MANILA, Philippines?At a high-profile event, Closeted Politico was agitated until he was assured by assistants that Cute Reporter, latest apple of his eye, had been invited.

Plus, CP wanted CR to interview him and wouldn?t settle for anyone else. It must be love.

Tough rivals

Pretty Starlet went steady with Handsome Hunk in spite of her parents and handlers? vehement protests.

So why did PS suddenly break up with HH? Is it because she finally faced the harsh reality that she has to share him with a slew of gay benefactors?

Gun banned

Debonair Stud was raring to shoot a film out of town. From a taping, he went straight to the location. However, DS was stopped at a checkpoint and the police discovered a gun in his possession.

Perhaps DS forgot that the election-time gun ban was still in effect? Was the gun a prop in his previous taping?

DS was detained for a while and had to be replaced by another actor.

Johnny come lately

Yet another Dashing Hunk caused a slight hassle on the set of a film that?s being shot in the province.

He earlier accepted another assignment that conflicted with the film?s shooting schedule. DH hasn?t been sacked, but his tardiness left the production in a frantic state.

Denial queen for hire

In an interview, Dramatic Actress claimed she was still happily involved with Present Partner. She acted like nothing was the matter?though PP had confirmed the breakup.

A few days later, DA granted a TV interview in which she belatedly confessed the separation. Why the sudden loquaciousness? Was it because of the P20,000 talent fee she received for the TV interview?

Cool love nest for hot pair

Screen Stud is allegedly involved with Gay Politico, who?s still hiding in the closet.

SS and GP purportedly meet up in a rest house in a mountain resort. What better way to beat the summer heat!

Dion having twins

LOS ANGELES?Celine Dion?s struggle to have one more baby has more than paid off. She?s pregnant with two.

Publicist Kim Jakwerth told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Sunday that the 42-year-old Canadian songstress is 14 weeks pregnant with twins, and she plans to find out the sex of the babies next month.

Dion and her husband and manager Rene Angelil have one son, 9-year-old Rene Charles. AP

Keeping the character

NEW YORK?An award-winning play that features a character based on Gary Coleman is planning to keep that character, even after the actor?s death.

The creative team behind ?Avenue Q? has decided to make only small tweaks to the role played by Danielle Thomas. Coleman died Friday in Utah after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

?Avenue Q? is about twentysomething New Yorkers, featuring both humans and puppets. It won three 2004 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The Coleman character is a child star who now works as a building superintendent. AP

Better than ?Sex?

LOS ANGELES?Movie audiences showed more appetite for ?Shrek? than for sex over the Memorial Day weekend.

DreamWorks Animation?s sequel ?Shrek Forever After? remained the No. 1 movie for a second weekend with $43.3 million from Friday to Sunday. The film raised its domestic total to $133.1 million.

That easily topped the Warner Bros. sequel ?Sex and the City 2,? which was No. 2 with a $32.1 million debut that came in far below the $56.8 million opening weekend of its predecessor two years ago. AP

***

Top of the talk shows

For those who missed last weekend?s gabfests on TV. (And why we are moved, if we are moved.)

Judy Ann Santos on expecting a baby boy:

?Medyo maluha-luha ako na hindi ko maintindihan.? (We understand.)

Paolo Contis on plans of marrying Lian Paz:

?Hindi namin pine-pressure ?yong sarili namin. Pagmamahal namin sa isa?t isa ay tumindi dahil iba na ang bond. I make sure na reassured si Lian na walang dahilan para mag-alala.? (Dapat lang.)

Kris Bernal on fans? reaction to her closeness to Daniel Matsunaga while in a love team with Aljur Abrenica:

?Siyempre, malungkot po sa akin. Magkasama kami [ni Aljur] for three years. Pero lahat ? ng love team dadaan sa paghi-hiwalay. Iyong tungkol kay Daniel, nagiging close kami.? (Here we go.)

Mariel Rodriguez on her friendship with ex-boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo:

?We watch a movie, we can do whatever ? okay lang naman kasi talaga ?yung state namin ngayon, we are friends.? (Hello, Robin?)

Cogie Domingo on Angel Locsin?s denial that they were an item:

?Siyempre masakit po pero hindi ko po alam kung ano ang rason.? (Parang alam namin.) With Gerry Plaza

(Startalk, Entertainment Live, The Buzz, Showbiz Central, Paparazzi)