Daniel sad over break-up

Curtain-raisers:

• Just when everybody thought that the marriage of a semi-retired singer-actress is exceptionally stable, much more so than any showbiz marriages, comes the sad news that her businessman-husband is having an affair with another woman. But he remains a good provider and, knowing how understanding she is, the wife understands and can tolerate her husband’s indiscretion according to those close to the couple. Sorry but no clues may be given at this point.
• Could it be true that a celebrity is banned from buying any items from an A-list store? The Funfare DPA said that when the celebrity was in the US, she wanted to buy for a friend the same item that the celebrity already had. I didn’t know that the “branded” store has such a rule but the well-placed DPA insisted, “Yes, there is!”
• A hunky actor told his assistant to withdraw money from the bank. Because the assistant didn’t have any authorization letter, the teller turned him down. The actor got furious and called the teller, “Bakit, pera ko naman ‘yan, a!” He refused to listen to any explanation. Finally, the teller politely asked the actor, “Sino po sila?” That made the actor more curious than the refusal to release the money. “Ako si _______. Hindi mo ba ako kilala?” The teller said, “Sorry, hindi po!” 

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Showbiz couples are so funny. They update netizens with daily accounts of their romance(s) complete with lovey-dovey photos and swearing to high heavens that, yes, they have “forever,” when in truth and in fact, the promise of “forever” is not enough to sustain a relationship.

Then, netizens wake up one morning to find a couple “unfriending” each other, alerting the whole world that their “forever” has gone pffft. The un-couple proceed to appeal to netizens to leave them alone for some private moments away from each other.

Case in point: Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales, a.k.a. DanRich, who have called it quits after a two-year romance. Erich has “privatized” her Instagram from which she deleted all her and Daniel’s photos. (Trivia: Was it really Kris Aquino who “entrusted” Daniel to Erich? Kris, who used to be close to Erich, was briefly linked to Daniel. Erich split up with her rich non-showbiz boyfriend in favor of Daniel.)

“Daniel looked very sad when I saw him a couple of times,” said his manager Jonas Gaffud. “I’m not aware of the story yet. I just don’t talk to him about it now.”

Showbiz watchers are wondering if Erich broke up with Daniel for the same reason that Heart Evangelista did.

One more misty-eyed look at Misses Haiti and Colombia

Almost two weeks after the Miss Universe pageant won by France’s Iris Mittenaere (who has denied…with a smile…that she’s lesbian, and confirmed that she’s happy with her boyfriend, thank you!), we beauty-pageant lovers are still on a lingering Miss U mode. Much has been written about our very own Maxine Medina and Miss Iris who have not been spared by bashers, but not much about runner-up Miss Haiti Taquel Pelissier (first) and Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar (second runner-up), except that Miss Haiti’s grandmother is a Filipina.

This corner’s contributor Celso de Guzman noted Pelissier was the 13th delegate from her country to compete in the pageant. She and Iris shared the same chaperone.

Celso’s report:

Haiti sent its first representative only in 1962, Evelyn Miot who finished in the Top 15 and Argentina’s Norma Nolan won the crown. Her predecessors were Claudie Paquin (1968); Gerthie David (1975); Françoise Elie (1977); Arielle Jeanty (1985); Glaphyra Jean-Louis (1989); Sarodj Durocher (2010); Anedie Azael (2011); Christela Jacques (2012); Mondiana Pierre (2013); Christie Désir (2014); and Lisa Drouillard (2015). 

When Gerthie David placed first runner-up to 1975 Miss Universe Anne-Marie Pohtamo of Finland, our bet Chiqui Brosas was adjudged fourth runner-up.

Meanwhile, Colombia had a historic win when the first-ever representative, Luz Marina Zuluaga, won in 1958. It took 56 years and six months for Colombia to have another winner when Paulina Vega Dieppa was crowned 2014 Miss Universe. Zuluaga died on Dec. 2, 2015.

Aside from Colombia and Finland (1952 Armi Kuusela), the only other countries that debuted in the Miss Universe pageant and eventually won were Botswana (Mpule Kwelagobe in 1999 Miss Universe, with the Philippines’ Miriam Quiambao as first runner-up) and Thailand (Apasra Hongsakula in 1965, followed by Porntip Nakhirunkanok in 1988).

Colombia holds the record of winning three successive first runners-up (Paola Gómez in 1992, Paula Arroyave in 1993 and Carolina Gómez in 1994). 

Colombia’s other placements: First runners-up (2008 Taliana Maria Vargas Carrillo in 2008 and Ariadna Gutiérrez in 2015); second runners-up (Maria Pugliesse, 1986; Lizeth Arévalo, 1990, and Best National Costume; and Andrea Tovar, 2016); third runners-up (Ella Escandón, 1974; Aura Maria Salcedo, 1977; and Mary Starnes, 1978); fourth runner-up (Susana Lemaitre, 1984); and Top 5 (1998 Silvia Guerra, 1988).

Special awardees: Best National Costume (Luz González, 1968; Sandra Caldas, 1985; Maribel Tinoco, 1991; Claudia Ángel, 1997; and Vanessa Bustos, 2002); and Miss Photogenic (Maria Ruiz, 1987).

Incidentally, barely two months after joining the Miss U pageant, Colombia’s Stella Marquez competed and won in the inaugural Miss International contest in Long Beach, California, and on Aug. 12, 1960, beating 51 other beauties including Miss Philippines Edita Vital who was among the Top 15 semi-finalists.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)