February 28 marks the first anniversary of PEP's (Philippine Entertainment Portal) grand launching.
On this same day last year, YES! magazine, which was actually celebrating its 7th anniversary, and PEP threw a magnificent party for the prominent personalities in showbiz. The event was attended by over 168 celebrity guests, including film and TV producers, directors, talent managers, scriptwriters, and network executives.
Even Manay Ethel Ramos, the dean of the entertainment press, was impressed by the number of celebrities who came to celebrate with YES! magazine and PEP. She said, "Mas marami pa kayong artista kesa mga awards nights."
With a gathering this huge, people expected a lot of things to happen. In fact, after the event, YES! and PEP were mentioned in several TV news reports and written about in showbiz columns, not because of the celebration itself but because of the scene stealers that night.
Now, PEP looks back to its grand launching last year and recalls the important happenings that hit the headlines after the party.
SNUBBING INCIDENT. In article written by PEP contributor Allan Diones , he described the snubbing incident between former friends Gretchen Barretto and Dawn Zulueta.
The rift between these two actresses started during their pictorial for a shampoo brand and for Preview magazine that happened in late 2006. According to reports, Dawn allegedly called her fellow actress a prima donna during their photo shoot.
Since YES! and PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon knew about this, she made it sure that these two actresses would not be assigned to the same table.
Gretchen arrived with her friends Ruffa Gutierrez and Joyce Jimenez. Ruffa greeted her friend Dawn, but Gretchen apparently did not care to approach Dawn with any "Hi."
When showbiz reporters asked Gretchen if there was a chance she and Dawn would settle their issue that night, she confidently answered, "According to my Valentino gown, it's not gonna happen."
La Greta, popular nickname of Gretchen in showbiz, even argued that she already made a move before to patch things up with Dawn but nothing happened.
She explained further, "Tama na yung minsan lang, 'di ba? ‘Pag inulit mo pa, e, parang eng-eng ka na nun! At saka ayokong makatanggap ulit ng kung anu-anong e-mails, kaya huwag na lang! Basta ako, I'm happy and I'm true. Masaya ako sa buhay ko at totoo lang ako!"
Until now these two actresses have not reconciled. Dawn chose to lie low in showbiz and focuses instead on being the First Lady of Davao del Norte District II Representative Anton Lagdameo.
Gretchen has been involved in different scandals after that issue with Dawn. She had a kiss scandal with actor John Estrada and recently she allegedly had an affair with Reynaldo "Dodi" Puno, executive director of Road User Tax Boards (RUTB); and another kiss scandal with Ricky Yabut, brother-in-law of Gretchen's life partner Tonyboy Cojuangco.
GIVE RESPECT. This is what Ara Mina wanted when Rhian Ramos allegedly ignored her while greeting Polo Ravales, Ara's former boyfriend who was having a conversation with the sexy actress when Rhian butted in.
