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PEP YEAR-END REPORT (Part 2): A recount of stormy showbiz issues in 2008

Celebrities gave us enough to talk about this year, so we could forget, albeit momentarily, our day-to-day struggles.

Noel Orsal

PEP YEAR-END REPORT (Part 2): A recount of stormy showbiz issues in 2008

Karen A. Pagsolingan

Thursday, January 1, 2009
06:09 AM

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JUNE. The onset of the rainy season had the entire nation mourning the death of Action Prince Rudy Fernandez, who succumbed to cancer last June 7. He was 56.

 

On June 17, five days after Daboy was laid to rest, Gretchen Barretto strikes again with the "credit card" incident .

 

The actress-host-singer had a dinner with her sister Marjorie and showbiz friends Ruffa Gutierrez and Pops Fernandez, plus a non-showbiz lady named "Jocie" at the Dusit Hotel. When it was time to settle the bill, the swiping machine declined her credit card, and La Greta supposedly uttered her now-famous line: "We own the bank!"

 

Meanwhile, disputes with "in-laws" also became dominated the scene.

 

Sunshine Cruz, who confirmed her separation from husband Cesar Montano during the early part of 2008, elevated her issues against Ched Manhilot-Cantu, her sister in law, to the courts.

 

Likewise, Cheska Garcia decided to sever her ties with Jennylyn Mercado, the mom of her first pamangkin. In an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), the sister of Patrick said, "Would you invite a person who stepped on your brother a million times? No! No! Why should I?"

 

Another hot topic this month was the engagement of Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos.

 

JULY. The second major rift of 2008 involved Claudine Barretto, who had a "salon confrontation" with Angel Locsin.

 

The issue was brought up to ABS-CBN management, which acted as the mediator. A meeting was held last July 23, attended by Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos, ABS-CBN TV head Cory Vidanes, Star Cinema AdProm director Roxy Liquigan, Star Magic vice president Mariole Alberto, Becky Aguila (manager of Angel), and Raymart Santiago (husband of Claudine).

 

Afterwards, the management issued a statement: "Sa naganap na meeting, nilinaw ang mga isyung ito, kinilala at naintindihan ang nararamdaman at emosyon ng bawat isa. Naging malinaw ang lahat at nagkaroon ng kapatawaran."

 

But some PEP sources rebutted this, claiming that the two ladies allegedly had a heated argument in front of the bosses and did not arrive at a resolution. There were even talks that the "salon confrontation" did happen, but the reported trigger—which was Angel's bad attitude towards one of the staff—was allegedly a "made-up story."

 

Other stories that caught the attention of the fans: Riza Santos's "snob attitude" during the Bench Blackout event, the sudden breakup of Pauleen Luna and Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, and the birth of Danica Sotto's first baby.

 

AUGUST. Major events, with tinges of contention, ruled the month. There was the opening of KC Concepcion's first movie with Richard Gutierrez, and the birthday concert of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Both would take place on August 27, and this did not sit well with Annabelle Rama, mom and manager of Richard.

 

She deemed the schedule of Dingdong and Marian's concert as "sabotahe" and declared war against Wilma Galvante, senior vice president of GMA-7.

 

Another shocking news was Francis Magalona's confirmation of his leukemia. The Master Rapper issued a statement last August 13, saying: "Ngayon meron akong isang pagsubok na dapat daanan at ang hiling ko lang ay ang inyong pang-unawa at suporta. I have been diagnosed with leukemia and I am preparing for my treatment."

 

The next day, Pinoys streamed to the Medical City to donate blood for the Master Rapper.

 

August 16 marked the birthday of Jennylyn Mercado's baby. The young mom gave birth to her son (and Patrick Garcia's) at St. Luke's Hospital via caesarian section.

 

The month ended with a sad news: Comedienne Zorayda Sanchez died of breast cancer on August 28. She was 57.

 

SEPTEMBER. See how complicated a real-life drama could get...The story began with a gap between a talent manager and her ward. According to an article published by PEP on September 10 , it was caused by "finance-related matters."

 



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