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Jackie Chan is praying for good relations. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Afrequent of gossip rags these days, Jackie Chan (成龍) made headlines again this week with his failures at this year's Golden Horse Awards. After The Myth (神話) and Song of Everlasting Sorrow (長恨歌) (Chan was an investor) were left off the nomination list of this important film event, a conspiracy theory quickly emerged, saying some kind of political manipulation was involved in the decision-making process to rule out the star who once vowed not to come to Taiwan for four years.

The action hero promptly expressed his support for the Golden Horse awards and said he was enthusiastic about attending the awards. "I know the Golden Horse doesn't have a big budget, so I would like to come and join the grand event at my own expense," Chan told The Liberty Times reporters. It looks like Chan is learning the art of eating humble pie and trying to mend bad relations with the country.

The power of religion can never be underestimated. Jet Li (李連杰) and diva-turned-housewife Brigitte Lin (林青霞), both absent from the local celebrity scene for years, jointly attended a Buddhist ceremony at Dhama Drum Mountain (法鼓山) last Friday. Local media besieged the two visitors with questions. Accompanied by Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and international choreographers Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), Lin, the mother of three daughters, appeared to keep a low profile by flashing low wattage smiles.

PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

A devoted follower of Buddhism, Li said he would spend half of his time practicing Buddhism after ending his career as a kung-fu action star. Fame and power are no longer of interest, Li said, and he is now keen to make documentaries on the religion to let more people know about it. So look out Li fans, if martial-art movie Huo Yuan-jia (霍元甲) was his last you will only see doing public-service flicks for

Gigi Leung and Ekin Cheng may be calling it a day after six years. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Buddhism in the future.

Religion brings out the best in Jet Li, Ma Ying-jeou and Lin Hwai-min. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Another keen on doing public services and charity works is local singer and actor Richie Ren (任賢齊). Ever since becoming a dad, Ren has been spreading the joy, and money, to charitable organizations and adopted children on both sides of the Strait. Last week the philanthropist organized a fund-raising marathon event to help build a school in a poverty-stricken village in Yunnan Province, China. So, there is a fairy godfather in celebrity land after all.

But back to the splits. Recent rumors have it that the model Hong Kong showbiz stars Gigi Leung (梁詠琪) and Ekin Cheng (鄭伊健) are on the verge of splitting up, after six years. Gossip insiders have pointed out the couple's differences have grown wider over the years, as Leung puts more emphasis on work and Cheng remains a happy-go-lucky guy. Cheng is also said to be pissed off by Leung's sexy new look that is being seen as a last gasp effort to save a slumping career.

Supermodel Lin Chih-ling

(林志玲) is back and she is going to host the Golden Bell Awards (金鐘獎) next month, for sure. As opposed to her hunchbacked, sickly look two months ago, Lin has apparently regained her health and increased her cup size. Local media noticed the model's bosom seemed to experience a transformation from a flat to C-cup during her recovery from the horse accident. When asked if the beauty underwent a breast enlargement, her mom simply replied to the press, "They are real, period."