Carmina, Zoren accept BB's ice bucket dare

MANILA - Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi became the latest celebrity couple to take on the ice bucket challenge, which aims to benefit those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Nominated by Villaroel's former husband BB Gandanghari on Wednesday, the couple took to Instagram on the same day to share a video of their children dumping ice-cold water on their heads.



"Thank you, BB Gandanghari, for nominating us for the ALS ice bucket challenge," said Villaroel.

She then nominated celebrity couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, and actress Sherilyn Reyes-Tan. On the other hand, Legaspi passed on the challenge to actor Shintaro Valdez and filmmaker Dondon Monteverde.

Villaroel and Gandanghari tied the knot in 1994, but separated in 1996. Their marriage was annulled in 2002. In 2009, Gandanghari came out as gay on "Pinoy Big Brother."

While the two have expressed their willingness to talk to each other, both Villaroel and Gandanghari said their meeting should happen at the right time.

The former couple and Legaspi are now part of the growing list of local celebrities joining the ALS campaign, which includes Anne Curtis, Angel Locsin, and Luis Manzano.

The ice bucket challenge, which started in July, dares participants to dump a bucket of ice water on their head or donate to the ALS Association or any foundation pursuing research on the disease.

As of Tuesday, the ALS Association has reportedly received more than $80 million (around P3.5 billion) in donations.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Zoren talked to twins about BB Gandanghari

MANILA, Philippines -- Twins Cassie and Maverick doesn't mind if their father, Zoren Legaspi, wasn't the first husband of their mother, actress Carmina Villaroel.

On "KrisTV" on Monday, Legaspi said he was caught by surprise when his twins told him that they already knew that Rustom Padilla, now known as BB Gandanghari, is their mom's first husband.

"Nalaman nila 'yung kabuuan ng plano (ng kasal) a week before. Pero bago ko sinabi 'yun (kasal) sa kanila mayroon akong sinabi sa kanila -- 'yung history ng buhay ng mama nila. I have to say it, I have to tell them 'yung love story ni Mina dati," Legaspi told host Kris Aquino.

"Pero ito sabi ko kailangan kong sabihin para maintindihan nila kung bakit kami ikakasal. Kasi ang alam nila kasal kami ni Mina. So kinausap ko sila, sabi ko, 'Kids, dapat kaming dalawa ng mommy niyo ang magsasabi nito but I have to say it now dahil hindi ba...' I was preparing na parang Coco Martin ang drama and you know iyakan. Sabi ko, 'I'm not the first husband of your mommy.' Sab noong dalawa, 'Yeah, we know.' 'What? What do you mean we know? Eh, sino ang first husband ng mommy niyo?' 'That dude, that BB.' Sabi ko, 'What? You know?' Sabi ko, 'Who told you this?' 'We watched 'The Buzz,'" Legaspi recalled.

The actor said even when he had a one-on-one interview with Gandanghari, he and Villaroel never told their children about him.

"I felt very good not because inamin ko sa kanila but because of how they handled it. Sabi ko, 'Wow walang insecurities itong dalawang ito.' For them, it's just water under the bridge," Legaspi said.

The celebrity couple said they were really planning to tell the truth to their kids but they were just waiting for the right time.

Villaroel admitted that for years their children believed that she and Legaspi were already married -- which they never denied nor confirmed.

"Kasi ang bata in-assume nila na kapag magkasama kayo sa bahay at may mommy at daddy eh -- kasal. So they just assumed and hindi ko muna kinorek 'yon for a time, kumbaga hindi ko [itinanggi] hindi ko [kinumpirma]. Kasi alam ko darating ang time na ito na sasabihin ko din sa kanila," the actress said.

Last Thursday, Villaroel and Legaspi were married after the actor-host proposed to his partner of 12 years.

Legaspi asked the help of his children, as well colleagues of the actress-host from ABS-CBN, to carry out the surprise proposal and wedding ceremony at Fernbrook Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Finally, BB faces Zoren, finds closure for each other and Carmina

BB Gandanghari told Zoren Legaspi on Saturday that she is thankful “that you’re taking care of Carmina (Villaroel), and I think she is very happy with you.”

After months of delay, BB Gandanghari—the transsexual formerly known as Rustom Padilla, ex-husband of Zoren’s long-time live-in partner Carmina—finally faced off with Zoren in a revealing and heartfelt taped interview on the latter’s TV5 talk show, “Paparazzi Showbiz Exposed”.

The two had never met before—not even when BB was still Rustom. The interview started awkwardly with Zoren addressing her as “Madam BB” after giving her a bouquet of flowers, a gesture normally done after the interview.

It ended with Zoren telling her, “Let’s start as a family. We could be a family, di ba?” BB said she looks forward to meeting him with Carmina and their two children.

For Zoren’s first question, he asked her if she had any resentments towards him.

“Honestly, wala. Kasi sa totoo lang wala kang kinalaman doon sa ano mang nangyari sa past ni Carmina at ni Rustom. At kung meron akong nararamdaman sa ‘yo, hindi siguro sama ng loob o galit kundi pasasalamat actually,” she said.

BB said Rustom would probably wish he had experienced the same happiness that Zoren enjoys with Carmina.

BB revealed that she sought out Carmina when she needed to come out to her personally.

For his part, Zoren revealed that Carmina asked for his permission before meeting BB.

“To be frank, I was afraid for her,” Zoren said. “Sabi ko, ‘Teka, are you sure?’ Alam mo ang sabi niya sa akin? ‘I think i owe him this kasi that time she needed to talk to you (BB) pumayag kang kausapin siya. So sabi niya, ‘In return papayag ako’.”

BB said he was grateful for the private meeting between her and Carmina.

“Doon ko nakilala si Carmina. Doon nabuo ang respeto ko sa kanya bilang tao. At sabi ko sa sarili ko na siguro sa lahat ng nangyari, it was a blessing na si Carmina ang ‘yung naging parte (ng buhay ko).

“Kung may masakit man na nangyari, kung ano man, it was a blessing na kay Carmina lahat naging experience ko. Kasi napakaganda ng handling ng mga nangyari. I was very thankful and I was also very grateful na pumayag ka (Zoren). Siyempre at that time may sarili na kayong buhay,” BB explained.

BB came out to the public in 2006 while he was a housemate on ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition”.

She said she admitted her sexuality to Carmina ahead of her confession to her mother and other members of her family.

Zoren asked BB: “Was it difficult for you to say sorry?”

BB said: “Yes and no. It was difficult because i don’t make wanna make her feel that there was deception at that time because probably there wasn’t. ‘Yung pagso-sorry is kung mangyayari man ito ngayon baka masaktan ka. Kaya ako nagso-sorry…I just thought I owed it to her, the honesty and all.”

Asked if she feels complete after coming out as BB, she said, “I can say I’m happy, but I can be happier.”

And then she quipped to Zoren before breaking into laughter, “Parang naba-blangko naman ako sa tingin mo sa akin.”

Turning serious again, BB reiterated her stance on her persona: “My sexuality is an orientation, not a preference. So it’s not a choice because if this is a choice, wow, hundred times kong iisipin if this will be my choice. But it’s not a choice. Kahit mahirap siya, kailangan mong harapin. Kailangan mong tanggapin.”

Zoren gave BB a chance to ask him three questions. Her first: “Bakit mo ko gustong ma-interview?”

His reply: “Para kay Carmina, because I want that closure in the eyes of the public. Gusto kong maisara siya at maintindihan ng publiko na it’s really not a big deal sa ating tatlo. It’s just a big deal dahil hindi pa tayo nagkikita-kita.

“Pangalawa, sa akin naman, gusto kitang ma-interview dahil kasama ka sa past niya. You’re part of her history, and hindi na ‘yon mabubura. And gusto kita makilala. I’m thankful na you said yes to this interview at nagkakilala tayo. Nabunutan ako ng tinik sa mga narinig ko sa ‘yo, at lalo kitang nirespeto.”

BB aked Zoren how much he loves Carmina.

“Hindi pa ako nagloloko. Maraming hindi naniniwala. Maraming tukso siyempre. Malaki talaga sakripisyo ko dun to keep the family intact,” he said.

He added that he has made investments on Carmina’s behalf to assure her future and that of their children in case he dies anytime.

This again elicited a flirtatious remark from BB: “Wala ka bang kapatid?”

Towards the end of the show, when she was interviewed live by the “Paparazzi” panel composed of Cristy, Mr. Fu, Dolly Ann Carvajal and guest co-host Lucy Torres-Gomez, BB confessed: “Kaya yata na-in love si Carmina sa kanya, grabe tumitig ha!”

Zoren, on the other hand, offered an insightful summation of the interview to his co-hosts.

“I’m very happy na naging very frank and honest si BB. Mas lalong tumaas ang respeto ko kay BB dahil marami siyang sinabi na hindi natin akalain na pinagdadaanan niya hanggang ngayon. Meron siyang pain sa loob, and I was just happy to hear it from him personally.”

Watch the interview here:

interaksyon.com