ALTHOUGH Filipinos in the United States are closer to Hollywood, they still keep in touch with local show biz through some Pinoy-oriented publications, cable and the Internet. By e-mail, we've asked some of our kababayans about their favorite Filipino stars:

Rio Moraleja of San Diego, California replies by relating his close encounter with his idol (or "idal," as how he refers to her), Joyce Jimenez.

"We met nung nagpunta siya sa San Diego over a year ago," he writes. "I think nagbakasyon siya noon. Nandoon kami sa Horton Plaza Mall at nakita namin siya na naglalakad, family niya yata ang kasama niya. Siyempre walang hiyaan, lapit kami agad sa kanya.

"She's a lot prettier in person pala, saka ang ganda ng smile niya. Hindi siya matangkad. She was so sweet, parang kilala niya kami. Hindi siya snob or mataray.

"Palabiro siya. Sabi niya sa akin na kung artista lang ako, e, gusto niya akong maging leading man! Siyempre ang sagot ko naman: 'Kung ang mga pangarap ay natutupad, girlfriend na kita ngayon.' Tawanan kaming lahat.

"Unfortunately, 'di nagtagal ang usap-usap namin. Pauwi na pala sila noon. Binili ko siya ng T-shirt that had 'San Diego' written on it. Sabi ko sa kanya, isuot niya sa isa sa mga movies niya."

And to Rio's surprise, Joyce really did wear the "San Diego" shirt in one of her steamy scenes with Jomari Yllana in "Warat"!

Back in Manila, Jennifer Sevilla has a big fan who found out that the former child star was worth all her adulation when they became classmates in second year college at the University of Santo Tomas.

"Sumasama siya sa iba't-ibang grupo sa klase kahit na iba't-iba rin ang character nila," recalls Ruth Llagas, 25. "She could easily relate to each one of them. Hindi siya plastic. Wala siyang kaartehan. Ang bait-bait niya."

Ruth's first close encounter with her idol was a disappointment, though. "During our first week in school," she remembers, "She said hi to me. Natuwa ako. Humingi ako ng picture niya pero hindi niya nagustuhan. Naging formal ang dating niya sa akin. Siguro kasi gusto niyang i-treat siya na parang regular student lang. Masungit din pala siya, sabi ko, pero naintindihan ko rin siya."

Jennifer was able to redeem herself with Ruth when they became groupmates in a project for their Literature class. Jennifer was supposed to play Agueda in the group's staging of Nick Joaquin's "May Day Eve."

But due to Jennifer's hectic schedule taping for "Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata" and hosting "That's Entertainment," Ruth had to take over the lead female role. Jennifer gladly became her make-up artist.

On the day of the performance, recounts Ruth, she had a major skin breakout and she was freaking out. She was afraid that Jennifer wouldn't like applying make-up on her pimply face. "Para akong kandilang natutunaw sa harap niya," she blushes.

Ruth was only able to breathe when Jennifer confided to her that she, too, was prone to pimples, and had stopped going to the dermatologist because she'd found a cure. She gladly shared her "beauty secret" and even promised to send her information on the medicine via mail.

"Pero hindi ko sineryoso 'yun kasi malapit na ang vacation," says Ruth. "But before summer ended, naka-receive ako ng letter from her, complete with details about the medicine. 'Wag ko raw ibigay sa iba.

"Mali nga lang ang spelling ng last name ko," she quips.

But that didn't lessen her admiration for her idol. Ruth still has the photo that Jennifer gave her, and she still watches her on TV with interest. But she's not as "fanatical" as before, she remarks.

At the height of the popularity of "That's Entertainment" in 1991, Ruth initially had an eye on Rachel Alejandro but quickly shifted her attention to Jennifer when she realized how much the latter valued her studies.

"Binigyan pa siya ng award ni German Moreno for maintaining her good grades in school," she points out. "Mabait din siyang anak. Hindi siya ma-ere. Maganda siyang ehemplo sa mga kabataan."