Faces of the news
Addison Wayne Russell
He starred for World Series champion Chicago Cubs in Game 6, which it won, 9-3, to equalize the finals at three matches apiece. Russell, whose mother hailed from Olongapo City, was a one-man wrecking crew, driving in a World Series record-tying six runs as Chicago staved off elimination for the second game in a row. The 22-year-old infielder was born in Pace, Florida, the eldest of four children of Milany, a Filipino. He grew up with stepfather Wayne. He made his Major League Baseball debut in April 2015. He has a son named Aiden Kai Margallo Russell with his Filipino-American wife Melisa Reidy.
Nicole Cordoves
Binibining Pilipinas Nicole Cordoves’ first runner-up finish in the 2016 Miss Grand International pageant in Las Vegas last month is the highest placement for a Filipino contender in the Bangkok-based contest, which started in 2013. Many pageant observers surmised that she lost the crown to Indonesia’s delegate because of her answer, which appeared to favor Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. But the beauty queen explained that she wanted to bring the mogul with her to fight war so that she may impart with him the pageant’s advocacy and “convert” him to the road to peace and nonviolence.
Imelda Bautista Schweighart
The first Miss Philippines-Earth titleholder to give up her crown before her reign ended. She is also the third Filipino delegate to miss the semifinals in the Miss Earth pageant, following Jeanne Harn and Psychee Resus. Her resignation came after the uproar from netizens who complained about her behavior in an online video which showed her throwing shade at 2016 Miss Earth winner Katherine Espin from Ecuador, who was her roommate for the global competition. The German-Filipino Schweighart was a semifinalist in the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, and first runner-up in the 2015 Mutya ng Palawan contest.
Kylie Verzosa
For 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa, bagging the global beauty title can bring as much happiness to her as having a boyfriend, newscaster Noli de Castro learned this all too clearly. When the former Vice President capped his interview with the Filipino model on primetime newscast “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN, he asked her if she is seeing someone, alluding that having no beau is malungkot. The Baguio-based lass responded, “Wala po, korona lang,” and punctuated it with a hearty giggle. But netizens pointed out that earlier on in the interview, an atmosphere of awkwardness emanated when the journalist asked the queen to translate her answers, which were delivered in English.
Paolo Ballesteros
On the opening night of the Tokyo International Film Festival last week, actor-TV host Paolo Ballesteros turned heads, channeling Angelina Jolie on the red carpet. For the closing night on Thursday, Ballesteros once again pulled a surprise, accepting the Best
Actor trophy as Julia Roberts.
“I thought I was up for best actress that’s why I wore a dress,” explained the star of Jun Robles Lana’s “Die Beautiful.” It’s the first acting award for the “Eat Bulaga,” host who has been featured in several international publications and TV shows for his makeup transformations.
Nur Misuari
Who would have imagined the fugitive rebel leader would step inside Malacañang, let alone speak to journalists? Flown in a private jet to Manila from the jungles of Jolo province for a meeting with President Duterte, he rambled about the injustices against the Moro people and reminisced about the days he had camped out at Freedom Park in protest of the Jabidah massacre—and then vowed cooperation toward peace. For a while there, everyone thought he totally forgot about the November 2013 Zamboanga siege that he’s accused of instigating.
