Pia and Marlon add glitter to Manhattan Fashion Week

Curtain-raisers:

• Three of the 40 hopefuls in the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas pageant set for March 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum are said to be “in a relationship.” They are: Catriona Grey with model-actor Clint Bondad (first runner-up in the 2016 Century Superbods search), Michelle Gumabao (daughter of Dennis Roldan and sister of Marco Gumabao) with gym owner/conditioning coach Aldo Panlilio; and Vickie Rushton with Jason Abalos. The three are stronger contenders for the six titles at stake.

• Confirmed: A showbiz couple who is getting married in church in April has already been married in civil rites by a Metro Manila mayor.

• Aside from Usec/Philippine STAR columnist Mocha Uson and MTRCB chief Rachel Arenas, also rumored to be running for senator in the 2019 mid-term elections is TV host Erwin Tulfo. Anybody else interested in running, please raise your right hand!!!

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The presence of Pia Wurtzbach and boyfriend Marlon Stockinger added glitter to the 2018 Fall/Winter show of the Manhattan Fashion Week that featured Filipino designers Sidney Perez Sio, Bessie Besana, Albert Andrada and Oz Go (Rachelle Ann’s brother).

During a lull, fans broke protocol and swarmed the couple seated at the end of the runway.

Also shown at right (leftmost) with fellow designers (from left) Oz Go, Bessie Basana and Sidney Perez Sio.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I really admire both of them!” stated one ecstatic fan after she was able to take a selfie. Other celebrities spotted were top model Eian Scully, Brian Poe Llamanzares and Manhunt-Philippines 2017 Daniel Azurin.

Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism 2012 Katrina Jayne Dimaranan, Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond and Mossimo Hunk Mark Manicad were among the models.

Pia was declared New Movie Actress of the Year (for Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad) by the PMPC Star Awards for Movies, beating beauty queen Maxine Medina (2016 Miss Universe-Philippines) and Joyce Pilarsky (2017 Mother of the Universe).

Together with reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Pia modeled during the Sherri Hill fashion show.

The four designers truly impressed the audience with their creations. Sidney’s Winter Collection got nods from the younger, hip and sporty crowd; while Go’s creations appealed more to the modern career-driven women of New York. Bessie’s “Reflection” Collection (which featured a lot of bridal creations laced with beadwork and embellishments and Albert’s Princess Margaret inspired designs) brought out every woman’s fantasy or desire to be a princess or a queen during a special occasion. — Reported by Felix Manuel

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