center, #97 Balete Drive Ext., Quezon City; and 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Hospital, Masangkay St., Sta Cruz, Manila;

• Feb. 27, 12 noon, at Export Bank, Buendia, Makati City; and 4:30 p.m. at San Isidro Labrador Parish, Bgy. Nangka, Marikina City;

• Feb. 28, 6 p.m. at St. Peter The Apostle Parish, Muzon, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; and

• Feb. 29, 3 p.m., in San Jose, Batangas City.

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