Carla in Abt Ur Luv - Epi 19

Episode Title: Losing Friday

This blog entry contains episode highlights related to Carla's character, Brenda.

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Brenda and Stick walk back to the beach, where everyone is busy preparing dinner. She tells Stick that the situation is partly her fault because she trusted them too much. Stick sighs and tells her it's not her fault.

She asks him what's going to happen to them now. Stick tells her that he loves her but admits that he is confused because he doesn't know what he feels for Celine. He tells Brenda he doesn't want to get back together with her until he figures out his feelings. Brenda turns away at his words, but Stick follows her. He asks her to give him time.

Just then, Celine returns to the beach saying she couldn't find a ride home, much to Brenda's dismay. When Celine sees the food and says she's starving, Brenda quickly announces that she just lost her appetite. Celine merely smiles.

Later, Brenda and Stick proceed to the buffet table, where Celine sweetly offers him food, further upsetting Brenda.

* * *

After dinner, Brenda goes to confront Celine, telling her she's got some gall returning to the beach. Celine smiles with false sweetness and taunts Brenda, saying Brenda can't do or say what she really wants to with everybody there because she knows she'll end up looking like the 'villain.'

Brenda controls her temper and finally asks Celine what she wants. Celine smiles and says she's just giving Brenda exactly what she wants: war. Brenda can only watch as Celine walks away.

* * *

The next morning, Gens wakes up to find everyone involved in an awkward tug of war between Celine and Brenda -- with Stick caught in the middle.

Stick finally pulls his arms free of their grasp, sending everyone tumbling to the ground. He angrily walks off saying he's heading home. Both girls run after him.

Neri and Gens decide to pack up and leave for home ahead of schedule, but Gens convinces Neri that she should wait until after lunch.

* * *

After lunch, Brenda and Stick arrive at one of the vans to find Celine already in the front passenger seat, smiling because she has outsmarted her rival and will be spending the long drive back to Manila with Stick. Brenda is infuriated, but cannot do anything about it.

Neri decides to play referee and gets Celine to move to the back seat. She tries to get the two girls to agree to a truce, at least for the duration of the drive, but before long Brenda and Celine are bickering once again.

Suddenly, Stick brakes hard, surprising them all. He says he thinks he just ran over something. He gets out of the van to investigate, only to find himself at gunpoint.

Everyone else arrives in the other van that is being driven by Gens, only to falls victim to the holdup that's already in progress. The crooks make off with one of the vans, leaving the group with just one van, no cash, and no phones.

Dejected, they all climb into the remaining van only to hear another bit of bad news from Gens: the van won't start.

* * *

The boys make a valiant effort to jump start the van by pushing it, but it doesn't work. When their attempts fail, Gens decides to set off on foot for help. Neri decides to join him and asks Brenda to come along. Brenda is reluctant to leave Celine with Stick, but Neri is insistent.

As they walk along the empty road, Brenda asks Neri if she ever wonders if Gens is just infatuated with her, if there's a chance that Gens still loves Celine and will want her back. Neri calmly replies that only Gens can answer the question.

Brenda says she thinks Stick is just infatuated with Celine. Realizing now what her cousin is thinking, Neri asks Brenda if she'll be able to accept and move on if it turns out that Stick really loves Celine.

Before Brenda can answer, Neri gets bitten by a snake. Gens ties a bandana above the wound and says he'll try to suck the poison out. Neri tries to stop him, saying he might end up getting poisoned himself, but Gens tells her not to worry. Brenda can't help but be touched that Gens is willing to risk his own health for Neri.

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Later, night has fallen and no other car has come down the round. Gens is starting to panic because they have no way of getting medical help for Neri. Upset, he says this shouldn't have happened at all because they should have been leaving the beach only now.

At his words, Brenda breaks down and starts to cry. She admits that it's all her fault that they're in the predicament that they're in now. She apologizes to Neri and Gens. Neri calmly assures them both that she's fine, that she doesn't feel dizzy or ill from the snake bite.

Just then, headlights appear on the darkened road, and Brenda excitedly jumps up and starts waving her arms to attact the attention of the oncoming car... it is Mao and Bill to the rescue.

---

Brenda files a police report for their stolen van. Neri gets checked out and is assured that her snake bite is not poisonous.

Everyone is finally ready to go home, and people start boarding the two vans. Brenda and Celine exchange looks, before Brenda silently climbs into Bill's van, leaving Celine to the other van with Stick.

As they drive home, Brenda cries quietly as she reflects: "Kapag talagang nagmahal ka, you can't avoid getting hurt, or hurting other people. Ang dami kong nasaktan, only because I can't accept losing. I guess now it's time. It's time to move on."

Carla in Abt Ur Luv - Epi 18

Episode Title: Thursday Outing

This blog entry contains episode highlights related to Carla's character, Brenda.

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Neri and Gwen organize a beach outing for the gang at the suggestion of Gens. They hope that the outing will provide an opportunity for Brenda and Celine to patch things up.

But, the plan goes seriously wrong when Bill asks Stick to drive one of the vans to the beach.

Stick manages to avoid talking to Celine in the van because she sleeps through the entire ride. Brenda meanwhile is in another van.

Later at the beach, Brenda, Stick, and Celine just barely miss bumping into each other on several occasions.

But at last, Stick sees Celine and tries to talk to her. Celine doesn't want to listen and runs away, with Stick giving chase.

In a day dream, Brenda realizes that she really does still love Stick, and wants to get back with him.

Brenda catches sight of Stick and Celine running along the beach and gets completely the wrong impression. In her anger, she lashes out at them both and leaves before they can explain.

Celine makes one last attempt to talk to Brenda, but Brenda rejects her, even after Celine does as she asks and shouts to anyone who'd care to listen on the beach that she stole her best friend's boyfriend.

Dejected, Celine decides to head back to Manila. Stick too, has had enough of the beach and wants to head back home. The two of them agree to go together.

Brenda sees them about to leave and realizes that she has inadvertently brought Celine and Stick closer to each other.

She follows them and asks Stick to stay so they can talk. Stick stays after making sure it's okay with Celine. As Brenda and Stick walk away, Celine thinks to herself that Brenda is only doing this because she doesn't want Stick to be with Celine. Celine concludes that Brenda has gone too far.

Carla in Abt Ur Luv - Epi 17

Episode Title: Friday Love Spell

This blog entry contains episode highlights related to Carla's character, Brenda.

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In the living room of their new home, the three Smith siblings are sorting out boxes with their things. Hillary and Josh are bickering once again, with Josh teasing Hillary about her dancing with Bill at the prom the night before, and with Hillary critizing Josh for his behavior with Lisa.




Brenda can't stand it anymore and complains that they're far too young to be talking about relationships in this way. She tells them that no one is allowed to be in love in this household anymore.




Hillary asks her if she's okay. When Brenda asks why she would not be okay, Josh replies: You're not okay because your best friend betrayed you by kissing your boyfriend, and your wonderful boyfriend kissed her also. And now you've split up.



Tears start to well in Brenda's eyes as Josh talks. She is too hurt to come up with a reply, and in anger she just shouts at Josh that she hates him before rushing out of the room.




Hillary hits Josh as Brenda leaves. Josh tells his twin sister he expected better of Stick.

Carla in Italy

Star Studio Magazine's March 2007 issue included one page of photos from Carla's trip to Italy.

The article is entitled Side Trip: Carla Humphries takes a side tour of Venice and Rome. The article also says that Carla was in Italy to visit her brother.


First Day High. An excited Carla in front of St. Peter's Basilica in rome. She was in Europe to visit her brother who was studying in Italy.

* * *


Fountain of Youth [top left]. Piazza Navona is a favorite spot of children. No Postcard [right]. Carla took these pictures of the Colosseum and the Statue of David in Firenze. Street Art [bottom left]. This Venetian street is home to many painters selling their art to tourists.

* * *


Missing Home [top]. Missing the warmth of the Philippines at Trinita Dei Monti, Piazza di Spagna. Cycling Pros [bottom]. Biking in Prato Della Valle in Padova with her brother's girlfriend.

* * *


Night Tour. Carla drops a coin and makes a wish at Fontana Di Trevi.

At Lipa, Batangas

Carla and Victor performed "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" at the Abt Ur Luv mallshow in Lipa, Batangas on March 11, 2007.



Thank you, Tita Tonette for this videoclip!

Carla in Abt Ur Luv - Epi 16

Episode Title: Thursday Triangles

This blog entry contains episode highlights related to Carla's character, Brenda.

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Brenda and her mother are at the administration office of their subdivision. Sonia is signing paperwork so they can move to a smaller house, because it will help with their money problems.

When Brenda seems unhappy, Sonia misunderstands and at first is impatient, until her daughter finally reveals that Celine and Stick had a thing.

Sonia is saddened but not surprised. She tells Brenda that she's not the only one to have ever been betrayed by a best friend, and advises her: 'Mag-drama ka, umiyak ka, which hindi mo pa ginagawa to my surprise'

Brenda sighs again and resolves to do something because she's not going to let Celine and Stick think they can deceive her forever.

---

Later that day, Brenda is with Celine at a restaurant, encouraging to eat. But Celine is confused and asks Brenda if there's an occassion because she's buying Celine lunch.

When Brenda asks if she's okay, Celine says she's just tired from the gym. At this, Brenda asks her how Stick is, and says she hopes Celine is keeping an eye on her boyfriend because some girl might be trying to steal him. Celine is uncomfortable and asks Brenda if she thinks Stick is being unfaithful.

Just then, Stick arrives and he is surprised to see Celine. Celine is also surprised to see him. Brenda pretends not to understand and asks if there will be a problem if they're all together for lunch.

During the meal, Brenda tries to feed Stick, but he tells her he's not very hungry. Brenda goes on to admire Stick and tell him he's really so good looking, and that it's no wonder all the girls are in love with him, and he even has a stalker.

Stick leans over and quietly reminds Brenda that she once told him they shouldn't be sweet in front of Celine. Brenda assures him that Celine's already okay, and asks Celine to confirm that she's already over Gens. Celine hesitantly says yes.

Brenda then shares her bright idea: she tells Stick he should be sweet with Celine as well, that way she's not left out. Both Celine and Stick are shocked. Brenda goes on to say there's nothing wrong with her idea. After all, Stick's her boyfriend, and Celine's her bestfriend and they know each other. At her words, Stick demands to know what's going on.

Before Brenda can answer him, Celine tries to leave, saying she's got a headache. When Brenda stops her, Stick tells her she should just let Celine leave since she wants to go. With barely concealed anger, Brenda then asks why Celine would want to leave -- is it because she and Stick are becoming uncomfortable around one another?

Stick tells Brenda he's becoming uncomfortable with her behavior. Brenda says if that's the case, then it's about time they tell her the truth to her face -- why did they kiss each other?!

After a shocked silence, Celine finally says it's all her fault, because it was Valentine's Day, and that she didn't mean to.

Brenda plays along with Celine's reason and and sarcastically says fine, it was probably just an accident that your lips touched Stick's lips!

When Celine asks her what she means, Brenda picks up a glass of water and pours it on Stick's shoulder, then says "Whoops! Sorry babe, nabuhusan kita ng tubig." She then asks Celine if that's what she meant by 'accident'.

Celine is panicking. She asks Brenda what she wants from her. Brenda stands up and angrily says she wants them to pay for the lunch because she's lost her appetite and just wants to go home.

As she starts to walk away from thet able, Stick grabs her arm and tries to stop her. She tells him to let go, wrenches her arm out of his grasp, and slaps him before she storms out of the restaurant.

---

At home, Brenda is packing her things when Hillary arrives. When Hillary asks her what she's doing, she explains that she's packing up because they're moving -- something she's happy about because she doesn't like their neighbors.

Hillary tells her she's got a visitor. Angrily, Brenda says if it's Celine, she should just go jump out of a plane without a parachute. And if it's Stick, he should get on the plane and push Celine out of the plane before jumping out without a chute himself.

Stick walks into the room just then and asks to talk to Brenda. Hillary hastily excuses herself.

Brenda agrees to talk, and asks why Stick kissed Celine. Stick reminded her of the time she had a crush on Brad Pitt, and said he didn't mind because he knew it was just a harmless crush.

Brenda angrily asks him how he can equate her crush on Brad Pitt with what he did, because there's no way she would ever get to kiss Brad Pitt even if she were to walk on her knees all the way to Hollywood! He, on the other hand, kissed her best friend not once, but twice!

Stick tells her he loves her and that he really regrets what he did. Brenda changes the subject and hands him the trash bin, and asks him to take it outside and make himself useful because no matter how much they talk they won't get anywhere.

Stick leaves reluctantly.

---

Brenda is still packing her things later when Celine arrives. Brenda angrily tells Celine to stop calling her 'Bes' because it's all wrong coming from her.

Celine says that the whole thing is all her fault; she tries to excuse Stick's behavior by saying he's a guy, which makes Brenda angry. Celine explains that she just doesn't want to destroy Brenda's relationship with Stick, and she doesn't want to lose her best friend.

Brenda turns away from her and resumes packing, then notices a shirt which she turns to show Celine. The front of the shirt reads: "Wanted: New Best Friend". She tells Celine it's such a great shirt and that she's going to go change.

After Brenda leaves the room, Celine notices a photo of herself and Brenda in one of the boxes. She gets it out and hugs it.

---

Later that evening, Brenda and Sonia are directing movers who are helping them into their new home. When Brenda is impatient with one of the movers, Sonia tells she should just cry it all out, instead of trying to pretend that she's okay.

Brenda sighs and sits down. She admits to her mother that she doesn't know what to do. Sonia sits next to her and asks if she has forgiven them yet.

Brenda quietly says she knows she can forgive them. The problem is -- she doesn't know if she can trust them again.

Sonia sighs then tells Brenda she has to decide what she wants to happen next.

---

Later, Stick and Brenda are eating together at a restaurant. Stick reaches for her hand and kisses it. At this, Brenda looks at him and sadly tells him she thinks they should cool things off.

When Stick protests, Brenda quietly says she's already made her decision. She gets up with tears streaming down her face.

Just before she leaves, she turns for one last look at Stick, who is still at the table watching her, upset. Brenda's voice over: What have I done? I feel so cheated. I lost my best friend, and I lost my boyfriend. But if I don't do this, I'd be too pathetic. Love is such a messy thing. Whoever it was who said love makes the world go round, they chose the wrong geometric shape. It should be, love makes the world go triangular, for all the love triangles in the world.

She turns and leaves the restaurant.

Carla in Abt Ur Luv - Epi 15

Episode Title: Sunday Whatever

This blog entry contains episode highlights related to Carla's character, Brenda.

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Stick is at the gym, trying to call Celine on his cellphone when Brenda arrives. He is jumpy, and tries to avoid telling her who he's calling, saying that the subscriber cannot be reached. Brenda tells him she's having trouble reaching Celine, and that she was surprised to learn from Celine's mother that she's in Baguio.



Half-jokingly, she says Celine better bring her back some ube and strawberry jam otherwise she'll never forgive her best friend. It was bad enough that she left on a trip without saying anything.

Just then, Stick's phone rings and in his nervousness, he almost drops the phone. Amused and concerned, Brenda tells him it might be a good idea to cut down on his coffee intake because he's becoming really jumpy. Stick agrees.



---

Brenda emerges from the locker room at the gym after her workout, and asks Stick if he's ready to leave. He says he just needs to wait for the next instructor to arrive, then asks where she wants to go. Brenda explains that she wants to go to church since she hasn't heard mass and she wants to go to confession. At her words, Stick is overcome with guilt, and Brenda asks him if he's okay because he looks like he's falling ill.



Stick assures her that he's fine, and Brenda smiles and says she knows just what to do. She reaches up and tries to kiss him. Stick suddenly sees a mental image of Celine about to kiss him, and in his confusion, he quickly pushes Brenda away.



Brenda is surprised and shocked, and asks him why. Stick apologizes and comes up with an excuse about having garlic breath.



Brenda tells him it wouldn't matter since she loves him just the same. They hug, then leave the gym.


___

Later that evening, Brenda and Stick arrive at his apartment, and she decides she'd rather stay there and watch DVDs then cook him dinner rather than go out. Stick feels guilty again and Brenda asks him again if everything's okay because she can feel that something's wrong.



He hesitates at first, then he apologizes. She asks him if there's a problem. Stick says he's got something to confess. Brenda looks worried and asks him to explain.



At the last minute, Stick chickens out and makes up some excuse about forgetting to call the supplier of the nutritional supplement she wants.



Brenda is so relieved to hear this and says it's no big deal, and that for a moment she thought he was about to say he'd cheated on her with another girl.



She enters the apartment, leaving Stick at the door feeling even more guilty.

---

In the kitchen preparing dinner, Brenda tells Stick he really should let her join him when he goes to the grocery because his pantry is practically empty. Stick is still looking through cabinets when his cellphone rings.



Brenda notices that he's preoccupied so she goes to answer his phone. Stick realizes and grabs the phone before she can get it.



It's Celine, but she has already hung up. He tells Brenda he's going to call the person back, just as the doorbell rings.



Brenda goes to open the door to Stick's apartment and finds Celine there, answering a call on her cellphone from Stick.



The two girls are both surprised to see each other, and Celine struggles to come up with an excuse for visiting Stick at his apartment. Stick arrives at the door and quickly says he called Celine because Brenda was unhappy with her.



At his words, Celine starts to worry, thinking perhaps that Stick has confessed, but Stick explains that Brenda had mentioned that she was expecting pasalubong from Baguio. Brenda turns to look at Celine and is surprised to see her bestfriend almost in tears as she asks Brenda to forgive her.



Brenda assures Celine that she's just joking. Brenda tells her everything is okay and insists that Celine join her and Stick for dinner.



---

Celine and Stick share an awkward silence at the dining table as Brenda brings food in from the kitchen. Stick has lost his appetite, and Celine quickly makes an excuse about having to leave right away.



Just then, Brenda's phone rings. It's her boss, and she excuses herself to take the call in the kitchen. While Brenda takes her call, Stick asks Celine what they're going to do because they can't pretend that nothing happened.



Celine tells him she loves her best friend, and Stick assures her that he loves Brenda, because she's his life. At his words, Celine asks him why he kissed her. Stick reminds her that she kissed him first. Celine tells him it was Valentine's Day and everyone at the party was kissing someone else, and she just got carried away by the moment. She asks him what excuse he has for kissing her at the gym.



Stick hesitates then finally answers that he couldn't help himself when he saw what she was wearing that day. Celine stops him from saying more and gets up from the table and rushes to the door. Stick follows her out the door and tries to stop her from leaving.

Brenda emerges from the kitchen in tears. It's obvious she heard.



---

Later that night, as Brenda and Stick leave his apartment, Stick asks her if she's alright, because she's been so deep in thought all evening. Brenda assures him she's okay.



She then looks intently at him as she says: "Basta tandaan mo babe, mahal na mahal kita. Alam mo yun, diba? You wouldn't do anything to hurt me, right?" Stick answers: "Yes, I love you babe."



Brenda fights tears as they hug each other tightly.