Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Winners

Last Saturday, March 8 at the Araneta Coliseum held the Grand Coronation Night for the country’s most prestigious beauty pageant the Binibining Pilipinas 2008.

It was a memorable evening as 24 official candidates battled for the much-coveted titles in a Philippine festival-inspired production staged by GMA 7 with its main host Paolo Bediones, Charlene Gonzales-Mulach and Precious Lara Guigaman. Guest performers were the Whiplash Dancers, Paolo Paraiso, Alfred Vargas, Marco Alcaraz, Aljur Abrenica, and the Angelos who serenade the beautiful ladies.

Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Winners

 After the battle in the Swimsuit, Long Gown, Question and Answer, merged the winners of the night. The Bb. Pilipinas International 2008 was bagged by Candidate number 2, 22 year-old, Miss Patricia Fernandez, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2008 is Candidate number 7, Ms. Jennifer Barrientos, 22 years old and Candidate number 15, 17 year-old Ms. Janina San Miguel who was a very surprised winner after the controversial Q&A portion. The three ladies will represent our country in their respective title for Miss International 2008 in Japan, Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, and Miss World 2008 in Ukraine.

The runner’s up, 1st runner up Candidate number 8, 18 year-old Danielle Castaño and 2nd runner up Candidate number 18, 24 years old Elizabeth Jacqueline Nacuspag.

Other candidates who won special awards included Miss Natasha: #2 Patricia Fernandez, Miss Natasha Poise & Grace, Miss Bacchus Energy Drink, Miss Ever Bilena, Miss Philippine Air Lines (PAL) and Miss Photogenic: #8 Danielle Castano, Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice: #20 Roxanne Tadique, Miss Talent: #24 Rizza Liz Catigan, #6 Evangeline Mae Castillo,Best in Swimsuit and Best in Long Gown #15 Janina San Miguel

(From L-R): Bb. Pilipinas International 2008 Patricia Fernandez, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2008 Jennifer Barrientos, Bb. Pilipinas World 2008 Janina San Miguel

credit for the pictures www.bbpilipinas.com

Ms. Charo Santos-Concio is new ABS-CBN President

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer Gabby Lopez III announced the appointment of Channel 2 Head Ms. Charo Santos-Concio as President effective March 1. Charo assumes the position formerly held by Freddie M. Garcia, then Cito Alejandro and then (temporarily) by Gabby himself, a long-overdue promotion for the network executive who has just completed a three-month stint, from August to November 2007, at Harvard Business School, where she attended an advanced management program.

Ms. Santos-Concio was previously head of the broadcast giant’s flagship station Channel 2, with “total business responsibilities” coordinating sales, marketing, and production.

She joined ABS-CBN as consultant when the network reopened in 1987, becoming director for programs in 1989, vice-president for production operations in 1991, and senior vice-president for TV Production in 1996.

Ms. Concio was promoted executive vice-president in 1998, taking on full responsibility in overseeing all the entertainment content of ABS-CBN.

Charo Santos-Concio started in the show-business industry as an actress. Some of her most memorable films are Itim, Kakabakaba Ka Ba?, Julian Makabayan, Gumapang Ka sa Lusak, to name a few. Charo won Best Actress in the 1976 Asian Film Festival for her performance in Itim.

While she was still active in the acting profession, she also worked in Bancom Films, Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, AudioVision, Vision Exponents, and Regal Films, before becoming an executive producer for Vanguard Films. It was during her stint at Vanguard that ABS-CBN invited her as a consultant.

She is the host of the multi-awarded drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

Good luck, Ms. Charo and ABS-CBN!

Heart Evangelista Receives P.5-million Diamond Necklace from Echo

Jericho Rosales is delighted that he finally set foot on the “territory” of Heart Evangelista’s family during her birthday held at the Ongpauco Bldg.

It was the first time that Heart’s boyfriend, Jericho Rosales, was able to enter the premises since they became a couple two-and-a-half years ago. Heart, whose real name is Love Marie Ongpauco, had a falling out with her father Reynaldo and it took them almost three years to fix the rift between them. She revealed that she has reconciled with her father, bringing much happiness for the 23-year-old actress.

Did she wear the necklace?….

On February 13, the day before her 23rd birthday, Heart hosted an intimate dinner for her close friends and select members of the press at the Ongpauco building in Greenhills, San Juan.

What did Echo give Heart? “This one,” she says, playing with the diamond-studded necklace around her neck that more or less worth half a million pesos.

Later that night, Echo surprised Heart by arranging for a fireworks display that was visible from the fourth floor veranda of the Ongpauco building. When Heart blew out her candles at around 11 pm, the multi-colored pyrotechnics lit up the sky.

Heart is also one of the newest endorsers of Sunsilk shampoo, along with Maja Salvador and Marian Rivera. They are paired with other global icons such as Madonna and Marilyn Monroe. “When I heard about it, sobrang na-flatter ako na I’m part of the global icons,” she recounts happily.

Bianca and Lino - Together Again?

Bianca Gonzales admitted during the launch OF Cinema One’s Celebrity Central Block, for the first time that Lino Cayetano her ex-boyfriend, film-TV director gifted her with flowers last Feb. 18, four days late. On the other hand, she does not want to admit they are boyfriend/girlfriend again. She says this is up for Lino to confirm.”It’s hard for me to discuss the status of our relationship. It’s better for the reply to come from the guy.”

Last month, Bianca and Lino were spotted in Singapore’s Sentosa Resort.

The two met in 2005 on the set of the now defunct ABS-CBN show, “Star Dance,” which Bianca co-hosted with Vanessa del Bianco, Archie Alemenia and JC Cuadrado.

oh, my lovely Bianca….

They became a couple for over a year and a half but broke up in October 2006, after a quarrel over Bianca’s closeness to fellow “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Zanjoe Marudo. Lino has since been linked to KC Concepcion, Sharon Cuneta’s daughter.

She denied talk that it was Lino’s breakup with KC that re-ignited their romance. “I never asked what happened to them because it’s really not my business. If I want to get together with someone, I don’t want to burden him with past issues. “Lino is a very decent guy and he won’t start to talk to me again kung alam niyang may ibang masasaktan”.

“Honestly, we’re not back together-officially,”"Unlike two people who just met, we already know each other-our good and bad traits. Our relationship is in a stage in which we’re enjoying talking to each other again.”According to Bianca, Lino is currently vacationing in the United States. He is considering taking a job abroad, after doing a kid’s show in Singapore recently and meeting producers there.Meanwhile Bianca and Eri Neeman are the hosts of Cinemanews Weekend Edition every Friday of Celebrity Central Block. Mariel Rodriguez hosts Celebrity Hit List every Monday. Persona goes on air every Tuesday. My Space as hosted by Mylene Dizon every Wednesday. VIP Pass airs every Thursday as hosted by Kat Alano.

Jennylyn Mercado admits breakup with Patrick Garcia

Jennylyn Mercado confirms in an interview held at Hotel Rembrandt last February 20 that she and boyfriend Patrick Garcia had ended their relationship.We don’t communicate. We don’t talk to each other anymore. We’re not together again,” Jennylyn told GMA-7’s “Startalk” on Saturday.In her emotional interview, Jennylyn was asked if Patrick had “formally” indicated he wanted to break up with her.

Jennylyn and Patrick before the breakup

I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to be strong for my baby even if he’s not there. I need it for myself,” Jennylyn said.Asked if the milk supplement former boyfriend Mark Herras gave her and rumors that Mark could be her child’s father had sparked their latest falling-out, Jennylyn said, “Obvious naman kung sino ang boyfriend ko tapos i-ku-question pa kung sino ang tatay. Ang pangit naman ang tingin nila sa akin”Jennylyn was referring to insinuations in media reports and statements from Patrick’s Patrick’s mom, Bing Garcia, on Mark’s gesture.

“Because of that (milk supplement), it would appear Patrick could not provide…I’m not saying what he did was wrong, that he had bad intentions. But other people would put color into it. See, because of a box of milk, the baby is not Patrick’s anymore),” Bing told “Startalk” in a separate interview.Jen also admits that she was badly hurt about Patrick’s “No Comment” answer after being asked in The Buzz last Sunday, February 17 if he is the real father of Jen’s baby.Jennylyn appealed to Patrick: “I always remind him that I need him whenever I go for a check-up. I always need him to be by my side, to take care of me. Even just a phone call would do. He doesn’t need to come here. He can just a call or just ask how I’m doing.”Asked if she still wanted to mend her thinning ties with Patrick, Jennylyn said: “Yes. For our sake, I will wait no matter how long it takes just to settle this. I hope we could talk soon and settle what needs to be settled.”Meanwhile, Patrick refused to air his side on “Startalk,” saying his silence was for the best of Jennylyn.