Playboy magazine’s November Playmate is a Filipino-Italian-American who goes by the name of Raquel Gibson. The popular men’s magazine devoted 14 pages of the luscious beauty in its November issue. The last time the pioneering men’s magazine picked a Pinay playmate was in 1988, also during the month of November, in the lovely person of Pia Reyes.

Raquel’s mother is Filipino and her father is, she says, an “Italian New Yorker.” She hails from Florida but has frequented the Philippines and Japan where an older sister of her’s is based.

Which is why Raquel is fluent in Tagalog and speaks a little Japanese. According to the author of Raquel’s write up in the magazine, the 20-year-old beauty “kept tossing some Tagalog” during the interview.

Raquel comes from a large family for whom she loves to cook — she has a culinary school degree and a real estate license to boot. As if those are not enough, she still plans to go back to school and become a pediatrician.

Raquel’s exotic looks often elicits comparisons with Latina beauties, particularly Jessica Alba. She says friends kid her about signing autographs when people ask her if she’s the Latina actress.

Who is Raquel’s dream guy? She says she likes someone “who’s into his mom and checks in on her” but is not exactly a mama’s boy but one who is family-oriented.

Edu in physical injuries raps

Edu Manzano is being sued for physical injuries by the father of a 14-year-old boy who claims he was manhandled by the actor at the Rockwell Mall in Makati City last week.

The actor and chairman of the Optical Media Board denies the charges. Edu says he and his daughters went shopping at the mall when a group of young boys heckled him, yelling his name repeatedly, sounding very disrespectful and trying to make fun of him.

According to Edu, all he did was to approach the boy and his group and told them to stop. “How could have I manhandled him? He was with a group. These were young but very tall boys, mga basketball players. Don’t you think they wouldn’t have beaten me to a pulp if I so much as hurt one of them?”

But the boy’s father insists the actor did lay a hand on his son. The man showed police red marks on the boy’s neck showing that the actor tried to strangle his son.

A wild claim, says Edu.

Some months back, Edu was also the subject of a complaint by a man, a truck driver, who said he was mauled by the actor during a traffic altercation.

Edu says his celebrity makes him an easy prey of malevolent people.

Martin, siblings, dad make peace

Martin Nievera may have fidelity issues but no one can accuse him of being a bad son. He is devoted to his parents who, although separated, are held by Martin equally with respect, concern and deep affection.

Recently, Martin rounded up his siblings from different parts of the U.S, flew them to Las Vegas and secretly arranged a reunion with their estranged father, the singer Bert Nievera, who now resides with his wife Carol in Las Vegas.

Bert and Carol thought it was only Martin they were going to meet for dinner at a Vegas restaurant, but when all of Nievera’s children showed up, tears quickly flowed and the family reaffirmed the love that bound them together.

According to Martin, he is in negotiations for another big Las Vegas splash similar in scope to his earlier stints at the Golden Nugget two years ago.

Incidentally, Martin and Lani Misalucha are teaming up for a New Year’s Eve show at the J.W. Marriott Resort, Spa & Casino (Grand Ballroom) in Las Vegas. For information, call (702) 348-9693 or (949) 705-7714 or go online to purchase tickets at www.localfilipino.com