Dr. Vicki Belo, the alleged unlicensed doctor of beauty in the Philippines, is again, involved in another controversy which has the explosive nature of a nuclear bomb.

Belo probably thinks that she owns the world after surviving that sex scandal brouhaha. By the way, I am asking the NBI again—where’s the complaint against Belo who was identified by Katrina Halili as part of the group who distributed the nefarious Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex tapes?

Facebook user and activist-lawyer Argee Guevarra today welcomed the libel suit filed by the Belo Medical Group and Dr..Vicki Belo against him at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines, for his status updates and shout-outs in his private Facebook account.

Guevarra, who acts as counsel for Belo victim Josefina Norcio over two botched butt augmentation procedures performed by the Belo Medical Group using the banned substance Hydrogel, was sued for libel over status update posts in his Facebook account where Guevarra called for a national patients’ boycott of Belo Clinics and for referring to Dr. Belo as “Reyna ng Kaplastikan, Reyna ng Kapalpakan” (Queen of False Pretenses, Queen of Incompetence).

Dr.Vicki Belo is a celebrity doctor previously involved in a video sex scandal.  She operates upscale plastic and cosmetic surgery clinics frequented by this impoverished nation’s elite and owns various offshore clinics and booking offices in Thailand, South Korea and the United States.  Dr. Belo, however, is not licensed by the Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) to perform cosmetic surgery procedures.  She presides over a multi-million dollar empire consisting of plastic surgery clinics, beauty salons and manufactures health and beauty products.

The suit is the first Facebook libel case in the world where the complainant does not even belong to the defendant’s network of Facebook friends.  A previous Facebook libel case was,  however, filed in UK where businessman Mathew Firsht sued a former school friend over a false personal profile on the site that included private information about him and untrue allegations about his sexual orientation.

The libel suit  against Guevarra was commenced vicariously through Dr. Belo’s general  manager who managed to add herself to Guevarra’s network of 1,472 friends.

Guevarra, a political activist previously jailed by the Arroyo regime for his participation in two failed uprisings, similarly faced a Php 300 million ($6 million) libel suit from former First Lady Imelda Marcos 13 years ago after Guevarra wrote in his erstwhile column in BusinessWorld, a series of commentaries accusing the former strongman’s wife of widespread plunder during the reign of the Marcos dictatorship.

The libel suit was eventually dismissed.

Guevarra welcomes the libel suit as an opportunity to invite public attention to the hazards and dangers of cosmetic surgery clinics performing surgeries with untrained, unskilled, incompetent and unlicensed medical practitioners and advertising such services as safe and hopes to ring alarm bells at the Health Department against the proliferation of such colorum clinics which is destroying the country’s medical tourism industry and earning for the country the moniker of being Asia’s No. 1 Chop Shop. More than this, Guevarra seeks to defend himself all the way to the Supreme Court in order to elicit jurisprudence regarding internet-based libels.

Guevarra reacted to the libel suit in his Facebook status update which states:

“A wannabe mortician masquerading as a cosmetic surgeon will never be able to stitch up the difference between formalin or botox, between free speech or slander when suing for libel a Facebook user for his shout outs and status updates. Such surgical stupidity results in mistaking Facebook for Erasebook”.

For his part, Atty.Guevarra’s counsel, Atty. J.V. Bautista, a U.P. classmate of Dr. Belo, laughed off the libel suit and pointed out its material defects –

“The libel case filed by Dr. Belo needs a serious facelift before it could even be dignified in any court of law.  The pleading itself reads and looks like a failed surgery on the laws of libel …

First, the venue is improperly laid. It should not have been filed before the Taytay Prosecutor Office  and instead filed before Makati City Prosecutor’s Office which is the place of the offended party (Dr. Belo) and where Facebook, Philippines holds Office.  The filing of the case in Taytay may have sinister motives.  What is so special about filing the case in Taytay?

Second, the libelous statements were printed and published by Dr. Belo’s own general manager and upon the authority given her by Dr. Belo’s estranged husband and Belo Medical Group Corporate Secretary Atom Henares, which should make said general manager a co-respondent of Atty. Guevarra.  In effect, Dr. Belo should be suing her own general manager;

Third, the alleged defamatory statements are privileged communication and are per se, not libelous.  Said statements of Atty.Guevarra fall under constitutionally protected exercise of free speech;

Finally, the analogous libel case of Alfonso Yuchengco/Pacific Plans vs. Philip Piccio, arising from a blog written  by Mr. Piccio against Pacific Plans was ordered dismissed by the Department of Justice which ruled that there is no such thing as internet libel since Art. 355 of the Revised Penal Code strictly provides that libel can only be committed  by means set forth therein (writing, printing, radio etc.) and does not include the internet.  Furthermore, criminal statutes are construed strictly in favor of the accused.”

       The preliminary investigation is set on Sept. 24, 2009 at the Taytay Hall of Justice, Taytay, Rizal before Asst. City Prosecutor Cheloy Garrafil.

Vicki Belo needs a legal facelift and fast. And probably Vicki Belo should fire her General Manager. Probably they thought that the public already forgot about the sex scandal involving her. The sex scandal is still very fresh.

Susan Ople with Pasay Press Corps

Just this week, Susan “Toots” Ople had a rare chance of meeting members of the Pasay Press Corp. The convenor of the Blas F. Ople Labor Policy Center, Toots has been extremely active in helping OFWs in distress. She recently helped a Filipina escape a tragic death in the Middle East and you can read all about it at Filipino News Network (http://www.filipinonewsnetwork.com).

She guested at the weekly media forum organized by Southern Metro Manila reporters led by their charming president Ariel Fernandez of RMN News Manila. One of the hot topics was drug smuggling.

Toots Ople revealed an increasing number of Filipinas and Overseas Filipino Workers being made as “drug couriers” by big-time drug syndicates here. Ople said, a Filipina was arrested in Malaysia for smuggling 5 kilograms of cocaine, which she hid in her stomach. The Filipina was arrested after Malaysian authorities found the drugs inside her body.

There are an alarming number of OFWs arrested and put to jail in China for drug smuggling. Toots said, China has the most stringent anti-drugs laws and despite efforts by the Center to save these Filipinos convicted of drug smuggling in China, it remains extremely hard for the Center to ask for clemency. More than 300 or so OFWs are imprisoned in many countries around the world, accused of drug smuggling. And the number stands to rise if government will not put a stop into this illegal activity.

Aside from violating the law against violence against women and Child, Dr. Kho could be charged with a violation of the Code of Ethical Standards of physicians. That alone could revoke his license as a doctor.

Aside from Katrina Halili, Ruffa Mae Quinto and a Brazilian model were also allegedly “victimized” by Kho. These videos are purportedly spreading like a virus in the Internet. These already permeated in the hawkers of Quiapo.

However, I see something sinister in the way this issue is unfolding before us. It seems that the conversation is fast shifting from the “despicable and criminal act” of Kho to the rising and pervasive influence of New Media. It seems that this campaign is a PR-generated one aimed at support for a Cyber Law pending before the House. Partylist Congressman Irwin Tieng just filed a bill against some acts in cyberspace, which, until now, have not been classified nor revealed in public.

Wittingly or unwittingly, this sex video scandal is being used by certain quarters to justify the passage of such a bill. This Cyber Law aims to curtail the very rights enjoyed right now by Filipino bloggers, yet, most, if not all bloggers and Filipino net users are clueless as to what rights are to be “sacrificed” for the sake of a self-moralizing legislator.

It has been, what, months ago when that controversial video of her dancing with Dr. Hayden Kho circulated in the internet. And I learned from a good friend that it continues to go the rounds. Why? Are people not satisfied with the humiliation that video had caused her? I mean, people, come on! Stop it already.

So what if we saw her wearing a two-piece with Hayden? They’re adults. They’re singles. Hayden is not the husband of Vicki and Katrina is a lovely lady. It would be too obsene in our tastes if we see her dancing with another woman (for some, maybe not.).

Stop destroying the career of this fine, sexy and sultry actress. Katrina Halili should not be put in a freezer. And those who want to still see the second installment of this video, cut the crap already. Katrina has suffered enough already. Let her rest.

Top 20

20. Anna Dizon. This commercial model is one of the hottest properties in Japan right now. She’s a Filipina, with French and Japanese blood. She was involved in a controversy late last year.

19. Angelica Panganiban. Angelic face with a body that’s sure to die for. And, what’s best—she has brains. She’s now the girlfriend of another actor so you guys out there, check na lang others in this list.

18. Atty. Katrina Legarda. Well, I think those members of UP Law Batch 80 were the ones who voted for Atty. Katrina Legarda and for some good reasons. She’s lovely. She’s very intelligent. And, what’s very nice about her, she pursues women’s and human rights issues. Sexy? You bet!

17. Bea Alonso. Betty La Fea in the list? Of course! Beauty, brains and having that sophisticated bearing–those values define Bea Alonso. One thing though, she needs to be very cautious in choosing whom to be with. Bea is a beautiful young lady. She’s also strong mentally and emotionally.

16. Lea Salonga. What can I say? Despite being a mom to an intelligent kid, Lea retained the fine qualities that endeared her to the hearts of the Filipino since she first started singing at That’s Entertainment.

15. Diana Zubiri. The perennial hit lister since she first started in showbiz. For those who don’t know, Diana is not just your average bombshell. No. Her rags-to-riches story is an inspiration.

14. Loren Legarda. Notice those checkbones? That sparkling smile? Those pinkish skin? That hair, always neatly combed and styled even if she’s in the heat of the campaign and pumping those calloused hands? She’s intelligent (magna cum laude in UP and summa cum laude in the National Defense College). Her heart is in the right place, but unfortunately, many people do not favor another female president after this disastrous reign by the pretender.

13. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Surprising? Yes! Some sender said that Mrs. Arroyo is actually sexy. She always smiles. Her eyes sparkle (maybe because she stands to inherit billions after 2010? Just joking!) and she wears fashionable clothes that shows power and elegance. Power is sexy? You bet!

12. Pia Hontiveros. Strictly politics? Nah. Pia has another show which tackles shopping. Pia has six kids already, a lovely and dutiful wife to a member of the AFP. Pia is also a highly respected journalist.

11. Pinky Webb. Many Pinoys pray that Pia decides muna to stay single. She’s engaged with Edu Manzano and there are rumours that they’ll tying the knot very soon. Somebody please go to the church and say ” we oppose!”. Hahaha. Just joking.

10. Rhea Santos. Host of GMA channel 7 shows, a highly respected journalist of such fine calibre and a loving wife to her husband.

9. Gretchen Malalad. Now, the debate has been settled. Gretchen Malalad is one fine lady. She has this very natural look and her eyes are kinda lovely. But, don’t get misled. Grethen is both a certified beauty queen and a martial artist who’ll make mince meat out of anybody who gets in her way. Remember Paul Alvarez? 

8. Wendy Puyat. Socialite. Gracious host. Sexy in a very distinct way. Friendly. Highly rated.

7. Sarah Geronimo. Sarah is an enigma. Some say she’s not quite lovely and others even say, her beauty is what they call “barriotic.” Others say, she has magnetic personality.One thing for sure—Sarah has this “x” factor, the one lacking to other Filipina beauties out there. She sings beautifully. She wears clothes in a kinda sexy way but is not lewd nor loud. Great that she’s in the list.

6. Kris Aquino. She’s already a mother but Kris Aquino remains one of the hottest and the sexiest Pinays around. She has a fine political and wealthy pedigree. In the first weeks, Kris was tops. But, as they say, you’re only good the last time you appeared.

5. Gretchen Fullido. She’s the prime example of a sexy and beautiful Pinay. Just look at her. Many people say she’s yummy. Many say, she’s not. But, hey, I don’t want to be prude and say that she’s not hot. She is. Best of all, she has brains which a lot of people out there don’t have. And guts. Tons of them.

4. Katrina Halili. What can I say except that it’s not only Dr. Hayden Kho who considers Katrina as not just hot and sexy but a lovely and cuddly Pinay.

3. Vicki Belo. This fiftish (or is it fortyish) lady remains very delectable especially to young, and hot-blooded Filipino males. She has been very controversial lately but managed to stay fresh, beautiful and sexy. A fine Filipina.

2. Krista Ranillo. The daughter of Matt Ranillo, 80’s matinee idol, is the talk of the town. This 21 year old Atenean is not just beauty—she’s also brains. She’s into a lot of showbiz activities now, doing a film and making all those shows. She’s the March cover of MAXIM Philippines. She’s not just immaculately beautiful—she’s also very, very photogenic. I expect a lot from her. What’s her secret? Maybe going to that lifestyle salon in Libis. Krizalis beauty salon, is that it, huh, Krista?

1. Marian Rivera. Wow, what can I say, except, scorchingly, erotically, intelligently, sexy. Look for that very controversial nipple slip ala Janet Jackson. I think my Ding Gagelonia has a copy.

Belo must have realized that it’s better to accept reality as it is, rather than having those hopes up that a fifty something woman like her would ever have a loyal boyfriend.

The question is rather naughty—are they back together due to love or….business?

It’s known to everyone that they’re essentially business partners. They run the Belo Center. And it’s now a multi-million peso enterprise.

Did they decide to go back together again for the money or for the honey?

By the way, I saw the show of Katrina shot on Dakak Beach resort. Dakak is owned by my friend, Bullet Jalosjos, who happens to be Katrina’s ex.

Bullet Jalosjos, my friends, once romanced Katrina. After a few months, they split and we heard Bullet dating and even nearly married another celebrity, Nancy Castiglioni.

Question—is Bullet and Katrina now back to each other’s arms? We’ll see.

Vicki, no wrinkles?

Dr. Vicki Belo is said to be in the States. She’s on a Sabbatical. After that disastrous Hayden-Halili episode and that equally damaging rift with Boy Abunda and Ruffa Gutierrez, Vicki Belo’s world is starting to crumble.

Probably, Vicki thought that no medical procedure can ever repair these wrinkles in her relationships with other people.  And the only way left is for her to just…go. Go somewhere, anywhere, away from the noise, the hustle and jostle, and the bustfuls of frustrations.

It pays to be beautiful, or so they say. In Vicki’s case, the sad part of being a beautymaker is being always in the limelight and being always the target of intrigues and malicious gossips.

As they say, sticky substances always attract flies.

All of these though are nothing compared with the civil and criminal suit filed by a former Belo patient who claims to have been made a wreck by the supposed beautymaker.

The woman, a physician herself, filed a case before the Makati courts, claiming that Belo and another doctor at the Vicki Belo Clinic scarred her face for life. She’s asking for damages and reparations. She thought that Belo would erase those wrinkles; instead, all she got were scars.

Maybe Belo and her associate did the procedure after she learned about Hayden’s indiscretions. Maybe she thought that it’s best not to ever create another beautiful creation.

Probably, that’s the true reason why she left for the States. In all likelihood though, Belo must face the music, wrinkled or not.

Recently, in an interview, Hayden admitted the indiscretion and tried to make amends. But, Belo reportedly does not want to hear anything. Well, of course it’s painful for Belo given that Kho finally realized his mistake of having a relationship with a 50-ish, hehehe! You can click the video here.

And to think that it was Belo who made Katrina Halili a goddess! And I must say, Belo probably is crying a bucket-full in some remote island somewhere and blaming herself  for this fiasco. Kho must have been with Belo during Halili’s body enhancement operation and Kho must have thought that it’s nice to “taste” that lovely Belo creation.  What a nice way to put it!

If I’m Vicky, I’ll just let it go and admit to myself that I can’t really prevent somebody younger than me to go ahead and do some “soul-searching” and find a more delectable feast. I mean, come on, are we fooling ourselves to think that a man ten or 20 years younger would fall head over heels with us? Probably, only those who want to get rich quick would do that. It’s always great to taste a younger woman, but an older one? I hate to say it, but women are not necessarily like wine. This May-December affair by Belo and Hayden is bound to fail, for obvious reasons–there are a lot younger, more delectable and more delicious ones out there for Hayden to see, explore and taste for himself. Hayden is a young, dashing and a fine gentleman. He can always explore the wild and be like a stallion. Probably, Belo does’nt have it anymore. Or maybe she does have some spunk left but Hayden decided to splunck her instead.

It’s time for Belo to act her age. Come to think of it, she can’t do that. That will destroy her “ethereal” image ergo would probably affect her blossoming beauty business. Age gracefully should be Belo’s motto, not age with a mind of a juvenile. Hate to say this, but this is what the public thinks right now.

 Diana Zubiri still rocks. And I’m glad that she’s been given several note-worthy  projects over at GMA Channel 7. However, let me put to task the editors of this  men’s mag.

 Please, if you convince her to be your cover girl again, don’t put so much make-up  on her. I mean, we love our girls to look luscious. We love them in their natural  state, so to speak. Also, the photo which shows the left side of her face, is not her  best angle. You should know that since you’ve been photographing her since she  started her career. You know that the best part of her is making her look natural. 

 And oh, by the way, Marian Rivera became the number one over at FHM. But, it went  without controversy though. Some Angel Locsin fans argued that it should have  been that long necked angel over at ABS-CBN. 

I looked at Marian’s photo and well, this is the best photo I have ever seen. She looks sexy. And she’s not dancing nor showing those armpits at this one. Thanks!

If you happen to have a photo of Marian in her FHM glory, please send me one. I’ve been looking all over the internet for that one. 

And since I don’t have any, let me amuse you with a photo of Katrina Halili, undeniably, the best offering of the female kind since cameras were invented.….Oppps!

Sorry, its a photo of Katherine Heigl that I have. In my next post, I’ll post Katrina. 

My sweet mistake. Oh well, you guys can understand. By the way, Heigl just received an award. Previous to that, she’s just one of the interns in the hit series. Now, this German girl is one of the hottest female celebrities in town. I just hope she post in Playboy.

I watched that clip, shot on cellphone camera, and found nothing wrong with it. It’s pretty natural for a sweet little thing like Marian to lose her composure. I’m pretty sure that the beautiful ladies of ABS-CBN like Kristine Hermosa also lose their tempers when faced with an obnoxious male fan.

In fact, that scene endears Marian more to the public than, say, showing her smiling all the time. That’s what’s wrong with how GMA 7 handles their wards. GMA’s talent center wants them to show faces, not character. There’s always something suspicious with GMA talents.

For example, that young newbie Iwa Moto. Everybody knows that she reportedly struggled with prohibited substances before and everyone knows that she’s one of those “bratties” who always had a brush with the law. Yet, GMA 7 tried to hide it from the public’s eye. That’s the problem.

Probably GMA’s talent center wants their wards to look like ABS-CBN talents. Try to compare GMA7 talents with that of ABS-CBN 2 and you’ll notice that ABS-CBN talents are all gloss. GMA 7 thinks that it’s because of effective propaganda. Actually, it’s not.

ABS-CBN talents look regale because they’re trained like Sampaguita stars of the 50’s and 60’s. They know how to conduct themselves in public without looking fake. It takes years of work before an ABS-CBN talent achieves the “Sampaguita” look, which, GMA 7 misinterprets as something very easy to do.

What’s the secret of ABS-CBN talents? The network tries to always show their “best attributes” instead of creating for them another persona. That’s why when they’re cast in a show, the people immediately connect with them because the people see that their “attributes” jibe with their characters.

For GMA 7 though, stars are always miscast. For example, Katrina Halili was always positioned as a contrabida because she has aquiline features (strong chin and nose, etc.). When you meet Katrina, however, she’s a paragon of poise and beauty, fit for a stellar role. Also, try to watch every GMA 7 tearjerker and you’ll notice that all the main stars are Spanish beauties. Those who “oppress” them look like Filipinas. Is’nt it ironic?

I think the reason why Marian Rivera pales in comparison with other ABS-CBN 2 stars is the fact that she’s always miscast. I know she’s beautiful. I know she’s white. But, there’s something always lacking in her, because her network always fail to show her true colors.

There’s nothing wrong with a strong-willed lady like Marian. In fact, men like myself, love our women that way. Is’nt nice to have a girlfriend or a wife such as Marian, who’ll fight her battles herself instead of just succumbing to one corner and cry?