A new Katrina Halili in 2010

It’s all about second chances. And in life, who doesn’t deserve one?

Such is true with Katrina Halili who after enduring more than a year of negative publicity, scorned image and a career-ending sex video scandal has been given new lease in her career as an endorser this 2010. She is the latest celebrity endorser of the Calayan Surgicenter!

“We welcome back Katrina, since nag-start si Katrina. Since she started in showbiz, she’s been with us. And right now I want to build her up especially her self-esteem,” declared Dr. Manny Calayan, who’s a popular cosmetic surgeon to celebrities in the country. According to him, Katrina already sent him word that she wanted to go back as one of the celebrity endorsers of the Calayan Surgicenter last year yet but he was in America then. When he arrived and after studying that there would not be any conflict with Katrina’s other endorsements, he gave the actress the thumbs-up.

“As you know, whoever comes to me, regardless of their past, and ask for my help like singer Selina Sevilla, I welcome them with open arms. So wholeheartedly I took Katrina back again,” he expressed.

As for Katrina Halili, the kind and professional gesture of Dr. Manny Calayan of announcing her as his clinic’s newest celebrity endorser has given her hope and confidence that 2010 would be a better year than the past two years. It can be recalled that the last quarter of 2008 broke the news of her sex video scandal which escalated in 2009. And the whole 2009 saw a Katrina Halili battling hard to regain her “life” and showbiz career.

“No words can express the happiness I feel with the opportunity that Dr. Calayan has given me. I’m honored and humbled that he accepted me again,” remarked Katrina.

Dr. Calayan added that like his roster of celebrity endorsers, Katrina Halili fits the profile – a good actress, hardworking with the determination to succeed and still charismatic. He has seen Katrina in “Darna” and he found her to be a versatile actress who is effective as a villain.

“I feel that she is a high-caliber actress and we all know that she is beautiful. So we’re here to maintain her beauty through our skin care treatments and other procedures like Tenor lasers and skin whitening treatments…we’d also help her to slim down a little more as she has wished…we’ll make Katrina the star that she is,” explained Dr. Calayan who also intends to place her new endorser on a billboard near the Los Angeles airport to advertise Calayan’s Surgicenter Beverly Hills branch.

“That’s exciting to think about,” smiled Katrina. “There’s so much to celebrate about in my life right now. I could say that I’m surviving my past ordeals. And I’m glad that people like Dr. Manny Calayan have been supportive and have continuously believe in me... they drive me to fight even more for my rights as a woman and seek justice!”

“She is my prodigal daughter,” exclaimed Dr. Calayan. “We love Katrina and we’re happy that she’s back with us!”

So how is she surviving? Katrina pointed to her family and friends who love her. “They are the reasons, as well as the growing number of people believing and supporting me, that I’m surviving… if you commit a mistake, it’s but right that you correct it. You don’t have to take your life because life goes on after your mistake. All of us commit mistakes and for me I could say that life is getting better everyday. Hopefully I could finally say that I’ve moved on,” she said.

She added that this has been her life’s biggest trials. And one thing good it brought her was her becoming closer to her family. According to her she has learned to appreciate more her family and has enjoyed taking care of her “pamangkins” at home.

With regards to her love life, the actress is not giving romance any thoughts at the moment. She feels that a love life is not appropriate to what she is going through right now.

“I’m not yet ready,” she said. “I still have to face a lot of issues in my life… maybe I could say that I was traumatized with what happened to me,” she sighed.

As for her acting career, Katrina is focused on becoming a better actress. “It’s a new year so it’s a new hope and I want people to see a new Katrina. I’m going to be more serious in acting and I’d choose more serious drama projects if possible. I hope to be more mature in life,” she commented.


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Celebs who cried, ‘I’ll see you in court!’

There are scandals that spawn across different media only to get wiped out of people’s memories after a time.

Some controversies, however, tarry and go beyond media---they land in court.

Your honors, the Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online presents the five biggest cases of 2009 that may just make it into law students’ case books in the future:

Hayden Kho Jr. vs. Katrina Halili

The Hayden Kho Jr.-Katrina Halili story is no “Careless Whisper.” Indeed, the wildfire created by their sex video scandal mid-2009 refused to simper months later.

Katrina, who is only one of many women involved in the whole controversy, became a beacon to her kind who had suffered a similar fate. She pushed for Hayden’s punishment, accusing the celebrity ex-doctor of violating Republic Act (RA) 9262, or “the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.”

Results: The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) suspended Hayden from practicing his profession for two years. Later, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revoked Hayden’s medical license.

It doesn’t end there. Katrina submitted on Dec. 10, a resolution to the National Bureau of Investigation to probe more into the matter. The legislators are now lobbying for an “anti-voyeurism” bill.

The Battle of the matriarchs

The long-time feud between GMA matriarch Wilma Galvante and Gutierrez matriarch Annabelle Rama erupted this year due to issues that piled up one after the other.

According to reports, these issues are: the manager’s talents allegedly refusing offers, Annabelle’s “bribes” to keep the GMA’s Senior Vice President for Entertainment’s favor, and the fiery exchanges between the two.

The Kapuso executive filed on March 17 a P7 M damage lawsuit and a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Annabelle, whom she alleged to have threatened her through text messages and media interviews.

Not one to turn the other cheek, Annabelle countered with a P25 M lawsuit for moral and exemplary damages, as well as a grave slander case for allegedly bad mouthing her to her talents, particularly JC de Vera.

But bad news for Annabelle: the slander case was dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on July 24 for “lack of probable cause.”

But in true never-say-die fashion, Annabelle blurted, “Matira matibay. Hindi ako titigil!”

Richard Gutierrez’s dual ordeals

One of Richard Gutierrez’s career challenges in 2009 was the “reckless imprudence resulting in homicide” case filed against him by Lorayne Pardo, wife of his personal assistant, Nomar.

It is recalled that Nomar died May 22 after the car he was on that Richard was driving slammed into a post in Silang, Cavite.

Richard had apologized to Lorayne and had offered financial support for her children, but she refused to accept it. Although she claims to have already forgiven Richard, she insists on “seeking justice.”

Richard’s other case is a libel suit against an entertainment website which he said, posted an inaccurate article about a heated argument allegedly between him and Michael Flores at director Mark Reyes’ party last March 28.

The case was first dismissed by the DOJ for lack of merit, but this decision was later reversed.

The Gutierrezes maintain that they would not have sued if the respondents gave “sufficient” public apology.

The respondents, claiming no malice in writing and uploading the story, are set to file a motion for reconsideration.

The “harasser” or the “harassed?”

Two actors who faced acts of lasciviousness cases this year are Baron Geisler and Aljur Abrenica.

Yasmien Kurdi filed a case for acts of lasciviousness and unjust vexation against Baron Geisler on May 25, alleging that her “SRO Cinemaserye Presents: Suspetsa” co-star harassed her on one of their tapings.

The “StarStruck” alumna dropped the case two days later after Baron apologized to her.

Aljur also got slammed with a sexual harassment case filed against him by a 15-year-old model. The complainant claimed that the deed was commissioned at a beach party in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro last April.

Aljur pleaded not guilty, and asked the DOJ to dismiss the case filed by the accuser’s mother for “lack of merit.” He said the allegations were “blatant fabrications that were obviously concocted as an afterthought to save [the complainant's] injured pride.”

Jennylyn Mercado's falling out with PA

Aside from her endless bickering with ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia, actress Jennylyn Mercado had her hands full in 2009 with the case she filed against her personal assistant Mel Pulmano.

The charge is for qualified theft and falsification of documents; “crimes” which Mel allegedly committed when she squandered a total of P460,000 of the actress’s money. Jennylyn claimed that Mel forged her signature to carry out the deed.

Mel, in turn, filed a robbery case against Jennylyn. She claimed that the actress, together with two others, robbed pieces of her jewelry, with values amounting to a total of P149,150. Mel’s case has been dismissed due to lack of probable cause.


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PEP's Top 10 Newsmakers of 2009

As we bid a final goodbye to year 2009, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) takes a look back at the newsmakers that shook and shocked Philippine showbiz. They were the ones who made the most impact on the headlines and stayed in the minds of most Filipinos.

These personalities were engaged or rumored to be engaged in sex videos, illicit affair, car accident, lawsuits, and even transforming from a man into a woman. They are PEP's choice for Top 10 Newmakers of the Year:

MANNY PACQUIAO It was a banner year for the Pambansang Kamao. He cemented his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by beating two tough opponents this year: Great Britain's Ricky Hatton and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto.

Because of his back-to-back victories, in addition to his past winnings, boxing experts hailed him as one of the all-time greatest boxers in the world, while boxing fans worldwide voted Pacquiao as the second world's greatest boxer, just behind Sugar Ray Robinson.

But it was not all roses for Pacman this year. He also got into some controversies.

Before his May 2 fight against Hatton, Pacquiao was reported to have signed up with ABS-CBN after a disagreement with Solar Sports Entertainment, which claimed the right to air all his fights. But after settling his issue with Solar, the Filipino boxing champ apologized for the confusion and decided to stay with Solar and GMA-7.

Just recently, Pacquiao instructed his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc., to file libel charges against American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., his father, and Golden Boy Promotions, for accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao's personal life as well as his showbiz career also took a hit this year.

Weeks before his fight against Cotto, news about his alleged affair with sexy star Krista Ranillo broke and the rumor continued even after the fight. Although Pacquiao himself and Krista's camp denied the rumor, the boxer's wife, Jinkee Pacquiao, did not play the same music. Without directly confirming the rumor, her statements hinted that something did go on between her husband and the sexy star.

Meanwhile, Pacman's latest film, Wapakman, an entry in the ongoing 2009 Metro Manila Film Festrival, is at the tail-end of the box-office race.

HAYDEN KHO JR. Hayden Kho's sex-video scandal with several women, including actress Katrina Halili and showbiz newcomer Maricar Reyes, became a national issue—thanks to the Senate investigation spearheaded by Senator Bong Revilla.

But Hayden's woes did not end there.

Katrina filed a violation of the Republic Act No. 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children that resulted in Hayden's suspension from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and eventually the revocation of his license by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Despite this, Katrina still wants him in jail.

Hayden was also reported to have attempted to commit suicide again, but his camp vehemently denied this.

RICHARD GUTIERREZ It was a tumultuous year for heartthrob Richard Gutierrez.

First, he filed a P25-million libel suit against PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) about an article involving him and actor Michael Flores at a director's birthday party. The case was dismissed by the Department of Justice for "lack of probable cause", but it was reversed after Richard's camp filed a motion for reconsideration. The case is still ongoing.

Second, Richard was involved in a vehicular accident on May 22 in Silang, Cavite. Richard was able to survive the tragic accident but not his personal assistant, Nomar Pardo. Nomar's family sued him for Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Homicide on July 23.

Third, a report about an airport incident involving Richard and rumored girlfriend Jewel Mische also came out. But the actor's camp denied the issue.

On the positive side, Richard braved the Ondoy flood in Marikina to rescue Patient X leading lady Cristine Reyes. He was also given recognition by some sectors for his environmental efforts.

KATRINA HALILI Hayden Kho's sex videos with Katrina Halili spread like wildfire on the Internet. The actress filed Republic Act No. 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children against Hayden and several others suspected of spreading the videos—Hayden's ex-girlfriend Dra. Vicki Belo, Erick Johnston Chua, Dr. Mark Herbert "Bistek" Rosario, and Princess Velasco.

Several TV networks and news websites aired Katrina's first encounter with Hayden during the Senate inquiry of their sex-video scandal on May 28. It was a very dramatic encounter, complete with dousing of water and crying scenes.

Katrina's showbiz career also took a blow partly due to her inability to concentrate on her work during the scandal. She returned to work via GMA-7's Rosalinda, where she played the main antagonist Fedra to Carla Abellana's title character.

KRISTA RANILLO There's no denying that Krista Ranillo made a great impact this year because of her reported involvement with boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. Her alleged affair with the Pambansang Kamao stole some thunder from Pacquiao's victory against Miguel Cotto last November.

Despite the statements of Manny and Krista's family, denying the alleged affair, the statements of Manny's wife, Jinkee Pacquiao, and Gina Alajar were very telling. And Krista's silence to this day is more intriguing.

It's just too bad that Wapakman, the movie in which they first met, is not doing well at the box-office.

JUDY ANN SANTOS & RYAN AGONCILLO WEDDING Two of the biggest celebrities in the Philippines managed to keep their wedding ceremony a secret from almost everyone. Although they had already announced their engagement, nobody—except for a chosen few—knew when and where the exact wedding would take place.

And so, on April 28, 2009, 99.5 percent of the people in the Philippines got shocked upon learning that Juday and Ryan were wed in a ultra-private ceremony at the at San Juan Nepomuceno Church in San Juan, Batangas. The couple just sent photos and videos of the ceremony a few hours later to TV networks, newspapers, and entertainment websites like PEP, to announce that the wedding already took place.

Juday and Ryan are still waiting to have a baby of their own.

ANNABELLE RAMARichard Gutierrez's mother, the incomparable Annabelle Rama, also figured in several controversies this year, the most prominent being her feud with GMA-7 executive Wilma Galvante.

The feud resulted in filing of cases against one another. Galvante filed a P7-million damage suit against Rama on March 17. The talent manager, in return, filed a P15.5-million grave-slander case against the lady TV executive last April 17. While Galvante's case against Rama is still in court, the talent manager's case against the TV executive has been dismissed.

Rama also lambasted this website for publishing articles that she and her family believe are damaging the reputation of her son Richard.

BB GANDANGHARIThis year saw the birth of BB Gandanghari, the new persona that Rustom Padilla created after coming out. Rustom, who was once married to actress-TV host Carmina Villarroel, decided to "kill" Rustom and give way to BB.

Rustom's new identity as BB shocked many, including her family. In fact, her mother, Mrs. Eva Padilla, was very vocal in saying that it would be very difficult for her to see her "son" as an entirely different person. But in the end, their love for each other proved to be so strong that their family eventually accepted BB for what she is.

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ & RUFFA GUTIERREZ After co-starring in the ABS-CBN primetime soap I Luv Betty La Fea, news about the alleged romance of John Lloyd Cruz and Ruffa Gutierrez hit the headlines this year. Although the two insisted that they were just friends, photos of them entering a hotel and shopping together in Los Angeles painted a different picture.

TYPHOON ONDOY The one who created the biggest impact this year, literally, is not a celebrity but a supertyphoon called Ondoy. In one rare moment, celebrities became ordinary people as they also got affected by Ondoy, which flooded Metro Manila and nearby provinces on September 26.

Celebrities became victims as well as heroes during this tragedy.

Cristine Reyes, Jean and Jennica Garcia, Gladys Reyes, Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi, and Giselle Sanchez are just some of the celebrities who were trapped in their homes while Ondoy was wreaking havoc.

Meanwhile, Gerald Anderson, Jericho Rosales, Raymart Santiago, and others braved the floods and rescued some of their neighbors. Hundreds of celebrities and volunteers led by the Kapamilya and Kapuso stars devoted their time and effort to help the typhoon victims through telethons and relief operations.


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Cybercrime bill still pending in Congress

MANILA, Philippines - The bill seeking to provide more teeth in the prevention of cybercrimes is still pending before Congress despite the recent sex scandals involving prominent personalities and the proliferation of illegal activities on the Internet.

The senators have come up with Senate Bill 3553 based on Committee Report No. 770 or the proposed act defining cybercrime and providing for the prevention, investigation and imposition of penalties for various violations.

Under the bill known as “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009,” offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems would include illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, and system interference.

Misuse of devices will also be punishable along with computer-related offenses such as forgery and fraud.

Content-related offenses include cybersex where “any person who establishes, maintains or controls, directly or indirectly, any operation for sexual activity or arousal with the aid of or through the use of a computer system, for a favor or consideration” will be punished, and child pornography.

Penalties proposed under the bill include fines ranging from P200,000 to P1 million for individuals and up to P10 million for corporations, plus imprisonment.

The creation of a Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center was also recommended under the bill.

Authorities complained at the height of the sex video scandal involving former celebrity cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho and several women that there were not enough laws to punish cybercrimes.

Kho’s sex videos, which he privately recorded without the consent of the women, were allegedly uploaded on the Internet by several individuals in exchange for huge amounts of money.

Kho’s license had been revoked upon the complaint of actress Katrina Halili, one of his victims.


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Katrina Halili: I forgive Hayden Kho but...

MANILA, Philippines – Actress Katrina Halili may have already forgiven controversial doctor Hayden Kho, but she said she is not withdrawing the criminal case she filed against him.

Halili, who accused Kho of violating Republic Act (RA) 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, maintained that the doctor must face the consequences of his actions.

In October, the Department of Justice lodged a case against Kho before a Pasig court. The case stemmed from the spread of copies of sex videos showing Kho engaging in sexual acts with several women, including Halili.

The DOJ said that while Kho repeatedly claimed that he was not responsible for the spread of the video, the video recording of his sexual acts “clearly shows and manifests his lack of respect for women.”

“He cannot simply justify said act with a disclaimer that the videotaping was not meant to be shown to anyone. He should own up and be responsible for his actions particularly when it affects another person's right and dignity," the resolution read.

Meanwhile, Halili returned to Calayan Surgicentre Corp., a strong competitor of Belo Medical Group (BMG), to become one of its celebrity endorsers.

Halili and BMG owner Dr. Vicki Belo, Kho’s former girlfriend, had a falling out following the sex video scandal.


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Katrina vs Hayden: Pasig court starts hearing

MANILA, Philippines - The hearing of a criminal case filed by actress Katrina Halili against her former lover Hayden Kho started yesterday at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.

Judge Rodolfo Bonifacio, of the RTC Branch 159 asked counsels of Kho to choose what to pursue first, their “Urgent Motion for Determination of Probable Cause” or their Petition for Review before the Department of Justice (DOJ) since they cannot have both at the same time.

Kho’s counsels, Jose Paolo Patajo and Herbert Hernane, filed the two motions to dismiss the case. The counsels of the accused initially choose to tackle first their petition for review but backtracked and asked Bonifacio to start the proceedings on their “urgent motion for determination for probable cause” after State prosecutor Hjalmar Quintana Jr. moved for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Kho.

Halili’s counsel Raymund Palad and public branch prosecutor Emmanuel Obungen backed Quintana in his motion. Quintana requested for five days, or until Dec. 14 to file comment or opposition on the said motion. Bonifacio also gave Kho’s counsels the same number of days to comment on the reply, after which the incident shall be considered submitted for resolution.

On Sept. 17, the DOJ issued a resolution recommending that: An information for violation of Section 5 (h) and (i) of R.A. No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 be filed against Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr.” “If the court denies the Motion for Determination of Probable Cause filed by Hayden, a warrant of arrest may be issued before Christmas,” said Palad.

The arraignment of Kho was temporarily set on Feb. 23, 2010. The criminal case filed by Halili against Kho stemmed from a sex video which circulated in the Internet early this year.

Because of the sex video, the Professional Regulation Commission ordered Nov. 20 the revocation of Kho’s medical license.

Kho filed a motion for reconsideration before the PRC Board Monday and the hearing of the said motion was set on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.


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Halili, lawyer submit new documents to NBI

THE camp of controversial actress Katrina Halili on Thursday went to the National Bureau of Investigation to submit additional documents as the investigation of the sex-video scandal that gave rise to Halili’s case versus Hayden Kho entered its second phase.

The second phase of the probe centers on determining who uploaded and distributed the video over the Internet.

Halili, accompanied by her lawyer Raymund Palad, submitted the documents to the bureau’s Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division (AFCCD), which has yet to identify the person who uploaded the video.

Assistant Regional Director Vicente de Guzman 3rd, AFCCD chief, said that the bureau is still waiting for the information from the United States counterpart in uncovering Internet Protocol.

De Guzman said the bureau had already uncovered the administrator of the website and charges had been filed against them. But the person who gave the sex video to the website remains unknown. The person uses G-mail account, which is US -based. The Department of Justice has requested the US Justice Department to help trace the Internet Protocol address.

“So we are now waiting for the information,” he said.

Palad said that besides Kho, cosmetic surgeon Victoria Belo-Henares, Erick Johnston Chua, Dr. Mark Herbert Rosario and Princess Marie Velasco, the Justice department also asked the Investigation bureau to investigate four more persons to determine their participation in the case. They are Cris Arenas, Cedric Lee, Manuel Villaroman and Joey Umandap.

Halili maintained she wanted all the persons responsible for the uploading and distribution of the sex video to be prosecuted and convicted.


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