Billy to 'Pa' German Moreno: I love you

Television host-actor Billy Crawford expressed his sadness over the death of German "Kuya Germs" Moreno, the man he considers a father figure.

On his Instagram page, Crawford shared his message for Moreno, who died on Friday morning due to cardiac arrest. He was 82.


"Pa, I don't know where to begin. You've always been there when I needed you the most. You are the most generous, selfless, genuine, caring father/mentor anyone could ever ask for. You're one of the reasons why I'm still in this industry you love oh so much," says Crawford who feels sad that he's not in the country when Moreno passed away.

Crawford and his girlfriend Coleen Garcia are taking their holiday break in Africa.

"I'm sad that I'm not there next to you to say my goodbyes. You will be missed tremendously. We fought, we laughed, we cried, we sang, we danced and we shared the same stage for so many years! And I want to just thank you for teaching me and guiding me through everything. It hurts to see you leave us, but God is right there to make you rest and enjoy eternity with Him. I also pray for your family to be strong and to carry a smile like you always did. You will always be our MASTER SHOWMAN! Most importantly you will always be my father and I will always be your makulit na adopted son! RIP, Pa. I love you," Crawford added.

Crawford got his big break in show business after he became a regular at the now-defunct youth-oriented show "That's Entertainment."

He transferred to ABS-CBN in 2008, much to the dismay of Moreno. The two have since reconciled.

Last year, after suffering a mild stroke, Moreno even greeted Crawford as the latter celebrated his birthday on "Your Face Sounds Familiar."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jay R grooves as Billy Crawford

MANILA -- RNB singer Jay R showed off his dance moves as host-singer Billy Crawford on Saturday's episode of ''Your Face Sounds Familiar.''

Jay R performed the hit song "Bright Lights," earning praises from the judges.

"That was a great tribute to our birthday boy. Si Billy is one of the very few people siguro in this industry who can sing and dance, and can do it really, really well. You know, vocally there were similarities. In reality, hindi mapapantayan ang isang Billy Crawford but you delivered, and you pulled through with your performance," Jed Madela said.

For Sharon Cuneta, Jay R's performance came "really close" to the real thing.

"Isa lang si Billy, pero you came really close to doing that. I think si Billy mismo, I think he'll agree with us."

"Para sa akin, 'yung face, talaga namang humawig, pwedeng pumasang kapatid ni Billy. Pero may mga anggulo, 'pag pinapanood ka namin dito sa monitor, kuha naman, hindi lang kuhang-kuha talaga," guest judge Vice Ganda said.

Jay R remains in second place with 176 points, sharing the spot with Nyoy Volante. Melai Cantiveros is the top scorer with 177 points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Billy Crawford detained

MANILA – Host-singer Billy Crawford is currently detained at a Taguig City police station after he allegedly went berserk past 4 a.m. Sunday at the Police Station 7 breaking the glass of one of its sliding doors.

In an interview with DZMM, Jonathan Aride, chief inspector of the Taguig Police Station 7, said Crawford arrived at the station supposedly to complain about a personal problem.

“May sinasabi siya pero hindi ko matandaan dahil nasa labas siya. Basta nagwawala siya doon dahil parang nakainom. Inaawat siya ng isang babae namin na pulis. Ayaw magpaawat kaya nauwi sa nabasag niya 'yung salamin sa sliding door,” he said.

Aride said they then asked for help to calm down the TV host.

“Humingi kami ng responde sa isang mobile namin na mga lalaki para posasan siya. Kasi ayaw niya magpaawat eh. Dalawang babae, desk officer namin [ang naka-duty kanina]. Nasa kabilang area kami dahil meron din kaming insidente sa kabila,” he said.

According to Aride, Crawford was with an unidentified woman who left after the “It’s Showtime” host was arrested.

“May babae pero hindi lumapit. Biglang nawala nung naposasan na namin... Isang babae lang ang na-identify na kasama niya. Actually hindi siya nagpakilala kasi nung dumating 'yung mobile namin, bigla siyang nawala,” he said.

“[Walang physical contact], medyo tulak tulak lang dahil hinaharangan nga ng mga tao ko para hindi niya mabasag ang salamin kaya lang malakas siya kaya nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na banggain ang salamin namin,” he added.

Crawford may be facing charges of malicious mischief, resisting arrest, direct assault and disobedience of agent of authority.

What really happened

Crawford has since apologized for the incident.

Admitting that it was really his fault, Crawford, in an interview with DZMM, said he already said sorry to the police officers if he had said any derogatory statements.

“It was my fault pero wala akong nasaktan, wala akong tinulak, wala akong tinamaan kundi 'yung salamin,” he said.

“To be honest with you, I don’t see anything wrong with what I did. It was my fault for actually being aggressive. Buti na lang it didn’t happen in a bar, it didn’t happen anywhere else. It happened in a precinct. The reason why is because I knew for a fact I needed to be in a controlled environment. So as I said, I really apologize to the officers if I said anything derogatory or anything else,” he added.

Crawford, who admitted to have been drinking, explained that he went to the police station because he was “stressed out by certain situations.”

“You know when we are under the influence of alcohol, you just don’t really fake it. I don’t come from a background na to hide or to fake anything. It’s an aggression. I’m just really exhausted. I’m stressed out by certain situations. We try to be the best we are. We are not perfect. Ibig sabihin ng ‘Ayaw ko makasakit,’ I’m getting the aggression,” he said.

“And usually for me, when I’m angry, I’m not plastic. If there’s someone that speaks derogatorily to me or anything, reresbak ako. It’s my protection. That’s one of the reasons why I went to the prison and said, ‘Just please arrest me.’ Kasi I do not want to be drunk roaming around or making a fool out of myself which I am right now. That was it,” he added.

Crawford said he immediately calmed down when he was handcuffed. Unfortunately, he broke one of the precinct’s sliding doors.

“When they put the handcuffs on me, I calmed down. When I sat down, I just… ewan ko. Ito ba 'yung pahinga na sinasabi ko na gusto ko,” he said. “I can’t contain myself if I’m under the influence of alcohol. Sasabihin ko nga that was the only thing that was wrong for me. I just really apologized.”

Asked what he learned from this incident, Crawford said: “Maybe lessen the alcohol and act like a grown up. It’s really immature and it’s a shame for me.”

Coleen reacts

Meanwhile, Crawford’s girlfriend, Coleen Garcia, came to his defense, belying an earlier report of GMA News that the “It’s Showtime” host hit a lady police officer.

In her personal Twitter account, Garcia asked GMA News to “stop spreading lies.”

“You and I both know that Billy didn't punch anyone last night. I doubt that he would ever hit a woman,” she said.

“As for the ‘unidentified woman’ he was with? He was with three of my best friends. And yes, two of them are women. No need to put malice in that,” she added.

Garcia then went on to urge her followers to “not believe everything you read.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Andi involved in Nikki-Billy split?

MANILA, Philippines -- Apart from Coleen Garcia, another actress is being dragged in the breakup of celebrity couple Nikki Gil and Billy Crawford.

On social media, netizens have been speculating about Kapamilya actress Andi Eigenmann's alleged involvement in the couple's decision to split up.

"How true na si Andi Eigenmann daw yung reason ng break up ni Billy and Nikki?," user Maria Lorna Datiles asked on Twitter.

"Si Andi Eigenmann ang third party kay Nikki-Billy breakup" ‏@kayenmartin also asked.

"Si Andi Eigenmann daw dahilan ng break-up ni Billy at Nikki. nabasa ko sa tabloid," ‏@itsmemadam added, referring to a blind item tagging a showbiz girl with the initials "A" and "E" as the reason behind the Gil-Crawford breakup.

Many believe that the tabloid report pointed to Eigenmann, who recently worked with Crawford on the upcoming movie "Oh, My Mamma Mia."

On Sunday, Eigenmann seemed to have addressed the speculations on her official Twitter account, although she did not mention any names.

"I have my own life to worry about. Please don't drag me into other peoples issues. I have nothing to do with it," Eigenmann said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Billy opens up about breakup with Nikki

MANILA – For the first time, Billy Crawford opened up about his recent breakup with Nikki Gil, his girlfriend of four and a half years.

In an interview on the ABS-CBN entertainment talk show “The Buzz” on Sunday, Crawford denied rumors claiming that there was a “third party” involved in the split, saying that “it all boils down to me.”

He explained, for one, that he “forgot” who he was after nearly 26 years of being in the entertainment industry.

“I’ve been everywhere, and this is the first time I’ve ever felt this way. That’s why I ask everyone, do not blame Nikki. She has no fault. I’m not a perfect guy. I’m not a perfect person. I’ve done some things in my life that I regret. And she, she supported me. She understood. She was there. But I tend to go home by myself,” Crawford told “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda.

“I’m the one who’s completely lost and I’m searching. I asked her this. You know, give me that chance to find myself since it’s very difficult. I tend to hurt her,” he added.

Crawford, who is set to reunite with his parents in the United States on August 3, said he did not want to leave the country without explaining his side.

“That’s why I’m here, because I didn’t want to just leave and not say anything, and then for everybody to attack her (Gil). And for everybody to speculate, to guess, whatever… For some reason, I needed to be with my mom and dad.

“I have to start from scratch. I have to start from… where did I come from? I came from my parents. I need to try and find what was making me happy before, who I was, and I just want to be with my family.”

Crawford evaded questions on whether he has fallen out of love with Gil or if they outgrew each other, only saying that he does not want to be unfair to her.

“I don’t want to continue to hurt her because if I continued with this relationship, in the long run, talagang ‘di na talaga kami magkakatugma eh,” he said. “We don’t see eye to eye on things. We’re not on the same page anymore.”

‘She fought’

Crawford admitted that Gil fought hard to save their relationship, even harder than he did.

“She fought for it,” he said. “I tried, but she really stuck it out, I have to admit. And I’m admitting this because I respect her.”

“I just wasn't there. I wasn't myself,” he added.

Asked if Gil understood why he had to end their nearly five-year relationship, the “It’s Showtime” host said: “No.”

“Mahirap naman na maintindihan ng isang tao ‘yun, eh,” he added.

Crawford went on to explain that he was unable to make her happy during the latter part of their relationship.

“Nasaktan ko siya, and she’s an amazing person,” he said.

Meanwhile, he gave this short message to Gil: “I hope you understand. That’s really all.”

Moving on

Meanwhile, Crawford apologized to those who have supported his relationship with Gil for the past four and a half years.

He admitted that he felt the pressure of being half of what used to be “one of the most loved, most ideal couples” in the local entertainment industry.

“Pasensya na kayo ah,” said Crawford, who began to cry. “Sa lahat din ng sumuporta sa relationship namin ni Nikki, I think I can say from the both of us, we really thank you. ‘Cause it did give us strength.”

Asked what he learned from the breakup, he said: “Sometimes, I feel like I’m not good enough. But I learned that importante pala na mahanap mo ‘yung sarili mo muna. I think kung mas maligaya ka, mas medaling magpaligaya ng ibang tao.”

As he tries to move on, Crawford said he is not closing his doors on the possibility that he and Gil will get back together.

“Only God knows,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Billy Crawford denies rift with Nikki

MANILA, Philippines -- Host-singer Billy Crawford denied that he had rift with girlfriend Nikki Gil after he got jealous over the actress' love scenes with actor Patrick Garcia in the primetime series "Apoy Sa Dagat."

Gil received good reviews for her short performance in the drama as the young Odessa, now being played by comebacking actress Aiko Melendez.

In an interview, Crawford stressed that he didn't even get the chance to watch that particular episode.

“Si Nikki ang unang-unang lumapit sa akin at nagtanong. Bilang siguro respeto rin naman niya sa akin ‘yon. Trabaho niya 'yon at wala akong magagawa. Hindi ko napanood dahil may trabaho ako. Hindi ko napanood at bakit ko papanoorin. It's my cup of tea pero there's no point na pag-awayan namin 'yon, walang ganoon (away),” he said.

As a supportive boyfriend, Crawford even praised Gil's performance and hoped that she will be given another acting project.

“Nabitin ako for her performance. I hope na bigyan siya ng break because she really deserves it. Alam ko ‘yung pinagtrabahuhan niya. ‘Yung umuuwi siya ng alas-onse ng umaga from being there from six o’clock in the morning. Sobrang drained siya pero ‘yung performance kitang-kita mo naman kung paano niya inatake and I think she deserves more from her performance,” he said.

The "Pilipinas Got Talent" host also stressed that he is happy with their relationship.

“I couldn’t ask for more sa relationship namin. Di naman siya perfect… wala namang relationship na perfect, but it’s more than perfect for me,” he said.

He also believes that the key to making their relationship work is that they try to keep it as private as possible.

“Hindi namin pinag-uusapan sa lahat kung ano ‘yung mga pinag-aawayan namin. It’s our relationship. So kung anuman ang mali ng isang tao dun sa relasyon na ‘yon, sa aming dalawa na lang ‘yon,” he said.

No to acting

Unlike Gil, Crawford, who started as a child performer, admitted that he is not that interested in acting, although he did the hit comedy film "Moron 5 and the Crying Lady" last year.

"Uunahin ko muna ‘yung performing ko. I’ve been hosting, may 'ASAP' naman ako, 'PGT,' 'Showtime.' It’s good to get back into singing and dancing," Crawford told ABS-CBNnews.com

"Ayaw ko kasi ng mag-jump ng trabaho. Gusto kong mag-concentrate. Kung hosting, magko-concentrate sa hosting. Kung gusto kong mag-perform and singing, ito ang ipapasok ko. Ayoko ng sabay-sabay kasi dun ka maloloka, dun magugulo ang mga desisyon mo, performance mo, kasi di ka focused sa isa,” he explained.

Crawford announced that he will be flying back to France in September or October for his international album.

"Maglalabas lang ako ng kanta... most likely (concert). Matagal na akong nagre-release doon kasi lagi akong nandito so 'yun pagkakataon," he said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com