Sen. Tito denies Pepsi Paloma whitewash

GALLERY VASK IS NUMBER 39 IN ASIA. Gallery Vask, a contemporary art gallery with a fine dining restaurant at the fifth floor, Clipp Center, 11th Avenue corner 39th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, was awarded as number 39 in Asia, and Best Restaurant in the Philippines, by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Gallery Vask has curated installations every two months by alternating local and international artists using different mediums such as photography, painting, sculpture, digital art, holograms and performance art. The awards were based on votes from more than 300 chefs, restaurateurs and experts in six countries across Asia. Gaggan of Thailand, its cuisine described as “progressive Indian cuisine,” bagged top spot for the second year in a row.

SLOW COURT (SC). Did you notice how slow the Supreme Court is in deciding on cases? Like it has not decided on the Rizal Monument photobomber case since it stopped construction of Torre de Manila and held its 6th and last hearing on Sept. 1, 2015. The Solicitor General asked to demolish the illegal construction at its own expense in a memorandum dated Sept. 21. It has been almost half a year and it has not decided on the issue. Although it has announced release this month, it also has not issued its decision regarding the disquisition case for President of Sen. Grace Poe.

MAJOR DISCREPANCY IN YEARS IT TOOK PLACE CITED. The daring clarification that denied Sen. Tito Sotto III’s involvement in whitewashing Pepsi Paloma’s death cover-up showed that he is a just and concerned lawmaker worthy of another term as Senator.
“Una, 1988 po ako naging vice mayor ng Quezon City. Matagal na hong wala ‘yung kwentong ‘yun,” Sen. Tito explained to Alvin Elchico, anchor of dzMM’s election special Ikaw na ba? Ang Senador para sa Pamilyang Pilipino on March 4, 2016 when asked about his purported involvement in the Pepsi Paloma case. “1982 ho ‘yung kwentong iyun eh. So, wala ho akong pakialam sa isyung iyan nung araw.”
Having pointed out this glaring discrepancy, he proceeded to explain the lie’s source: “Hindi totoo ‘yan. Gimik ‘yan ni Rey dela Cruz,” Sen. Tito said in the radio interview. Running for another term, he maintains the top senatorial spot in recent surveys.
Sen. Tito’s popularity is accelerated by his outstanding performance as a Senator and regular appearances in the longest running number one noontime show, Eat...Bulaga!
Rey, an optometrist by profession with a closed down shop for eyeglasses in Sta. Cruz, Manila, was talent manager in the ‘80s of the so-called Softdrink Beauties that included Pepsi Paloma. Coca Nicolas. Sarsi Emmanuel plus Myrna Castillo and Myra Manibog. As they were all minors when he recruited them to be bold actresses, he could easily be charged with child exploitation if it happened today.
Rey was known to be a loose mouth. When he got Divina Valencia so angry with such loose talk when they appeared in Inday Badiday’s showbiz talk show in the ‘90s, she lost her temper that she hit Rey with a microphone.
In 1982, Paloma was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Richie D’ Horsie. With thriving entertainment careers, Vic is a younger brother of Tito, that made many question why they would involve themselves in such act. Seeking the services of lawyer Rene Cayetano, nothing was proven.
Tito Sotto’s alleged involvement came in when he allegedly coerced Pepsi into signing an affidavit of desistance and dropping the rape complaint against the three comedians. He pointed the gross discrepancy on above quotes during the dzMM interview.
Joey, Vic and Richie supposedly issued a public apology to Pepsi published in the People’s Journal on Oct. 13, 1982.
After taking an overdose of sleeping pills in 1985, Pepsi  reportedly hanged herself in her rented apartment due to depression because of “monetary problems.”
Her death was ruled as suicide but there were speculations that she was murdered to silence her further in pursuing the alleged rape case against the comedians.
Vic and Joey filed libel case against Rey. Rey was eventually shot by an undefined assailant outside his optometry shop that remained unsolved up to this day.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yun, wala pong katotohanan,” Sen. Tito summed up the interview. The senator blamed Pepsi’s death on alleged drug use. “Wala ho, droga ho ‘yun! Kaya ‘yang mga kumakalat sa Facebook, hindi totoo ‘yan. Paninira lang mga ‘yan,” he added.

BANK WITH HEART. Heart Evangelista-Escudero is Philippine Veteran’s Bank’s (PVB) first celebrity endorser in its latest brand campaign, Banking with a Heart for Every Filipino. Heart advised people, especially the youth, to start learning the value of money and the basics of financial literacy. She urges people of all ages not to be intimidated by banks such as the PVB.
The new ad campaign aims to refresh the bank’s image by focusing on what makes PVB unique among the country’s 36 universal and commercial banks. Corporate social responsibility is at the core of the PVB’s existence. It has to be profitable to be able to give aid and assistance to surviving Filipino World War II veterans and their descendants. Twenty percent of its annual net income is reserved for such a purpose. PVB is the only bank that looks after the welfare of the veteran community.
The bank’s chairman, Dr. Bobby de Ocampo, who appears in the TVC but has no speaking line pointed out during the its media launch that PVB is not only for old people, the military, or pensioners; that is not a government-owned or military-owned bank; but for young people like Heart. His advice: “Don’t spend too much; learn to keep on saving money and invest.”

BUY ONE-TAKE ONE PROMO. Healthcare is for people from all walks of life. Recognizing this need, ATC Healthcare is on hand to provide a range of supplements that are more accessible to the Filipino people through the “buy one, take one promo,” available until March 15.
Included in the “buy one, take one promo” are: FatOut (slimming supplement), RedoXfat (weight management), Reducin (anti-obesity), BitterGo (diabetes/blood sugar control), LiverMarin (liver health), ATC Evening Primrose (premenstrual syndrome), ATC Garlic Oil (hypertension), ATC Fish Oil (stroke and heart attack), ATC Coenzyme Q10 (heart energizer), ATC Vitamins (overall bodily functions), ATC Ginseng (energy and endurance), Robust (energy and endurance), PowerUp Xtreme (energy and endurance), ATC Spirulina (muscle building), ATC Ginkgo Biloba (cognitive function), ATC Grape Seed Oil (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Squalene (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Vitamin E (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Vita-E (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Calcium with Vitamin D3 (bone health), Nocaf (cough and asthma). Plus Strike Multi-Insect Killer Spray, Strike Coil Mosquito Repellent, Strike Liquid Electric Mosquito Repellent, Strike Mat and Strike Patch for Kids.