MANILA, Philippines?I teased Mariel Rodriguez that she and Robin Padilla look good together in ?Wowowee.? If and when he courts her, would she give in?

?Kakahiya naman to assume that he will court me,? Mariel said, laughing. ?Binoe is so nakakakilig to be with. Super nakaka-inspire siyang kasama.?

Doesn?t her BF Zanjoe Marudo get jealous of her budding friendship and perfect chemistry with Binoe?

?Zanjoe doesn?t watch naman ata. I don?t know if he?s nagseselos. I don?t think so naman,? she surmised.

Hmmm ? It seems like Mariel?s eyes twinkle more when she talks about Binoe. Not too long ago, rumors were circulating that Mariel and Zanjo were having problems in their relationship. Is it the beginning of the end for them?

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Meryll Soriano serves as her dad Willie Revillame?s official cheerleader now that he is embroiled in another controversy about switching channels.

??Wowowee? is my dad?s life. That?s why he gets so affected when people lambast his show,? she said. ?My main concern is his health. Dahil sa sobrang stress sa show, nagkaroon na siya ng iba?t-ibang ailments ? If it?s any consolation, now that he?s resting from his hosting chores, we will have more bonding time.?

Does her dad approve of her BF Joem Bascon? ?Of course he does,? she replied. ?As long as he sees me happy, that?s all that matters.?

How?s her dad?s love life? ?Nothing serious,? she noted. ?I told him not to remarry anymore because he?s really not the marrying type. He agreed.?

Among all the girls that have come and gone in Willie?s life, Meryll is the only girl who will stay for better, for worse and for good.

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Polo Ravales has a new inspiration, Sasha, who has a striking resemblance to Say Alonzo.

?As much as possible I want to keep my love life private,? he said. ?Natuto na ko sa mga previous relationships ko that turned into a show biz circus because everything was out in the open.?

Now Polo is hush-hush about all the mush.

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I was intrigued by the message sent to me by one of my FB contacts. She was asking me if it?s true that Janno Gibbs will soon be a lolo. I texted Janno about it but at press time, he hasn?t replied. Is it a No, Janno?

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Ethel Booba minced no words about her ex Alex Crisano when she was our guest in ?Paparazzi.?

?I can never ever forgive him,? she said. ?Marami akong witness na siya ang nagnakaw ng mga gamit ko worth about P3 million.?

Alex refuted her allegations and pleaded that she stop pestering him because he?s now happy with Joey Marquez?s daughter, JB and their son Vinny.

?Wala akong galit kay JB. Kay Alex lang,? Ethel clarified. ?Noong buntis si JB sa anak nila, naging kami ni Alex. So I should ask forgiveness from her.?
But as far as Alex is concerned, it?s goodbye and good riddance!

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Boy Abunda is a preferred speaker as he is a choice interviewer. I was more than flattered when Boy was asked about his top 10 favorite interviewees in an article about him some years ago, my name was included on his list.

The ?Startalk? interview we had about my liaison dangereuse with Robin Padilla many controversies ago will forever be etched in my memory.

Recently, Boy was the most applauded speaker at the 3rd Philippine Life Insurance Congress where he talked about ?10 Things About Me That Could Be About You.?

?Everyone has a story to tell ? Most of the time you don?t know what?s going to happen,? Boy said. ?And this makes the experience of interviewing truly exciting. I can do prostitutes and prime ministers in the same breath ??

E-mail the columnist: wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com