The year 2014 may be tagged as the most romantic ever, evident on the number of proposals and engagements that happened for showbiz couples. In August, GMA 7 power couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes got engaged on live TV, while Sen. Chiz Escudero proposed to actress Heart Evangelista during their vacation at an exclusive beach resort.
Then just last September 24, actor/host and dancer John Prats proposed to girlfriend Isabel Oli.
The ABS-CBN actor proposed to the 32-year-old actress in the middle of a mall in Quezon City via a flash mob. Among who witnessed the happy moment were John’s sister, actress Camille Prats, and their friends Chynna Ortaleza, Sam Milby and Angelica Panganiban.
On her Instagram account, Camille posted videos of the proposal saying, “Congratulations my soon to be sister in law!!! So happy to officially welcome you in the family.”
John and Isabel have been a couple since early 2013, but in past interviews, the actor did not hesitate to admit that he’s ready to settle down with the actress only a few months into their relationship.
“Siguro that’s what I want and what I like about her,” he said in an interview in October 2013. “Hindi siya katulad nung ibang artista na mas nagfo-focus sa career. Maganda sa kanya, nakikita niya sarili niya as a housewife.”
The newly engaged couple is looking to marry in April 2015.
Congratulations to John and Isabel!
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Is Billy Crawford building a reputation of being a bad boy? Just last month, the Kapamilya actor-host was detained overnight in a police station in Taguig City after allegedly hitting a police officer and going berserk.
In an interview with The Buzz last September 7, the It’s Showtime co-host said he did not hit anyone during the incident.
“Wala akong kaaway. Kaaway ko sarili ko,” he said and added, “Yes, I had a few drinks. I was under the influence of alcohol. It escalated into something else.”
Explaning what happened, he said: “I actually went to the precinct, nasa Fort kami, sabi ko, ‘Pa-hold na lang ako, dito muna ako.’ Of course, they can’t do anything kasi wala naman akong ginagawa so they couldn’t hold me. So I walked back outside and called a few people.”
Billy further said, “I asked if they can just hold me. Then I went back and I said to the officer on duty, sinabi ko lang po na ‘Please i-hold niyo na lang ako dito kasi makakasakit pa ako ng tao at makakasakit pa ako sa sarili ko.’ And then nakabasag ako ng salamin,”
“That was it. Nakabasag ako ng salamin. I don’t remember if I punched or hit the wall or I kicked the door… That was it. That was the time na pinasok nila ako.”
Billy also admitted that it was his fault, and that he is currently under a lot of stress.
“To be honest, lahat naman tayo sumasabog. I’m under a lot of stress that time, fatigue, I was really tired. I actually just wanted to have a good time which turned sour. It was my fault. Wala akong nasaktan, wala akong tinulak, wala akong tinamaan kundi yung salamin,” he said.
Rumors came out saying that the cause of Billy’s stress could be the alleged video scandal of his 21-year-old girlfriend, model-actress-host Coleen Garcia. The video was said to show Coleen in a compromising act with an ex-boyfriend. However, many concluded that the scandalous video is a hoax.
We hope that is no love lost between Coleen and Billy, and here’s wishing that he will be able to conquer his demons.
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Coco Martin is in trouble and it’s not entirely his fault.
The Prince of Philippine Independent Films was recently in hot water after he was criticized for playing the role of a ringmaster pulling a woman on a leash during Bench’s The Naked Truth fashion show last September 19 at the SM Mall of Asia.
Women’s groups like Gabriela and the Philippine Women Commission found Coco’s segment disturbing and offensive to women. Because of this, the actor found himself a target of hateful remarks, as well as his family.
In a press conference last September 30, the actor’s legal counsel, Lorna Kapunan shared that Coco “did not have the slightest intention on his mind to insult women.”
She also added that the actor only rehearsed once and was told about his role a day before the show.
“Mr. Martin sincerely expresses his apology and requests the public for understanding. Mr. Martin equally feels bad about the incident and saddened at the thought that be unwittingly offended the public,” Kapunan read Coco’s statement. “While offering no excuse and admits that a mistake has been made, Mr. Martin wants to set the record straight about the incident. Mr. Martin has an existing contract that obliges him to appear on fashion shows for Bench. Nevertheless, Mr. Martin, nor his manager or staff, was not involved in the conceptualization of the production of the Naked Truth Show nor the segment entitled ‘The Animal Within Me.’ He only appeared once for a rehearsal which was a day prior to the show and it was only then that the role, as a ring master, was given to him.”
Another problem was the language barrier. Being more comfortable in the Filipino tongue, Coco was unable to express his concern about the segment to the Canadian model he was partnered with.
Aside from being sorry, the incident has taught Coco to be more sensitive and mindful of the roles given to him. On the other hand, Bench chairman Ben Chan also apologized to the actor for “involving him in the controversial scene.”
