The demigods of the silver screen and the idiot box have given us a different kind of entertainment that we fail to get from social conversations or even from jokes that tickled our funny bones. There is always that certain kind of enticing force that draws us closer to them.
There were a number of local actors and actresses who I was drawn close to due to different inevitable circumstances. For instance, Before Jericho Rosales made it big, he was originally a Channel 7 prodigy via “Mr. Pogi,” a seasonal segment of the longest running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga. During the mid 80s, I used to provide barong Tagalogs to the show’s finalists and during his time, I let him wore a fully embroidered black and white barong (which was a bit oversized for him).
In 1996, I -together with movie actress Bernadette Alyson (now wife of actor-politician Gary Estrada) and beauty expert-cum-beauty-enhancer-producer James Cooper- was invited to judge the finals where barely 17 and lanky Jericho Rosales, a Charlie Sheen dead ringer, was contestant # 15 representing Marikina.. Charming and fashion savvy, street-smart, gifted with a pair of terpsichorean feet, and undeniably handsome, Jericho smoothly bested 17 others and was proclaimed “Mr. Pogi 1996.”
The enviable title eventually catapulted him to greater heights when he moved to Channel 2 which groomed him as a dramatic actor. Since then, he became increasingly famous while simultaneously stamping his peculiar trade mark in the annals of the Philippine movies and television. Currently, his moniker and music have also been familiar sounds in the tin-pan alley.
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Hardworking, family-oriented, with an innate entrepreneurial skill, Marvin Agustin crossed my path in 1997 when I was occupied with managing talents aside from my fashion designing business. We used to bump onto each other in ABS-CBN corridors, the studio canteen, and sometimes, in Mr. Johnny Manahan’s talent center office.
A product of Star Circle Batch 2, Marvin was naturally friendly and accommodating. Our constant meetings bred a closer familiarity in 1998 during the filming of Star Cinema’s “Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang?” that featured the perennial tandem of Marvin and Jolina Magdangal and where my talent, Marcus Madrigal (of Star Circle Batch 6) was being introduced as one of Marvin’s friends.
In 2009 when Marvin came over to promote a group dance competition for GMA-Kapuso Network (Channel 7) in Marist High School auditorium, I remained reticent during the press conference for his memory might have been shortened by the long years that I had been away from show business.
Amazingly enough, when the press members were individually introduced, Marvin got himself out of the celebrity panel, walked smiling towards me, and acknowledged my presence with a warm hug, his sincere reuniting gesture. I was totally wrong, after all. Without a doubt, Marvin is truly one genuinely magnificent person inside and out.
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She was barely in her primary school age when I finally left the Philippines for good and unluckily, I haven’t been formally introduced to the Megastar’s equally celebrity daughter, Kristina Cassandra, or KC Concepcion to fans.
When her mom, Sharon Cuneta mounted her 2010 World Concert Series in the east coast, the event was made even more significant by my being the show’s official publicist (under MPG Productions) and our reunion after a decade of non-communication. Shawie wouldn’t allow me to leave her Sheraton Hotel suite (Exchange Place, Jersey City) so we literally picked up the pieces from where we left and stayed awake ‘til the wee hours of the following day.
The bubbly teener, who was with Sharon as curtain-raiser and co-performer, kept me endlessly digging anecdotes and stories about her mom’s early career, immediately after Sharon introduced me (finally) to her as one of those who took good care of her when she was a showbiz greenhorn. KC, despite the avalanche of stories that must have been crowding her mind could still share some bits and pieces.
During the big event at the Prudential Hall Performing Arts Center in Newark, KC consistently remained sweet and comfortably warm, entertaining me (instead of she being entertained by me) while being made-up by the favorite beauty guru of movie stars, Fanny Serrano.
Intelligent, educated, independent, and well-traveled, KC, with her genuine simplicity and humble ways, is definitely bound to succeed in whatever endeavor she pursues.
Incidentally, Fanny is also a colleague in fashion and had worked together during the days when we were both active in FDAP (Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines) especially when we did Likha, Isang Diwa, a Filipino-inspired fashion show at the Rizal Theater way back in December 15, 1987 with a common model, Thea Robles.
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I never thought I would experience a face-to-face encounter with multi-awarded actress Gina Pareno, a five-decade veteran actress, since she was launched full-pledged and member of Sampaguita Pictures’ Star 66. I just felt she was like a distant star, merely being watched and unreachable.
But that thinking changed when I was connected with Seiko Films for my talent Leandro Baldemor who worked with her in three films most significant of which was “Kiliti.” On location shoot, we would spend break time exchanging funny jokes as we feasted on scrumptious home-cooked food she regularly brought to the set.
We traded unprintable personal secrets during our constant togetherness. We surprisingly discovered that we have common friends who were principal players in some significant phases of our lives. It was like piecing together loose fragments that we have been painstakingly searching to solve a puzzle.
We last met at the Philippine Center some few years back in connection with the promotion of her internationally acclaimed movie, “Kubrador.”
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Funny girl Ai-Ai delas Alas and I worked together on a concert project which featured herself, Rosanna Roces and Leandro Baldemor. Dubbed as “Sexy Things,” the triumvirate cast lorded it over the tills of Kampo, a then popular watering hole in the heart of West Avenue in Quezon City.
The success of the concert was followed up with another at the Music Hall along Annapolis St. in Greenhills, supposedly Ai-Ai’s birthday bash. Entitled “Ang Tukso at ang Baba-E,” (for “Tukso”was Leandro’s current project then and “Baba-E was Ai-Ai for obvious reason), the said event became controversial with the failure of Rosanna to show up that left Ai-Ai in hysterics. Professional that she was, the show went on with kilometric adlibs and briefly rehearsed insertions just to cover-up Rosanna’s absence. Even Leandro’s portion was extended and an impromptu number with Ai-Ai was hastily added.
Now, the comedienne is way above from her humble beginning as a sing-along master at a comedy bar along Timog Avenue. Aside from hit-after-hit films, garnering awards from prestigious award-giving bodice, recognized as a box-office star, and one of the most in-demand product endorsers, Ai-Ai enjoys the fruits of what she had toiled for.
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My meeting with drama-action actor Raymond Bagatsing in 1995 was merely within a whole day of taping a TV telesine entitled “Atsay” which starred him as the antagonist. It also featured Precious Hipolito, now a Quezon City Councilwoman, in the title role and one of my talents, Derrick Hibaler, as the protagonist. But that brief encounter led to a deeper acquaintance when we would occasionally meet in some social events and just resumed what we left unfinished the last time we saw each other. I would even test his memory as to where we initially met and he could relate everything in detail.
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My fashion designing career gave me utmost opportunities to work with top male and female models in the country. Fashion models, just like movie actors, are equally idolized and consistently attract a huge following. Bodyshot 1987 winner Michael Alfers, one of the most in-demand runway and print ad male models not only in Manila but throughout Asia, regarded me as his mentor although I wasn’t his discoverer and talent manager. After giving him maximum print exposures and projects, he became very close to his “siblings” (co-models under me) like Thea Robles, Joey Tiosayco, Randy Arrecivita, and Malou Vergara. It was during that time when Thea was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-International 1989 that we have to sneak her out of Manila Hotel (where winners were billeted) just so we could celebrate.
Unfortunately, Michael Alfers wasn’t able to manage properly the value of success. What he had capitalized on went kaput as gradually ruined by extensive nightlife, drugs, women, unhealthy lifestyle and made even worst by devastating personal problems. Soon enough, the elite world of the most popular male mannequin of the fashion industry collapsed like a deck of cards…that brought him back to where he came from: the arid grounds of Zambales.
Just three years ago, in a chance meeting with Thea in Felix Pub & Restaurant in NYC where she works, she relayed to me the sad news that Michael has untimely passed away. I hate to make the bitter reality sink into my system. I wanted Michael’s image to remain as it was imprinted on my mind.
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Randy Salvino, 1988 Bodyshot male titlist, accidentally bumped his car against a street post after coming from a party with friends that ended him with a broken nose. The accident directly impacted me since Randy had a photo shoot with me in two days. Good enough that we remedied the situation with long shots and half-shaded face.
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Actor-model John Estrada was sent to me by Zamboanga City fashion designer Bert Torres in mid-April of 1989 as this city’s representative to FDAP’s Bodyshot Year IV which I nationally chaired. Although almost 3 weeks behind the rehearsal period, John was able to catch up and impressed not only his co-contestants but the director of the pageant, as well, on the effectiveness of his performance. It wasn’t surprising at all when he finished first runner-up behind Gerry Gonzalo. Two weeks after the coronation, John sent me a three-tiered birthday cake when he failed to attend my June 7, 1989 birthday bash due to a previous commitment.
Bodyshot Year IV titlist Gerry Gonzalo was a predictable winner even as early as during the screening process: well-sculptured physique, towering height, almost perfectly chiseled face, and outstandingly unique among his peers, sporting a long healthy hair (a few inch short of shoulder length). But a week after celebrating his victory with friends, Gerry suffered the same fate as Randy Salvino when he met an accident that damaged one of his eyes due to broken glasses. After years of trying to save the other pair, Gerry totally lost his sight. Married to Pia Pilapil, beauteous daughter of actress Pilar Pilapil, the couple’s marital status is far from being publicly divulged.
Batch 1988 of Bodyshot has incredibly produced stunning women who were all beauty queen potentials. Upon observing them during rehearsals at the Philippine Plaza Hotel, I knew there and then that these girls have something much bigger in store ahead of them, other than this contest. There was a time when I handpicked Patty Betita from her rehearsal for a cover photo shoot of Miscellaneous Magazine at George Tapan’s Studio, then Gem Padilla for Prime Magazine at Allen Villalon Studio, and Marina Benipayo at the Top of the Sheraton Hotel for the fashion pages of Philippines Free Press.
Marina Benipayo emerged the 1988 winner followed by Gem Padilla and Patty Betita, in that order. Later, the three beauties joined Bb. Pilipinas search: Patty Betita was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Int’l. 1991, Gem Padilla snatched the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1991 title, while Marina was eventually crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Maja 1992.
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Carlene Aguilar was recommended to me by her mother’s hairstylist. Still with some unwanted pounds and sporting a semi-bob-cut hair, I started training Carlene when I was about to leave for the US so her development to being a beauty queen was put to a halt. I soon learned that Carlene was declared Miss Chinatown and Miss Philippines-Earth Then later, I saw on TV that she had trimmed down a lot and had grown her hair long, very fitting for her Bb. Pilipinas-World 2005 title. Gifted with enviable features and talent, Carlene’s personal life, contrastingly, has not been with glam and glitz as her career.
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When circulating in showbiz, it is inevitable to meet the people behind the cameras, the captain at the helm of the project, the directors. After having managed and mentored some of my models who were interested to expand their horizons via the movies, I have been in close contact with a number of talented ones. I’ve known box-office director Wenn Deramas even way back when he was the head writer of the defunct Tessie Tomas TV show, “Teysi Ng Tahanan,” where I used to be a regular guest. Talented and perseveringly hard-working, Direk Wenn rose to where he’s now after proving his capability to be in total control of the script and deliver the best of what is expected of him.
Direk Lav Diaz was fun and light to work with. He never threw his tantrum or negatively reacted to high-blood inducing situations on the set. He would merely blurt “Cool…,let’s rock and roll!” whenever he was on the verge to explode in anger. Direk Jerry Sineneng is another smooth-sailing worker behind the camera. Always with a certain kind of peculiar treatment to details, his actors only realized that filming was over once he shouted:”Pack-up!” Creative and extremely passionate about his craft, Direk Maryo J. Delos Reyes was easy to get along with. We have been often together in and out of the movie set and our relationship was neither affected by our professional careers nor personal interests.
Some of my close megmen have traveled back to their Creator ahead of us: self-proclaimed “messiah” of the Philippine movies Celso Ad Castillo needed somebody who could stand his truancy and slowness on the set while Mario O’Hara was another cool director who always came prepared. But the closest to me was Director Abbo dela Cruz aka Rico Mambo, having worked with him in Seiko Films for over three years. These talented film craftsmen that we lost needed counterpart replacements.
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