NAKU, Ian F., lungkot na lungkot ang kambal na sina Atasha at Andres Muhlach, pati na rin ang kanilang parents na sina Aga at Charlene, dahil nang dumating sila from school, they were told by their househelp that their pet dog, a Yorkshire, had died.

“Aksidente lang ang nangyari,” kuwento ni Ian Hakbang, long-time PA (production assistant)-cum-personal secretary ni Aga.

“Pinaliliguan si Jinka sa lababo (pangalan ng two-year-old  dog) dahil nga sa maliit lang ito.

“Ang report sa akin ng nagpapaligo, siguro, habang kumukuha siya ng tuwalyang pampahid sa doggie, naglakad sa level ng lababo. Nahulog at siguro, tumama ang ulo sa semento. Hayan, nangisay na.”

A Yorkshire, we learned from the Webster’s Dictionary, is an English breed of white dogs having erect ears.

Jinka was a gift for the twins by their Ninang Tess Santos.

“Mahal na mahal namin si Jinka,” sabi naman ni Aga. “Sa kama naming apat natutulog ’yon katabi namin. Kaya, much saddened kami by her death.”

* * *

In town is former actress Imelda Ilanan, mom ni Maricel Laxa at mother-in-law ni Anthony Pangilinan.

Imelda is here with husband Ben Avanceña.

Imelda said kagagaling nilang mag-asawa sa U.S. where they attended their son Michael’s graduation sa University of Missouri, USA.

Michael, 22, finished a course in Communication Arts. Sa Amerika raw nito gustong magtrabaho.

Imelda and Ben have been in and out of the country mula raw nang mag-retire ang huli bilang isa sa tinitingalang top guns ng isang multi-national company.

Henceforth, they have been traveling frequently,  may kinalaman naman sa business na itinayo ni Ben this time.

Imelda and Ben will mark their silver wedding anniversary on February 18, which also happens to be the birthday ng senior actress na si Perla Bautista.

They don’t plan to renew their vows but they are tendering a salu-salo na ang iimbitahan lang ay malalapit na relatives at kaibigan.

Ayon kay Imelda, ang handaan ay gaganapin sa Quezon Mansion, Broadway, Quezon City.

Ben is a son of Nini Avanceña, who will turn 91 (but still strong and kicking, ani Imelda) in April.

Nini is one of three children of the late Philippine President Manuel Quezon, after whom Quezon City was named.

President Manuel served as mayor of Quezon, not yet a city then, bago siya na-elect na Presidente ng Pilipinas.

* * *

Of daughter Maricel, nagmamalaking ibinalita ni Imelda na holder ito of a Family and Child Development diploma from the University of the Philippines (UP).

Dating aktibo sa pag-aartista, Maricel daw would rather be a tv host and broadsheet columnist.

Ang subject na paborito niya, of course, ay parenting.

Five lahat ang anak ni Maricel — three girls and two boys. The eldest is 15; the youngest, six months old.

From Imelda pa rin, we learned that Maricel’s half-sister, Mutya, formerly alaga ni Kuya Germs sa That’s Entertainment, has just given birth to her first baby.         Kaya raw siguro ’di nanghinayang si Mutya to give up her high-paying job in a multi-national company to go full-time sa business na pinasukan nilang mag-asawa.

Maricel and Mutya’s dad is former action star Tony Ferrer (real name: Antonio Laxa).

Mutya’s mom is former Mutya ng Pilipinas Alice Crisostomo.

* * *

Our sincere condolences to Manay Gina de Venecia, whose mother-in-law, Piring de Venecia (mother of  former House Speaker Joe de Venecia), died January 24 at the age of 102. Yes, 102.

Dinala na ang remains ng biyenan ni Gina sa Dagupan City at kasalukuyang nakaburol sa Cathedral ng St. John.

For a few days, ang remains ni Mommy Piring (as she is fondly called noong nabubuhay pa siya) ay ibinurol sa Christ the King Mortuary sa Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City.