Maricel expecting 5th child

Congratulations to Maricel Laxa who is expecting her and husband Anthony Pangilinan’s fifth child.

“It’s a surprise gift for me,” Maricel told Funfare Update. “I got the good news the other day (Feb. 25) when I turned 39.”

The couple’s four children are Ella, Donny, Hannah and Benjamin who survived a heart surgery in the US a few years ago.

“I’m in a delicate stage at five weeks,” added Maricel, “so I need to rest in bed until my next ultrasound.”

Charice at Shangri-La Plaza on March 7

Since she hit the international scene more than a year ago, Charice has been shuttling between the Philippines and the US depending on where work is. “But I’m not staying permanently in the US,” assured Charice who performed at a post-Oscar party on Feb. 22.

She’ll soon fly home to perform in One Night Only at the Grand Atrium (Level 2) of the Shangri-La Plaza on March 7, 7 to 8 p.m. as part of the mall’s celebration of Women’s Month. She will be joined by violinist Jay Cayuca.

Rita plays addict in indie film

Rita Avila (photo) is excited about her first indie film, Padyak, which is produced by Breaking the Box & the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), a Palanca award-winning screenplay directed by Aloy Adlawan.

“I play a shabu addict, a character who is both sensual and scary,” said Rita, “and it’s a far cry from my usual roles on TV. I’ve never tasted shabu or any prohibited drug so I have to use my imagination in playing the role.”

Opening on March 4 at the Robinsons Galleria Indie Cine, Padyak also stars Baron Geisler, Arnold Reyes, Irma Adlawan and Jay Aquitania.

Final Set is E-Heads’ last performance?

The second reunion concert of the Eraserheads, aptly titled The Final Set, on March 7 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds will be the group’s last — in the country, that is.

According to a Funfare Update DPA, Ely Buendia, the vocalist, signed a contract stating that the March 7 concert is, indeed, their last performance in the Philippines as the E-Heads, for the next 10 years. With that said, this final set is being produced to be the biggest local concert that would blow your minds as you get an extraordinary experience only the E-Heads can offer.  

The three other E-Heads are Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan.

Among the estimated 10,000,000 E-Heads fans, only 100,000 can be accommodated at the venue. Get your tickets now before they run out! Tickets for the show are at P2,910 for Gold A and Gold B sections, P1,261 for Silver A and Silver B sections and P291 for Bronze section (plus three percent service charge). For reservations, you may call either TicketNet at 911-5555 (www.ticketnet.com.ph) or TicketWorld at 891-9999 (www.ticketworld.com.ph). For more information, visit smartbu-ddy.eheads.net, keep tuning in to MTV Philippines or log on to www.mtvphil.com. 

Smart Communications, which is producing the concert in partnership with MTV Philippines, has more surprises for loyal subscribers who will text EHEADS to 234. They will not only get to download various content like full-track music, truetones and caller ringtunes, but also a chance to be one of the 10 lucky winners who will get a pair of VIP tickets each and the opportunity to meet and greet the band members in person.

Also, there will be five winners of General Admission tickets daily for the duration of the promo which runs until Sunday, March 1.

As a special treat for fans, the E-Heads contents are now offered at huge discounts. Until March 31, full-track music costs only P20 per song and mp3tones at P15 per download.

What’s up?

•The Achacoso Family Ensemble will perform at an Afternoon of Music to celebrate the 85th birthday of their patriarch, Dr. Rufino “Lolo Pen” Achacoso, orthodontist to celebrities including Susan Roces and her late husband FPJ. The affair will be held at Crossroad 77 on Mother Ignacia Avenue (corner Scout Reyes), Quezon City, tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 28.

• Danny Boyle, director of Oscar Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire, is not an American as Funfare Update mentioned yesterday. He is half-Irish/half-English, born in Radcliffe, England. Thanks to readers Mary Jean Emboltura and “Donna” for the correction.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])