The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
2023 brought many things, good and bad, and everything in between, to showbiz.
Let’s start with the not-so-good like deaths.
The whole Philippines and the world was shocked when veteran and award-winning actor Ronaldo Valdez, Ronald James Dulaca Gibbs in real life, was pronounced dead on December 17 by the Quezon City Police Department for alleged suicide by shooting.
The authorities discovered a .45 caliber pistol and magazines beside him in a room.
There was even a trigger video that ciculated in social media that showed the victim still sitting a chair which the Gibbs and Valdez’s manager Jamela Santos complained about which the police department took action on and relieved the operatives involved in the case.
The police report stated that Ronaldo sustained wounds in his right and left temple.
Ronaldo was cremated and his ashes were laid in the urn and vigiled by mourners at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City.
After his angoplasty, entertainment journalist of ABS-CBN Mario V. Dumaual was transferred to a recovery room where he stayed until he suffered another stroke and was put again in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he sustained severe allergy that led to a septic shock that eventually killed him.
The Philippine movie press, the entire showbiz and the ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs mourned Mario’s passing.
Meanwhile, both the media industry and the literary circle wept for the death of novelist, screenwriter, poetess and feminist Lualhati Bautista two days before Valentine’s Day.
Popular action star John Regala died of complications from diabetes that moved the whole entertainment industry to tears.
John, John Paulo Guido Boucher Scherrer, was the controversial son of 1960s actors Ruby Regala and Mel Francisco, now both deceased.
Jun Urbano, son of National Artist for Film Manuel Conde passed on after he was feted with an award, the Gawad Plaridel, by the University of the Phiippines College of Mass Communication (UPCMC).
Radio and TV iconic man Mike Enriquez left the whole broadcast industry with an indelible mark as a professional and fierce media person. Heart illness took his life away and local audio-visual industry is never the same again.
Comedian and actor Joey Paras also died of heart attack.
Writer and director of GMA Network’s “Anna Liza” Gil Soriano was dead in December as his daughter Guia posted on her Facebook.
Breakups and sepatations are also bad news as Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla broke up after eleven years of being girlfriend-boyfriend
KathNiel cried a river over the split although Kathryn and Daniel were still seen together like in the 2023 Asian Artists Award.
Before the year ended, the more than one decade romance of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim ended as Kim quipped: “The end of a love story…”
Although still unconfirmed by themselves, Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez were on the their separate ways as wife and husband when Annabelle Rama talked about her son and daughter-in-law’s breakup.
Asia’s Timeless Diva Dulce called it quits with husband Bernard Cruzata on a bitter note.
Queen of All Media Kris Aquino ended her romance with Batangas Province Vice Governor Mark Leviste although they have remained good friends.
Family fued is an ugly tiding that sent show business in frenzy when Isabel Rivas announced that her friend and colleague, 1975 Mutya ng Pilipinas Miss Photogenic Azenith Briones was committed by the beauty queen-actress’ kids to a rehab center against her will.
Isabel denied Azenith is s drug addict much more a lunatic.
The accusations were denied by one of Briones’ James Matthew Briones Reyes.
Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and their loyal “dabarkads (peers)” severed ties with Television and Production Exponents, Inc (TAPE).
TJV took their daily noontime show to TV5 but since the title “Eat Bulaga” was contested by them and the Jalosjoses of TAPE, the trio named their program ” E.A.T.” while “Eat Bulaga” is still a Channel 7 show with Paolo Contis, Mentong Sumaya, twins Mavy and Cassy Legaspi, among others.
Before the year ended, the law favored the petition of TVJ.
Meanwhile, weddings are good news as LJ Reyes and Fil-Am businessman Philip Evangelista got married in New York.
Finally, LJ was able to walk down the aisle in white wedding gown after her relationships, first with Paulo Avelino, and later, with Paolo Contis that produced Ethan Akio and Summer Ayana, respectively.
2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Jeremy Jauncey held their garden wedding in East Africa by the sea and mountain.
Lovi Poe and Hollywood film producer Monty Blencowe tied the knot in the United Kingdom after she took a respite from shooting ABS-CBN’s “Batang Quiapo” with Coco Martin.
Irishman David Rainey wedded again Glaiza de Castro, this time, in the Philippines after their UK matrimony.
Walking down the aisle twice for 2016 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maxene Medina with Batangueno Timothy Llana was an exciting venture.
Maxene and Timothy first got married in Antipolo and secondly, in Palawan.
Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert said “I dos” twice as well.
They were wedded first at the Mary Help of Christians in Paranaque City and days later, they walked down the aisle of Ananda Club in Tagaytay.
Yaya Dub Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde went up Baguio City and they had a dream wedding there that was witnessed by their kith and kin and after a couple of days, the two flew to Bali, Indonesia to join the grand wedding of friends Maja Salvador and Rambo Nunez.
Engagements are also good vibes as 2017 Miss Universe Catriana Gray got engaged with Sam Milby and actress Mara Lopez said “yes” to American businessman Chandler Booth’s marriage proposal.
ABS-CBN also engaged in a teleserye collaboration with GMA Network in the primetime drama ” Unbreak my Heart.”
Reunions are also on a positive note when former bold stars Vida Verde, Cherry Madrigal, Aleli Abadilla, Joy Sumilang, Janice Jurado, Katrina Paula, Myrna Castillo, Nelda Quizon, Myra Manibog and organizer Amanda Amores held a get-together at the Barangay Santo Domingo Hall where thd daughter of Amanda, China Yu-Kim is the inumbent Chairwoman.
There are still many news and events made by TV, film, stage and multimedia actors and we will present them in the forthcoming editions of Market Monitor in both online and offline outlets.
In 2024, showbiz denizens will again make news of all persuasions.
Happy New Year!
Photo Captions
1. (From left, standing) Obette Searrno, Janice Jurado, Vida Verde, Akeli Abadilla, Myrna Castillo, Joy Sumilang and Amanda Amores(seated, Nelda Quizon) (Photo Credit: Boy Villasanta)
2. Azenith Briones (Photo Credit: Boy Villasanta)
3. Ronaldo Vadez
4. Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (Photo Credit: Kathryn Bernardo’s Facebook)
5. Xian Lim and Kkm Chiu (Photo Credit: Xian Lim’s Facebook)
6. Kris Aquino (Photo Credit: Kris Aquino’s Instagram)