Corazon Aquino and Bimby
Bimby wants to have a conversation with his lola, the late President Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino.
Kris shared this anecdote about his seven-year-old son on Instagram, Friday, not coincidentally, Cory’s fifth death anniversary.
“Last night Bimb was saying that he wished Lola had a cellphone in heaven so that he & Kuya could call her & tell her they loved her,” the TV host-actress posted along with a family picture, which she said was their “last,” taken the Christmas “before her (Cory’s) death.”
Referring to the photo, she wrote, “Seeing how fat Kuya Josh was & how tiny Bimb was just made me realize how much she’d have enjoyed seeing my 2 boys grow up & evolve.”
“I know I should be thinking more in terms of what a proud Mom she would be of her only son, Noy- but to my sons she’s always Lola Cory,” she added.
Aquino family photo (Instagram)
Cory succumbed to colon cancer on Aug. 1, 2009, at the age of 76.
In Friday’s episode of “Kris TV,” the TV host paid tribute to her mom through inspirational songs rendered by singers Jed Madela, Kyla and Noel Cabangon.
Kris recalled the democracy icon’s legacy. Alluding to criticisms his brother President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is facing at the moment, Kris shared it is nothing compared to what their mom went through.
Kris then defended his brother in relation to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), insisting that they were taught by their parents to earn from hard work and never from stealing.
(Clockwise from top left) Sunny, Taeyeon and Baekhyun, Tiffany and Nichkhun, Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho and Yoona and Lee Seung Gi. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com)
A member of Girls’ Generation has apologized to fans for the dating issues that have rocked the popular girl group especially between leader Taeyeon and EXO member Baekhyun.
Appearing on the MBC TV program “Star Gazing” on July 31, Sunny said when the news about Taeyeon and Baekhyun was published, members stayed at home.
“After the dating news went out, the members haven’t been able to date comfortably. They order chicken to eat with the other members at home,” said Sunny, according to ENewsWorld.
The dating issues involving Girls’ Generation member started last January dating photos of Yoona and actor Lee Seung Gi were published online by a Korean entertainment site.
A few days later, another Korean news site published photos of Sooyoung and actor Jung Kyung Ho dating on a date.
Last April, it was revealed that Girls’ Generation member Tiffany and 2PM member Nichkhun were dating.
This was followed by photos of Taeyeon and Baekhyun’s date last June. There dating issue resulted in a backlash including an incident where fans heckled Baekhyun in the studio during music TV program “Inkigayo.”
At the height of the scandal, Taeyeon apologized to fans, writing, “I′m so sorry for making you feel a way you don′t even need to feel. I′m sorry for hurting you.”
She told fans that she knew that they were very disappointed and angry and “I can accept it all and I want to apologize.
On the TV program, Sunny, who said she doesn’t have a boyfriend at the moment, felt sorry for the fans.
“We actually feel very bad. The fans like how we are on the stage but they also want to see and like how we are off the stage,” she said.
She added, “Whether we wanted to or not, we feel sorry to have hurt the fans’ feelings with the dating news. For the past eight years of activities, so many things have happened, other than the ones that were publicly reported. But the reason that SNSD could be loved continuously is all thanks to the fans who have always been there for us. We want to continue to give the fans what they want. We will be more careful in the future.”
Marlisa Punzalan (Screengrab from YouTube)
Teen singer Marlisa Punzalan and girl group Trill, composed of Angel, Sheralyn and Jessica, have advanced to the Top 24 of “X-Factor Australia.”
Punzalan’s performance of Jessica Mauboy’s “Never Be The Same” paved the way for her entry to judge Ronan Keating’s group Girls Under 25. She earned a standing ovation from the show’s judges, which also include Dannii Minogue, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Redfoo.
Bassingthwaighte deemed Punzalan’s performance “something pretty special.” Keating echoed this, commenting how Punzalan is “so good, amazing and has a beautiful tone.”
Trill (Screengrab from YouTube)
Meanwhile, Trill, the lone Filipino girl group in the competition, pulled off a superb rendition of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” to earn a standing ovation from the judges, with the audience chanting their group name. They joined Minogue’s top six artist.
Bassingthwaighte heaped praises on the girls. “The kind of hype that they have is great… I can’t believe that they are just 14 or 15 years old… I mean what is going on? This is insane,” she said, laughing.
Not so lucky is 17-year old Pinoy Jal Joshua, who failed to move judges despite his stunning performance of Billy Joel’s “Honesty.”
Mark is open to the possibility of finding love in London
Mark Bautista did not have high expectations when he auditioned for the role of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the West End production of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s “Here Lies Love” – a musical about the rise and fall the Marcoses.
In fact, he said he did not even expect a call back on account of the high turnout of good actors and singers that also auditioned for the role.
It was then a big surprise when he got an email from Atlantis Production saying he aced the part. He related how his heart practically “jumped” a notch when the news sank in.
The 32-year-old singer-actor said, “Si Lord, unexpected palagi ang blessings niya.”
Mark shared that his audition piece was Tom Jones’ version of “Kiss.” With a British panel at the audition, “(Inisip ko) baka familiar sa kanila ’yung song,” he added.
Although he was intimidated with the other actors and singers vying for the part, seeing how they prepared with script and dance steps perfectly memorized, Mark’s talent saw him through.
His faith also gave him the courage he needed. “Basta maging patient ka lang kasi si Lord may sariling way para maging successful ka at totoo ‘yung sinasabi Niya na ‘I have bigger plans for you,’” he said.
He believes going to London is his “destiny.”
So far away
The production of “Here Lies Love” requires Mark to stay in London for six months, or even longer – depending on how the audiences will respond to the musical.
Mark is not worried about how he would cope with being away from home. He is more anxious as to how his local fans would take to his prolonged absence.
“Kasi sabi nila na kapag umalis ka ng bansa it’s either makakalimutan ka talaga or may mangyayaring mas maganda sa ’yo,” he explained.
To stay in the loop, Mark plans to keep active via social media. Aside from that, he would also keep his presence felt on “Sunday All Stars.”
“Sabi nila magsend lang daw ako ng video ko palagi para mapakita sa TV,” he shared.
Hello, goodbye
In previous interviews, the Kapuso singer-actor shared how he’s found new inspiration. Apparently, he has been following a commercial model on Instagram whom he contacted to hopefully star in his music video. Luckily, she agreed to a meeting.
He made clear however that it wasn’t exactly a date. “Wala pang masyadong attachment,” he said, laughing.
Asked if the girl already knows that he will soon be leaving for London, Mark said, “Ngayon ko pa lang formal na sasabihin… another loss…”
That said, he is open to the possibility of finding love there. “Malay mo European pala mahanap ko,” he joked.
The singer is set to leave for London on Aug. 16.
Mark said “Here Lies Love” will focus on Imelda, touching on the love story between her and Ferdinand. It ends just at the onset of the EDSA Revolution.
“Hindi namin ipapakita dito ’yung mga problema nila sa politics dati… at wala ’yung mga shoes ni Imelda,” he stressed.
Also included in the cast are Australian actress Natalie Mendoza as Imelda, and “Britain’s Got Talent” semifinalist Dean John-Wilson as Ninoy Aquino.
Directed by Alex Timbers, the musical play will be staged at the National’s Dorfman Theatre in South Bank, London from Sept. to Jan. 2015.
