As a present for joining her YouTube vlog, Maris Racal got her first Chanel bag from Dr. Vicky Belo.

So proud of Belo’s gift to her, Racal flexed the gift on her Instagram page with this caption: “still cant believe I now have a chanel bag…you are the sweetest doc @victoria_belo.”

In the vlog, the Can’t Buy Me Love star shared how she met and eventually fell in love with her boyfriend, rock star Rico Blanco. 

It also showed Belo and Racal in a food tour around Binondo, which happened to be the location of Can’t Buy Me Love. For the first time, the two tried eating chicken feet, commonly known as “adidas.”

In the end, while inside the van, Belo presented her gift to Racal, a brand-new Chanel bag.

“Gosh, it’s my first Chanel. Thank you,” Racal told Belo.

“Pangatlong bag mo na ’to sa akin. First was Gucci, then ito. Hindi ko in-expect na magkaka-Chanel ako (This is the third bag you’ve given me. First was Gucci, now this. I didn’t expect to have a Chanel),” Racal said.

Incidentally, Racal is being warned by netizens to be wary of Andrea Brillantes after the latter posted a photo taken during the recent reunion concert of Rivermaya. In the photo with Brillantes is Racal’s boyfriend, as Blanco used to be a member of the iconic band as a guitarist and songwriter.

Gloc-9 admits ‘Sirena’ his song to gay son

Now it can be told: “Sirena,” the hit song of rapper Gloc-9 is easily the most important song in his career as it pays tribute to his gay son.

Gloc-9 made the revelation recently in an interview. He initially said that he was hesitant to write the song as “alam ko kasi na hindi ko tsinelas o sapatos ang suot-suot ko (I know that I am not in the same slippers or shoes).”

He shared that a few days before the song was released, a group of production people came to him for an interview. He then showed a music video of it.

“Nararamdaman ko ’yan kasi ’yan ang buhay ng best friend ko (I can feel that because that’s the life of my best friend),” one of the production people said after watching the video.

Then Gloc-9 met a bouncer in one of the shows of ABS-CBN who was very thankful to him.

“Idol, salamat, ha. Kasi ‘yung anak ko sirena rin, eh. Noong narinig ko ‘yung kanta mo, naliwanagan ako (Idol, thank you, ha. It’s because my son is also gay. When I heard your song, I was enlightened),” the rapper shared.

“My son is gay,” Gloc-9 declared while sobbing. “No’ng sinulat ko ’yun, hindi pa niya sinasabi sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa anak ko kung gaano ko siya kamahal. Hindi naman ako ma-showbiz. I think para sabihin ko ito now, ako ay proud na proud sa anak ko. Ako ay excited sa kung anuman ang kaya niyang ma-achieve sa buhay niya (When I wrote that song, he hasn’t told me yet. I don’t know how to say to my son how much I love him. I am not into showbiz. I think for me to say it now, I am very proud of my son. I am excited as to what he can achieve in his life),” he added.

‘Miss Probinsyana’ and the power  to realize one’s dream

 “A dream is a wish that your heart makes,” a popular adage says. To realize any dream, believing and wishing are only the beginning. Courage, connection, determination, know-how, passion and timing are the needed factors to bring a dream to fruition.

All these and more are highlighted in Jenny Pearl Ninalga’s first commercial movie, Miss Probinsyana, a heartfelt drama that chronicles the courageous journey of Marge, played by Rhian Ramos, a determined young woman from the province, and her supportive partner Wil, portrayed by actor Sid Lucero, a seafarer-turned-web developer, as they navigate the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship, love and personal growth in the face of adversity.

Drawing from her own experience as the daughter of an OFW, Marge embarks on a transformative path to create change in her province through the pursuit of empowering her fellow Filipinos through the world of Information and Communication Technology. She successfully establishes her own BPO company in the province.

The director says: “Miss Probinsyana is more than just a film; it is a celebration of the indomitable spirit of Filipina women and a testament to the power of education, technology, and community empowerment in driving positive change.”

The empowered woman who happens to be the movie’s inspiration, Marjorie Aviso declares: “It is very easy to get caught up into the day to day of life especially when you are pursuing your dreams and purpose against all odds, but seeing my life flashback and walk me though the journey is a totally different level — a profound perspective indeed. I have not only appreciated more but really learned that everything happens for a reason that only God has plans for.

“I have always asked myself if my story is even worth telling, for I know there are a lot more life stories deserved to be told. But this film is truly a testament that you do not have to be great to make a difference in this world. I am eternally grateful to Direk JP, staff and crew for creating such a masterpiece and I am grateful to my team at Telework PH for this milestone.”

Miss Probinsyana will have a special screening on the 6 March at Metropolitan Theater as it part of the International Women’s Month celebration and nationwide public screening on the latter part of April 2024.