American Idol Season 7 finalist Ramiele Malubay and semi-finalist (?) Danny Noriega will be in Manila, Philippines on December 20 and 21 for Ogie Alcasid’s Birthday Concert at the Aliw Theater. Reportedly, it is not actually just a birthday concert for Ogie Alcasid but a back to back concert with Ramiele Malubay that’s why the show’s title is ” Ogie Sings With the Idols” and apart from Ramiele Malubay, Danny Noriega will also be a guest performer and incidentally Danny is Ramiele’s BFF. Also performing is the very first Pinoy Idol, Gretchen Espina and Pinoy Idol finalist Robby Navarro.

Ramiele Malubay, reportedly, aside from the concert, will be signing a record deal with a local record company.

Gretchen Espina was voted as the very first Pinoy Idol in the star-studded finale night of Pinoy Idol last night at the SMX (SM Mall of Asia Convention Complex). Gretchen Espina, 20, from Biliran Province in the Samar-Leyte Region, and daughter of the Governor of Biliran Province, bested 21-year-old Jayann Bautista of Pampanga in the final two to win the first ever Pinoy Idol. The Pinoy Idol finale night started with a three-way battle for the Idol title with Ram Chaves of Cagayan De Oro City eventually placing third.

Jayann Bautista and Gretchen Espina each sang their own interpretation of the Ogie Alcasid composition “To You,” ala American Idol’s memorable final songs like “A Moment Like This,” ( Kelly Clarkson), “I Believe,” (Fantasia), among other greats. Let’s just wait and see if the Gretchen Espina final song “To You” will attain great popularity in the Philippines. In fairness to Gretchen Espina, she i think of the performers on Saturday were the best and it’s true that she was a revelation that night. I actually like her version of “For Your Eyes Only,” she sang it with feelings, not just with hysterics and histrionics. (mind you, lol)

The prizes pala for the first Pinoy Idol were amazingly huge in Philippine standards (which Gretchen Espina should just donate to her province mates, she does not really need some of those) with 1 million in cash from SM Supermall, a recording contract from Sony BMG, a management contract from GMA Artist Center, a brand new car courtesy of Mitsubishi, and a condo unit in New Manila courtesy of Avida Towers.

The longest running drama anthology on Philippine television Maalaala Mo Kaya or MMK has been moved to a Saturday night timeslot and what better way to inaugurate the move but by featuring the most controversial actress in the Philippines in her first acting job in years. That’s no other than Gretchen Barretto in Maalaala Mo Kaya’s “Salamin”. Starring opposite Ms. Gretchen Barretto are Philip Salvador, who is also back in his first acting job as well in years and Tonton Gutierrez.

Salamin synopsis

Philip Salvador plays a Town Mayor who likes Margarita ( Gretchen Baretto ). Margarita and family were financially hardup because of his irresponsible husband Jun (Tonton Gutierrez). Margarita and Jun has 2 children. Their first daughter decided to live with his boyfriend at a young age driven by their family’s situation. Margarita is unhappy that his husband is not really trying his best to become a good provider to his family, plus the fact that he still relies on his mother for support.

The Mayor took care and comfort of Margarita. He made her feel special. Their affair has been revealed to Jun, her husband, but he did not do something about it, understanding that Margarita only did it because he was sure it was because of his inadequacies as a husband.

Their affair lasted for 10 years and Margarita has learned to love the Mayor. Unfortunately, the mayor had cancer and Margarita took care of him up until his last. Thereafter, what happened to their lives has had some imprint on her husband, Jun. It somehow taught him a lesson. He became a changed man and husband and he was able to forgive Margarita so they can be husband and wife again. End of Story.

Paula Taylor, a contestant in the recently concluded TARA 2 (The Amazing Race Asia 2) is now the new image model for Filipino fashion brand, Plains & Prints. Gretchen Barretto used to be its image model. Paula Taylor is from Thailand with a British father and a Thai mother, she is an actress and model in Thailand. Paula is being romantically linked with Marc Nelson, member of the Philippine team in TARA2. In the Plains & Prints billboard, which btw is in Guadalupe, the ad said, “An Amazing New Face,” probably alluding to her TARA2 experience. In that billboard Paula Taylor is partially hidden, so much so that you would think it is Filipina actress, Chin Chin Gutierrez.

In The Amazing Race Asia 2, Paula teamed up with her childhood friend Natasha Monks. Team Paula and Natasha finished 5th on the race.

Gretchen Barretto has reacted to what Maurice Arcache has written in his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer gloating that Gretchen Barretto was not invited to the wedding of the daughter of her partner Tonyboy Cojuangco.

Gretchen Barretto answered through her K-Text with the following:

“I was told about the PDI Sunday spread regarding the wedding of the daughter of Tony Cojuangco. Maurice Arcache wrote it. It had photos and had to make me the bida of the write up. Sayang that buti naman daw that I had the delikadesa not to attend. I wasn’t invited to the wedding. I would never force myself into it. I have a lot going for me that I don’t need to dwell into some issue we all know about for the past 14 years…

“FYI Maurice Arcache =) May 3 Sat I was in Bacolod, May 4 Sunday I was in Ilo-Ilo. I had my mini-concerts =) I am a busy person. Trying to make a go for myself. Living well and earning my own keep. Maurice Arcache feels the need to use me to make that article stand out…”

“Nakakapagod na rin talaga what I have to go through with the Cojuangcos (sic). I’ve been going through this beating for the past 14 years. Most of the time I just would love to let go. It can’t be a normal life. Maybe it would stop when I let go.”