Mayor Herbert’s new girl
Oops! Sorry for today’s headline which is jumping to a conclusion. Yes, Mayor Herbert Bautista, the Eminent Lover Boy of Quezon City, is on the brink of falling in love again barely a year after the unlamented breakup of his and Kris Aquino’s “work in progress” (as Kris loved to call it). But no, Mayor HB and the “new girl” making his heart beat faster and faster again are not yet going steady (but who knows how soon they will be, huh!). It’s too early to tell.
The lady is none other than Jasmine Lee, the Filipino actress/TV host who is originally from Davao and is the first foreign-born member of the South Korean National Assembly, and an advocate of multi-culturalism in Korea. According to Funfare sources, Jasmine married a Korean (by whom she has two children) who died in 2010. She acquired Korean citizenship soon after their marriage in 1995.
Only 37, Jasmine is said to be a deadringer for Parañaque City Councilor Alma Moreno who, coincidentally, is the ex-wife of Kris’ ex-lover ex-Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez. (Today’s story is full of “exes,” in case you don’t notice.)
“Mayor HB is badly-smitten with Miss Jasmine,” said Funfare’s Seoul DPA, “as in mesmerized. He and Miss Jasmine were introduced to each other by Ambassador Raul Hernandez at a dinner he hosted at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul where Mayor HB attended a global conference with two Quezon City lady councilors last week.”
“Mayor HB was instantly lovestruck,” added the DPA.
“Biglang tumatak si Miss Jasmine hindi lang sa isip ni Mayor HB kundi pati rin sa puso niya. He and Jasmine were engaged in animated conversation the whole evening. I’m sure Mayor HB learned a lot about North and South Korea from Jasmine whom he found smart and baklang-bakla (lively). Pareho silang may showbiz and political background kaya super bagay sila. Jasmine is single now, very eligible.”
No problem really since Mayor HB is, like Kris’ Kuya (Pres. Noynoy), a confirmed bachelor since he was not married to either of the two women he was involved with. He has one child from the first relationship and three from the second one. (Incidentally, the late Comedy King Dolphy had 17 children by four, or was it five, different women with Zsa Zsa Padilla as the last one but was never married to any of them.)
It was also Funfare who broke the story about Mayor HB and Kris early last year. The story mentioned that Mayor HB asked Pres. Noynoy’s permission before formally courting Kris who confirmed that their relationship was a “work in progress,” even if Mayor HB did, as also reported as a scoop in Funfare, propose marriage to Kris but unceremoniously withdrew it a week later, badly hurting Kris who is famous for initiating the split-up of her relationships with Phillip Salvador (father of her son Joshua), Joey Marquez and James Yap (the only man she married, father of her son Bimby).
Obviously, concern for his children’s feelings won over his (fleeting?) love for Kris. They have remained friends, or so they claimed. Mayor HB admitted that he has moved on while Kris seems to be still trying to do the same since she would hark back to that “work that didn’t progress” every now and then. But knowing how Kris is able to spring back from setbacks in her love life, I am sure that, to paraphrase a song from the movie-musical South Pacific, she would shortly “wash that man out of her hair” and, hopefully, find a new love.
Meanwhile, the Q.C. Lover Boy is working on a movie titled Lumayo Ka Nga Sa Akin (not based on the late Rodel Naval’s hit song Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin which inspired a Seiko movie) which may not be referring to anybody (peksman, hehehe!!!). Produced by Viva Films, the movie is a trilogy with Maricel Soriano as Lover Boy HB’s leading lady in his episode.
Incidentally, can Lover Boy HB and Assemblywoman Jasmine Lee’s budding, ehem, “romance” be also described as a “work in progress?”
Only Time can and will tell. (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/ therealrickylo.)