A PAPER announces: “Hayden Kho to make a comeback.”  This prompts a newshen to ask: “Excited ba kayo? Na-miss nyo ba siya?”

She does have a point there. We don’t think anyone missed him. And as another columnist pointed out, the memory of the sex videos he did with his partners is still fresh in the people’s mind. At any rate, is it true his current partner, Dr. Vicki Belo, does not approve of his being active in showbiz again? We remember then that Dr. Belo blamed showbiz when he went wayward the first time with Katrina Halili. Obviously, she knows that if her inamorato would get into showbiz again, that might cause his backsliding as he’s easily tempted by the trappings of tinseltown.

No wonder she told someone she’s no longer that happy with her relationship with him and although they’re now officially engaged, she’s also not hoping anymore that their planned wedding will still take place. She doesn’t even care anymore whatever will happen to their relationship.

RICH BURNT BY BEAUTY PAGEANT

RICH Asuncion is happy to be assigned a meaty role as a contravida in “Biritera.”  “I play the aunt of Roseanne Magan who forces her to sing and excel as I have my own ulterior motives,” she says. “Maiinis ang viewers sa ’kin kasi user ako rito.”

Rich was first runner up when she joined Bb. Pilipinas a couple of years ago. Some folks are urging her to join Miss Philippines World this time. Gwen Ruais also lost in Bb. Pilipinas but ended up as first runner up in the Miss World Pageant. “Naku, ayoko nang sumali in another beauty pageant,” she says. “Maraming nagsasabing dapat sumali ako at mas may chance ako this time. Hindi lang nila alam what pressure I went through noon. Hindi ko naman talaga dream maging beauty queen. I was just also convinced by some friends then. Happy na ako in my work as an actress and I’m grateful na lagi akong may trabaho sa GMA, kaya hindi rin totoo yung tsismis na I want to move to another network.”

TIME NOT ENOUGH FOR FANS' QUESTIONS

‘SHOWBIZ Central’ introduced a new segment, “10-20.” A pair of stars will answer 10 questions from their fans in 20 seconds. The invited stars were from “Alice Bungisngis and Her Magic Walis.” The first pair was Derrick Monasterio and Lexi Fernandez. Obviously, 20 seconds are not enough to answer all the questions. Derrick was asked if he’d give flowers to Bea Binene and he said yes. “For the love team to work, kailangan may konting spice,” he adds. Lexi was asked if she’s in love with Jake Vargas since it’s rumored they’re the ones who are really on. Her simple reply: “Wala naman 'yun, eh.”

Bea and Jake were later on subjected to the same routine. Again, they weren’t able to answer all the fans’ questions. Bea was asked which one she prefers, matangkad or maliit? “Pareho lang, but since si Jake ang ka-love team ko, di maliit.” Which one would Jake choose, Bea or Lexi? His reply: “Both.”

“Showbiz Central” was one big promo venue for incoming and outgoing GMA shows. Aside from “Alice Bungisngis,”  host Jennylyn Mercado had a special interview with Bianca King who’s promoting “Broken Vow.” If you haven’t noticed, they have something in common: Dennis Trillo.

New child star Roseanne Magan and co-stars Angelika de la Cruz, Glaiza de Castro and Rich Asuncion came to promote “Biritera.”

For shows that will end this Friday, Richard Gutierrez came with castaways Maey, Betong, Stef and Mara to promote the finale of “Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown” that ends on Friday. Barbie Forteza, Joshua Dionisio, Kristoffer Martin and Joyce Ching also showed up to promote the final week of “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin.”  Chef Boy Logro was the subject of the “Story of Your Life” segment to promote his hit morning show, “Kusina Master.”

BORGY WILLING TO BE AN ACTOR

JM De Guzman actually plays a supporting role in “PintaKasi” as villain to John Wayne Sace, who plays the lead role, but it is JM who won as best actor in the recent Metro Manila Filmfest Award. This is understandable as he gives such a compelling performance as the young kingpin in the troubled Isla Pulo, where the story is set, that he completely overshadows his co-stars in all of his scenes. And to think that JM was still quite overweight when they shot this movie. Unlike now in “Angelito, Batang Ama” where he is lean.

At the movie’s press preview, it was Borgy Manotoc who gave the opening remarks. He’s handling the film’s marketing for his mom, Imee Marcos, who produced it, and he came with model girlfriend Georgina Wilson. Is he also open to try acting? “I’m open. Maybe, in time. There have been offers but I have yet to find the right project for me. I want one that will explore the other sides of me, not just being a model. I feel I have more to offer. But right now, I’d rather work behind the camera and be on the creative side to help my mom with ‘PintaKasi’ as I believe in this project. It won best picture in the Metro Manila Filmfest new wave section and we feel it deserves to be seen by a wider audience so it’ll be screened in various SM Cinemas starting Wednesday, February 8.”

He and Georgina have been together for sometime now. Do they plan to walk down the aisle soon? “No, we’re both busy and involved in our respective careers right now and, although we’re happy being together, that’s our priority. We still want to grow individually.”

MRS. VILLAR NOT IN FAVOR OF WILLIE'S AND CAMILLE’S AGE GAP

THE last time we saw ex-Rep. Cynthia Villar was when she was helping husband Manny Villar campaign in the last election. We were surprised when we saw her at the lunch for her and daughter Camille as she has lost a lot of weight. “Pumayat kayo,” we told her.

“I changed my eating habits,” she said. “Sa halip ng three meals a day na marami, I eat frequent but small meals lang. Mabilis siyang makapayat.”

What does she think of Camille joining showbiz as “Wiltime Bigtime” host? “I think enjoy naman siya. But she’s still adjusting.”

What about rumors linking Camille to Willie Revillame? “We just laugh at it kasi hindi naman totoo.  Willie is very close to our family at siya nga ang nag-alok kay Camille na maging co-host niya. Wala kaming pinag-usapang kontrata o talent fee at all. But I don’t think liligawan niya si Camille kasi ang laki ng age gap nila, more than 20 years. Even my friends who married older guys say it’s not practical. Kasi, 60 na sila but the guys at 80, uugod-ugod na.

Si Camille naman, hanggang hosting lang. Ayaw niyang umarte sa harap ng kamera. Minsang kumanta siya, nu’ng birthday ni Willie, tinukso siya ni Willie na tumutula raw siya, so ayaw na rin niya kumanta.”

JOSHUA TRAUMATIZED BY AUDITIONS

JOSHUA Dionisio revealed when we visited him on the set of “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin” in Subic that when he was still with ABS, he auditioned for the title role of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” but he was rejected. “I got depressed dahil du’n,” he says. “Parang nagka-trauma ko at natakot na ako mag-audition. But when GMA7 called for auditions for ‘Stairway to Heaven’, sumali uli ako at nakuha ako. That’s where Barbie Forteza and I were paired for the first time at nag-click agad kami sa viewers so we were launched in ‘First Time’. Now, very happy ako sa GMA.”

He got chubby before but he’s leaner now and his face is now also devoid of pimples. “I drink vegetable juice to lose weight and I go regularly sa derma para kuminis ang balat ko. Talagang tumaba ako noon at dumami ang pimples ko, eh.”

What’s his Valentine gift to Barbie? “I don’t know yet.”

Barbie butts in at this point. “Naku, madali naman akong regaluhan. Alam niyang Hello Kitty ang favorite ko. His last gift to me was Hello Kitty seat covers for my car at tuwang-tuwa na ako noon.”

Their fans are asking what will be their next project after “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin”? “We don’t know yet,” says Joshua. “But they can still watch us in ‘Tween Hearts’ and ‘Party Pilipinas’ every Sunday.”