Precious Lara Quigaman does not know why she's not invited to appear in the ABS-CBN noontime show Wowowee again.
It can be recalled that the former Miss International was dropped from the show last year allegedly because she brought along her ex-boyfriend when Wowowee went to Hawaii. (Click here to read related article.)
Several months after the incident, Precious re-appeared on the noontime variety show twice. And then she stopped hosting the show again.
Precious, who was clueless about her removal from the show, said, "I was told regular na, every Saturday sa Wowowee. And then suddenly, I was told, I was called parang one Friday evening, not to report the next day. 'Okay,' sabi ko. 'All right, that's fine.' And then the next Saturday ulit, hindi na. So my manager asked kung anong reason. We were told, 'Nagko-cost-cutting daw kami.' We accepted that."
The TV personality added that she did not mind the sudden turn of events.
"I'm professional about mga offers na ganyan," she said. "Kapag may work and it's good naman, if there's nothing wrong with it or hindi naman makakasama sa akin, then I would go for it. So yung mga offers ng host sa Wowowee, kapag nandiyan, I would do it. Kapag wala, fine din."
Precious said that her recent guest appearance on Wowowee is proof that she already forgot the past issue she had with the show.
She said, "Sabi ko nga, never akong... Hindi naman never, hindi ako nagtanim ng sama ng loob sa Wowowee. Kasi, natutunan ko rin talaga na forgiving is not for the person you're forgiving. It's for yourself."
MARCO ALCARAZ. Rumor has it that Precious was once again removed from Wowowee because she is reportedly dating actor Marco Alcaraz.
However, the 26-year-old former beauty queen does not think it has something to do with her relationship with Marco.
"I'm sure naman na hindi ganun ka-unprofessional ang mga tao sa Wowowee para yung mga co-host nila, e, hindi nila pagho-host-in dahil lang may dine-date o dahil lang may boyfriend. I'm sure hindi naman sila ganun. I'm sure professional 'yon," Precious said.
Precious also dismissed rumors that news about her dating Marco could have affected Willie, who was rumored to have been courting her.
She clarified, "Kasi ang hirap din, di ba? May mga naririnig ako from him, pero it's hard to take it seriously kasi hindi mo alam if it's a joke or if it's not. And wala naman talagang formal na ligawang nagaganap."
With regards to Marco, Lara described him as "a special friend," but denied that they're already in a romantic relationship.
"It's not something that I will deny," she said. "Kasi, unang-una, there's nothing wrong naman kung magiging kami, di ba? Parang as of now, we're taking it really, really slow."
What if Wowowee offered her again to host the show, but with the condition of leaving the person she's dating or she's currently with?
"Mahirap namang isusugal mo ang iyong personal life para lang makuha sa isang show. Ang hirap namang mag-work sa isang show dahil gusto ka lang ng whoever," Lara answered.
TURISMO PILIPINA. Meanwhile, the Miss International 2005 announced that the beauty pageant she organized last year, Turismo Pilipina, will have its second installment later this year.
"We are still holding it, meron kaming year two. We're still planning it. Pero not as grand as last year, mas bongga yung year one, e. Kasi medyo naging ambisyosa kami nung year one, e. We wanted it to be really, really grand," she said.
Lara is aware about the disappointment of Ms. Stella Marquez-Araneta, founder of Binibining Pilipinas, for putting up another beauty pageant with other former Bb. Pilipinas winners. However, she explained that Turismo Pilipina is not competing with the prestigious beauty pageant in the Philippines.
"Hindi ko rin alam yung reason dun, pero medyo yata Ms. Araneta feels na we are competing against her, na hindi naman talaga. Gusto rin naming makatulong sa mga young girls. Gusto rin namin talaga magkaroon ng sariling pageant namin, on our own. Siyempre, di ba, beauty queens, hindi naman kami puwedeng lumaban nang lumaban, every year, di ba?" she said.
Is there a chance for her and Ms. Araneta to clear this misunderstanding?
As of now, Lara said, "Wala talagang chance to talk to her. Kahit gusto ko, wala talagang chance to do so. Pero sana, sana naman maging maayos pa rin kami—something na pinagpe-pray ko talaga."