Barbie Forteza Now Closer To Derrick Monasterio Than To Joshua Dionisio

BARBIE FORTEZA turned 15 on July 31. Instead of having a big birthday celebration, she partnered with BNY Jeans, for which she’s endorsing BNY Girls Teen Wear, to hold a party for 75 kid patients and their parents at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center on Quezon Ave. BNY really went to town spending for Barbie’s birthday, not only for the food, clowns, balloons, loot bags, shirts and prizes for the various games, but also for special souvenir items in a “Barbie at 15” bag complete with key chains, mugs and other items with Barbie’s pictures in them.

“I don’t really celebrate my birthday,” says Barbie. “On my actual birthday, I just ate in Rockwell with my family. First time ko doon at nakakatuwa, wala masyadong tao. Namili ko ng dresses na magagamit ko for events.”

What’s her birthday wish? “Marami. More projects so I can boy more shoes.” So she’s an Imelda Marcos? “No naman. My shoes now, puro ordinary lang, kaya I want to buy signature shoes naman. Sana nga, may mag-sponsor sa’kin ng shoes. I’m happy that BNY and GMA Artist Center helped me celebrate my birthday here with these kids. At least, makakatulong ako sa kanila at makakapagpasaya pa. I’m so happy to see tuwang-tuwa sila sa pagsali sa games. Sabi ko nga, uulitin ko ito, kahit di ko birthday.”

Did her former partner Joshua Dionisio greet her? “Yes, nag-text siya. Lahat ng kasama kong tweens greeted me.” How about her new partner in ‘Luna Blanca’, Derrick Monasterio? “I didn’t know he told my mom that he’d go to our place to leave his gift for me. When we got home from Rockwell, naabutan namin siya roon. He was so embarrassed. So he just handed his gifts to me, a Gap jacket and blue roses. First time a guy gave me flowers. Nagulat ako. Ever since, I know Derrick as pilyo, mayabang, but he turned out to have a serious side pala. We were never close. Ngayon lang, kasi lagi kami magkasama. So I’m learning more about him. Birthday rin niya noong August 1, magkasunod kami. And he proved to very professional kasi kahit birthday niya, nag-taping kami ng ‘Luna Blanca’. I also gave him a gift, a watch, kasi wala siyang relo.”Their fans now call their love team DerBie, superseding the former Josh-Bie. This week, Barbie’s parents, Camille Prats as Rowena and Raymart Santiago as Luis finally see each other again. Raymart thinks Camille cheated on him. Barbie as Blanca depends her mom, who tells her that Luis is really her long lost dad.