MANILA, Philippines—Jowee Ann Marquez and Tito Lopez are head over heels in love.

They are celebrities in their own right. Jowee is the daughter of Joey Marquez and former actress Brenda del Rio. Tito is a Lopez scion (son of Albertito and Emily Lopez).

They met nine years ago when Jowee was 12 and Tito was 22. “We never kept in touch and just saw each other as distant friends,” recalls Jowee. “When I turned 17, he called my cousin to fix a dinner date with me but there was no malice at all (laughs). From then on, he would call to check on me and seek advice on his relationships. We both split up from our partners at about the same time and that’s how it started.”

Tito hasn’t met Jowee’s dad. But Jowee is upbeat. “Dad has seen his pics,” she says. “I want Tito and I to be together longer so that he will be the last BF my dad will ever meet.”

What do they love most about each other? “She keeps me grounded,” Tito says. “She always reminds me to stay humble because I’ve been blessed in so many ways.”

Jowee relates, “He gives me a wake-up call every morning to inspire me to be the best I can be.”

The 10-year age gap is no problem for them at all. “We enjoy the same stuff. Besides he doesn’t look his age,” Jowee explains. “This is the only relationship that I’m willing to go through hell and back...” Has it been just seven months since they went steady? From the way they sound, it seems like they’ve been loving each other since birth.

Sizzling cover girl

Precious Adona sizzles on the cover of FHM’s May issue. That only serves as a teaser of the “Playmate ng Bayan”’s movie “Torotot” (Viva Films).

Who are the three actors she wants to ‘play’ with? “Sam Milby, Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz,” she declares unabashedly.

Has she ever cheated on her BF, as the title of her movie implies? “Yup,” says Precious. “I dumped him but gave him a different reason why. He didn’t know I already found someone else.”

One game she never wants to play in the battle of the sexes? “I hate mind games and open relationships. Waste of time.” With Adona, it’s always a helluva good time for boytoys.

Delusional

Got this shocking e-mail from my fab friend Joyce Ramirez. She’s the manager of Pinoy British footballer Philip Younghusband. Attached were pics of a young starlet who was preggy in the shots. Here are portions of Joyce’s message:

“I am hunting the head of this young starlet who has been sending pics to Phil’s phone via MMS while he was still in England. Apparently, the starlet met Phil when I arranged his guesting in a TV show last year.

“The photos include two images taken from a TV taping in which the starlet appears to be pregnant, and another in which she shows her cleavage while wearing just a bra in a bathroom.

Phil told me that the girl has been chasing him, texting him, even desperately going out of her way to send him stale cookies that she personally baked (probably with a bad dose of gayuma) to England. But what I don’t understand is what kind of person would send pregnant photos (even if they are fakes) to a young boy? I think she needs a psychiatrist.”

Perhaps the starlet has a delusion that Philip must live up to his surname and become her young hubby.

Cool new band

Make way for the cool new band Sopiz. They are Catherine Go on vocals, Jordan Peralta on rhythm guitars, Glen Retamar on lead guitars, Ruel Lising Jr. on bass and Joj Bryle Paz on drums. Their debut album will soon be released by Bellhaus Entertainment. With their infectious pop-alternative music and superb stage performance, Sopiz is bound to be sooooo in demand.

Personal

Kudos to my dear friend Pauline Banusing. Her exquisite restos Freska (best Ilonggo seafood) in Iloilo, Katipunan, Tiendesitas and Promenade Greenhills, and Al Dente (first Italian resto in Iloilo) were named two of the Best Restaurants by Philippine Tattler.

Congrats to my thoughtful amigo Arnold “Igan” Clavio for winning the Award of Excellence in Journalism and Humanitarian Service in the 4th Phil-US Expo ’08. His “Philippine Agenda” episode on health also bagged an award at the US International Film and Video Festival.

E-mail wateringholeshnagrila@yahoo.com