KAREL Marquez cried as she confessed that she and husband Armand Go have separated. “Ako'ng umalis from our conjugal home two weeks ago,” she says. “Wala kaming communication since then. I got an apartment for me and our two kids. Pinadala na lang niya sa driver 'yung mga gamit namin.”

She was doing “Zaido” for GMA7 in 2007 when she suddenly left. “Na-in love ako, eh. We went to Australia and had a beach wedding. I got pregnant several months pa after the wedding.”

Why did they split? “There’s no third party involved. Talaga lang we realized we have different priorities.”

She’s only 24 and their two kids, Kielie and Kyler, are 2 and 1 year old. Didn’t they try saving their marriage by counselling? “Ayaw niya ng ganun, eh.”

What’s her message to him? “I hope maging happy siya. At sana, ayusin niya ang mga problema niyang dapat ayusin kasi ako, aayusin ko rin ang buhay ko. I’m just thankful my parents are very supportive of me.”

Her mom is singer-actress Pinky Marquez and her dad is a cosmetic surgeon with Beverly Hills 6750. She’s now managed by Annabelle Rama and is doing great as contravida to Alex Gonzaga in TV5’s “Babaeng Hampaslupa.”  “I asked around kung sino dapat kong kuning manager and everyone suggested Tita Annabelle. I like her as she’s a fighter and I know pinagtatanggol niya ang talents niya so I trust her.”

RHIAN NOT BOTHERED BY MO'S HEIGHT, AGE

RHIAN Ramos is the face of PLDTmyDSL that owns TV5, but she’s from GMA-7. “We have no problem with that,” says PLDT VP Gary Dujali at the launch of the new PLDTmyDSL My Home My Passion My Watchpad campaign. “Three years na si Rhian with us and she’s been with us even in our previous campaigns. She has a new commercial with us with the Watchpad crew of George Schulze, Blinky de Leon, Jackie Milner, Yassi Pressman and DJ Nikko Ramos. We’ve expanded and we now have over 200,000 additional new DSL lines in Alabang, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Dumaguete, Laguna, Legaspi, Butuan, Nueva Ecija and more.”

“I will be touring these places aboard the PLDT myDSL Speedster bus and you can subscribe now at www.myworldmydsl.com to watch your favourite show while on Facebook or Twitter,” she says. “I love it as you can also download videos and watch movies.” Has she watched a Triple X film? “Once, involving two women. I puked.”

Is she now officially on with DJ Mo? “He’s been courting me for a year but di ko pa sinasagot.”

People think they’re on. “When we’re together, we’re happy, always laughing, but I haven’t made it official. Aamin ako kapag totoong kami na.”

Is she bothered that she’s GMA and he’s TV5? “No, hindi naman kami magka-love team. I’m also not bothered by his lack of height or that he’s 12 years older than me. I like his honesty. He actually reminds me of my dad, his sense of humor. My dad likes him kasi nga he’s smart.”

How come there’s a rumor her mom doesn’t like Mo? “When it comes to things like that, my family doesn’t meddle as they know buhay ko ito so I decide for myself.”

LJ, PAOLO NOT SETTLING DOWN YET

LJ Reyes makes a comeback after giving birth to her son, Ethan Akio, now 7 months old. Her contract with GMA Artists Center expired and she got Perry Lansigan to be her new manager. She’ll play villain to Jackie Rice in “Sisid.”

“I’m ready for character roles,” she says. “Tama na’ng pa-sweet. Okay rin ako sa mature and off beat roles, gaya 'yung kay Natalie Portman sa ‘Black Swan’. I’m lucky na hindi ako masyadong lumaki when I was pregnant. Sabi nga ng mom ko, pag nakatalikod ako, di ako mukhang buntis, kaya nabalik din agad yung dati kong katawan.”

She’s not uptight talking about her being a mom, unlike her partner Paolo Avelino who chooses not to talk about being a dad. “Hindi ako nagsisisi. I’m happy with my son.”

What can she say about Paolo’s going sexy in his Bench billboard? “Okay lang 'yun. Nagpa-sexy rin naman ako sa FHM noon, eh. Kaya niya 'yun. Pinaghirapan niya yung katawan niya. Pag lumalabas nga kami, mga bading, tuwang-tuwa sa kanya.”

She says she and Paolo got close when they were doing “All My Life” for GMA almost two years ago. How’s Paolo with their son? “Ang tingin sa kanya ni Ethan, isang malaking playmate.”

Do they plan to tie the knot? “Siguro later, but not now.”

BEA'S MOM LIKES ZANJOE

BEA Alonzo looks radiant at her launch as the new Lactacyd endorser replacing Judy Ann Santos. Lactacyd execs say they’re happy with Juday’s performance but they want a fresh new model for their 2011 “Alagang Expert” campaign and Bea, being an expert actress on TV and films, is just perfect for this.

“I’m so happy na ako’ng kinuha as I’ve really been using the product from way back,” says Bea. “Feminine hygiene is very important at kundi rin lang ang alagang expert ng Lactacyd, ayoko na kasi it makes me feel fresh always. What’s nice kasi is they have five products to choose from like Lactacyd Classic, Fresh Radiance, Confidence for teens, their moisturizers and their wipes.”

Bea is celebrating her 10th year in showbiz. She started when she was 13 in “K2BU.”  At 14, she was cast opposite John Lloyd Cruz in “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay” that became their ticket to stardom. Now at 23, she’s one of ABS-CBN’s top actresses, currently nominated in Golden Screen Awards as best actress for “Sa’Yo Lamang.”  She’s also doing a new soap, “Guns and Roses” with Robin Padilla, and two new movies, one with Vic Sotto and the other one movie being the 18th anniversary presentation of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” with Angel Locsin.

What’s the status of her relationship with Zanjoe Marudo? “We’re dating, getting to know each other better. Mabait siya and even my mom likes him.”

ANDREA SIGNS UP WITH GMA

GMA7 signed up Andrea Torres to an exclusive 3-year contract. Andrea used to host “Ka-Blog” for them. “Hilig ko talaga mag-artista,” she says. “I’ve done plays in high school at St. Scholastica. Tapos nag-audition ako sa ‘Ka-Blog’ at nakuha ako for two years. I’ve done many TV commercials and also three movies: ‘Manay Po 2,’  ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll 11’ and ‘You to Me Are Everything’ as kontrabida kay Marian Rivera.”

Born on May 4, 1990, she’s taking up masscomm at UST and managed by Triple A All Access to Artists of Jojo Oconer, the husband of Ciara Sotto who’s also managing Julia Clarete. GMA plans to cast her in a drama show. Who’d she like to be paired with?

“Siyempre, sina Dingdong Dantes, Dennis Trillo, Aljur Abrenica, at Richard Gutierrez.”

‘BATTLE  OF THE CHAMPIONS'

THE finals of “Talentadong Pinoy Battle of Champions” starts tonight with nine Hall of Famers competing for P1 million cash prize and be the Philippine representative to the World Championship of the Performing Arts in Hollywood this July. The finalists are beatboxer Beatbox Gor, sand artist Joseph the Artist, Broadway princesses The Believers, sensuous singing trio Newborn Divas, fiery pole cancer Sfazhiva, real-life acrobatic partners Zion Show, amazing poi dancers Fire Attraction, dancing duo RR Friends and wildcard finalist Belinda Adora’s Stepkids, a group of young ballroom dancers. There’s also a showdown of winning celebrity Talentados who will partner with last year’s Talentadong Pinoy Hall of Famers: Ciara Sotto with the Far East Acrobats, Valeen Montenegro with the Tribal Dancers, Regine Tolentino with Makata Tawanan, and Rosanna Roces with Leah Patricio. This will be aired live from Ynares Center at Antipolo: 8:30 p.m. tonight and 7p.m. tomorrow night, Sunday.