Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia, condition worsens

NEW YORK—Nearly a year after Bruce Willis’s family announced that he would step away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, his family says his “condition has progressed.”

In a statement posted on Thursday, the 67-year-old actor’s family said Willis has a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the statement read. “FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone.”

Big Ego

THE young actor reportedly complained to the network’s management because he thinks his role in the TV series that he recently did was neither lengthy nor memorable enough. This despite the fact that the series didn’t do well and that they had to rely on the leading lady’s onscreen chemistry with someone else instead of the actor to make the series more palatable to viewers. It seems that all the publicity about him being the next big thing in acting has gone to the actor’s head even if he has no proof of box-office or TV ratings appeal. Whatever public interest generated for or the actor is related to his lovelife. No one, except his publicists, says he is a good actor. He isn’t bad in the acting department but he’s definitely not the next big thing.

JUST A GIMMICK

RECENT showbiz headlines say that the actor and the beauty queen have reconciled after a brief break-up. The truth is, they never broke up. They just kept their relationship low key following the advice of their managers because, for some reason, they were getting so much hate. The beauty queen’s fans think the actor is beneath her in terms of looks and achievements. They see him as a nobody hanging on to the beauty queen just so he would have publicity for his career.

No To Fakes

THERE is a new page on Instagram where the administrator of the page points out which international celebrities wears fake designer bags and, so far, three Filipino actresses have been featured. One of them is a youngish actress who is no longer super active in show business. She is known for accepting products and payment from online sellers. She recently posted a bag sent to her by an online seller, which apparently turned out to be fake. The second actress is also not very active in showbiz and she was also featured in the Instagram account because of her fake bag. The third actress is known for owning the most expensive designer handbags—but most of them, it turns out, are fake.

COPYCAT?

PEOPLE are surprised at the searches for the name of this influencer on the internet. These searches are nasty and mean. It turns out that another influencer paid good money for this to happen.

Why? The first influencer is said to be imitating so many of the second influencer’s style and even social media postings. And despite the second influencer unfriending her because of this, the first influencer continued to do her thing. So what did the “original” do? She allegedly paid an expert to mess with her alleged copycat’s searches.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE By

Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS lobes of the brain that affects behavior, language and movement. Aphasia can be a symptom of it. The association describes frontotemporal degeneration as “an inevitable decline in functioning,” with an average life expectancy of seven to 13 years after the onset of symptoms.

DAY: Drew Barrymore, 48; Thomas Jane, 54; Jeri Ryan, 55; Kyle MacLachlan, 64.

“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” the family’s statement read, adding that it can take years to get a proper diagnosis. “As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”

Last March, Willis’s family said his aphasia had affected his cognitive abilities. The condition causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech.

In Thursday’s statement, his family said communication challenges were just one symptom of frontotemporal dementia.

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration describes FTD as a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal

The statement was posted on the website for the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and signed by Willis’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, his exwife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

Over a four-decade career, Willis’s movies had earned more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office. AP

WANDERLAND MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL MAKING A COMEBACK THIS MARCH

THE country’s premier music and arts festival is set to return on March 4 and 5 at the Filinvest City Event Grounds in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The festival had a three-year long hiatus due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Launched back in 2013, Wanderland has been a yearly tradition of celebrating good music and good people. It is well-known for bringing highly anticipated international indie artists together with sought-after homegrown acts on one stage.

On their eighth run this year, Wanderland has managed to pull together artists that are fresh, nostalgic and diverse with a spectacular flair of their own. It is, hands down, a champion roster for this season.

Headlining the two-day festival are French indie rock band Phoenix, and Canadian pop singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. Dashboard Confessional, FKJ, Raveena, Men I Trust, and Stephen Day are the other Western acts gracing the stage. Asian acts like Bobby, Sunset Rollercoaster, HYBS, Balming Tiger, George, and Leo Wang are all making their Philippine debut at Wanderland. ((( O ))), No Rome, Rico Blanco, Ylona Garcia, Blaster, August Wahh, Flu, The Ridleys, and The Sundown are the homegrown performers this year.

Aside from the music, Wanderland also prides itself in celebrating the arts through their

Wanderartists who perform live mural art at the festival. Each Wanderartist’s piece enhances the personality, vibrance and creativity of the festival grounds—a major factor in adding life to the event. This year’s Wanderartists are Alaga, Amiel Rivera, Faith de Leos, and Wika Nadera.

What makes Wanderland truly stand out among the rest is that it is a thematic festival. Every year, a theme is set to ensure that Wanderers get a unique and memorable experience each time they set foot at Wanderland. For 2023, they carried over their 2020 theme, sports and athletics, to finish what they’ve started then and finally get that win.

The team mentions that their greatest win this year will be Wanderers finally returning to their homecourt and seeing them connected again in real life through music and arts.

The Wanderland community has grown over the years—not only in size but especially in the sense of belonging, high spirits, and winning memories only one can experience at the festival.

Presented by Globe, and co-resented by GCash and foodpanda, Wanderland: The Comeback is happening on March 4 and 5 at the Filinvest City Event Grounds. Tickets are available at www.wanderlandfestival.com with Tickelo as the official ticketing partner. Sponsors include San Miguel Light, San Miguel Pale Pilsen, and San Miguel Flavored Beer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Be discreet, secretive and change only what’s necessary. Consider how to make your life less stressful. Concentrate on physical adjustments that add convenience to your everyday routine. Create opportunities instead of waiting for someone to step in and tell you what to do next. By taking control, you will eliminate opposition and reach your goal without interference. A trendy new look will boost your confidence. Your numbers are 3, 16, 24, 29, 35, 37, 40.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a break and rethink your strategy before you make a mistake. A proposal will mislead you; ask questions. Be specific about your responsibilities and what others expect of you. Staying active will help you avoid making impulsive moves. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mix business with pleasure to get along better with your colleagues. Don’t let the changes you encounter discourage you from following your heart. Compensate for anything that disrupts your day or plans, and keep moving forward. ★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Get involved in something you believe in or feel you can contribute to and make a difference. First, however, eliminate dealing with anyone trying to take advantage of you. Handle business, get things done on time and avoid controversy. ★★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sign up for a class, event or activity that will allow you to use your imagination. A discussion with someone who shares your concerns will lead to a change that will make a difference at work or in your circle of friends.

★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be receptive. What you learn will give you hope and revive your interest and ability to fight for what you want. Take the steps required to turn what you know and do well into a lucrative outlet. Self-improvement and relationship opportunities are apparent. ★★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep your eye on the market and invest wisely. Discuss your plans with an expert. An offer will pique your interest, but until you get all the facts and figures, you should keep your money in the bank and observe.

★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stand up and be counted. Speak freely, follow through and be willing to do the work yourself. Run the show instead of sitting in the audience. Show your worth, and set guidelines for those who show interest in your plans. Romance is encouraged. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The response you receive from sharing your intentions will give you a push to make your next move. A partnership looks exciting but is unlikely to pan out if you refrain from delegating who’s responsible for what before you begin.

★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What you contribute will make a difference at home. Get everyone you care about involved, and a closer bond will develop that encourages you to make positive lifestyle changes moving forward. Follow through with your plans; success will unfold. ★★★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotional situations will confuse you. Keep your thoughts to yourself until you gather the facts and fully understand the implications involved should you address issues prematurely. Bide your time, and you’ll discover what you want and how to proceed.

★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Lean on the experience you have to speed up the process of getting what you want. Don’t wait for someone to come along and do things for you. Believe in yourself and make things happen. ★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Hiding out at home will give you time to rearrange rooms to suit your needs. Don’t feel you have to conform to standard procedures when your ideas and plans are innovative and can help you reach your destination.

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You have speed, agility and technique. You are versatile and persistent.