I?m not a bit surprised that Maja Salvador would question an item in this column about her and the friend of Roxanne Guinoo?s fiancé locking themselves up in a car. It?s every celebrity?s prerogative to cover up, for image preservation.

Perhaps she thought nobody would squeal on them. But someone privy to her affairs tipped me off about it.

Nothing wrong with enjoying the naughty pleasures of youth. She?s a fancy-free, gorgeous young lady, who ought to have fun once in a while. All work and no play...

***

Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes were spotted shopping for appliances in Rockwell where they are rumored to have a love nest. I teased Dong about it. He told me they were just looking for a gift for their friend. Or were they secretly savoring the thrill of playing bahay-bahayan?

***

It was a toss-up between Dingdong Dantes and Richard Gutierrez for the next host of ?Survivor Philippines.? Richard is it, as announced on Friday, although Dong actually hinted to us earlier that he wasn?t about to take over the hosting chores left behind by Paolo Bediones in the reality show.

***

Got a surprise call from my fab sis Vicki Belo while she was in Bohol (her fave local destination). She wants to clarify that she is no longer addicted to Hayden Kho.

She followed a step-by-step process on how to overcome an addiction. Been there, felt that. Sweetness (of the young and the restless) has always been Vicki?s and my strongest weakness.

***

I still am in a euphoric state after the 8th Gawad Tanglaw Awards where I won Best Entertainment Columnist for the third year in a row. It still feels like the first time.

The awarding this year was made even more memorable by my Mom?s Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous).

Kudos to the esteemed members of Gawad Tanglaw, most especially Teresita Bagalso (president), Jaime G. Ang (president emiritus) and Romeo Flaviano Lirio (chairman emiritus) for a well-attended affair. Among the awardees were Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz, Luis Manzano, Coco Martin, Roderick Paulate and Zaijan ?Santino? Jaranilla.

My endless thanks to Gawad Tanglaw for inspiring me to write even on days when show biz gets too ungrateful to bear. Special thanks to fab couple Loy and Tati Fortuna for the victory party they hosted for me at Watering Hole, Ryan and Jen of Sober Club mobile bar, Vicki Belo, Tito Sotto, Malou Choa-Fagar, ABS-CBN?s Bong Osorio and Kane Choa, GMA 7?s Butch Raquel, TV5?s Peachy Guioguio, Viva Films? Boss Vic del Rosario and Veronique Corpuz, my Santa friend Allan German, Goldilocks, True Faith, Ricky Davao, Luke Mejares, Ambet Nabus, Mr. Fu and my close friends and family, especially my kids Bianch and IC for making my celebration complete.

Super duper thanks to PDI Entertainment for bearing with me, my loyal readers for the vote of confidence, my late great Mom for teaching me how to write the right stuff and, most of all, to the greatest writer of my life story, the Lord. My heart runneth over!

***

At press time, the lead star of ?Agua Bendita,? Andi Eigenmann, hasn?t appeared in her TV series. Viewers are impatiently waiting for her to surface. Could it be true that the scenes of the kids will be extended because of their impressive performance? Shine on, little stars with big talent!

***

Discover the sweet story of unexpected sparks and romances, of love lost and found in GMA 7?s ?Dear Friend? summer special, ?My Stalking Heart? (Sundays at 3 p.m.). The four-part episode (which premiered yesterday) is top-billed by Jennica Garcia, Carl Guevarra and ?Survivor? Season 2 castaways Jef Gaitan and Marvin Keifer.

Find out if destiny really brings two people together and if love can be found when and where you least expect it. Time to find your summer love somewhere out there.

***

It?s little wonder that TV5?s ?Talentadong Pinoy? was able to break into the viewing habit of Filipinos. The talent show, which has already received awards and is the leading program of its genre (despite the number of same-format shows from the two giant networks), is well-loved by the Pinoy audience clearly for its entertainment value and overall program done in very good taste.

In ?Talentado,? every contestant is treated with respect no matter their eccentricities, handicaps or flaws. Ryan Agoncillo fits his role as host to a tee for his natural rapport with the contestants, judges and studio audience.

It is a feel-good show. The judges give constructive criticisms and there?s never an instance that we hear of a contestant getting maligned by the comments in the show. Congratulations to the show for its successful grand finals last Saturday. Cuneta Astrodome was filled to the rafters, a testament to the show?s popularity and success.

E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com.