Showbiz Chika

Gerald Anderson held a press conference for his 22nd birthday on March 7 before he proceeded to a gift-giving activity for young cancer patients in Quezon City. Asked for his birthday wish, the Fil-Am actor replied, “Sana tuloy-tuloy ang mga [magagandang] nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Pagpasok pa lang ng taon, sunud-sunod ang mga blessings na dumarating sa akin ngayon, so ayun sana tuloy-tuloy lang.”

Gerald also shared that the best material gift that he received is a massage chair from Kim Chiu. “Actually sabi nga ni Kim lahat nasa akin na, mahilig ako sa mga gadgets ‘yun ang naisipan niya [ibigay sa akin].” He continued that the massage chair was delivered to his home, but there was no card from Kim. Gerald added that he is already thinking of a gift for Kim, whose birthday is coming up this April. “Ako rin magbibigay rin ako sa kanila kasi malapit na ang birthday niya at lilipat na siya sa bagong bahay niya,” he said.

The action-drama prince also said that he does not feel jealous at all about Kim’s new admirer, basketball player Simon Atkins, who has been vocal about his admiration for the tsinita actress. “Hindi na po ako nagugulat… kung si Brad Pitt yayain si Kim kasi magandang babae si Kim,” he explained. “Marami pa ‘yan. Hindi lang si Simon.

“Kailangan lang tanggapin mag-move on o mag-focus sa trabaho,” he said referring to his past romantic relationship with Kim.

Gerald added that despite the painful controversies he and Kim went through last year, they are still able to remain close friends today. “Kumbaga marami nga kaming pinagdaanan na masama last year but it’s going to be a better road para sa aming lahat.” He went on to say that his friendship with Kim is like any other relationship that experienced trials but resolved differences in the end.

However, the actor refused to comment on the question about ever getting back with Kim. “Basta ang importante sa akin ang friendship namin ni Kim ay intact pa rin. Special si Kim and she will always be special.”

Some members of the press also asked Gerald if Bea Alonzo greeted him on his birthday, to which he said no. Gerald got romantically involved with Bea last year which resulted in a big controversy. He gave a safe answer when prodded about the current status of their relationship. “Okay kami. Kumbaga tapos [na ‘yung phase]. Moving on na kaming lahat,” and added that he and Bea parted ways amicably and that there are no more hard feelings between them. “Naging close din kami but maganda naman ang paghihiwalay naming lahat.”

On the other hand, Gerald was more comfortable when the  subject turned to Sarah Geronimo, his leading lady in his upcoming movie Catch Me, I’m In Love. He confirmed that Sarah approached him and greeted him a happy birthday last Sunday (March 6) on ASAP Rocks.

Gerald continued that the Pop Princess did not give him a gift but Sarah’s friendship is already enough for him. “Okay na sa akin ‘yung friendship niya. Kumbaga sobra kaming okay: lahat ng staff, crew, kasama si Sarah. Sobra akong nagpapasalamat kasi ‘yung friendship niya ‘yun ang binigay niya.”

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Until now there are some people who still refuse to believe that Bea Alonzo and Zanjoe Marudo are really dating since it was too soon after the former’s controversial romance with Gerald Anderson. But the dramatic actress was quick to say that she’s not merely on the rebound and she’s very happy right now with Zanjoe. “Hindi ko sasabihin yun [that Zanjoe helped her to move on after her failed romance with Gerald]. I wouldn’t put it that way. It’s different. Dumating siya (Zanjoe) sa buhay ko… He’s there hindi para pawiin yung sinasabi mong kung ano mang pain from other experiences. This is another chapter in my life na hindi rin kailangan [idamay] kung ano pa yung nakaraan. Right now, I’m happy where I am,” she stated during her contract signing with Star Cinema last night, March 7.

Bea refused to say, however, where their closeness is heading even though they’ve been constantly dating since late last year; mainly because she doesn’t want to make promises that she couldn’t keep. “Hindi naman [sa I don’t want to put a label on it]. It’s just hard to commit right now kasi madami ako ginagawa. It’s hard to say to that person na this is what I want to offer you, lalo na kung hindi matutupad kasi you have lots of things to do, madami kang responsibilidad. So kung ano lang yung, halimbawa, meron akong available time, I want to spend time with him, i-invite ko siya. Yun lang ginagawa namin.”

When asked if they’re exclusively dating, Bea replied that Zanjoe is the only guy who’s courting her right now. “Alam mo, we don’t want to talk about kung anong estado namin. We'll just go with the flow right now. We’re happy being with each other’s company and it’s been fun hanging out with him, yun ang mas importante. Although busy na ako at busy na rin siya ngayon. Mas parang madalas kami noon magkita. Pero mas maganda kasi every time we see each other, mas masaya [kasi mas exciting at mas madami kayong makwekwento sa isa’t isa].”

Bea was also surprisingly vocal about how she and Zanjoe spend time together and how he often showers her with gifts and flowers. “I am not aware of the things that I do differently with him. I don’t think of it too much. Kung anong natural na lumalabas sa akin, yun lang. And I think yun ang mas maganda e, kung ano yung totoong ikaw, kung anong napapakita mo sa tao, kung nagko-connect kayo, yun ang mas maganda and I think its working. But yes, dumadalaw siya, pumupunta siya [sa condo], susunduin niya ako tapos lalabas kami. We do a lot of special things together, so special that I cannot share it with you,” she cheerfully added.

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Given her husband’s reputation as a certified ladies’ man, rumor has it that Mariel Rodriguez has been frequenting the set of Guns and Roses so that she could keep an eye on Robin Padilla and his leading lady Bea Alonzo. But Mariel claimed that there’s no truth to such reports because she knows that the two are complete professionals. “Although wala pa naman talaga akong naririnig na ganon, pero siguro ganon talaga, yun ang interpretation nila. But I am very excited for their show. We respect Bea, we respect Robin’s work. Robin has good work ethics. Siguro hindi naman siya tatagal for the last 25 years in the movie industry kung wala siyang work ethics ‘di ba? Hindi [ako nabo-bother na baka magkadevelopan sila], ngayon pa,” said Mariel in an interview with Push.com.ph.

Incidentally, Bea is currently dating Mariel’s ex-boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo. When asked how she feels that the two are now an item, Mariel said that she’s really thrilled that Zanjoe has improved a lot when it comes to expressing his feelings. “I am happy na nasasabi niya yung nararamdaman niya openly, that’s good.” For the record, the bubbly TV host stressed that she has no angst towards Zanjoe even though they didn’t exactly part on good terms last year. “Wala naman talagang issue kasi Zanjoe and I were no longer together when I met Robin last year. So kumbaga may closure naman kaya there are no issues for us to worry about.”

In fact, Mariel can see herself being good friends with Zanjoe again. But there would have to be certain limitations because of her status as a married woman. “E sa akin naman lahat ng nakilala mo na tao dapat talaga meron kayong friendship, what more towards someone that you had a relationship with? It’s just that we have to respect na I’m married now, parang hindi rin proper na lalabas kayo, parang hindi ko nakita na ganon ‘di ba?”

In the meantime, Mariel’s excited to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with Robin. Although she’s been working almost 24/7 for Happy Yipee Yehey!, she made sure that they would still have quality time together at home. “Everyday is Valentine’s for us, kinikilig ako. Siyempre mag-uumpisa pa lang yung noontime show, so ang ang sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘Think of your work, don’t think about me first,’ very supportive naman siya. On my part, sinabihan ko din naman ang handler ko na basta Sunday and Monday ‘wag mo ko iko-commit ha. Wife ako n’yan. I’m really happy,” she beamed.

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