MANILA, Philippines?Was Katrina Halili crying her heart out to Jennylyn Mercado backstage? Is it because there?s trouble in paradise for her and Kris Lawrence? Insiders insist that Kris is wooing EB Babe Zaida.

Could Katrina be getting a dose of her own medicine after she had a liaison dangereuse with Hayden Kho?

?Nope, there?s no third party involved,? Kat?s friend clarifies. ?She and Kris just had a little misunderstanding about their priorities. She asked Jen for advice because they?re close and marami na siyang (Jen) napagdaanan sa love.?

Strange that Kat is now saying that she and Kris were never an item. Were they just travel mates when they flew to the US to visit Kris? folks?

That?s a whatchamacallit relationship. And they loved never ever after!

Not Kris? babe

EB Babe Zaida wonders why her name got dragged into the Katrina-Kris issue. ?I want to clear my name,? says Zaida. ?Kris just greeted me on Valentine?s Day, that?s all. Katrina called and we clarified matters. But I?d rather keep our conversation private.?

The EB babe is not Kris? babe. No love triangle angle there.

Diet in Harvard

Diether Ocampo is having the time of his life in Boston. He was invited by the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations to attend the 2009 HPAIR Harvard On-Campus Conference. HPAIR is a partnership between the students and faculty of Harvard University offering a sustained academic program and a forum of exchange to facilitate discussion of the most important economic, political, and social issues relevant to the Asia-Pacific region.

It?s in line with the charitable projects Diet does for his K.I.D.S. foundation. ?Walking through the Harvard campus is surreal,? Diet exclaims. ?Kung pwede lang mag-enroll dito, that would be a dream come true. I will rock Harvard. This one is for the children.?

Diet?s boyish good looks is matched with a good heart for li?l boys and girls. For him, kid stuff is a serious passion.

Different ring?

EB Babe Lian Paz shrugs off rumors that the engagement ring Paolo Contis gave her is the same ring his ex Isabel Oli returned to him. ?Kawawa naman si Pao,? Liane says. ?He worked hard to buy me that ring. Besides, people will recognize if it?s the same ring. Pao wouldn?t do anything that would put us both to shame.? No to shame; not the same.

V-day cruise

I had such a splendid Valentine weekend aboard the 7107 Islands Cruise Ship to Subic. Even if I was dateless on V-day, the cruise made my heart happiest. We partied the night away with the cool music of Sabor Latino Friday night and Marco Sison?s romantic ballads on Valentine night.

It?s the same ship that Dingdong Dantes and family, Paolo Contis, Lian and I rode to Boracay during the New Year break. On Feb. 27, a moonlight cruise on Manila Bay can be experienced in the only luxury cruise ship in the Philippines with the Spirit of ?67. It will be an all-night party with free-flowing booze and hors d?oeuvres and a five-star cuisine dinner (Call 817-7107 or visit www.7107islands.net).

If only I could live on the ship and just sail my troubles away. Ship! Ship! Hooray!

Show time

Catch my all-time fave band True Faith in Aruba Metrowalk on Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. The group?s awesome ?Dream Journal? CD (a compilation of their hits) serves as my daily dose of good vibes.

PERSONAL: My endless thanks to the super-duper nice management and staff of 7107 Islands Cruise Ship?Steve and Trixie Tajanlangit, Aristeo Demavivas, Ed Fernandez, Moises Serrano, Gus Zamora, Capt. Rufino Solivas, Rheena Villamor, Allen Arnaiz and Dino Bautista?for an unforgettable and heavenly cruise! Please adopt me (hehe).

Thanks from the bottom of my silly heart to Dagz for the non-stop fun.

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com