Handbag Happy Hour helps AIDS group

Ladies practically will drool over the gleaming Gucci, Ferragamo and Prada purses at a Bonita Springs fundraiser at October's end.

Women will be snatching top-notch clutches and pocketbooks at the seventh annual Handbag Happy Hour to benefit the Island Coast AIDS Network.

The fall fete should delight fashionistas.

A DJ will spin '80s and dance music.

Spotlights will flash across strutting runway models made up and costumed to match their purses.

Wine and liquor will flow freely. And trays of hors d'oeuvres and Norman Love chocolates will appease tasteful tongues.

"Last year was fabulous," development director Jessica Collins says. "It's just a very chic, fashionable event."

The party will feature a mixed bag of offerings.

The event will start with a silent auction of gently used handbags, ranging from $20 to several hundred dollars.

"Some of these bags are donated by wealthy ladies," Collins says. "I have one Prada with the tag still on it, but it's still technically 'gently used.'"

For those who don't have much in their wallets, they can wade through grab-bag tables bearing purses priced at $10 and $20.

Then the live-auction fashion show will feature 10 handbags donated by celebrities and premier purses, some of which will be worth $1,500 and more.

In 2008, Carrie Underwood, Liz Taylor, Kellie Pickler and Meryl Streep donated handbags.

Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard's have donated purses.

"No matter what's in their pocketbooks - duh! - or in their billfolds, they can find a bag they can afford," says Carolyn Moore, AIDS Network executive director, as she laughs at her pun.

About 50 percent of Moore's purses have come from previous Handbag Happy Hour events, she says.

She also donates purses she no longer wants.

"All in the spirit of recycling," Moore says. "Everywhere I travel, I get a handbag. There's nothing better than a really stylish handbag. It's one of my fetishes."

The event's slogan hints at the festive nature of the fundraiser: "The seventh annual Handbag Happy Hour is one happy hour where you'll raise more than your glass."

The AIDS service organization helps more than 500 clients in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and DeSoto counties.

The fundraiser money will go to client programs, including:

- food and vitamin pantry

- client emergency assistance fund

- transportation

- HIV/AIDS classes and training

- HIV prevention services

- case management

- nursing

- chore service

- physical therapy

The AIDS Network has been operating for 23 years.

In 2008, the fundraiser drew about 300 guests who placed bids on more than 250 handbags, raising $62,000 for HIV/AIDS support services provided by the AIDS Network.

The highest-selling handbag at $3,100 was the exclusive "Beach Glass" created by Chico's designer Michael Chase.

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Angel Locsin, 'Kahit Isang Saglit' bag International Emmy nominations

2 out of 3 nominations from RP are from ABS-CBN

MANILA - ABS-CBN's Angel Locsin and the teleserye "Kahit Isang Saglit" were declared as official nominees in the 37th International Emmy Awards, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS) announced Monday.

The list of nominees for this year's International Emmy Awards were released Monday. (Link to press release)

Locsin's performance as a she-wolf in the ABS-CBN teleserye "Lobo" merited a nomination under the Best Performace by an Actress category.

Locsin is joined in the category by Emma De Caunes ("Night Birds," CHEZ WAM, France); Cecilia Suarez ("Capadocia," HBO Latin America Originals, Mexico); and Julie Walters ("A Short Stay in Switzerland", BBC, United Kingdom).

Meanwhile, "Kahit Isang Saglit" (with the English title "A Time For Us"), which was topbilled by Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo, was nominated under the Telenovela category.

GMA Network's "Magdusa Ka" accompanied "Kahit Isang Saglit," a co-production of ABS-CBN and Malaysia's Double Vision SDN BHD, in the category.

Other nominees under the said category are "India - A Love Story," TV Globo, Brazil; and Second Chance, TF1 Production/Fontana, France.

A total of 41 nominees in 10 categories were announced Monday by the IATAS, and the winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on November 23. (Link to full list of nominees)

The awarding, which will be hosted by UK television star Graham Norton, will be held at the Hilton New York Hotel.

In all, the Philippines has 3 nominations.

"Nominations span over 17 countries with first ever Emmy nomination for Thailand, in the Children & Young People Category. The United Kingdom leads with 9 nominations, followed by Brazil (5), Germany, Mexico & The Philippines (3). The competition took place with three rounds of judging over a period of 6 months, with participation from over 600 judges in 50 different countries," a press release at the IATAS web site said. (Read: Asia, Latin America dominate International TV Emmys)

“As interest in our competition builds every year, The Academy is proud to serve as a cultural showcase of television from all continents,” Academy President & CEO, Bruce Paisner was quoted as saying.

“We congratulate the 2009 Nominees for their outstanding achievements and hope the first-time nomination from Thailand will inspire more producers from many more countries to follow in their footsteps and enter the competition,” Paisner added.

"The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a membership based organization comprised of leading media and entertainment figures from over 50 countries and 500 companies from all sectors of television including Internet, mobile and technology," the organization's web site explained.

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Angel Locsin flies past innuendoes with Emmy nomination

Did Angel Locsin distribute relief goods to typhoon Ondoy victims by herself to hog the credit for her good deeds?

This is what the actress' detractors claim even as they accuse her of purposely avoiding other ABS-CBN stars who are also into such charity works.

An interview with Angel on “Showbiz News Ngayon” cleared up the brouhaha.

Angel said no one is avoiding anybody. She acted on her own as soon as she saw on TV how people were suffering. She chose to zero in on Payatas because she was familiar with the area.

Overwhelmed by the multitude asking for help, the actress launched a "text brigade" asking friends for assistance.

One of the first to respond to her plea was Mariole Alberto of Star Magic who immediately sent Piolo Pascual, Zanjoe Marudo, Shaina Magdayao, and Maricar Reyes to Payatas. By the time these Star Magic stars arrived at the site, Angel was already distributing packed goods.

But the nasty talks didn’t stop there. According to rumormongers, Angel’s funds for the Ondoy victims come from a filthy rich Chinese suitor---including the P600,000 the actress said came from her own pocket.

The amount was confirmed on “The Buzz” on Oct. 4 by Boy Abunda who thanked her profusely for the generous gesture.

Notwithstanding the rumors, blessings continue to pour on Angel. The actress had just been chosen as Best Actress nominee in the 37th International Emmy Awards for her role in the ABS-CBN TV series, “Lobo.”

Angel will be competing against Emma De Caunes (“Nightbirds,” CHEZ WAM, France), Cecilia Suarez (“Capadocia,” HBO Latin American Originals, Mexico), and Julie Walters (“A Short Stay in Switzerland,” BBC, United Kingdom) in the category.

Kris Aquino, who made the announcement on “Showbiz News Ngayon” on Oct. 5, said that a few minutes after their segment on Angel’s nomination aired, the actress texted her, “Ate Kris, gusto kong maglulundag sa tuwa, pero hindi akma sa panahon."

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Angel Locsin: Best Actress Nominee in International Emmy Awards

Popular Filipina actress Angel Locsin is about to make the Filipinos proud once more as she is nominated in the 37th International Emmy Awards as the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS) announced last Monday.

Angel Locsin starred in the television series Lobo (The Wolf) together with Piolo Pascual. Just last week, Angel Locsin was admired by the Filipino people as she launched her own rescue operations for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. She gave away relief goods and helped clean the streets thus she was given the tag ‘The Real Superwoman’. Goodluck Angel!

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Angel Locsin and Star Magic talents conduct relief operations in Payatas

ABS-CBN stars, led by channel Head Cory Vidanes, visited the hardest-hit areas in Metro Manila to distribute relief goods to victims of typhoon Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana).



Last night, September 28, Showbiz News Ngayon aired videos of Kapamilya stars as they helped people living in the Payatas dump site. Among those who went to Brgy. Bagong Silangan in Payatas were Piolo Pascual, Zanjoe Marudo, Maricar Reyes, Shaina Magdayao, and Serena Dalrymple.



With regards to the tragedy, Zanjoe simply said, "Ganun talaga ang nangyari. Wala tayong magagawa, so ang pinaka-ano na lang, tumulong."



Maricar, on the other hand, urged people to act immediately and help those in need. "One cannot express how sad one feels for these people. Pero pag ganito, kailangan nang umaksyon."



Shaina pointed out, "Nakakagaan ng feeling na nase-share namin ang blessings namin. Pag nangyari ang mga ganitong panahon, artista ka man o hindi, pantay-pantay na lang talaga pag ganito."



ANGEL'S INTIATIVE. For her part, Angel Locsin has been actively participating in the relief operations. "Ilang araw na akong rumoronda at nakikita ko... Iba yung mga taga-rito kasi yung mga taong nakatira dito, never naman sila naka-experience ng maginhawang buhay. Sila yung mga walang second floor na mapupuntahan."



Angel spearheaded a text brigade asking her colleagues to help typhoon victims. "Nag-text po ako kina Tita Mariolle [Alberto, head of Star Magic] and pinapunta nila yung mga Star Magic artists. Nagulat ako at hindi ko po ine-expect. Kaninang umaga, nagulat ako at may coaster tapos nakita ko na sina Piolo, sina Maricar... Thank you sa pagsuporta."



While Angel was organizing the relief operations, little did anyone know that Angel's own sibling almost became a casualty of the recent typhoon. "Almost two days rin siya na-stranded. Nung nakita siya, punong-puno na siya ng putik. Siyempre, medyo nataranta ako kung anong uunahin pero kung kaya mo namang ipagsabay, bakit hindi, di ba?



Other celebrities who helped distribute the goods courtesy of ABS-CBN Foundation were Candy Pangilinan and director GB Sampedro.

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Vilma Santos bought special Christmas gift for Angel Locsin

Kahit hindi pa umaamin at pinipilit nilang itago ang kanilang relasyon, halata raw sa kilos nina Luis Manzano at Angel Locsin na mahal nila sa isa't isa.



Ayon pa nga sa balitang nakalap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), isinama na raw ni Luis si Angel sa Batangas noong Christmas at ipinakilala na sa ina niyang si Gov. Vilma Santos at sa stepfather niyang si dating senator Ralph Recto. Namasyal pa raw doon ang rumored sweethearts.



May nakapagsabi rin sa PEP na almost four months nang magkasintahan sina Luis at Angel, na sabi'y nagsimula pagkatapos lumipat si Angel sa ABS-CBN. But it seems nagawa nilang maitago ang kanilang relasyon at hanggang sa ngayon, walang makapagsabing nagdi-date ang dalawa kung saan-saan, maliban sa nalaman naming isinama ni Luis si Angel sa Batangas.



Kaugnay ng nababalitang relasyon nina Luis at Angel, may nagkuwento sa PEP (kaibigan ng isang saleslady sa Rustan's Makati) na doon daw nag-post- Christmas shopping si Vilma. Nagkamali nga lang daw ang actress-politician na wala nang taong makakapansin sa kanya doon dahil tapos na ang Christmas rush. Nang malaman daw ng mga nagsa-shopping doon na nandoon siya, biglang dumami ang tao sa store. In fact, maging ang StarTalk co-host na si Butch Francisco—na nag-post-Christmas shopping din doon ng araw na ‘yon—ay nalaman na nandoon si Gov. Vi nang may nagsabi sa kanya.



Sa patuloy na kuwento ng saleslady, para raw maiwasan ang pagkakagulo ng mga tao na gustong makalapit sa kanya, minabuti ng manager ng store na dalhin na lamang sa office niya si Gov. Vi at doon na lang dinala sa kanya ang mga goods na puwede niyang pagpilian.



Narinig rin daw ng isa sa mga saleslady na nag-aasikaso kay Gov. Vi ang tanong nito, "Alin kaya dito ang magandang ibigay kay Angel?" among the accessories, perfumes, and jewelries na nasa harap niya. Nagkatinginan raw ang sales ladies at inisip nilang ang "Angel" na tinutukoy ni Gov. Vi ay walang iba kundi si Angel Locsin.



Ang malungkot lamang sa kuwento, hindi na nakita ng sales lady kung alin sa jewelry at perfume na pinili ni Gov. Vi ang ibinigay nito kay Angel.

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Angel Locsin Sizzles in Rogue Magazine December 2008 Issue!

Kapamilya Star Angel Locsin is Rogue Magazine’s December 2008 covergirl. We are happy to see the angelic actress on the cover – simple yet sexy (just like the Anne Curtis cover). Drooling for the hot and sexy Angel Locsin? Why not vote her for the best Showbiz Gossips cover girl for December 2008!

Don’t be outdated, be on the edge! Grab your Rogue Magazine December 2008 issue copy now!

Thanks to Azrael for the photo.

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