Are Pia and Gerald victims of fake news?

Curtain-raiser:

• Gabby Concepcion (photo) posted this Easter message on his Instagram, presumably for everybody and not just for a specific person: Don’t ever feel bad for making a decision about your own life that upsets other people. You are not responsible for their happiness. You’re responsible for your own happiness. Anyone who wants you to live in misery for his happiness should not be in your life to begin with. – Isaiah Hankel

• Speaking of happiness, here’s a food for thought my friend Joseph Chua wants to share with Funfare readers: Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.

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Because Gerald Anderson and Pia Wurtzbach neither confirmed nor denied…or even commented…that “something” happened between them on the set of Star Cinema’s My Perfect You, their first movie together, all sorts of “versions” heated up the social media:

That it was Pia who “visited” Gerald at his room on the set in Zambales (“where there was no signal, except Smart and the store was two hours away,” Pia related in a STAR interview); and where cast and crew were locked up for more than two weeks;

That it was actually Gerald who visited Pia at her room. (Gerald related in an interview that the “cottages” had no comfort rooms and they had to walk a little far when they needed to use one); and

 They were so engrossed in their characters that their love scenes looked “realistic” (very convincing).

Pia in a stunning gown by Avel Bacudio when she hosted the recent Bb. Pilipinas pageant in which Gerald was one of the judges.

Are Gerald and Pia victims of “fake news?” (Malaysia recently passed an “anti-fake” news law punishing offenders with possible imprisonment and a fine of an equivalent of US$123,000.) Instead of killing the yarn, their (pregnant) silence only added fire to it.

Anyway, the good news is that My Perfect You has made money and Gerald’s girlfriend Bea Alonzo has “befriended” Gerald again on her social-media account (although she has yet to “follow” Pia again) and Pia has started posting her pictures with boyfriend Marlon Stockinger.

In my Conversation before the “wild rumor” cropped up, I asked the stars, If you were not “committed,” would it be possible for you to fall for each other?

Pia: I don’t think it would be difficult for anyone to fall for Gerald as he is such a gentleman. He’s close to his family and he takes his work seriously. Those traits are admirable in a man.

Gerald: Pia has all the qualities of being a good girlfriend.

(Caution: Please don’t draw any “conclusion” from there.)

Victory dinner for 3 Binibini winners

The Aces & Queens thanksgiving dinner was attended by their three Bb. Pilipinas winners (second to fourth from left) Ma. Ahtisa Manalo (International), Jehza Huelar (Supranational) and Michele Gumabao (Globe). Others present (from left) were Jimmy Estopace, director Jeffrey Jeturian, Jay Lozada, author Gerry Diaz, Paolo Baysa and Mikee Andrei. Standing (from left) birthday celebrator Arnold ‘Mama Ruffa’ Mercado, Raymond Galang and lawyer and Q&A trainer Nad Bronce.

Aces & Queens, the team that trains beauty queens before they compete abroad, recently hosted a thanksgiving dinner for bets who won three of the six titles at stakes at the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas pageant: Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon, International; Jehza Huelar of Davao City, Supranational; Michele Gumabao of Albay and Quezon City, Globe.

First to arrive at the venue, Seven Corners of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, was Ahtisa.

“She looked very pretty even with very light make-up,” reported A&Q member/Funfare “beauty specialist” Gerry Diaz. “Jehza came fully made-up with a queenly hairstyle. Michele came straight from her nightly volleyball practice. She earlier said she would catch up after 10 p.m. and look bagong ligo. She arrived at 9:30 and looked refreshingly beautiful with practically no make-up.”

Gerry asked the queens if they expected to win a title.

• Michele (a heavy favorite to win one of the top titles): “Was I disappointed? No. All I wanted was to win a title.”

• Jehza (on her third try): “I was just hoping to get a crown and I was overjoyed that I did.”

• Ahtisa (the first Binibini from her province after a long time): “I didn’t expect to win because other candidates were more popular among pageant enthusiasts and bloggers. But when the other favorites, mestiza like me, were announced winners, I got excited.”

Aside from Gerry (a BDO executive), present during the dinner were other A&Q members Arnold “Mama Ruffa” Mercado (who was celebrating birthday the following day), lawyer and Q&A trainor Nad Bronce, award-winner film director Jeffrey Jeturian (who discovered Michele and Megan Young), Paolo Baysa, stylist Mikee Andrei, “glam team” member Raymond Galang, Jimmy Estopace and Jay Lozada.

“We are optimistic about their chances abroad,” said Gerry. “We feel the same way for Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray. The year promises to be a very exciting year for the Bb. Pilipinas beauties.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)