MANILA, Philippines - China Cojuangco is all aglow. Her love life and newfound career as a chef are in full bloom. “I don’t consider myself a chef yet even if I’ve graduated na from culinary school (Center for Asian Culinary Studies),” Chins says. “It’s my BF Gino Gonzalez who’s the real chef and a very good one at that.”

Their one-year and 9-month-old romance has inspired China to create her own line of baked goodies, Yummy Bunny, named after their pet name for each other, “Bun.” Her specialties are callebaut chocolate with pecans and walnuts and oatmeal thins (tel. 8175054 or 09224880439).

Don’t they clash in the kitchen? “Nope. We work as a team,” Chins beams. “He loves creating a full meal for me.”

Will Chef Gino’s next creation be their wedding cake? “No wedding plans yet. But I see myself married to Gino someday soon.”
No wonder Chef China’s heart is burping. It couldn’t crave anything more.

Never together?

Insiders insist that Sam Milby and Anne Curtis have split up. “We couldn’t have broken up,” Sam clarifies, “because we were never together. We had a big fight lang which is normal but we are OK na.”
They were spotted watching Avril Lavigne’s concert last Sept. 3. As Avril’s song goes, “It’s not supposed to feel this way. I need you. I need you more and more each day.”
Could that be Sam and Anne’s national anthem for their whatchamacallit relationship?

Loveless

“I have no time for love or dating,” sighs JC de Vera. His heart may be empty for now but his schedule is full as he takes the spotlight in GMA 7’s “Obra” (every Thursday starting Sept. 11 after Telebabad).
He portrays a macho dancer, a prisoner who’s a victim of injustice, a disabled person searching for love and a miracle, and a young man about to get married when he discovers that his father and uncle are gays. Playing a convict is JC’s fave role of all.

When will he assume the role of a boyfriend again in real life? “It wouldn’t be hard to fall for Rhian Ramos whom I’ll be working with soon. Aside from being pretty, she’s intelligent pa.”
It takes beauty and brains to capture JC’s heart and soul.

Inimitable tandem

Catch the inimitable “Oh No, Its Johnny” tandem of Johnny Litton and Maurice Arcache in “Deal or No Deal” on ABS-CBN (before “TV Patrol”) today. Their combined charms will surely win the banker and everyone over.

PERSONAL: Super thanks to my fave couple Dingdong Dantes and Karylle for playing “wish granter” in a way only they can do. Thanks a mil to Babes Inciong, Jay Austria and the staff of Centerstage Family KTV Timog (2/F CTTM Square) for the red carpet treatment. The cool KTV joint (9268365) has state-of-the-art facilities and mouth-watering dishes (Their Hainanese chicken is the best!). Mapapakanta ka talaga sa ganda ng place!

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com