Special awards as usual, added glitter to the night and served as an incentive to celebrities who showed up for the 24th Star Awards For Movies last night. “Celebrity Fab of the Night” was Piolo Pascual and Maja Salvador; “Celebrity Mom of the Night” was Dawn Zulueta who also served as host of the 24th Star Awards for Movies; Faces of the Night was Piolo Pascual and Pops Fernandez; and Stars of the Night was John Lloyd Cruz and Eula Valdes.

Ai-Ai delas Alas, emotionally accepted her 2nd Best Actress award in Star Awards for Movies (The Star Awards calls it Movie Actress of the Year); this time for the movie Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo. AiAi brought the house down when she quipped that all her co-nominees video clips were shown with all of them crying while her clip was about her falling from the stairs. She then dedicated her Best Actress Award to her co-nominees: Maricel Soriano, Lorna Tolentino, Judy Ann Santos, Bea Alonzo, and Cherry Pie Picache. Ai Ai also acknowledged her part in the James Yap-Kris Aquino brouhaha, albeit indirectly, by thanking God for her Award, she said, “despite all the controversies” she went through recently, there is a reward (her award).

Paolo Contis won Movie Actor of the Year for the film Banal. Movie Supporting Actress of the Year is Eugene Domingo for the digital film, Pisay. Movie Supporting Actor of the Year is Emilio Garcia for Selda.

Nash Aguas won as Movie Child Performer of the Year for the film, Angels.  Lovi Poe won New Movie Actress of the Year for Shake, Rattle & Roll 9, while Matt Evans also won for the same movie, as New Movie Actor of the Year. These two awards btw, are considered “jinx” awards..lol..

Willie Urbino won Movie Production Designer of the Year for Ataul For Rent; Vanessa Valdez, Movie Original Screenplay for A Love Story; Raul Mitra, Movie Musical Scorer of the Year for Paano Kita Iibigin; Ditoy Aguila and Rudy Gonzales, Movie Sound Engineer for Ouija; and Ogie Alcasid, Movie Theme Song of the Year for his hit single, Paano Kita Iibigin. Ogie thanked partner Regine Velasquez in her acceptance speech for the inspiration.

Regine Velasquez bagged the Darling of the Press Award. The late Rudy Fernandez was awarded a pusthumous Ulirang Artista award.

One More Chance earned four awards including the plum, Movie of the Year, usually awarded to the movie’s producers, Star Cinema. Movie Cinematographer of the Year, Manuel Teehankee, Movie Editor of the Year, Marya Ignacio; and Cathy Garcia Molina, Movie Director of the Year. Cathy Garcia Molina recently cause some buzz when she categorically mentioned actor Richard Gomez as the actor she is not looking forward to work with anytime, being a difficult and “nagmamarunong” actor..

Out of the nine categories for digital films, Cinema One Originals winner Confessional garnered 5 awards. Confessional produced by Creative Programs, Inc thru Cinema One Originals and Oddfield Productions won Digital Film of the Year, Digital Movie Director for Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Antipuesto; Digital Movie Editor of the Year, Pats Ranyo; Digital Original Movie Screenplay, Ramon Ukit; and Digital Movie Sound Engineer for Ditoy Aguila and Rudy Gonzales.

Digital Film Original Theme Song is won by “Nandito Ako” from the film, Selda by Paolo Villaluna and Pike Ramirez. Digital Movie Scorer of the Year is Vince de Jesus and Jobin Ballesteros for Pisay; Digital Film Cinematographer is Rodolfo Aves Jr. for Kadin; and Digital Film Production Designer is Danny Red for Selda.

The 24th Star Awards for Movies was held, June 27, in the Henry Lee Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila University. The 24th Star Awards Night will be telecast on June 29, in ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Gold.

Ruffa Gutierrez celebrated her 34th birthday recently, and she celebrated it in 2 fabulous bashes. The first was on June 21, in Blue Leaf, Taguig, where Ruffa hosted a chic and fabulous party for 200 guests. It was a gift from Dr. Vicki Belo of BeloMed as Ruffa is its newest endorser. The who’s who and the controversial of Philippine Showbiz attended the event, including stars from the warring networks of GMA nad ABS-CBN. Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez had an animated banter. Richard Gutierrez arrived with leading lady KC Concepcion. Sunshine Cruz was in attendance, minus husband Cesar Montano, in a revealing outfit. Rufa Mae Quinto almost bumped into the couple Jessa Zaragosa and Dingdong Avanzado. Anne Curtis and Sam Milby were almost glued to each other. Several celebs were also spotted such as Ruffa’s bestfriend Donita Rose, brother and Pinoy Idol host Raymond Gutierrez, Marvin Agustin, Geneva Cruz, Rachelle Alejandro, John Estrada and partner former Ms. Earth Priscilla Mereilles, Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez, Agot Isidro with hubby Manu Sandejas, etc..It was a glittery glittery night indeed…

And then yesterday was Ruffa’s actual birthday, and she celebrated it with a so-called Spa day in Philosophy Spa with friends Pops Fernandez, Phoemela Barranda, Donita Rose, Ana Roces, Ms. Girlie Rodis, among others, don’t ask me where was Gretchen Barretto, lol….food was catered by Margarita Fores (Cibo,Pepato) and cupcakes from Sonja’s Kitchen.

And speaking of Gretchen Barretto, she allegedly blamed Ruffa’s secretary who is the one who revealed all that happened in the Dusit Hotel credit card issue.

Photo Credits: MJRodis

Once again, the Paris Hilton of the Philippines, Gretchen Barretto is at the center of 2 hot controversies in the Philippine Showbiz scene and it happened all in the same day, June 8, 2008.. Hottest of which is the reported cancellation of Gretchen Barretto’s credit cards by partner Tonyboy Cojuangco who in Grectchen’s words, “own the bank ( credit card issuing bank).” The alleged incident happened in a restaurant inside Dusit Hotel in Makati City while Gretchen Barretto was having dinner with sister Marjorie Barretto and showbiz friends Ruffa Gutierrez, Pops Fernandez and a certain Offie. When it came to the time for paying their dinner bill of approximately 4,300 pesos, Gretchen as usual generously picked up the tab, but the credit card she gave was denied twice, prompting her to remark to the poor waiter, “That cannot be, we own the bank. Tawagan mo ang bangko.” The waiter told her it was a Sunday and there are no office employees to attend in such cases. Gretchen then told the waiter to again swipe the card, and was denied yet again.

This prompted her companions to offer to pay, initially, Gretchen refused but was left with no choice and Ruffa Gutierrez ultimately paid the 4,300 pesos tab. Oh and don’t expect Pops Fernandez to pick up the tab, lol..just ask Philippine Showbiz insiders, hahaha..All these while within the earshot of some nosy customers thus this story. Someone in the group said, “Baka pinutol ni Tonyboy (Cojuangco) yung card mo?”. To which Ruffa Gutierrez reportedly even remarked, “Sa akin nangyari din yan, e, nung kay Yilmaz (Bektas, Ruffa’s estranged husband). Pag-uwi ko ng Pilipinas, di na gumagana yung credit cards ko.”

Reportedly, Gretchen Barretto was visibly irked and embarrassed because she invited the ladies to dinner. She was then seen furiously texting away at her cellphone. Partner Tonyboy Cojuangco arrived shortly thereafter and Gretchen could not hardly contain herself that even while at the Hotel’s lobby, Gretchen went off at Tonyboy. She was seen shouting and at one point dragged Tonyboy to the Ladies Room and the shouting match can even be heard outside the CR. Shortly thereafter, Gretchen was seen going out the ladies room crying.

Gretchen then went back to the dinner table alone and recounted to the group what happened. Gretchen said that Tonyboy got mad because Ruffa compared him to Yilmaz, and how Yilmaz cut off her credit card account access. Tonyboy, Gretchen said, was  irked at the allusion, and said, ” I am not Yilmaz! .” To which Ruffa, Pops and Offie did not take well because to them, they should not have been dragged into the partner’s spat. Gretchen reportedly even asked the waiter to get the money Ruffa has paid for because she will pay it herself by now, after meeting Tonyboy. The waiter declined, saying they cannot reverse the transaction , it having been recorded already in the Cash Register machine. (Kasama  sa eksena talaga ang waiter, in fairness, lol..)..end of the Dusit Hotel incident..(expect not to hear the end of it though, there’s The Buzz on Sunday)…

That’s not all..Gretchen and sister Marjorie Barretto then went after that Dusit dinner, to the wake of Rudy Fernandez, where again, controversy hounded Gretchen. Allegedly, Gretchen winked several times to Sen. Bong Revilla, whom she had a romantic liaison in the 90’s. Bong Revilla reportedly became discomfited and Bong’s wife, actress Lani Mercado was seen going to Bong Revilla’s side, probably alarmed at what Gretchen was doing. Marjorie Barretto allegedly asked Gretchen to stop what she was doing, which Gretchen was heard replying that she was just trying out if her charms will still work especially since she just had botox treatment.

Oh well, all in a day’s work for the controversial Gretchen Barretto.

Toni Gonzaga is now being billed as The Ultimate Multimedia Star after her 2 concerts, Catch Me… and Catch Me… The Repeat. Although from what i gathered her latest concert Catch Me… The Repeat was only a mild hit thanks to an affair infront of Aliw Theater and no thanks to ASAP Live producing and promoting the Richard Poon concert on the same date. But Toni Gonzaga is gracious. She declined the title The Ultimate Multimedia Star saying, ” Title kaagad! Teka lang, dadalawang concerts lang nagawa ko, may title na agad. Saka na yang title, punuin muna natin yung mga susunod na venue.”

When mentioned that she could be the next Pops Fernandez as the Concert Queen, “Ganoon? Hindi ko alam. Ay sobra! Maraming puwedeng sumunod sa yapak niya, siguro bago ako, marami pa. Hayaan na natin yung iba pa. Marami pa akong kakaining bigas. Every day, kailangan kong mag-aral. Marami pa
akong dapat aralin,” Toni said.

Toni Gonzaga, as the multimedia star, aside from concerts will be hosting Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 and a movie with Vhong Navarro entitled Amnesia Girl. She is also slated to do a US Concert Tour.

In the love department, her relationship with Director Paul Soriano, or should i say the cutest director ever! Paul Soriano,(lucky Toni!) is still going strong, but they have no plans to settle down anytime soon. Who says successful career and a happy lovelife do not blend well in showbiz, not in Toni Gonzaga’s case.

Photos by: Paul Soriano