Is Vilma hurt over son Luis' loss?

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DID Batangas Governor-elect Vilma Santos-Recto slip into a social media break after the recently concluded mid-term elections?

With due respect to the Star for All Seasons, the writer couldn't help but raise this troubling question — especially after her son Luis Manzano's failed vice gubernatorial bid.

Luis' resounding defeat must have been too heavy a blow for Vilma who — in the entire history of her 27-year political career — had thrice emerged victorious over her formidable opponents.

Batangas Governor-elect Vilma Santos-Recto PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM/ROSAVILMASANTOSRECTO

Surprisingly, Vilma was no-show at the proclamation rally. But her other son, 6th District Representative Ryan Christian was around in what expectedly was a celebratory atmosphere.

Local media members turned to Ryan on his mom's behalf, curiously asking her conspicuous absence.

According to Ryan, his mom had decided to attend to her granddaughter baby Rosie/Peanut, making it up for her while heavily immersed into the campaign trail.

Meanwhile, Manila-based close reporter-friends had also been trying to reach Vilma through Messenger but to no avail.

But what got this writer in deep thoughts is — hope he's mistaken — Vilma having blocked a few of them on social media. Woe is me, myself included.

This much I know — practically all celebrities don't personally manage their social media platforms. They hire admin personnel — about half a dozen of them — whose job is to closely monitor posts, entries or messages.

Depending on the luxury of time, only then will the celebrity respond.

Totally with no social media savvy, I am not at all privy to how account names are unable to receive messages, or unseen by senders even if received.

Whatever, I'd like to convince, if badger myself to think that Ate Vi — just like most celebrities — needed to distance herself from the rampant social media toxicity.

Maybe, just maybe, the returning public servant is exhausting every means in her power to dodge public opinion that may only put salt on open wounds.

Let's face it, it's always the mom whose heart gets bruised the most for her child's setback.

* * *

HAVING lived on Philippine shores for several years now, no doubt, South Korean TV host Ryan Bang must have embraced our culture which is very much like theirs.

Not only is the "It's Showtime" host Filipino by heart in more ways than one, his heart got literally smitten by a Filipina, Paola Huyong.

Engaged in June last year, the couple is eyeing two wedding ceremonies in June 2026 — a simple one in Ryan's native country and a lavish one here.

"That's why I need to save money!" Ryan shared.

Having already gifted his mom her own house in SoKor, "It's about time I settled down with the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Right now, Ryan has set his sights on the newly opened second branch of his fine dining Korean restaurant aptly Paldo on the fifth floor of The Podium mall on Ortigas Ave.

Why the name is because according to Ryan, "paldo" in Korea means eight provinces. As such, Paldo offers a fusion of authentic Korean recipes endemic to those places.

Ryan is happy to note that he and Paola — who owns a coffee shop within the Scout area in Quezon City near his original Paldo — complement each other in business: "She's very good at the marketing side!"