By : Showbiz Portal

Boots Anson Roa & Chanda Romero, Both Newlyweds, Head Big Cast Of New GMA Show, 'Strawberry Lane'

Ara Mina: Baby first, wedding later

No doubt about it. Ara Mina is a happy would-be mom and future bride – in that order.

Cristine Reyes’ older sister radiated an inner glow that made her look even prettier and content.

“I’m giving birth (to her first-born by Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses) before Christmas,” she told the entertainment press who watched the pilot episode of TV5’s new musical program “Trenderas” where Ara plays newcomer Lara Maigue’s mom.

Extra careful

Her second pregnancy is a far cry from her first – which ended in miscarriage.

“No morning sickness, walang pagsusuka.  Magandang Christmas gift ito sa akin. Magandang birthday gift din ito kasi nalaman ko ito noong  April (a month before her birthday last May 9).”

She and Patrick are extra careful about the pregnancy to make sure everything goes as planned.

“Nung unang pregnancy ko, tumanggap ako ng guesting sa MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya).  Ang dami kong gimawa kaya na stress (ang baby) siguro. Ngayon, hindi ako nag-work for the first three months of my pregnancy.”

Healthy baby

It worked.  Ara can now feel the baby kicking in her womb – a sign that she’s (it’s a girl) as healthy as can be. 


Patrick, who at first didn’t want Ara to make even a single movement, has changed his mind.  He has allowed her to go back to work.

Ara has no regrets.  She’s home in the evening because she finishes her scenes even earlier than the cut-off time in the afternoon.

“Magaan ang trabaho kasi mommy role lang naman. Mas maraming scenes si Lara.”

Ara is done with the ‘paglilihi’ or cravings stage, which she spent eating chicken rice, ‘kangkong’ and champorado.  Her doctor told her she gained just enough weight.

On sister Cristine Reyes' pregnancy 

“Baby weight daw,” she said.

 Speaking of pregnancies, Ara denied rumors that her sister Cristine Reyes is pregnant by her Persian boyfriend. 

“Natatawa na lang ako sa issue.  Inaamin naman nyang gusto nyang magkababy. Sabi ko sa kanya paunahin mo na muna ako.”

After giving birth, Ara plans to regain her sexy figure so she will look smashing in her dream wedding gown.

“Parang Angelina Jolie na nabuntis muna bago pakasal,” Ara says.

Her daughter can also act as her parents’ flower girl.

Double wedding?

And if Cristine also wants to get married herself?

“Pwedeng pag-usapan ang double wedding. Okay lang yon.”

Fans need not worry for now because Ara wants to return to acting after giving birth. 

“Pero hindi ko rin masasabi kasi baka gusto ko na lang alagaan ang anak ko,” she adds.

Knowing Ara, the responsible eldest daughter, she will choose not just what her heart, but what her head dictates.

"Trenderas," which topbills Isabelle de Leon, Katrina 'Suklay Diva' Velarde and Lara Maigue, debuts on Saturday, September 13, 9 p.m. on TV 5.

By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

Happy homebody: 10 things Toni Gonzaga can’t live without

We see her on TV almost every night, yet it is no secret to a lot of her fans and followers that host-actress-singer Toni Gonzaga is a homebody, and a daughter and sister dedicated to her family. Despite hectic days in the city, Toni famously goes home each and every night to the family home in Taytay, Rizal, which she lovingly pertains to as a “province.”

“This is home for me, this is where I grew up, this is where I started dreaming up a lot of things that I am doing right now,” Toni told us as she settled down for our interview. “I think it’s very important to go home to where you feel you’re grounded; you’re far away from the glitz and glamor of show business."

"You come home to a place or to a house where everyone’s real, they remind you of who you are, where you came from, and why you’re doing what you’re doing.”

We visited Toni while she was shooting with her new Sony Home Entertainment System, and she showed us the side we don’t often see on TV — the Toni that simply loves being at home and with her family, detached from her work.

Here are 10 things Toni can’t live without:

1. Television
“I love watching cooking shows and daily news on E! Of course what’s happening in the world, the global news — I need to feed myself with a lot of information because of my job. Plus, I really love watching cooking shows on the Food Network, my favorite channel ever.”

2. Internet
“That’s where I get a lot of information about almost anything. That’s where I stay connected with my relatives in the US, plus [where I do] a lot of activities like managing my email.”

3. Aircon
“It’s so hot when there’s no aircon or electricity in the house. Ang init talaga! Mahina ako sa init. ‘Pag mainit, sabay-sabay umiinit lahat ng katawan ko, hanggang sa napupunta sa ulo.”

4. Water
“I love drinking water because I’m constipated! (laughs) And I don’t eat fruits so I opt for water. I eat vegetables, though.”

5. My bed
“My bed. My two pillows have been with me for 15 years. My mom just threw away the one that was with me since I was an infant. Sukang-suka na daw siya. Ayaw na daw niya makita.”

6. My laptop
“That’s where I do all of my work, and my email. Before, I could go for eight hours straight online, to keep myself informed about everything. I wanted to know the latest and would watch YouTube videos.”

7. My phone
“When I’m too tired to open my laptop, I use my phone instead.”

8. Tissue
“I always have to have tissue around or everywhere. I can easily be allergic. I sneeze a lot.”

9. “Chack-chak” (Hair clamp)
“You’ll find it in every part of our house and my car.”

10. My sweets
“I love sour candy, sour worms, chocolates, jelly beans. Right now my sugar is high, so I cut on my intake.”

Family girl
“I can’t live without my sister (Alex). We do a lot of things together, and our rooms are connected,” Toni said. “It’s so hard when she’s not around. I feel like a part of me is missing, like my other arm is not working.”

“We’re so connected in so many different levels — spiritually, emotionally — we have the same wavelength, same thinking, same everything. When she’s around, I feel like I have a partner in everything.”

“Of course I can’t live without my parents!” Toni added. “Every time I come home, they are the first two people will welcome me and ask me how my day was.”

The Christmas season has begun, and Toni shared with us how she prepares for it and shops for her gifts. Keep posted for that story!

By Kai Magsanoc | Yahoo SHE