Charice to meet Justin Bieber

Philippine singing sensation Charice on Sunday defended herself from criticisms that surfaced following her recent appearance in a popular gay bar in the United States to promote her current international single "Pyramid."

Charice, 17, told “The Buzz” in a live interview that she was surprised that some people made a big deal out of her appearance at Club 57. She said it was not the first time that she went to clubs in order to promote the remix version of Pyramid.

“Hindi lang ako ‘yong nagpro-promote sa mga club. Ganoon talaga sila sa US…. umaalis na po ako [after ng performance ko]. Nagpe-perform lang po talaga ako," she said.

Amid the issue, Charice was happy that Pyramid placed 4th on the US Billboard pop/dance club chart.

Charice also confirmed that her self-titled international album will be launched on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on May 11, with Justin Bieber as a special guest. She said it will be her first time to meet Bieber.

She will also make a special appearance on “Good Morning America,” said Charice.

The launching of her debut album will take place a day after she celebrates her 18th birthday.

When asked about her birthday plans, Charice said: “Nasa New York [kami]. Baka pumunta sa amusement park with friends lang po and family po.”

Johan Santos laughs off sex video scandal

Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Double Up 4th Big Placer Johan Santos is the latest victim of the perennial sex video scandal in show business.

According to rumors, a video showing a man masturbating is fast spreading online. The man is said to be the former PBB housemate.

In a text message sent to “The Buzz” host Joebert Sucaldito, Santos’s manager, Leo Bukas, denied that his talent was involved in any video scandal.

“Personal na tiningnan ni Johan sa internet ang nude photos at malaswa raw niyang video pero sa halip na magalit ay natawa na lang siya habang pinapanood ito,” said Bukas’s text message, which was read by Sucaldito on “The Buzz” Sunday.

“Maaaring kahawig niya ang lalaking nasa video at larawan, pero it’s very obvious na hindi siya ‘yon. Makikita ang pagkakaiba nila ng lalaki kapag pinanood nang buo ang video. Ipinagtataka lang ni Johan kung ano ang motibo ng taong nagpapakalat ng video. Handa naman siya na harapin ang mga ganitong intriga,” the talent manager added.

The manager also extended Santos's gratitude to his fans for their continued support.

He said: “Nagpapasalamat siya sa concern ng kanyang mga supporters, lalo na ang Johanatics at JoCath fans. Wala silang dapat ipag-alala dahil hindi apektado si Johan sa issue. Nagpapasalamat siya sa ‘The Buzz’ for giving him the chance na makapag-explain.”

Santos currently stars in the afternoon teleserye “Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Love Me Again.”

Angel Locsin, Chito Miranda are just friends

Angel Locsin and “Parokya ni Edgar” front man Chito Miranda have put an end to persistent rumors that they are dating.

During the launch of Locsin’s bar, both the actress and Miranda maintained that they are just friends. Miranda added that they are “part of a big group.”

The band vocalist also dismissed accusations that he is a bad influence.

“Hindi ako B.I. kay Angel. B.I ako sa lahat. Best influence, hindi lang kay Angel,” Miranda said, a remark supported by Locsin.

Locsin, who just turned 25 on April 23, also brushed off rumors that she challenged her former talent manager, Becky Aguila, to a fistfight because the latter was allegedly spreading lies about her.

When sought for comment, Aguila said in a text message sent to “The Buzz:” “Maayos ang paghihiwalay namin ni Angel. Wala kaming issue.”

Locsin called on her detractors to stop spreading rumors about her, including her purported drinking problem.

She said: “Positive naman tayo para masaya naman. Huwag ninyo naman akong gawing depressed. Gusto kong maging masayahing tao. Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa inyo.”

“Good vibes na lang ako. Ayoko ng mag-entertain ng mga negative [vibes],” she added.

Locsin will be paired with John Lloyd Cruz in an upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye

Pokwang checks background of American suitor

The ace comedianne shared that suitor Ramon Navarro, 29, is divorced and works as a police officer in the United States.

“Mabait naman daw… Maligaya ako dahil may inspirasyon na. Titingnan muna natin kung saan ito hahantong. Sana love talaga hanap niya, hindi account. Laughs,” the “Wowowee” host said.

The 2, according to reports, met when the singer-host staged a concert in the US recently. Navarro introduced himself to Pokwang backstage after her performance. They exchanged numbers and are now communicating regularly through text messages, reports added.

Pokwang said Navarro would regularly watch her shows on ABS-CBN via the internet.

She also disclosed that the Mexican-American prohibited her from doing daring roles after he learned that she is part of the remake of “Temptation Island,” a sexy-comedy-drama film in the 80s.

Young actress Andi Eigenmann has been tapped to play one of the major roles in the upcoming Regal Films movie.

Pokwang said: “Ako ‘yong karakter ni Deborah Sun…. Sabi niya, ‘No kissing scene.’ Haaay, nakakakilig, di ba? Parang sa kanya lang ako. Chos! Laughs.”

“Pero ‘yong concern niya wow! Sabi ko magbabali-baliktad lang ako doon. Kung ayaw niya talaga, ako na lang sana ‘yong baklang kinain nila sa pelikula. Laughs,” she added.

Pokwang said she hopes her daughter will accept Navarro. “Sabi ko kasi sa kanya, ‘Iiwan mo rin naman ako kapag malaki ka na…Paano naman ako, di ba? I deserve to wear a wedding gown chos! Laughs.”

Reports said Navarro is planning to fly to the country soon to see the “Wowowee” female host. Pokwang said she will decide if she wants to settle down by then.

ANOTHER WARDROBE MALFUNCTION?

[PHOTO AT LEFT - Beauty pageant contestants such as Ella Castillo (left) and Kimberly Brandon must show grace under pressure]

MANILA, APRIL 24, 2010 (STAR) STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco - Last year’s Miss Bikini Philippines competition yielded such promising hopefuls that some of the contestants were again drafted to enter other beauty pageants this 2010.

Ella Castillo, an Alma Concepcion look-alike, who was a finalist in the 2009 Miss Bikini contest, tried her luck in the recent Binibining Pilipinas (the one with the controversial Venus Raj) and ended up in the Top 10 — not bad since Stella Marquez had a good harvest of candidates this year and the competition was tougher than usual.

In the Miss Earth Philippines pageant scheduled tonight, the winner of last year’s Miss Bikini Philippines-International, Kimberly Brandon, is said to be among the favorites to win the crown (another one in her growing collection of beauty titles).

When she returns to relinquish her duties as Miss Bikini Philippines on May 1 at the Aliw Theater, I’m sure she will heave a sigh of relief because she doesn’t have to compete on that stage. The arena this time will have shapelier bodies and more beautiful faces compared to last year and even in 2008 when this Slimmers World International-sponsored pageant began (no offense meant to previous batches).

This year’s candidates — 24 in all — were introduced to the press last Wednesday evening in a pre-pageant presentation held at the theater of the RCBC Plaza. (The winner on coronation night will be sent to the Miss Bikini International contest to be held later this year either in China or Vietnam.)

Looking at the contestants parading in their two-piece swimsuits, you notice that there are some who resemble movie stars. One looks like Glaiza de Castro, but slightly taller.

Why, there’s even a Pinay version of Debbie Reynolds, but who in this generation knows her? Okay, she’s the mother of Carrie Fisher. I hope the name already sounds familiar to today’s youth.

Oh, and how can I forget the Angelica Jones dead-ringer? There’s nothing wrong with that. Angelica is very pretty and sexy — and so is this Miss Bikini Philippines contestant. But I didn’t say that this bet sounded like the controversial entertainment personality, who once declared on television (in my old show in ABS-CBN) that: “I am not a GR.”

Most of the Miss Bikini Philippines candidates this year actually speak well (which speaks well of what’s in their head). During the introduction and even in the interview portion, there were no fumbles that all of us love to see in beauty pageants.

Some of the girls even traded jokes with the hosts for that evening, disc jockeys Sheryll Crystal and Christian “Slyde” Ardiente.

The proceedings went very well (I had fun, especially since I had a reunion that night with Nelson Canlas, who was once head writer for Startalk) and the evening concluded without a glitch — save for one incident: Another wardrobe malfunction.

In the talent portion, a delicate area of the participant’s upper body partly slid out of her top while doing her dance number. To the organizers’ relief, she was wearing what wardrobe experts now call “niplets.” It turned out that Slimmers World International vice president Helen Camacho had a sixth sense that this may happen and instructed all the contestants to put on these safety devices. Such wisdom.

If ever anything comes out on the Internet, I have to say this early that this picture was photo-shopped because we were there as witnesses — and we were in the front row. The contestant had that “covering” when that happened. Whew!

Ms. Camacho surely must have heard about the Anne Curtis incident — and poor Anne, she suffered from the meanness of some people who posted that picture on the Internet without thinking that they, too, have females among their family members.

Fortunately, something positive could still come out of the worst scenario in life: Anne’s experience served as lesson to a lot of young women today — they now all wear protection. And they have to thank Anne Curtis for this.

Don’t worry, Anne. We all know it was an accident and in spite of what happened we will always look at you with utmost respect.

---

THE YODEL KING: FRED PANOPIO, 71

MANILA, APRIL 24, 2010 (STAR) The “yodel king” is dead. He was 71.

Fred Panopio (photo), who popularized the song Pitong Gatang (theme song of a ‘60s FPJ movie), died of cirrhosis of the liver at 4 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, April 22, at the Capitol Medical Center where he was confined.

Aside from the classic song, Panopio was also the voice behind other hits, including Markado, Tatlong Baraha and Kawawang Cowboy, which are also the theme songs of hit movies.

He was the composer of the radio jingle Gloria, Gloria, Labandera (also a TV commercial) and Bilmoko, another TV commercial.

He is survived by his wife “Buliglig,” only daughter Jane and one grandchild.

His remains lie at the Greenpark, Pasig City. Burial date will be announced as soon as Jane arrives from Japan where she works. She’s married to a Japanese.

REGINE: TURNING 40 TO THE BEAT OF SALSA

Totally explosive, totally exciting, totally exposed, totally exclusive and totally extreme. That sums up this afternoon’s edition of Startalk (on GMA, after Eat, Bulaga!) which features extremely controversial stories Vic Sotto who will make an “astounding revelation,” Arci Muñoz “live” on her ex-flame Kean Cipriano (of Callalily), Katrina Halili and Dr. Vicki Belo on their close encounter during a recent court hearing, and Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera also “live” on the real score between them. And many more. Do tune in.

• Also not to be missed is the documentary on the assassination of Sen. Ninoy Aquino on the History Channel, airing on May 2, and produced by Kara Magsanoc Alikpala’s company which is the first Filipino team to be commissioned by the channel to do a special project.

• Yes, it was Sen./Vice Presidentiable Loren Legarda (photo) and her son Lean who were standing at the MRT from Makati to Timog Avenue in Quezon City, the other day, in a rush to be on Arnold Clavio’s radio program on dzBB. Loren beat the traffic but she arrived a few minutes after the show so her interview was taped and aired yesterday. Standing beside Loren, also holding on to the handrail, was a girl not yet of voting age. During their chat, Loren learned that the girl was a good singer and that they had the same favorite song, A Certain Sadness (by Astrud Gilberto). Loren asked the girl to sing it and she got an approving nod from the other passengers. “Akala ko po suplada kayo,” the girl told Loren. “Hindi po naman pala.”

* * *

Contrary to what everybody must have expected, Regine Velasquez spent her 40th birthday Thursday (April 22, Taurus) simply and quietly, far from the Manila crowd. She and her family hied off to Bohol last Monday, April 19, and stayed for four nights at the Panglao Island Nature Resort (PINR) in Panglao, a virtual paradise which has a breathtaking view of sunrise and sunset, and which is so serene that, as I’ve been saying, you could hear observe yourself soul-search while listening to the rhythmic beating of your heart.

Regine’s beloved Ogie Alcasid and his family flew in a day after and the two families had a grand time celebrating. During the first two days, they went around Bohol with Marlyn and Nerissa as tour guides. Among the scenic spots they visited were the Chocolate Hills, The Bee Farm, the old churches (including that in Baclayon, the hometown of Cesar Montano who is in Bohol with his family campaigning for his bid as governor of the province) and the Loboc River which they cruised while enjoying a yummy lunch hosted by Tessie Labunog-Sumampong.

On her birthday, the Velasquezes and the Alcasids had lunch at the resort’s Spa, hosted by Raymond Ong and his sister Gretel. The Ongs own and manage the resort and other businesses besides, including the Metro Mall and the Metro Hotel located in the heart of Tagbilaran City.

In the evening, they partook of a buffet dinner at the KTV Room while being serenaded by PINR band. It was salsa night, a fitting way for a Pop Queen to welcome “40” when, they say, life actually begins. And then the well-wishers sang Happy Birthday to Regine before they spent the rest of the night with Karaoke.

It was an exclusively family celebration, exactly what Regine wished for.

They came back yesterday.

Middle of next month, Regine and Ogie, together with Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, will embark on a month-long concert tour of the US and Canada.