MANILA, Philippines?Diether Ocampo celebrated his birthday quietly. ?I had an intimate dinner with non-show biz friends who keep me grounded,? he said. His best birthday gift? ?A homemade card by a cancer patient.?

His on-and-off GF Kristine Hermosa called to greet him. Did she sound cordial or sweet? ?A little of both,? Diet quipped. ?Her presence would?ve been a great gift. Unfortunately, she?s in the US.?

The best lesson he learned as he turned a year cuter: ?Life?s too short to let others determine your own happiness.?

Diet?s busy being happy and making others happy as well.

Falling out

I asked Pauleen Luna via text whether her split-up with Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian hurts more than her breakup with Marvin Agustin. I remember how inconsolable Pau was days after she called it quits with Marvs.

I was quite surprised that she and Sherwin parted ways. Based on her Facebook entries, they seemed inseparable.

No word from Pau yet. Perhaps she?s still preoccupied with pain?s new teachings. Oh well ? whoever our heart learned to love, it can also unlove.

Delayed pay

The actors and staff of a situation commercial which was aired within a TV series wonder why they haven?t been paid until now.

?Nag-end na yung series di pa kami bayad. Sigurado ?yung mga bida sa show paid na. To think mas malaki ang TF nila,? laments a crew member. ?Ang excuse ng network di pa raw nagbabayad ang client in charge of the special ad. April pa nag-air. Sobra nang delay!?

Couldn?t it have been an April Fool?s prank?

Malaysian idol

Here?s more kwento about my recent Malaysian trip:

Jericho Rosales is the most popular Pinoy actor in Petronas country, thanks to his soap ?Pangako sa ?Yo,? which is a big hit there.

He is wrapping up a TV series with Malaysian actress Carmen Soo to be aired here and in Malaysia. After his breakup with Heart Evangelista, Echo needs a change of scenery. He should try to pursue his career in Kuala Lumpur even for a few months since he already has a captive audience there.

Echo would have to adjust to the work schedule, though. Malaysian actors usually tape 16 hours six times a week and rest on the seventh day. Most Pinoy stars are used to taping 24 hours three times weekly and rest the next day.

I chanced upon Marian Rivera?s ad on a Malay channel. But I doubt if ?Dyesebel? can be aired there. ?No skin dapat ipakita kasi mahigpit censorship dito. Pati simple kissing scenes ine-edit,? says my Pinay friend Cerlita, who?s based in KL. So no malisya in Malaysia!

Guess who

Guess who this sexy star is. She agreed to let her son (with an actor) attend the birthday party of his dad?s baby girl (with his non-show biz wife) but changed her mind at the last minute.

The poor kid was distraught because it was supposed to be a belated birthday celebration for him, too. ?Weird talaga ang babaeng yon kasi may masamang bisyo. Dapat ilayo sa kanya ang anak niya kasi unfit mom siya,? laments a friend of the actor. Mommie queerest?!

Pro-Pinoy

The band Pinikpikan e-mailed me its sentiments about KC Concepcion, with whom it recorded a song in her album ?A.K.A. Cassandra.? She?s undoubtedly Pinikpikan?s pick!

?KC loves anything truly Filipino and indigenous. That?s probably why she?s a good friend of the band. Hindi lang siguro sanay ang mga tao na may show biz kid na genuinely pro-Pinoy rin gaya ni KC. Malaki potential niya sa pagtulong sa bayan ??

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