Amy Perez is in high spirits because ?Face to Face,? her talakserye show on TV5, is reportedly doing well in the ratings. Its popularity has spurred a rival network to cook up a show with the same format.

Imitation is indeed the highest form of flattery. But Amy is refuting allegations that everything that happens in her show is staged and scripted. ?Di naman artista ang mga guests ko,? she explains, ?na pag i-cue mo, automatic na iiyak o mananampal.?

Amy says that ?Face to Face? ? whose confrontation scenes between warring individuals are much like those in ?The Jerry Springer Show? ? are real stories about real people. ?I?m happy that my show is a means where ordinary Pinoys can express their deepest emotions, and domestic squabbles can be resolved,? she points out.

Due to the toxic nature of her hosting chores, Amy is converting her dressing room into a Zen-like refuge. ?I need to de-stress during break time,? she sighs. ?But seeing how many enemies have become friends in our show makes it all worthwhile.? Face to Face equals Peace to Peace!

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Before ?Paparazzi? (TV5, 2:30 p.m.) went on the air last Sunday, we kept ribbing Ruffa Gutierrez about John Lloyd Cruz?s no-show at the Star Awards where she was one of the hosts.

Was Lloydie avoiding media scrutiny if he and Ruffa bumped into each other at the ceremonies? ?I don?t think so,? Ruffa says. ?He had high fever daw. Guess he better practice what he says in his ad and make ingat.?

Strange, but Lloydie was able to attend a press con earlier in the day but failed to make it to the Star Awards in the evening. Is he ready, willing but (emotionally) unable to face Ruffa?

We also teased Ruffa about Lloydie?s rumored ?flavor of the month,? Shaina Magdayao. Did they see each other at the birthday party of Ceanna, the baby of Shaina?s sis Vina Morales? ?I was too busy interviewing Vina for the show,? Ruffa explains. ?And Shaina was busy entertaining guests. We didn?t have a chance to sit down and talk.?

No hellos nor goodbyes. Just the deafening sound of silence between them.

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The half-Pinay ex-GF of a hunky actor can?t help but smile every time she sees his shirtless torso on a billboard. It?s because her name is still tattooed somewhere in the actor?s to-die-for body.

His current girlfriend is clueless since the tattooed name is coded. As the actor lets his body do the talking on his billboard, his tattoo leaves something unsaid.

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Not too many people know that Alex Crisano has a 6-year-old son, Vinny, with Joey Marquez?s daughter, JB. After Alex?s tumultuous relationship with Ethel Booba, he?s now making up for lost time with JB and Vinny. Happy Family Three!

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Personal: Tita Donna Villa was the first person to condole with me when my dad Ernesto Carvajal passed away last Sunday. I was touched by her gesture. My heartfelt thanks also to everyone who?ve gone to the funeral. His remains lie at the Forest Hills Funeral Homes, Quirino Ave. Novaliches. Interment is on May 4. I am now an orphan but I take comfort in the thought that I now have two guardian angels up above, my mom and dad so I better behave. And I?m blessed with two wonderful kids and true friends who are my angels here on earth.

E-mail: wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com