Hans & Ricky ‘share a love’

‘Missing’ starlet gives birth Down Under

A pretty starlet quietly vanished from the showbiz scene several months ago, leaving her friends and people who know her wondering where she went. Well, a Funfare DPA has just solved the “mysterious” disappearance. The starlet surfaced Down Under, spotted strolling in the mall casually in all her pregnant glory, perhaps feeling safe that nobody would recognize her.

“She looked cool,” said the DPA, “happily preggy. She has given birth. Several weeks later, I saw her pushing a stroller with her baby.”

The DPA added that the baby’s father is not the actor (on a “forced” leave) once linked to her but her current athlete boyfriend. Give her a few more months and she will make a “comeback” without necessarily explaining where she was…not anybody would be asking.

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Congratulations to Hans Sy who was recently cited by Forbes magazine as one of Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy, along with Angel Locsin who helps people hit by disasters (the victims of the Marawi siege and those of the Typhoon Tisoy in Northern Samar, etc.).

Hans is the partner of another philanthropist, Ricky Reyes, in the Child Haus project that has been taking care of cancer-stricken children (from different provinces) who are temporarily housed while undergoing medical evaluation or treatment in two buildings, the old one in Paco, Manila, right across from the Philippine General Hospital; and the new one in Quezon City, near the Heart Center. Both were donated by Hans. The Child Haus has been doing it for 16 years now.

Ricky partners in the charity project with Hans Sy (right photo, with his wife Carol, Alonzo Muhlach and dad Niño) who was recently cited by Forbes magazine as one of Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy.

Rain or shine, Hans and his wife Carol never fail to attend the Child Haus activities like the recent Christmas party at the Paco “haus” where the patients were entertained by child actor Alonzo Muhlach (accompanied by his dad Niño), Karylle (with husband Yael Yuzon) and LA Santos.

Child Haus’ current project is the Share a Love in Childhaus Christmas Bazaar at SM City North EDSA, selling at bargain prices one-of-a-kind pieces created by parents of the sick children, such as Christmas decors, native handbags, sandals, abaca bag organizers and paintings.

Said SM Supermalls COO Steven Tan, “The true spirit of Christmas is all about compassion and generosity. By setting up a selling exhibit at one of our malls, we hope that we can provide a platform where our shoppers can help children and families at Child Haus who are in need.”

If you are not yet done with your Christmas shopping, do visit the bazaar (near Cinema 11, SM North main building) for last-minute purchases. Last day today. (Part of the proceeds will be donated to Child Haus which is also helping people in need of a home.)

Dayaw is the Waray term for praise.

Singing Waray priests stage SRO concert

Also noteworthy was the fund-raising Dayaw concert presented by the Diocese of Borongan (Eastern Samar) last month at the UST Medicine Auditorium, featuring the provinces’ five dozen singing priests. Dayaw is the Waray term for praise. (I shall praise you forever, for what you have done, in the presence of your faithful. Psalm 52:11)

“The concert was successful,” noted lawyer Cornelio “Kune” Sy (a true-blue Waray from Las Navas, Northern Samar, who is a judge at a court in Mindoro). “The venue was jampacked. The priests performed so well that there was a clamor for a repeat performance.

The singing priests heat up the SRO audience at the UST Medicine Auditorium during its Dayaw concert last month presented by the Diocese of Borongan to raise funds for its ongoing formation.

With Fr. Fernando Egargo as musical director and conductor, the two-hour concert featured a repertoire set off by The Lord’s Prayer (all clergy), followed by 17 songs including Beloved Disciple (by Fr. Romel Arce); Buwan (Central Region clergy); Perfect Grace (young clergy); You’ll Never Walk Alone (senior clergy); One Day (Fr. Emman Carilla and Fr. Michael Rebamontan); I Will Follow Him (Northern Region clergy); Kailangan Kita (Fr. Dan Ganas, Fr. Erick Rodeles, Fr. Arce and Fr. JH Palada); Ikaw Lamang (Fr. Ganas and Fr. Rodeles); and all the clergies on You Raise Me Up, Ave Maria, Harupoy and Handog.   

The Dayaw concert was to raise funds for the clergy’s ongoing formation as it “acknowledges that our priests, in their many imperfections, are in need of prayers and support for their constant renewal, to be faithfully configured to Christ, to perpetually bear the mystery of God‘s love for the church.”

It also aims to promote among young people the vocation to the priesthood and the religious life. And, “above all, Dayaw is the harmony of praise to the Lord and thanksgiving to the many people who continue to love the Church despite the unworthiness of its leaders…”

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