Seen at the scene: John Lloyd Cruz and girlfriend Liz Uy spending a weekend in Hong Kong. The two enjoyed each other’s company but when it came to shopping, the two did their own thing, with John Lloyd checking out the men’s stuff while Liz browsed through local Hong Kong designer stuff.  It was supposed to be a normal Hong Kong trip, but going home, the two were almost left behind. They were seen running at the Hong Kong International Airport as they were waiting in the wrong gate and had to run all the way to the other side of the airport just to catch their flight.

Someone whispered to me that this trip was planned way back by the couple. John Lloyd was in a celebratory mood all the way as he learned how A Very Special Love continued to do well at the box office. This is his first nonpairing with Bea Alonzo since their love team was launched, and it proves he has box-office clout on his own. Meanwhile, his real-life partner Liz “enjoyed the movie,” says a source.

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SEEN at the scene: Embassy is a club that everyone goes to just to have a fabulous time. Thanks to the sounds of über-DJs Mars, Jon and Ace, a lot of people move and groove to the beat and have a great time, forgetting all their worries, forgetting their problems outside, even forgetting who they are.

Perhaps, on any given night, you’d see celebrities forgetting they are just that. Joseph Bitangcol making out with a nonshowbiz Chinese mestiza girl. Geneva Cruz, looking so thin sans KC Montero, dancing with this boy and that, prompting people to ask, “Where is your husband KC, and is it true that you’re already separated?”

Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos enjoying a drink or two at the VIP lounge, so it’s not true that the are in splitsville. The two are actually homebodies and would rather enjoy each other’s company than go out and inhale all that secondhand smoke. They even confessed to me that the time I saw them in Embassy on a Wednesday night was their first time there!

Valeen Montenegro with a number of girlfriends...and boyfriends. Victor Basa was nowhere in sight, so it must be true that the two are no longer a couple.

That was just in one night in Embassy. Who knows what will happen next week.

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SEEN at the scene: A certain part of Marikina is enjoying a “show” every week as Komiks Presents: Varga shoots there. They should enjoy the antics of its star Mariel Rodriguez and how she tries to save the world against evil forces.

But what they enjoyed more was the tension that filled the set when Kapitan Boom star Jon Avila arrived to shoot his scenes. You see, Mariel and Jon became too close for comfort when both of them were living in the Pinoy Big Brother house. Of course, Mariel had and has a “special friend” by the name of Zanjoe Marudo.

Everyone was rooting for Jon and Mariel to get together but, apparently, Zanjoe stepped his game up and won Mariel’s heart.

Anyway, back to the shoot: Both of them appeared uncomfortable with each other, but after a few moments, they apparently loosened up and everything went back to normal. They were caught sharing a laugh or two, but sorry to the fans of Jon and Mariel: Nothing beyond the ordinary happened, and the two were and are just friends.

Meanwhile, you guys probably know that a few weeks ago, Mariel left for the US to join the Wowowee stars and crew for their show in Hawaii. But what you don’t know is that on the day they were at the airport, guess who turns up but Jon Avila—who was on his way to London to attend his sister’s wedding! Of course, while Jon was checking in, the airport staff informed him, “Mariel is also here! Are you traveling together?” Somewhere in a different part of the airport, Mariel found herself being asked, as well, if she were traveling with Jon!

Oh, well, we don’t know what will happen next. Especially given that Mariel is scheduled to tape with Jon a number of episodes of Komiks. Someone told moi that they would do some sort of “Justice League” where all the superheroes would combine forces to save mankind.

As they say in komiks, abangan!

‘Protect Me From My Desires’

NOT as harried as on his previous visit to be part of the Ayala Malls’ “Bravo Filipino” series of highbrow shows where he unleashed his intellectual Matavenero collection, Lesley Mobo was having fun this time.

Gab Fab: ‘Seen at the scene’

Seen at the scene: John Lloyd Cruz and girlfriend Liz Uy spending a weekend in Hong Kong. The two enjoyed each other’s company but when it came to shopping, the two did their own thing, with John Lloyd checking out the men’s stuff while Liz browsed through local Hong Kong designer stuff.

PIANIST Victor Asuncion is a man in a hurry. He had barely stepped on the stage of the Little Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) when he went straight toward the piano and, without even so much as a smile or a bow to acknowledge his audience, launched into the Bach-Busoni “Chaconne.”

Penelope Cruz has much to talk about

Penelope Cruz is busy, busy, busy. She’s in her hometown Madrid, dashing to an evening shoot for Pedro Almodovar’s Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces), while talking to us on her cell as her driver zips in and out of traffic.

Alec Baldwin: Over acting?

ALEC BALDWIN was rushed and soaked with sweat as he entered the Upper West Side home of a photographer for a portrait shoot and an interview. He closed himself in a tiny air-conditioned office, decided not to be photographed on account of the heat and made a long phone call. The words “Democratic Party” and “$600,000” floated out.

The Rebirth of the Denim Skirt

Turning a much-loved, overworn pair of jeans into a skirt isn’t a new idea—nimble sewers have done it for decades—but making the results look chic took the happy rediscovery of the mini. It’s a trend that belongs to the street—jean skirts were the coverup of choice at the recent US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California, and the paparazzi are catching model Agyness Deyn and other leggy style leaders wearing them just about everywhere—but now even fashion houses such as Chanel are turning out superdistressed denim minis.