Being in showbiz for more than 25 years, I’d like to think I’ve paid my dues diligently by way of sharing stories that border on controversy.
In a quarter of a century, I became entertainment editor twice (TANOD, 2004-2008) and Pinoy Parazzi (2008). I was columnist for Mr. & Ms. magazine and contributor for Star Studio magazine and DP magazine, which circulated in Japan. I was a contributor for the Manila Times, Manila Bulletin and Inquirer Lifestyle.
Here are 25 stories I exclusively wrote in different publications in the course of my 25-plus years in showbiz.
My first scoop caused Amy Perez to break up with her then rockstar husband, Brix Ferraris, when I wrote about the latter’s inamorata who was then working in the music label Ferraris was working with. I wrote it in my Mr. & Ms. Magazine column.
Then I revealed Sarah Geronimo’s romance with Rayver Cruz, which had fans fuming.
Months later, I reported Geronimo’s breakup with Rayver Cruz after her father, Delfin, discovered his daughter was video-chatting with Cruz. Immediately, the father asked Geronimo to break romantic ties with Cruz.
After the breakup, Sharon Cuneta took the side of Sarah Geronimo and barged into the dressing room where Rayver Cruz was staying and confronted him. Cruz was utterly surprised by Cuneta’s gesture.
I was nearly sued for writing about Ara Mina’s true father, Chuck Mathay. When it came out in Manila Times, a letter came from Mathay’s camp threatening to sue me. Technically, I made Ara a Mathay.
Nobody seemed to believe me when I revealed more than two decades ago that Kris Aquino’s boyfriend was Joey Marquez. Three weeks after, in a presscon for hair stylist Pin Antonio, Aquino learned who I was and said, “Maybe we can be friends.”
I got wind of Ice Seguerra’s panliligaw (courtship) of Liza Dino when Seguerra patiently waited for Dino to finish her work and they left together afterwards.
Ara Mina was so surprised when I revealed her date with hunk Matthew Mendoza who already had a wife and a child. They dated in a Japanese resto in Makati and I told Mina when I finally met her that I could produce their bill.
When Bulacan politico Patrick Meneses broke up with Ara Mina after dinner in a resto, I was the first one to reveal it, which made the actress quip, ‘Why does tito Alex know more about me?’
I was the only one who wrote about Elizabeth Oropesa being served a warrant of arrest during a taping after she did not attend her hearing. The case stemmed from her slapping a policeman.
I wrote about Michelle Van Eimeren’s fury when a mayor was late for the lighting of a Christmas tree in a mall. She strolled around and when she came back, the Christmas tree was already lighted.
I gave PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) their first scoop when I wrote about Dawn Zulueta’s animosity with Gretchen Barretto who threw her reed-thin body around by bringing a coterie of yayas and bodyguards during a magazine photoshoot.
I reported Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo kissing while in a bus going to the Kapamilya Fiesta World in Rome, Italy.
I was the only one to reveal the wedding date of Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde, which I wrote for Inquirer Lifestyle.
I discovered who the beautiful girl in Jose Mari Chan’s song of the same title. She’s a flight stewardess with LA as initials.
I reported how Marian Rivera asked the production staff not to look at her husband Dingdong Dantes during a meeting in her house.
It was also I who was the first to write about Kakai Bautista being banned from all events for Thai Superstar Mario Maurer.
I did write about Baron Geisler’s walkout in the podcast show of Mo Twister because he felt the topics were awkward.
I discovered Maine Mendoza’s tweet six years before she joined showbiz where she called Sexbomb “jologs.”
I bravely wrote in my column for Tanod that during a verbal tussle, Kris Aquino hit Joey Marquez with her cellphone.
I was the first to reveal the background of Kris Aquino’s doctor-boyfriend, Mike Padlan. He was a celebrity surgeon and when I wrote about him in my DAILY TRIBUNE column, Uncut, he disabled his Facebook account.
Was the first to confirm Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati’s separation.
I was the first to reveal Kris Aquino’s breakup with Dr. Mike Padlan and I was proven true weeks later when Aquino admitted they had indeed separated.
I got another scoop when Kyline Alcantara severed her romantic ties with Kobe Paras after discovering a third party.
Just recently, I wrote an exclusive story about Maricel Soriano’s trip to Singapore to seek medical treatment for her spinal arthritis.
With this, I’m wishing DAILY TRIBUNE more controversial stories, which will shake and move netizens from all over the country.