During the weekend, it was reported that dethroned FHM back-to-back
Sexiest Woman winner Katrina Halili was snubbed by this year's new entry and Pinoy Big Brother alumna Riza Santos
while they were at the backstage of the FHM Sexiest Women of the World victory
party. The annual special event was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City
last Thursday, July 17.
"Nagbibihis po ako doon sa CR, tapos nakita ko siya [Riza] at nginitian
ko siya," recalled Katrina to StarTalk's
Butch Francisco last Saturday, July 19. According to Katrina, Riza simply
stared at her without uttering a single word.
"Ang sama ng tingin niya," Katrina lamented, "nagulat ako. Sabi ko ‘Ano
ba ‘yan?"
Riza allegedly gave Alyssa Alano and LJ Reyes the same cold treatment.
"Ay nagulat nga po ako na siya din pala!" yelped Katrina. "Sabi din ni LJ na
siya din, sinungitan daw."
BAPTISM OF FIRE. Riza already gave her
side of the story. She said that she had no intention of snubbing Katrina and the other Kapuso stars. She was just busy at that moment and she had no time to greet the other celebrities present.
In this year's FHM final tally, Riza entered the list at No.
18 while Alyssa notched the 88th spot. Katrina, on the other hand,
fell short of No. 1 which went to Marian Rivera.
Before the talked-about incident, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)
had the chance to chat with Riza during the special press conference tendered
by the popular men's magazine a few hours before the actual program.
Being a new entry, and at No. 18 at that was very flattering, according to
Riza. The Fil-Canadian stunner posed for FHM in its October 2007 issue. As an
initiation of sorts, Riza was asked by the production team to render a dance
number at the party, together with neophyte cover girls Precious Adona, Nina
Jose and Hazel Ann Mendoza.
Talking about the production number, Riza shared, "Merong lifts and hindi
ako masyadong experienced sa lifting kasi ‘yong dance background ko nasa hip-hop dance."
The rehearsal was a one-day affair with Riza and company having to learn
the dance number in two hours as allotted by the production staff.
It was Riza's first time to attend the annual event although she
mentioned that she heard some stories in the past particularly, "Noong No. 1 si
Katrina Halili," she quipped, completely unaware that they would figure in a
controversy later that evening.
"Pero I haven't been in the Philippines for a year now. It's coming two
years on August so ngayon nakita ko ‘yong mga events para sa FHM."
POLISHING HER
TAGALOG. If FHM was Riza's biggest
break in terms of print exposure, there is no doubt that her biggest break when
it comes to acting is her soon to be shown movie with two local comedian
titans, Vic Sotto and Dolphy, titled Dobol
Trobol.
"Actually tapos na ‘yong shooting. Pero masaya sa set kasi di ba kasama
ko si Tito Dolphy, kasama ko si Bossing Vic, who are the greatest comedians of
all time here in the Philippines. Ever day going to work sa set, nakakatuwa,
nakakatawa sila. Very entertaining sila and their comedy is very wholesome pero
sobrang nakakatawa," beamed Riza.
The former Ms. Earth Canada 2006 continues to struggle with her Tagalog.
Curiously, Riza's dialogue in the movie was predominantly in Tagalog,
"Pero medyo may Taglish pa rin," she smiled.
Riza added, "Noon medyo nahihirapan ako sa Tagalog pero ngayon nasasanay
na ko. She candidly confessed that the time she usually allots on her Tagalog
language lessons suffered because of her work schedule and other commitments.
"Kapag wala akong trabaho nagli-lessons ako," revealed Riza, "maybe once
a week [or] once every two weeks so medyo bihira."
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