Shalani didn't quit Wil Time, wasn't taken back

People think that Mrs. Roman Romulo (nee Shalani Soledad, photo) is biding her time before she resumes co-hosting Wil Time Bigtime.

No, she isn’t coming back. She’s isn’t quitting the show; she wasn’t taken back.

An insider told Funfare Update that now that Shalani is married to an honorable congressman, show boss Willie Revillame can’t tease her the way he used to — “Baka mapikon si misis at magalit si mister,” the DPA said.

Camille Villar is the perfect replacement for Shalani. Unlike Shalani, she’s not malamya, she’s full of life and energy, qualities vital in a hosting job.

Let’s hope that Shalani will be livelier, more energetic and less of a softie in the new TV game show she’s co-hosting with Edu Manzano.

Bruce in Uncle Ronnie’s footsteps

Bruce Ricketts: A martial-artist chef

Like his Uncle Ronnie, Bruce Ricketts is a martial artist, trained by his late father, Ronnie’s brother Topher (a grandmaster). Until he was 14 when the family migrated to the US, Bruce used to appear in his uncle’s movies.

In 2005, after finishing his second year at La Salle Alabang High School, Bruce helped his grandparents Max and Edith Ricketts run the Naldo-Ricketts Realty in San Diego, California, where Bruce and his brother Brandon taught martial arts. After graduating from high school at Valhalla High, Bruce finished (with honors) Culinary Arts at the San Diego Fine Arts Institute.

Bruce is home for good. After working as executive chef at Robot in Makati City, he put up his own restaurant, Sensei (at #268 Aguirre St., BF Homes, Parañaque City, phone numbers 0906-2754555 and 809-4190).

Having studied for two years at the Casablanca School of Acting in Beverly Hills, Bruce plans to resume acting. His Uncle Ronnie can help him do it.

From Oscar San Pedro, this rejoinder:

In the story titled What Ingram Ate At Little Asia yesterday, it was mentioned that James Ingram made his first visit to Manila in 2004.

On behalf of Ovation Productions, allow me to make some clarifications regarding this matter in order to set the record straight. It might interest you to know that Ingram’s initial visit here was during a three-night concert series mounted by Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions on Feb. 13, 14 and 15, 1990, at the Folk Arts Theater (now Tanghalang Balagtas) at the CCP complex in Pasay City. 

All three shows were sold out. But a major highlight of the musical event took place on the second evening, Feb. 14, when — as hundreds of concert-goers who watched the performance can still remember — Kris Aquino, who was celebrating her birthday that Valentine’s Day, went up the stage and presented a bunch of flowers to Ingram, who was also marking his birth anniversary on the same day.

Kris was with a group of friends that included Boy Abunda, who was the publicist for the debut concert of Ingram, according to Renen.

Ovation Productions also produced the second Manila concert four years later of James Ingram, who performed back-to-back with Air Supply on Jan. 23, 1994, also at the Folk Arts Theater.

Just to set the record straight.

What’s up?

• Il Mercanti morning market is now open every Saturday and Sunday at the parking lot of Metrowalk, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Connie Sison guarantees everybody that they will enjoy organic products, plants, food accessories, bags, fresh seafood’s and meat products.

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