Except for the David Foster show, all of Charice’s appearances in the US including the Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Wimfrey shows were promo stints. This means she did not get paid for such appearances but paid for her plane tickets and all other incidental expenses. She only got gifts from them. The talent fee from the David show, however, was deposited in a trust fund in her name. But she’s returning to the US today for her first solo show, a paid appearance. “BuzzBox” met Charice yesterday for the launching of self-titled CD Lite as released by Star Records. Said CD has full length and minus one versions “And I’m Telling You (I’m Not Going),” “It Can Only Get Better,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Born To Love You Forever,” “I Have Nothing” and “Mama.” Charice will return for the June 7 show of Air Supply at the Big Dome where she will do the fronct act.

When Billy Crawford appears today in his solo presscon at 9501 Restaurant of the ELJ Communications Center, he will have to face the intrigues about his transfer from GMA to ABS-CBN. Billy arrives today contrary to the tab report he will do so next week. He decided to transfer from the Kapuso to the Kapamilya network. He has no work contract with GMA so he accepted the offer to host the second season of “Pinoy Dream Academy.” It will start to air early June when “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Plus” wraps up on June 7. For sure, it will coincide with the broadcast of GMA’s “Pinoy Idol.” Billy will also be joining “ASAP 08.” This transfer displeased his mentor German Moreno and ex-manager Raul Laurente which he did without even informing them. But Billy thinks he has not done anything wrong as it’s a career move. He wants a television career with ABS-CBN as it gives him local and global exposure through The Filipino Channel.

KC Concepcion will launch “A.K.A. Cassandra,” her debut CD under Sony BMG, on Tuesday, June 3, 12 noon at the Ruby Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Made up of 11 easy-listening songs, it will include revivals given a new treatment like “Umbrella,” “Imagine,” “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “Must Have Been Love,” “Imagine,” “Impossible” & some OPM songs such as “Agila” and “Ngiti Lang.” In some of the tracks, she plays instruments such as the kulintang.

The agonizing wait will be over! The actor who will play Armando in the much-awaited “Yo Soy Betty La Fea” will be introduced in “ASAP 08” this Sunday.

Tonight, ex-lovers Ara Mina and Jomari Yllana star in “Maalaala Mo Kaya” which is their first screen exposure since they broke up. Shot in Pagudpod in Ilocos Norte, it brought them to work with Jeffrey Jeturian who directed their first full-length feature “Minsan Pa.” In the story, they are unhappily married who broke away from their respective spouse. They found each other to start a new life together which will lead into a tragedy. But this is not the last of such special feature. A controversial actor has decided to be paired with his former squeeze, an actress often considered as one of the most beautiful faces in local showbiz. Do watch these special features as they are rare opportunities to see these ex-lovers act together, unless, of course, they decide to get together another time.

Recall my buzz about Jason Abalos being Christine Reyes’ leading man in “Eva Fonda?” It turned out to be correct! The still to be screened “Eva Fonda” teaser shows him as her leading man, confirming the fact. If the ABS-CBN remake will be faithful to the original characters, Jason will play the role of Ernie Garcia in the 1976 movie “Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16 ” which is the basis of “Eva Fonda.” Christine plays the role of Eva, an innocent but sexy young woman from the barrio who got pregnant early in life. Joross Gamboa is also in the drama series but not as Christine’s leading man. Also in the cast are Jean Saburit, Baron Geisler, Janna Garcia and Princess Ryan. Jon Reid and Frasco Mortiz direct the sineserye. According to insider information, Christine will not be in the all-female gag show “Banana Split” which
will replace the former Sunday timeslot of Aga Muhlach’s sitcom.

Lea Salonga’s “LEA My Life…On Stage” 30th anniversary concert at the PICC Plenary Hall turned out a critical and commercial success that a out-of-the-metro tour is now being planned. But special guest Aga Muhlach will not join these repeats. Lea will have to do without him.
His appearance in the show turned out to be the concert’s main highlight. Aga’s banter with Lea provided much of the laughs and his duet with her turned out to be a memorable one. Unknown to many, Aga tried to back out a few weeks before the show due to performance jitters. He could not sleep; the same thing happened to wife Charlene Gonzales. It took manager Ethel Ramos to tell him she would have nothing to do if he decided to backout. This pushed Aga to do the show and started rehearsing. He appeared for free, reasoning out, “Nag-enjoy naman ako.”