jetset

The Atigas!

2008-11-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

Tinabu, husband Nelli and baby Naz surprised be by saying they were in town. Luckily enough, my Sunday was free and I was able to meet up with them at very colorful Martha's Cakes in the Fort. It was nice seeing this Singaporean based couple after so long. Baby Naz is not even two years old but she's certainly looking like she's going to have a growth spurt for a long time. This I bet is thanks to her Samoan dad! Am pretty sure she will grow up to be as wonderful as both her parents and that she will be able to eat cupcakes, a whole bunch of them with us adults very soon.

Femmefoodies in Basilio's

2008-04-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

It was April and time for another femmefoodies getogether. Because of my current sked I've not been able to allot time to plan way in advance. So, I thought, why not wing it and just give the girls a couple of days notice and see who will show up? I've found this to be a little more convenient for me as selfish as that sounds but I guess I'm realizing that if people will show up, they will show up, last minute or not. Even if you plan something way ahead of time there are still people who will back out last minute. Besides, I've been told several times that the girls do have more fun when it's a smaller group. Still, I would like to keep the numbers at a steady 10 per restaurant just so everyone has a chance to sample all the dishes, but hey, 10 or just another girl I guess will be ok, thankfully our number have never been below 5. Dinner was at Basilio's in the Fort which I've been wanting to introduce to the girls for quite some time. Among the faves of the night were the crab ravioli, the steak and mushroom pie and the seafood pasta. The girls had mixed reviews about the chicken dishes, but more because some didn't like spicy food. I noticed though that every plate was empty at night's end and several of the girls 'tagged' what they would be going back for. A new addition to the menu was the callos pot pie, which I didn't get to try since I'm not fond of callos, I did try the sauce though and it was extremely tasty. The winner of the evening was the molten chocolate cake. We were all trying to be coy and ordered just one, but the minute the rest of the girls dug in, one shouted "We better order another one or else aaway tayo!" true enough, we practically inhaled the first one and when the second one came round, it was gone in minutes. Let's see what other establishment will be on our plates ( literally) in May!

Kalipimu: Move with Spirit

2008-03-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

By Katrina A. Holigores
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last updated 16:33:00 03/28/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Stuck. Trapped. Blocked. Disconnected. These are words that formed part of my daily dictionary. Active as I was on the outside, inside I was feeling lethargic, and going through the motions of life on automatic pilot. I had tried meditation to clear my head of a thousand voices—but they just wouldn’t shut up. Even my outward movements felt mechanic, truth be told, finding quiet time was a skill I did not possess. An inner desperation led me to an old acquaintance (on recommendation of a mutual nephew) to Kalipimu. Kali what? Kalipimu, without delving into details (since you can Google it or go to www.innerdance.multiply.com) it was explained to me as an ancient healing ritual indigenous to pre-colonial Philippines—practiced by tribal shamans, the baylan (male) and the babaylan (female). They were the soul “doctors” before Christianity was brought (some say ‘forced’) upon us with the arrival of the Spaniards.

Feel it to believe it

But describing the power of this healing ritual in words is unjust. Experiencing it is the only way to go, or in this case, flow. I was simply asked to sit down and close my eyes. I felt light touches on various parts of my body and later on was slowly and seemingly stretched with gentle pushes and pulls. Part of me thought, “Ok, feels nice, but … ” and my mind started to drift off, to the usual traffic of what I did that day, what I was going to do later … etc., etc. The being moved around continued and at some point I found myself lying down on my back, eyes still closed taking in the music that was being played and trying desperately not to think about anything else but stay in the moment. I decided to just let my friend finish his work and I would politely just lie still until the session was over.

The tipping point

My friend stopped physical contact with me and moved a short distance away. My hands started to tremble, and jerk—to an irregular beat all on their own. My arms, planted firmly on the floor, started to sway, in no fixed direction left, right, round, up, down. At this point I should have freaked out, but I didn’t, I was mesmerized, transfixed (even with my eyes still closed) by the flow, by the loss of control which was still, weirdly enough, controlled. I felt little snaps of electricity traveling from my elbows to the tips of my fingers, as if something was slowly being released into the world and beyond. The trembling and shaking continued and this time, the voices in my head did shut up and my mind flew free. There was a lightness I felt, although I was still very connected to my body. All I could comprehend in this in-between state was that something had opened up within that allowed me to see into another dimension of myself, one that acknowledged an inner life force that had long been dormant. My body continued to move on its own and as I turned my head to one side my eyelids opened slightly and I ‘saw’ standing over me a woman, dressed in what seemed to be native American garb, her expression was one of observation. There was nothing sinister about her presence, she just seemed to belong there. Minutes later I heard a voice in my ear welcoming me back to the present. I left that night feeling like I had definitely found something. “This practice is a guru-less one,” my friend explained, “all you need is to find spirit and you can continue this on your own.” That night, alone and lying in my bed, I plugged in my iPod, closed my eyes and was taken over by movement once more.

Level Up

A month passes and I find myself on a plane to Davao, and greeted in the airport by Pi Villaraza—who I will identify basically as the moving force behind the awareness and expansion of Kalipimu and its benefits. I was going to spend the Easter weekend at his base, in the Don Bosco Youth Camp in Makilala, North Cotobato. For the next three days, I was going to immerse myself in all the healing qualities that this inner dance had to offer. First was release, the blocks, past life traumas, issues, hurts that were contained in my subconscious. The movements that took over my body were sometimes violent in their force and speed, but they never once caused any injury nor any fear in me, it was almost like I welcomed the spasms, the coughs that escaped from my throat and, on one occasion, tears. In the midst of one of my almost cathartic states, I had images of all the people in my present life who had hurt me and as tears flowed I heard myself addressing each of them saying, “I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry,” Yes, it was a reverse, instead of forgiving I was the one asking for it instead. That particular session left me with a rather deep sense of emptiness, and as it was performed on a rock overlooking a beautiful flowing river, I curled up into a fetal position and allowed the Universe to cradle me once more, so vulnerable, and yet open to what was around me. The key was, I was no longer caught up in the past, it was a giant, giant leap for me as I came to understand later on during my stay. We are emptied out, so that we may change what fills us, what makes us, and what moves us.

Part of this immersion was also reconnection to the purity of nature. Our party hiked, swam, took in the icy cold and warm waters offered by the mountains, natural heated pools and the cleansing benefits of breathing clean air and drinking fresh, flowing water. I felt like a child again, there were no “no’s” involved in anything I did as I explored what surrounded me and what was within me. By the end of the weekend, I had even learned the healing art of massage through Kalipimu. During this heightened state of connectivity to spirit you can activate another’s own life force to remove pains, both physical and emotional by touch. You become so sensitive to energy that sometimes you don’t even need to look where to place your hand, you are guided to it intuitively.

Everyone Can Heal

To think that Kalipimu is an instant fix is a huge mistake, it is part of a process, one that is designed for you to dig deeper and deeper, and you realize how much you may have repressed when the rigidity of adulthood took over the free spirit you possessed as a child. We all have aches and pains, but the ones we repress are the most difficult to bear. Kalipimu is like a much needed hug to a bruised heart or a broken soul. There is an almost instant soothing that takes place, but it doesn’t make all that pain or past issues go away. It takes practice, and sincerity. When it is later combined with an intention to heal, it may be used to free others from their own issues. It has been known to ease physical ailments, enhance creativity and more importantly (as in my case) feel connected again. Visualization ( if you’ve been on the recent law of attraction bandwagon) is energized when in a state of inner dance release. This could possibly take you one step closer to the person you were meant to become.

No one experience is the same; to resonate with spirit at this level is different for everyone, and is definitely for everyone.

A three-day Inner Dance convergence in Makilala, North Cotabato will occur on May 8-12. For more details call or text: 0919-2358153 and 0916-4748496

Special thanks to Betsy Gamela of the Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development and her staff.

Aman's Art

2007-10-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's funny how people can take you by surprise. While at Maribago Bluewater Resort my friends were talking about a up and coming painter, Aman Santos, they were complimenting his style and also the fact that he was in his 30s but could pass for a teenager. I was looking forward to meeting him and seeing his art at the Bluewater Gallery. Lo and behold, turns out AMAN is really DINGDONG Santos from my highschool! He was one batch below me and we were both on the Student Council (yes, laugh now) together in the 80s! Ha ha ha! Too funny, of course being me, I ripped his ego to shreds by calling him Dingdong in front of everyone, he was a good sport anyway and he laughingly defended his name change by saying "Who would buy a painting by an artist named DINGDONG?!" The Aman has a po-wint. He walked me to the gallery and showed me his work, part of the three man exhibit and suffice to say I was taken aback by what I saw. I would never have expected it out of him, not because he wasn't smart or creative back in highschool, but I certainly didn't think he would ever be a painter, shows you how much you know when you're that young. I guess school doesn't make aMan. I then found out that he was one of BenCabs apprentices and even if he studied to be a PT he went back to UP for Fine Arts and is now even teacher in their VizComm department. Take at look at some of his work. If you're in Cebu drop by the Bluewater Gallery at Maribago Bluewater Resort to check out the Art of Three Exhibit that runs until November 20. The resort is in the Mactan side of Cebu province you can call Juliet Amazona (032) 492-1808 or 232-5411 if you're a non-resort staying guest for an exhibit viewing appointment.

ON BLOG BREAK

2006-05-15T04:28:00.000-07:00

ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!
ON BLOG BREAK!!

give love on xmas day part 2

2005-12-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

Before his phenomenal career as a solo artist, before his ghastly transformation from a black kid to a ghost-white adult, before his controversial child-molesting cases and before his alleged bankruptcy, Michael Jackson sang “Give Love On Christmas Day.”

A day after Christmas, that’s what I’m doing. Giving love to showbiz people who deserve it. I did it last year and I’m doing it again.

I love Boy Abunda because as usual, he’s proven that he’s more than a mentor to me. He’s always there for me and the rest of the Backroom staff, even if he’s busy as a host, manager, PR guru and geisha. He’s not afraid to share his wisdom to anyone, me included.

I love Francis M, his wife Pia and their kids Unna, Nic, Maxene, Saab, Frank, Elmo, Arkin and Clara. Their family has welcomed me with more than open arms. I always joke that I’m the 9th Magalona kid and I say that with some sincerity since Francis and Pia treat me like their own.

I love my own kids Drew Arellano, Mariel Rodriguez and Bianca Gonzalez. Drew because, even if he thinks I’m his showbiz mother, I think he’s my showbiz dad actually. He is a text or phone call away whenever I have a problem. He never fails to shoot sense into my senseless head. Even from arranging my own schedule, Drew is always there to help me. He calls me “fab,” short for fabulous. I think he’s more fabulous than I am.

I love kapitbahay ni kuya Mariel Rodriguez. Mariel is a generous soul. She gives and gives, not thinking of what she can get in return. She’s the epitome of the Pinoy saying, “Isusubo na, ibibigay pa din.” I know Mariel will give anything to me…including her voluptuous body. But I wouldn’t take it because it’s lesbianism. I’d rather take Mariel’s gorgeous face and her beautiful character and make it my own.

I love Bianca Gonzalez because she’s my anchor. Whenever I feel like doing something crazy, she’s the one who grounds me to say that whatever outlandish thing I plan to do, don’t do it. But Bianca can be crazy when she wants to. Many people see her as “sosyal” but she’s one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met.

I love Raymond and Richard Gutierrez and her girlfriend Georgina Wilson. Raymond is one of the most fun people I’ve ever met. He laughs at me and laughs with me. Richard is the more serious one actually but Richard is as accommodating as his twin. Georgina is one person I hit it off right away. She’s like a little girl, curious about life and everything beyond it and I like that in her. She doesn’t know this but she’s very beautiful and this unassuming attitude is what makes her even more tantalizing.

I love Bianca King because she’s mataray like me. I love JC de Vera because he’s very nice not like me. I love Gabb Drilon because he’s a perennial drinking partner. I like Alfred Vargas because I know he’ll do anything for me and I would do the same for him.

I love Vhong Navarro because he’s very funny and really makes me laugh. I love Toni Gonzaga because she “connives” with me. It’s always a blast when I’m with Toni and her angels Ate Nene and Bing.

I love JB, Sam, Uma, Cass, Jason, Say and Chx of Big Brother. JB because he’s tarantado but he’s the tarantado barkada you have who will always be there whenever and wherever the good times are. I love Sam because he’s like a little boy you’d want to take care of. I love Sam because I like the pair of shorts he bought for me in my birthday which we celebrated in Boracay. I love Sam because he loves the same music I do. Uma is a delight to talk with. His I-don’t-care-attitude is what makes me care for him. I also like the straw hat he gave me for my birthday. I also like Uma because of the fact that he hunted high and low for a bottle of Absolut Currant when the bottle we had fell and broke. Cass, I love because she has a body I would kill for and she likes the drinks I prepare. Jason because he loves his wife Denden. I love Say because she is kikay like me. I love Chx because she knows her place.

I love Rafael Rosell because he remembers he still owes me pizza. I love Mark Herras because he is indeed a good boy not like the bad boy image he projects. I love Bianca Araneta because she wants to go to Boracay with me next year. I love John and Camille Prats because their closeness as siblings is enviable. I love Paolo Ballesteros because he plays badminton with me even if I’m not a good player. I love JC Cuadrado because he calls me “babe” and he loves Eddie Guerrero, the WWE Wrestler. I love Juddha Paolo because he calls me his “bitch.”

I love them all. And I know deep in their hearts, they love me too.

Some Things I've Learned, I've Learned in Showbizness

2005-08-30T01:38:00.000-07:00

Patience is a virtue in showbizness. That I learned the hardway this month.

You see, I was asked by MTV to be the scriptwriter for the 2005 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards. I turned them down.

I wrote the first three and the 5th Pilipinas Awards and my experience with them was endless meetings. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t find anything wrong with meetings. God did invent it for a reason and I respect that. But I had to turn down writing this year’s awards night because I just felt I wouldn’t have the time to do twice a week meetings.

Anyway, when I turned down the job, they offered me to be the show’s talent coordinator. For the same budget and a guarantee that I won’t meet with them until a few days before the event, I said yes. They emailed me their wish list of presenters for the awards and I made my texts and calls.

Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis were the first ones I called and they both had to turn down the chance. To think I was the one who thought of putting the two together since they now represent the “superpowers” of Philippine TV (Angel being Darna and Anne being the Kampanerang Kuba) but Angel had taping while Anne is busy doing her movie for Star Cinema. Next were Iza Calzado, Drew Arellano, Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales and a whole lot more but they had to turn us down since they all had their respective tapings.

So with persistence, I was able to get Richard Gutierrez, Michael V, Bianca Gonzalez, Ryan Agoncillo, Georgina Wilson, Epy Quizon, Borgy Manotoc, Francis M, Peque Gallaga, Jojo Alejar, Phoemela Barranda, Francine Prieto, Juliana Palermo, Onyok Velasco, selected members of the Philippine Boxing team, among others. Thankfully, in the night of the event, no one was that late and everyone was able to walk on the red carpet looking their very best. Double thanks to the presentors and their handlers following the guide we sent them regarding which entrance to go, how many people they can bring etc etc.

Now it may appear to be as simple as it looks. Calling a bunch of artistas or managers/handlers and asking if they’re willing and available to present an award for our event. But it certainly is not. Some people don’t reply right away to your text messages. Some do not answer phone calls. Some haven’t heard of the MTV Pilipinas Awards. Some are over meticulous. Some even suggest that instead of presenting an award, can their alaga host it instead? Some are asking for too much talent fee. Some are asking for the sun, moon and the stars.

After booking them, you have to call them one by one again for their address where their conforme will be sent (for the record, this is the only event I’ve ever participated in that requires a conforme to be sent for an honorarium), who their entourage is (you really have to get their names as the security of Araneta Coliseum was super strict as a result of the security mess of the First Day Funk event), plate number etc.

It’s very tiring following up, calling, coordinating etc. Top of which is my other day job as a talent handler, PR Supervisor and writer for Backroom, Inc. And my other racket as an associate editor of an upcoming entertainment magazine called Scoop.

I thought I lost weight, hair and sanity the past week calling and texting people. Thank God the awards night happened (almost) without a glitch. People showed up, MTV was happy and I (hopefully) didn’t fail in my other jobs.

Talent coordinators call me everyday to book a talent of mine or even me (horror of horrors). And almost everyday I get exasperated with at least one for being insensitive, or for being too makulit or for being forgetful or for being plain stupid.

Now, after the MTV awards, there are two truths I have learned:

1) Patience is indeed a virtue
2) Sometimes you really have to be in the shoes of others to be more understanding
3) You can do millions of things if you set your mind to it

And these are truths that hopefully will be with me until the 2075 MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards.

Tagged for Three

2005-07-13T01:51:00.000-07:00

I was tagged. And until recently, I didn't know what that means. I thought it was some kind of dirty, perverse, sexual act that I still have to experience in my life of debauchery.

Upon getting "tagged," I saw this questionaire I have to answer. So that's what getting tagged means. It's actually fun but no, it's not better than sex. But it's actually close to it he he

Now I don't know how to tag other people so why not answer this questionaire for yourself for some (almost) computer erotica with (worse) yourself.

3 Names You Go By:
1. Jet
2. Mother
3. Evil

3 Screen Names You Have Had
1. Naomi
2. Erykah Bading
3. Jetana Putapa

3 Physical Things You Like About Yourself
1. Legs
2. Brain
3. Hands

3 Physical Things You Don't Like About Yourself
1. Tummy
2. Tummy
3. Tummy
(which will soon be gone he he)

3 Parts of Your Heritage
1. That we have Chinese relatives (daw)
2. That there are other homosexuals in our family tree
3. That relatives of my mother's side have nice smooth skin

3 Parts That Scare You
1. Running over someone when I'm driving
2. Ghosts
3. Not meeting the man who's meant for me

3 Of Your Everyday Essentials
1. Cellphone
2. Cigarettes
3. Milk

3 of Your Favorite Musical Artists
1. The Beatles
2. Madonna
3. The Smashing Pumpkins

3 of Your Favorite Songs
1. Tonight Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
2. Sky Fits Heaven - Madonna
3. Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

3 Things You Want In A Relationship
1. Affection
2. Spontaneity
3. Fun

3 Lies
1. That men are not chismoso
2. Anything that starts with "When you vote for me...."
3. That I can be a supermodel

3 Truths
1. That in my mind I AM a supermodel
2. That there's always an easy way out
3. That sometimes love just ain't enough

3 Physical Things About The Opposite Sex That Appeals To You
1. Playful, sexy eyes
2. Smooth, flawless skin
3. Nice smelling underarms

3 Of Your Favorite Hobbies
1. Reading
2. Watching TV / Movies / DVD's
3. Listening to music

3 Things You Want To Do Really Badly Now
1. Sleep
2. Eat the perfect donut
3. Win the lotto

3 Careers You're Considering/You've Considered
1. (Super) Modelling
2. Advertising
3. Drug Trafficking

3 Places You'd Want to Go For Vacation
1. New York
2. Milan
3. The Goya Chocolate Factory

3 Kid Names You Like
1. Amorette
2. Andrea
3. Alexandra

3 Things You Want To Do Before You Die
1. Featured by Oprah in her Angel Network for doing good
2. Perform with Madonna
3. Sleep with Brad Pitt

3 Ways That You Are Sterotypically a Boy
1. My car is a total mess
2. I still stand when I pee
3. I drink a lot

3 Ways That You Are Sterotypically a Girl
1. I like to kiss boys
2. I easily cry in movies
3. I'm vain

3 Celebrity Crushes
1. Brad Pitt
2. Ashton Kutcher
3. David Duchovny (stuck in the 90s)

Try it for yourselves. I swear it's cathartic!

All they have to do....

2005-06-26T22:43:00.000-07:00

After many comments from this blog and even text and personal messages asking me my comment on Hero Angeles and all the negative issues against him, I decided to break my silence.

Now don't get me wrong. My opinion may seem important to some but to many I think it'd be like parsley. But I don't care. Here it is.

First and foremost, like Ana Dizon, Cristy Fermin is Cristy Fermin. While she has battled billions and billions of libel cases in her colorful career as a writer, she has also earned a certain amount of credibility for her to continue to write in various tabloids and be a host in The Buzz, which is THE no.1 showbiz talk show. She has gained many enemies but she also has a lot of people she can count on as friends. Cristy for me is like a stray bullet, she doesn't care who she hits. But like a bullet, you have to take care of her or else she can go on and fire or she can be kept in a holster until you need her. Beyond her thick skin, I know Cristy has a soft heart. While we've met only a few times and crossed paths in lesser times, I feel some sort of a kindred spirit with Cristy. Like me, she laughs, cries, winces with and for the people she loves but fights for them like an untamed tiger when offended and wounded.

Hero, his brother and his family should know better. While I have met them already and even would dare to describe them as nice, I think they should have been nicer to Cristy, me, other press people, network VIP's, network non-VIP's and all the insects surrounding the ABS-CBN studios. I would hear horror stories of Hero and the whole Angeles family...not one, not two but many times I would hear bad stuff about him and his "koya" Henry.

Again, please don't misinterpret me. It's not that I believe in them entirely but I've had a few brushes with Hero and even "Koya." Before all this brouhaha came out, he blurted to me, "Ay, press ka pala." Which kinda hurt me because all this time, he must've thought I'm just some weirdo who stalks Hero (for the record, I only see Hero in press conferences or tapings with my talents or a few social gatherings because I was either also invited which I'll go because I know he'll be there or just by accident). Or maybe Koya thinks I'm some deranged fan who will shave my head at will when he tells me so. Good thing ABS-CBN Star Magic PR Rikka Dylim was there to contradict Koya's wrong notions and even built me up to them saying who and what I really was. Or else, maybe until this time he'll still think I'm some weird freak.

There were also times that Koya would text me. Or ignore me. And same goes for Hero. Maybe Hero is busy, but yeah right. Wasn't he axed from his regular shows? So what's keeping him busy? Sulking over his loss?

Someone told me Hero thinks everyone's against him therefore he acts that way. And double that feeling with Koya that's why he's very abrasive. If he weren't negative, then shouldn't they be the ones to make an effort to prove to the others just that? I reached out to him not once but twice but it fell I guess on deaf ears. Also, I told myself if Hero isn't all negative, then why, of all people, is he acting so aloof to me all of a sudden? Case in point. In the taping of Y Speak last week, he just gave me a curt nod when he saw me. At that point I actually didn't care even if he spit on me. I even told Koya why is Hero like that? He just laughed at me as if I were some two-headed clown.

Ok Ok. So what if Hero was having a bad day that time? I'll give that to him. But next time I hope he knows better. What if he was having a bad day but my day was worse? If that were the case, I would kick him in the balls so hard it will come out of his brain.

At least his dad was smiling at me as if I were his long lost daughter when he saw me one time. But the rest of `em, they think I'm just someone with a dreaded disease.

Oh well. I honestly don't care anymore. Hero and Koya should straighten their act. I know I NEVER did anything to them to warrant the negative-ness from them and I certainly don't deserve it so shouldn't it be logical that they reach out to me to help them in whatever? Or at least appreciate whatever support I give to them? But no. Maybe they really think I'm some stupid stalker and of no use to them.

For the record, I still think Hero is good-looking. I'd still do anything for him to molest me, and that includes defending him against Cristy Fermin and even from Godzilla and the Loch Ness Monster.

All they have to do is just ask me....NICELY.

One

2005-06-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

I was emailed by Brad Pitt. Yes, the one and only Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt, who I’ll fearlessly declare as the sexiest man alive. Those eyes…. They just sexually harass me. His body…. Oh so perfect. His smile…. It’s wicked and tantalizing at the same time. Yes, Brad Pitt…the hottest actor who ever walked the Earth.

Now before you form a mob against me, hold on to your torches and pitchforks first. Brad (he’s now plain ole’ Brad to me now by virtue of his email)’s message is actually part of the promotions of the One organization I recently joined.

In a nutshell, One is a non-government organization that is petitioning the US government to give 1% of their budget to help underdeveloped countries. It’s in line with another organization I firmly believe in, The Freedom From Debt Coalition which Bono Vox of U2 is the most famous spokesperson. Freedom From Debt asserts that the debt of Third World Countries should be eradicated or at least be paid when the country progresses. Imagine, every peso we pay for our taxes, more than 70 cents go to just the payment of the interest of our foreign debt. 30 centavos for each peso, we have to scrape off for education, health, roadworks, salaries of government employees all before they go to the pockets of corrupt officials. So what they’re proposing is instead of paying the interest of our debts, why not use that big chunk of our budget for the development of our schools, hospitals, roads etc. It’s a logical solution to eradicate poverty actually but the IMF-WB (International Monetary Fund – World Bank) won’t budge. They don’t care how many children are suffering from malnutrition here in our country, how our educational system is going down the drain, how we are trailing behind other countries. They don’t care that millions and millions of children are dying in Africa. They just want their money, plain and simple.

Very unlike One. As Tom Hanks in the One commercial says, “We don’t need your money. We just need your voice.” Anyway, here’s Brad’s email and be enlightened.

Dear Friend,

Every single day 30,000 children die from the effects of extreme poverty and it almost never makes the news. Tonight, that's going to be different.

I visited Africa last month with Diane Sawyer to record a "Primetime Live" special, and tonight that program will air at 10pm/9pm Central on ABC. The show is not only about the emergency in Africa, but also about successful projects that are saving people's lives and building new hope in entire communities.

Yesterday the ONE campaign asked all of us to do something that will make a real difference for the people we met in Africa: sign a letter to President Bush asking him to seize the best opportunity we've had in decades to actually end extreme poverty. The ONE letter asks the President to support three bold commitments at the G8 summit of world leaders on July 6th: more and better international assistance, debt cancellation and trade reform.

Last week I signed the ONE letter to President Bush, and since yesterday thousands of you have too. That is an amazing show of support. The ONE campaign has set a goal to get ONE million letter signatures by the upcoming G8 summit on July 6th. We can get half way there by the end of this week if you join with me and sign the ONE letter to President Bush and ask your friends and family to sign as well:

Sign the ONE letter to President Bush.

Thanks, and please tell all your friends to watch the show tonight: 10pm/9pm Central on ABC.

Brad Pitt

Again, we need your voice….. Please, please, please log on to www.one.org.

Meeting the In-Laws

2005-05-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Yes. I already met my in-laws. The Angeles's. Kuya, Mommy and Daddy.

Now I know I'd get hunted by the Angeles clan for being so presumptuous but I don't care. I'm just so happy.

It happened last night. I was in ABS-CBN to accompany my daughter Mariel Rodriguez for a gig. I then felt thirsty so I told her I'll just go to Starbucks to get a frap and wait for her there. I just waited and waited until my sinister sister Rikka Dylim texted me that she was with Hero. Of course I cursed her `til kingdom come for being with him. She then said something about the cast party for Can This Be Love? and that it's gonna happen that night and reprimanded me for forgetting about it since she invited me days ago. I texted back that I didn't wanna go. Then, my phone rang and my caller ID revealed Rikka. So I answered it and wailed that I can't go for fear that I'd look stupid in front of Hero. With my rambling, I didn't notice she passed the phone to Hero. I think he said something which I didn't hear. I just kept going on and on that I can't face Hero and all when all of a sudden I heard, "Huy Jet, si Hero ito."

I almost puked. I was too nervous and my voice again went 92 octaves higher and I said a meek, "Hi." He then said, "O punta ka mamaya ha. Nandun ako." I literally couldn't say anything. My throat was getting dry and my brain was scattered. "O Jet ha. Magkasama tayo mamaya," he continued. I just feebly replied, "Ah....oh sige....bahala na....nandyan pa ba si Rikka? Can I talk to her instead?" He then said again he'd be expecting me, said goodbye and passed the phone to Rikka. I of course screamed at her (in delight) that she made me talk to Hero but I don't know if I'll really go the party.

Anyway, when we talked, I was at the Starbucks area then. I walked back to the Executive Lounge of ABS-CBN where I met Mariel. She was just waiting by the couches but I didn't want to distract her from work so as hard as it was, I tried to contain my excitement. I then texted Rikka, "I don't think I can go to the party. I'm too scared... Can this be love? Hahaha!" A few seconds later, my phone beeped and I looked at it expecting a witty reply from Rikka. Instead, it was Hero and it said, "Yes, it's l0ve...Can this be lOve?" (take note the zero to replace "o"). I just wanted to scream. That must be the sweetest message I ever got from Hero (`cept maybe when he greeted me during my birthday). I wanted to run up and down and shout in happiness but I coudn't do that because in the other room were Johnny Manahan, Mariole Alberto, Olivia Lamasan and other ABS-CBN VIP's and they just might kick me out of their TV station. I was thinking of what to reply to Hero and what to text Rikka when suddenly, I hear a "Pssst...." on my right side.

You see, I normally don't respond to "Psssst's" but it was so persistent. As I was ready to face the source to lash out, I then saw that it was Rikka.... with Hero!!!!! "O ayan Jet. Wala ka nang pakawala. Pupunta ka sa party ha!" was what Rikka said. She then said "Hi!" to Mariel and invited her as well. Mariel readily said yes for her love of me. I couldn't say anything. We then walked down and I suddenly realized Kuya, Mom and Dad were there. I smiled at them and they smiled back at me. I then thought of putting my best foot forward. After all, they might be looking at their future daughter-in-law (in my dreams)! We rode the elevator going down and I was still so nervous I swear I was going to get a stroke. Good thing Rikka said she had to get her bag in Talent Center. I said we'll go with her and then it entered my mind that this is the best way to ditch the party. I mean that party isn't worth a heart attack! I just told a white lie to Rikka and the Angeles's that Mariel and I will just meet them there.

Going out, we passed by my boss's dressing room so we had to do the perfunctory greeting. RJ of Star Quest was also there and in the nearby dressing room was Erik Santos so the greeting became an instant chikahan. Good thing Erik still had to do a recording so he had to leave after a few minutes when I blurted out, that Mariel and I are leaving too. I then checked my phone and it was messages from Rikka that they were already in Cork.

Now there was no way of escaping them because we had to pass by Cork before going to the drop-off lobby of the ELJ Building. Mariel and I stealthily tried to pass through but even the hallway became a makeshift party area so there was no escape. Rikka then waved at us and Mariel whispered, "Mother sige na. You were invited and nakakahiya if you don't go." So I summoned enough courage and I said and entered Cork. There was a seat on the Angeles's table and they said it was for Mariel and Rikka slyly announced, "And you can pull a chair so you can sit beside Hero." Dad and mom just smiled knowingly while Kuya was encouraging me to pull up a chair. My dalagang Filipina values prevailed and I settled sitting on the other table instead. Mariel kept texting me, "Mother, I'm sitting here so you'll have a reason to be here." I almost cried in happiness but still didn't have the courage.

Minutes later, their whole table was laughing and I heard my name. Apparently they were talking about me and whatever. At that point I was halfway through my drink (a double shot rhum coke) and I was already getting buzzed because I didn't eat dinner yet.... Or maybe I'm just giddy because I'm with Hero and his family and it seems they approve of me.... Or maybe I'm just plain delusional.

A few minutes later, I realized that was it. I'm just a delusional homosexual. But as I've written earlier, I don't care. I'm just too happy. For Hero, I can be a delusional homosexual and a lot more. To paraphrase Monica in her song, "for him, I will."

Wishing I Were Something Else....

2005-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

Don't you always wish you were someone else?

Me, I've wished I were someone else millions of times. I would sometimes wish I were Madonna or Beyonce Knowles or Nicole Kidman or Julia Roberts. Another fervent wish was that I were a supermodel, the likes of Naomi Campbell back in the 80's, Linda Evangelista back in the 90's and now, Giselle Bundchen or Natalia Vodianova or Liya Kebede or even Karolina Koukova.

But last night, I didn't wish I were someone else. I wished I was SOMETHING....My cell phone to be exact. Why? Read on.

Last Monday, the fabulous (and equally evil as me he he) Rikka Dylim of Star Magic invited me to a "barbecue party to launch Star Circle Quest Reload Kilig Ako" that'll happen the following night. Of course I asked her if Hero would be there and she gave me a resounding "yes." I said nothing would stop me from going there. And even if I was invited to the press con of Encantadia, I thought no amount of magical creatures would stop me from going to Rikka's press con because I know that the magic of Hero's good looks and charm are enough for me to go into my own fantasy land.

The following day, in the afternoon, JC de Vera texted me to touchbase. We haven't seen each other in a long time and he wanted to catch up with our other friends Rendy, Joey etc. I told him I was going to a press con and he said he and the others can meet me after. I said OK and we promised to call each other up.

At the night of the press con, I was there exactly at 7PM. And as I've written before, Hero is as usual in his punctual self and greeted me in the entrance. I couldn't say anything. It was the first time I saw him again after a long time (the last was for the press con of Can This Be Love? about a month ago) and it was the first time I saw him in his new haircut. And I must say it fits him! He looks more mouth-watering now. In fact, the thought of barbecuing him entered my mind that's why I just looked down when he said "Hi" and brushed my shoulder in greeting. Thank God Rikka led me in the venue and motioned for me to sit with the other press people.

In our table, Melissa, Joross and Roxanne gamely answered all our questions. It was then JC called me up and asked where I was already. I said I was already in the press con and told him I was just a few feet away from Hero (who was in another table). He said, "Pakausap nga sa mokong na `yan!" So I approached Hero with a countenance of a virginal debutante and muttered in a voice ten octaves higher than my normal one, "Uhm, Hero, someone would like to talk to you...." He smiled and got my phone. I exited and went back to my table.

Time went by and I didn't notice that he still had my cell phone when the open forum portion of the press con started. Rikka hosted the open forum and shoved me the mic announcing that I had a question. Of course I wanted to ask Hero if I can love him forever but propriety told me to ask a sensible question and instead, I asked direk Lauren Dyogi what devices or mechanisms will they use to make the viewers of the SCQ Reload feel "kilig." Lauren answered that first and foremost, it'll be the in the writing and he hoped that it'd be enough to make their built-in audience and viewers of MY age range to feel kilig as well. I nodded in agreement when Rikka blurted, "Naku direk, alam ko paano kiligin si Jet noh!" Hero slapped his lap and laughed out loud. I blushed and definitely felt kilig.

It was then I remembered my phone was still with Hero and I told myself I'd get it after the open forum. But right after, hordes of TV crews from different ABS shows swarmed to Hero. I just watched from afar when I saw him, during the interview, whip out my phone from his pocket because it was ringing! He turned it into silent. At that point, I turned green with envy to my cellphone! I thought why can't I be my cellphone so that I'd just be in Hero's jean pocket!?! Aaaargh!!!!!

After his TV interviews, he approached me and gave me back my phone and informed me it rang a number of times. I sheepishly took my phone from him when I gasped in horror to see my wallpaper was the picture of me and Hero taken during Angelica Panganiban's debut. I turned my phone the other way and thanked Hero. He then said, "Lalabas kayo nila JC?" I said, "Yes. Yinaya ka niya?" He looked down and said, "Hindi nga eh." At that point I wanted to strangle and torture JC for not inviting him! So I invited him but Hero said he still had to go to Star Cinema and that he has an early day tomorrow (they were taping Star Quest and then he will pick up Sandara in the airport). He then promised, "Next time Jet. Sabihan niyo ako nila JC. Labas tayo." I perked up and made the fact that he was picking up Sandara in the airport just pass my mind and refused to dwell on it.

Oh well. I didn't mind he couldn't join us. I just thought of my cellphone in his pocket for almost an hour. My cellphone so close to his face... to his lips as he talked to JC. My cellphone which he held tightly with his adorable hands....

Finally, when I met up with JC and the others, I hit him on his head. He looked at me in bewilderment and I said, "Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Bakit hindi mo yinaya si Hero noh!" He said he didn't bother because "Inunahan na niya ako kasi sabi niya may trabaho pa daw siya pagkatapos." Gabb Drilon who was also with us then said, "Huy Jet. Nakilala ko na din ang Hero mo. I'm also in `Can This Be Love' and I played one of his dormmates. Mabait siya." I berated Gabb for not telling me he was shooting a movie with Hero. I could've "visited" him... How could have he forgotten!?!?

I tried calming myself down. Drinks and jokes from JC, Gabb and the others weren't working. When suddenly my phone lit up because I got a text from a friend. It was then I remembered what "adventure" my phone just experienced. A slow smile then formed on my lips...A smile which is still plastered on my face until now.... A smile that will automatically flash when I remember the fact that my phone, for quite a time was near Hero's face, cheeks, lips and.... crotch! It's certainly a smile that won't be erased in a million years!

Borgy on Barlow

2005-04-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

I first met Borgy Manotoc years ago when he was still going out with MTV VJ Sarah Meier. Sarah is a good friend of mine and I’d always see them in MTV events where I’d go with my daughter former MTV VJ Belinda Panelo (who went to the States years ago to study acting. She was only among 20 applicants from all over the world who got accepted in the school owned by renowned playwright and screenwriter David Mamet and Award-winning actor William H. Macy.)

Back then, Borgy was just a model to me. I mean he was just there to laugh at my jokes. We’d talk a little but he didn’t have any personality to me.

But last week, I discovered there’s more to him than meets the eye.

You see, Borgy, along with Bianca Gonzalez and Kelly Misa are now the faces of a new ad campaign (I still can’t reveal to you what) and for the pictorial, we had to undergo a road trip that lasted five days. We went to Pampanga, Laoag, Pagudpod, Vigan and Baguio. We traveled to and fro using a tourist bus and the whole five days, we were seated together.

Borgy had an initial bad impression to many people in the trip. You see, he came in late (according to him his car broke down on the way to our meeting place) and one lay-out of the pictorial was ruined because client was informed that he knew how to ride a big bike and it turned out he didn’t know how (the storyboard called for him riding a big bike). Many people were calling him a rock star because according to one of the entourage, “he doesn’t have the discipline of a model because he thinks he’s a celebrity…a rock star to be exact.”

At the start of the trip, he was aloof to everyone, including me. He was just caught in his own little world where he would listen to his Ipod and sleep. But eventually, he began to loosen up and we started talking. And ALL initial impressions of him were erased.

It turns out Borgy is more than just a pretty face and a gorgeous body (you should see his body now. It’s just mouth watering.). We talked about everything and our taste in music is almost the same. He also listens to funk, punk, rock…. Genres of music that are cramped too in my mini Ipod. But now he’s marked for life to our group because while having lunch in Baguio and the background music was by some Brit boyband, we talked about the other Euro boybands like Westlife and Take That when he fearlessly declared, “Gary Barlow is awesome!” After a few seconds for it to sink in, I laughed aloud and told him, “Oh my god! You just declared Gary Barlow as awesome!!!!” Everyone in the group just laughed and he was declared as a poseur because with all his sophistication in music, he just declared the former Take That singer as “awesome.” He took it all in stride and flashed us his winsome smile.

Borgy also has taste in books. For the trip, he was reading Palm of the Hand Stories, a collection of short stories written by Nobel Prize winner Yasanari Karawata. A book he told me about with much enthusiasm. We talked about other books we read and made mental notes to check out each other’s recommendations. And when we played Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on my Game Boy, he answered many questions that left me baffled.

But besides being smart, Borgy also has a sense of humor. Our “serious” talks had punchlines thrown in left and right. When we take personal photos, he’d always do a wacky pose without anyone telling him to do so. He disarmed everyone in the trip with his toothy smile and dare I say it, bubbly personality. And while we shot mostly in Marcos territory, he acted nonchalantly about it acting very down-to-earth. I think he’s the last person on Earth to be aware of his charisma. He had a blast during our beach shoots and when master photographer would shout, “It’s a wrap!” Borgy would disappear into the water and be lost in his own world. A world where he is one with nature….one with the water.

While many people say a lot of things about Borgy, from the bad to the good, all I know is that Borgy is bad, good and so much more. And for me, he’ll forever be the guy who declared with much conviction, “Gary Barlow is awesome!”

Ramblings on Wrestling

2005-03-27T22:40:00.000-08:00

This Holy Week, I just spent my time in Manila. Yup, I didn't join my friends who either went out of the country, Bora or Galera. Some of us opted to stay in Manila. One of which is JC Cuadrado. And for two nights, he was my constant textmate and phone pal. Why? Because we're both WWE Fanatics and Holy Wednesday night was Raw night while Good Friday night was Smack Down night. Those both nights, we'd text each other incessantly or he'd call me up. And it felt good that all my bottled emotions on the show can now be vented out through JC.

I first discovered his love for wrestling during the taping of Star Dance. It was about 10pm already and they still have to tape a lot of sequences for the show. I was already feeling tired so I said my goodbyes to the staff and cast and made my perfunctory air kisses. I started to gather my stuff in the dressing room when I saw JC deep in his reading for an upcoming exam. I said goodbye and he gave me a surprise look at why I'm not staying. I told him I already feel tired. He then said, "Hey Jet, I might go to the gym tomorrow." Ever since I told him I already enrolled in Fitness Advantage where he also does his workouts, he's been telling me that we should go together. Our schedules often won't meet and he thought the day after his taping would finally be the day. I told him I can't because every Wednesday night, I would go home early to watch Raw. His eyes suddenly lit up and said, "Jet, you're a wrestling fan?!?! Seryoso!??!" I gave my affirmation and he said he is too. We suddenly traded each other with our own comments and opinions on certain wrestlers. I told him I love The Rock and that he's my favorite wrestler of all time. He said he admires The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and many more. We traded stories of the newcomers and even the Old School ones like Hulk Hogan, Nikolai Volkoff, Iron Sheik and even The Ultimate Warrior. "My god Jet, mas magbo-bond pa tayo nito because you're a WWE fan too," he gushed.

JC, as it turns out religously worships WWE. As in he regularly checks the websites, buy collaterals such as DVD's, books etc. The other wrestling fanatic I met in the business is Bam Aquino. But compared to their devotion to WWE, panis ako.

A lot of people get shocked and amused when I confess to them that Wrestling is my guilty pleasure because, well I'm gay! More often than not, they'd attest my fascination to it to the men in tights. I always correct them. I look at them straight in the eye and say, "No, it's not about that. It's a whole lot more." In fact, I get more affected when it's a women's match. I mean, I would always root for Trish Stratus until she transformed to become a bitch and from then on, I'd cheer for Lita or my favorite Victoria. And next to The Rock, Chyna occupies a high position in all-time favorite wrestler.

So I'm now writing this entry to put a rest on my friends' shock, amusement and bewilderment on why I am so addicted to Wrestling. Here are the reasons why:

1. WWE is Entertainment - The name says is all. World Wrestling Entertainment. Their kind of wrestling isn't a sport. It's sports entertainment. And yes I get entertained by wrestling. I get entertained when The Rock whips out his catchphrases. Entertainment is when I see Eddie Guerrero lie, cheat and steal his way to my heart and to the WWE title. I get entertained when Goldberg comes out in his over-theatrical entrance. I get entertained when Chris (Jericho and Benoit) dish out their signature tap-out moves (Walls of Jericho and Crippler Cross Face, respectively). I get entertained when Lita gives a mean DDT to the bitch Trish Stratus. Wrestling is made for entertainment and they've got a great audience with me.

2. WWE is everything - The "E" in WWE can might as well stand for "everything." Because the WWE has it. They've got love (some wrestlers get involved with the wrestling divas), drama (some wrestlers do matches for vengeance and for a personal vendetta), horror (see The Undertaker), suspense (Batista delbierating wheter to move over Raw or Smackdown) and then some. It even has sex, action, comedy -- everything! It's like for two hours or so, the WWE takes me to a roller-coaster of emotions. And I'd gladly ride it for the thrills and chills anytime!

3. Batista - An upcoming WWE superstar is Batista. And I like him. At first I got scared of his imposing looks (he's a buffed guy with too many tattos workin on his body) and he was part of Evolution, Triple H's group that act like the bullies of the WWE Raw roster. But now, he's being groomed to be THE next A-list wrestler. And why not? He's big, mean and has got attitude. When not in his tights, he comes out in a tailored suit that fits him well (I'm actually guessing it's a Hugo Boss suit), a crisp dress shirt, Gucci sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton belt. He looks dapper actually. And now he's up against Triple H, his pogi points are way up the charts for me. But what the ultimate pogi point for Batista is that he's Half-Pinoy. Yup, according to JC, his mom is Greek while his dad is Filipino and that his actual family name is Bautista. He decided to drop the "u" and I give him snaps for that....For coming up with a name that sounds menacing. And he's one reason why I'm glued in the WWE.

Besides those I mentioned above, other active WWE supertars I love are John Cena (he's cute actually. He looks like Mark Wahlberg back in Calvin Klein ads with Kate Moss during the 90's), Ray Mysterio (small but terrible), Shawn Michaels (my heart is one of those he has broken), Kane (he certainly moved out of the shadow of his brother the Undertaker), Tajiri (I like his gimmick of the green mist actually) and many many more. The most boring WWE superstars for me are JBL (when he starts to ramble it's just....yawn. And don't get me started on his finishin move, "Clothesline from Hell." It's just baduy!) and the Bigshow (he tried having long hair, short hair, bald.... he tried a tank top, a sabrina...but nothing still works for him).

I've given up so much for Wrestling. Like gimmicks (the best weekday to go out is a Wednesday and most events happen on this day), badminton (my friends play Mon, Wed and Fri and I never go on Wednesday because of Wrestling), American Idol(another guilt pleasure so I just catch the replay at a much later time slot) and many more. But thinking about it, I've gained so much too because of Wrestling. Besides friends (like JC), I've picked up a few moves that I'm itching to try to certain people. So don't be surprised if I lay on someone the People's Elbow or the Rock Bottom....If they smell what Jet is cookin'!

Happy birthday Jayce!

2005-03-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

One of my good friends is celebrating his birthday today. His name is JC de Vera. He's John Carlo to his classmates. Carlo to his family. JC to many people because that's his screen name. But to me, he's my "sweetie" -- a name we call each other that originated when he was trying to fool my son Drew Arellano that he was me when Drew called me up on my cell. He was saying sweetie in an exaggerated falsetto that didn't fool Drew one bit. He did it when we were in my car on our way to a night out and we and the other friends who were with us were just laughing our heads off when he was doing it because he sounded so silly. That incident stuck to me and JC and when we see each other, we greet one another with "Sweetie" in that exaggerated falsetto. And yes, JC is my sweetie. And him being my sweetie, I say it with fondness and love.

I'm fond of JC because he remains to be a loyal friend to me. He respects me and my views in life and in the business but I also respect him for the respect he gives his family and to his friends. I'm fond of JC because he's always present in all the group gimmicks we do. He's the type of guy who will move heaven and earth just to follow in our night outs. I'm fond of him because when he drops a punchline, he says it with a certain countenance -- his eyes open wide up and he flashes a half-smile half grin that I think only he in this planet can do. I'm fond of him because he can never get enough of pinching my man-boobs. I'm fond of JC because he's a fun guy to shop with. I'm fond of him because he drops by my office unannounced just to hang out in between tapings. I'm fond of him because he calls or texts to have dinner just to catch up with me and with our other "beerstruck" friends. I'm fond of him because even if he's not much of a drinker, he tries to be just because the rest of our gang are self-confessed alcoholics. I'm fond of him because I can bring him anywhere in this world and he won't complain. I'm fond of JC because he's fond of me.

I love JC because he loves me. I know he would do anything for me (well except maybe give me money he he) and I've proven it a lot of times. Our friendship has been through a lot and I'm quite certain ours is a keeper. I love JC because he isn't unaware that he is handsome. He goes on with life with the last thing in his mind that he's a matinee idol and that thousands of girls and even gays would go into a rampage just to get a glimpse of him in person. I love him because it's easy to "trick" him to treat me for dinner or whatever if I'm short in cash. i love him because when I see a nice shirt he wore he'll give it to me (if it's not expensive). I love him because he has so much love to offer me, his family, his girlfriend and many more.

Last night, in the eve of his birthday, we and selected friends went out drinking in Pier One (his choice, don't ask me why). Before that, we were hanging out in our friend's house watching WWE Raw (my choice and also don't ask me why) and after that, we proceeded to greet his birthday. When 12 MN struck, we cheered and sung "Happy birthday" for him. I asked him his birthday wish. He answered, "Peace on Earth" (again, with that face I told you about above). I just said, "Well JC, my wish for you is to stay as sweet as you and to be my sweetie forever." This time, his face looked serious and said, "Thanks Jet." Two sincere words that said everything about our friendship.

Happy birthday Jayce!

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Happy birthday also to Archie Alemania and my daughter, Bianca Gonzalez (who by the way placed the photos in this entry).

Now I'm Angry

2005-02-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

The last time I wrote something for this blog I felt proud. Now I'm angry. Angry at why some people are just so negative, so jaded, so papansin. I guess it's human nature to be so but to express negativeness, jadedness and "papansin"-ness in such an unsolicited and crass manner just makes me angry.

A certain Jenny left on my comments portion this message: "Isa lang masasabi ko, Jet. Ano ba yan? You're so obssessed with Hero. Why can't you get a life?!"

Why thank you very much Jenny for that piece of advice I never even asked from you but I do have a life. A well-fulfilled life that not enough blog space can accommodate. I've seen, breathed, tasted, licked and sucked so much things in this planet and I'm fairly sure that my life is more interesting than yours. I've lived a very full life and I don't know if I can say that about you. Beisdes "obssessing" over Hero Angeles, I have a nice-paying job and even better-paying rackets. I have tons of friends who would die for me. I have a loving family whom I love very much and who love me more in return. I have tons of other interests that I'm quite sure you've never even heard of. I've been to places you only see in postcards. I've mingled with people you only get to read in newspapers and magazines. I am constantly invited in parties, events, concerts that you only wish you can come. I have a nice car and enough luxury items that when liquidated I can already retire. I have a happy bank account and I'm expected to get richer in the (far) future because a relative slyly told me what we're going to get as our "mana" when the family fortune will be passed to our generation of cousins because he has seen THE will. I have tons of expensive clothes and shoes that make me so so happy. They're so much that I'm planning to do a garage sale of my items very soon.

Jenny, I don't mean to judge you. I'm sure you're a very interesting person like me and the rest of the world. I just don't know how my so-called obssession affects you actually. I'm sorry. I don't find anything wrong with my being "obssessed" with Hero. I don't think, I, nor my obssession has hurt you in any way I can think of but that nasty, unsolicted comment you left certainly hurt me. Well I'm sure you'll be hurt in the near future. That's karma for you.

But what infuriated me the most was what a certain "Sandara Park" left on my comments portion last January 13 in my blog-entry Hero Sandwiches in a debut. It said, "Fuck you faggot. With your eidted "with-Hero" pictures. Fuck yah!"

Well fuck you too, "Sandara Park." Those pictures ain't edited. They're real pictures which I couldn't say about you being the REAL Sandara Park. The first one was taken by Michelle Madrigal while the one in the debut of Angelica Panganiban was taken by John Prats. They can vouch for me that they indeed took those photos using my cell phone. Besides, why should I waste good time and money to "edit" myself to a picture with Hero when I can take it anytime? I can call him or his handler or the Star Magic PR anytime and demand for a picture with him. And since I have an excellent relationship with them, I'm sure they'll move heaven, earth and Saturn just to make that possible. But sorry, that won't be necessary "Sandara Park." Because all those photos are real -- as real as me reiterating this statement to you: Fuck you too.

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On a lighter, better note, thanks to the Alyansa members who were so happy for me visiting your blog. shout out to Rica (who now has an impostor! Poor girl. But that means you're famous na!), Trinkets (who graciously is sharing Hero with me to be his loveteam), Aikes and JYC of the Alyansa Maka-Hero thread. I recited that same pledge the first time I went through your thread but thanks Rica for making me one! Thanks! And Don, I don't know if JC de Vera has an email address but I'll tell him if ever. Good luck on your exams and I'll tell him about your comment if I see him. And for those threaders of JC, don't worry. I promise my next story will be on him. His birthday is coming up by the way. March 10 so mark your calendars! Adios everyone and have a good one. And to "Sandara Park": Again, Fuck You!

Pride and Prejudice

2005-02-13T22:06:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud. I mean, in my ____ (Sorry, it will still be a secret) years of existence, I've done lots of things that I am proud and more that I am not proud of. But lately, I've been feeling a sense of pride, an elation that not even a Grammy award can give (unless they give me the Best Performance for a Female solo recording award then that's another story).

They say pride is a sin. But the pride I feel is sin-less and guilt free. So I hope you can give space to me and my pride. I can't help but to feel proud.

Here are the reasons why:

1. I'm so proud of myself because finally, I was able to go to the Alyansang Maka-Hero Angeles thread. As most of the people following my blog know, I'm afraid of high-technology. But lately, I've been trying to be a techie on my own right. I own a Gold mini-Ipod. Why gold? Because I imagined I was Beyonce and if she were given a mini-Ipod for free, I'm sure she'll choose Gold. Besides, the gold Ipod is very rare because most of the Ipod buyers choose the other colors. I figure I want to be unique. But before you get happy for me, I do not know how to download songs. It's Frank Magalona who does it for me upon the coercion of me and his mom!

I also got a Game Boy Advance recently and with my mini-Ipod and Game Boy, I am in my own world. As in no one can bother me and I like it. Award-winning actor Sir Michael Caine said, "The acting is for free, they pay me to wait." While no one is paying me to wait during tapings and rakets, I don't care. The world is just a blur to me when I listen to my Ipod and play with my Game Boy that I don't care if tapings would last 8 days, 3 hours and 43 seconds.

Anyway, back to the Alyansa thread. My friend went to the pinoyexchange website for me and showed me the thread! I felt so happy! After all the comments left on my blog to visit it, I finally was able to do so! I've never felt so proud! While scanning through it, I was reciting the pledge of allegiance that JYC nicely left on the comments portion. Finally I know what Trinkets and Civic and the rest of the wonderful alyansa people are talking about! Besides the thread's pledge, I made a pledge to myself that I'll try to visit this thread as many times as I can. Now I hope the Alyansa would be proud of me and my own little pledge!

2. Another thing I'm so proud of is the Alyansa Maka-Hero Angeles Thread itself. It's one of the most fun and interesting things in the internet I've ever seen. I'm so proud of its members for taking time to show their love for Hero. Some download (is this the right word?) actual photos of Hero on his TV shows! Some put his studio shots on their posts. Some even do artwork on the photos! I'm so proud that Hero's fans are so creative and united that I'm sure if Hero would want to do a People Power 4 and march to the EDSA Shrine to demand to the government to lower the price of a pair of Prada shoes which I so want to buy at Greenbelt 4, then thousands and thousands would show up and even put the words People Power in a new light.

If Hero can only see the thread. I hope he does. I mean, if I felt so proud with what I saw, much more so the person that all these efforts are focused onto! Well at least I saw a handwritten note from Hero in the thread thanking all the maka-Hero threaders (again, is this the right word?).

My friend who showed me the thread reacted, "Ano ba yan? They're so obssessed with Hero. Why can't they get a life?!" I gave him the nastiest look I can muster and hissed silently. He backed off. He knows by now that there's no way he can insult Hero and especially his fans or else he'll face my wrath! And hell hath no wrath like a Hero fan scorned!

3. Lastly, I'm proud of myself again because some of the wonderful Hero fans left comments on my blog that I, yes yours truly, should be the loveteam of Hero. I couldn't agree with them more. Although that would only happen probably after the Pacific Ocean would dry up or corruption in this country would be totally eliminated. But it's not wrong to fantasize about it right?

I figure I'd be a better loveteam than Sandara and Erich because unlike them, I truly love and live for Hero. I wouldn't mind doing 58 BCuz of U movies with him or taping 739 days straight for Krystala just to be with him! I'd sing, dance and host for 9 million hours of ASAP Fanatic so people would be more drawn to our loveteam. I'd gamely go as far as war-stricken Basilan should our loveteam would have to do a provincial tour. I don't care if I'll have to sing for the students of the Ricky Reyes Institute in Quiapo if we're ordered to do a campus tour just to promote our tandem. I'd gladly pose, even if it's only a Foto-Me booth so we'd have more publicity shots. All this and more because I'd be spending time with Hero!

Now I'm sure by this time you'll hate me for thinking all these thoughts. But please don't discriminate me and my chances for Hero because I'm gay. That's prejudice. But then again, prejudice and my pride go along nicely! Just ask Jane Austen!

I'd take Hero Anytime!

2005-01-31T19:58:00.000-08:00

At this point in time, all I can say is, don't say I didn't warn you.

Armageddon is about to come because Erich won. Erich, who my friends reiterate was always the one getting the high marks. Erich, who received her fair share of text votes during the contests. Yes, Erich who until now I do not know if she has a family name.

I finally saw what Erich looks like last Sunday in ABS-CBN. I was there to accompany my daughter Bianca for her promo guestings and my son Drew for a segment shoot for Wazzup Wazzup. She was in the hallway with what appeared to be an entourage of alalays, yayas, dwarves and lizards. In fairness, she's pretty. But again, her prettiness alone won't convince me she's right for my, or rather OUR Hero.

Much has been said and done already since my last entry. Many of you support me and all I can say is thank you very much. While to those who got agitated, I hope you can re-read my entry to see I never attacked your Erich personally. In fact, I never said anything bad about her. I never said or even implied in any way the following: a) she doesn't deserve to win b) she has an attitude problem c) she's using Hero Angeles. Why then did I bring this all up? It's because these are the common notions about Erich. But I never touched on them. In fact, I only learned about them from the comments left by those wonderful Hero fans.

Showbiz is a nasty business and every girl, boy, bakla and tomboy has an opinion on everyone and everything. As long as it's not tinged on malice, I respect everyone's opinion. While I never implied that Erich is a lesbian or maybe an S & M or any other sexual deviant for that matter, one attack on Hero is that he's gay. Personally, I don't think he is. But for the sake of argument, so what if he is? Inggit lang kayo!

All I wanted to say in my piece is that Hero doesn't need any heroine to make it and to stay in this business. This is because Hero is good-looking and very talented.

Good looking because he has a smile that can spurge a million tsunamis. It's a wide innocent smile that shows all his pearly whites. His smile is an infectious smile. That is the perfect smile if you ask me. While his face? It's simply radiant! It's a face so pure but it will make you think of unadulterated thoughts! He makes us bring out the Mrs. Robinsons in us! While His dark eyes? Oh! I can drown on them anytime! He has eyes that rapes me everytime he looks at me. It's a pair of eyes that bring me to ecstasy....His weirdly shaped nose? It just adds to his appeal! It's what makes him unique. His thin body? It makes him carry his clothes well (although I don't wanna dwell on his fashion sense because he receives poor marks from me but as I said, he can carry them well). His thick bushy eyebrows? I can stare at them until the day that dolphins fly and parrots live at sea...

But more importantly, Hero is very, very talented. He continues to impress me with his acting ability. His role in BCuz of U is a light one but if you think of it, it's also a hard one to pull off. He walked on a tightrope to balance his role as a tour guide who's abrasive yet lovable, serious but one who knows how to steal a moment or two to appreciate his love in life.... It's a role that may not win him an Oscar award but that's what's fabulous about Hero's talent. While he may still have to do a movie that would fully explore his depth as an actor, it doesn't mean that he doesn't have the chops to do so. It doesn't mean that he can't win an Oscar award in the future. I'm quite confident of his talent and in acting, you don't need a Sandara or an Erich to showcase it. In fact, it's that same loveteam effect that would prevent him from doing so. Case in point, look at Piolo Pascual. While his movies with Judy Ann Santos forever cemented him as one of the matinee idols in the country, it's his supporting role actually in Dekada `70 sans Judy Ann or Claudine or Bea that made everyone finally agree of his brilliance as an actor.

But who knows? Maybe it's better for Hero to be with a love team since Hero can be taking a different career path as Piolo's.

And yes, Piolo is definitely different from Hero..... Because if you make me choose between the two, I'd take Hero anytime!

Erich: You'll Never be my Heroine!

2005-01-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

The world is about to end…. No, it’s not because I got the email about the third message that the Our Lady of Lourdes gave Lucia…. It’s because Hero Angeles might be paired with that Erich from Star Circle Quest 2!

I remembered I did an interview for that same show asking me who my Top 5 are. I have to admit again I don’t get to follow that show religiously so with the coaching of some insiders from ABS-CBN, they gave me their own personal Top 5…. And Erich was one of them. And with blind faith to my insider friends, I announced on national TV that Erich will be one of my Top 5! So when I learned about Hero and Erich, I wanted to call ABS-CBN to not air my interview anymore but it was too late. The interview was aired days ago I learned of that pairing and I just had to resign to the fact that I sort of endorsed Erich.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never met Erich and her face doesn’t even register to my mind. She hasn’t done anything to me but the mere fact that she’s being paired with Hero, she’ll never be in my Christmas list.

My friends who watch Star Circle Quest 2 say that Erich is a very strong contender. She’s always gets the highest marks from the judges and text voters like her. It won’t take Sherlock Holmes to say that she can be the winner since a) she’s a girl b) she’s a potential pair for Hero c) it would be perfect since Hero is a Grand Questor, why not pair him with a fellow Grand Questor?

Oh well. I might as well accept the inevitable. But honestly, I’ve never felt affected when Hero was paired with Sandara. Maybe all along that I know she’s not exactly his type…and that Sandara is really going out with Joseph Bitagcol. In fact when Sandara left for Korea, Talent Center sent me an official statement about her going to Korea. I just felt indifferent. It didn’t make me feel elated because now I know I’ll get Hero on my own. I really felt nothing….well except the letter made me laugh a little because it ended with Sandara’s trademark “Mahal ko kayo.”

Anyway, back to Erich (does she have a family name by the way?). Friends expect me to hate her and I won’t let them down. But poor Erich…..for her to be the receiving end of my hate feelings just because she might get paired with Hero. But she’s an artista, already a public figure and is fair game for opinions towards her, whether good or bad. Yet in fairness to the girl, I would feel this way to any other one paired to Hero!

Rikka Dylim (PR of Talent Center) told me that she's been receving a lot of emails that they like Hero for Erich. I certainly respect their opinion but i secretly told myself if I can bribe people to send emails saying that Erich or any other girl isn't good for Hero, I'd do it! If only I can rally everyday in front of the ABS-CBN studios to NEVER pair Hero with anyone, I’d certainly do that. But reasoning and what’s little left of my sanity is what’s keeping me to do that. Besides, I have family and friends who would miss me if I don’t show up anymore to them because if ever I will proceed with my rally, I’d be so devoted that I’d be in ABS-CBN 24/7 just fighting for my cause!

A lot of times, I was tempted to call Hero… to confront him if this were all true… that he likes Erich and that there’d be no chance for us anymore snag our Hero. But again, some mysterious force keeps stopping me to do that. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just afraid for him to think I’m some psycho who wants Hero all to himself. But if ever he thinks that, he couldn’t be farther from the truth. I just don’t want him to think that me being a borderline psycho is indeed the truth!

I admit I’m turning green, blue, red, orange and pink with envy towards that Erich girl. For her to be called “sweetie” by Hero…. For her to be the potential pair of Hero….

Again, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure Erich is pretty. I’m sure she possesses some iota of talent. I’m sure she has a certain X-factor for her to come this far in Star Circle Quest….

Don't take this personally Erich. But this should serve as a warning to Erich and to anyone who would be paired to Hero…. You will never be my heroine!

Heroic Last Words....

2005-01-11T05:41:00.000-08:00

The new year has arrived. After making my traditional three New Year's Resolutions (two of which were already broken and the last one on the verge of being broken too), I made a list of what I wanted to attain closure for the year 2004.

So far, i attained much needed closure in all the items on my list. But what I want to share to you bloggers is my item on Hero Angeles. I want him to stop calling me "kuya!" As you may have read in my past entries, Hero has always called me that. I mean, he can use other four letter words to describe me but puh-lease, kuya shouldn't be a prefix to my name. It's just not me.

It happened in the wee hours of a Thursday morning -- around 2:30AM. The night before, I was in Greenbelt where I met John and Camille Prats, Maja Salvador and their friends Anthony and JR. We had dinner in Bubba Gump. I ordered my usual popcorn shrimp and rice and slyly told the waiter that it was Maja's birthday. So like a scene straight out of a cartoon movie, all the Bubba Gump waiters started singing happy birthday to Maja. Maja was first shy but soon gamely rode along with the prank -- even standing up on a chair and accepting the complementary dessert.

After the sumptuous dinner, we thought of singing our hearts out in Red Box -- my second most favorite place in the world (the first being IO Family KTV). We sang and sang. John and I performed I Want You -- with me as Thalia of course. Camille and Maja released all their diva frustrations and belted to different songs. It was a fun time. After a number of songs, I got a text from JC de Vera asking where I was. I told him where I was to which he replied, "Tamang tama Jet. I'm in Makati. Is it OK if I join you guys?" I asked my companions and they said, "Sure."

JC joined and witnessed some of the most fabulous musical numbers he can experience in his entire life. By midnight, the manager of the KTV place reminded us that it was time to go. John, Camille, Maja, Anthony and JR were ready to call it a night. JC wanted to drink a little more because he wanted to kill time before picking up his girlfriend MIchelle Madrigal, who was taping for Star Circle Reload. So after saying our goodbyes, JC and I went around Greenbelt to find a nice place to drink. Most of them were already closing so I told him we can go to our trusty 24 hour gas station in Greenhills -- Total AKA Club T or Total'.

In Total, JC and I talked about a lot of things -- things I won't want to share in this entry for fear of being hunted down by JC and being burned at the stake. Anyway, a little shortly after 1:30AM, JC was starting to get restless so he decided to call up Michelle. She wasn't answering so he called up Hero. Hero answered and they made the perfunctory kamustahans.

It took me awhile to realize that JC was talking to Hero...My Hero! Yup, I was that drunk! JC was giving me his phone, saying, "O Jet, may gusto kumausap sa iyo!" I flinched and acted like a stupid school girl who was about to be raped by ten fraternity neophytes! As in pakipot ako! I mouthed to JC, "No way! I can't talk to him!" JC was understanding and continued to ask Hero things about his girlfriend Michelle like how many sequences are left so he can estimate what time to go to the set. It was then i blurted out, "JC, can you ask Hero to stop calling me kuya!" JC gave me a look that told me he got shocked. He must have thought, "Where the hell did that come from?!?!" But he told him exactly what I said. Then JC said, "Bakit naman daw?" I replied curtly, "Eh calling me kuya makes me feel old noh!" Apparently, Hero heard what I said and told JC, "Naku, sabihin mo naman sa kanya `Sorry.' Hindi na mauulit yun." JC told me what Hero said. I didn't say anything. The two made small talk and then put down the phone. It was then that JC said, "Oh Jet, sama ka sa akin. Punta tayo taping nila?" I looked at my watch, it was close to 3AM. I looked at myself. I was drunk as hell. I told JC, "Next time nalang dear." JC and I parted and I drove myself home.

It's a little hard driving home when you're drunk. But I amazed myself because I still was aware to text Hero to apologize to him. I said something like, "Huy, sorry about awhile ago ha. I'm just so drunk eh. But please nga, don't call me kuya anymore." He replied, "OK lang yun Jet. O ayan ha, walang kuya!" At that point, I became sober in excitement. As in my drunkeness disappeared like foam in the sea. I drove all the way home from Greenhills to my house with a smile in my face. At that point, nothing could have rained on my parade! Hero won't call me kuya anymore...or so I hope.

I told this story to a girlfriend who always has an opinion on anything and everything and she said, "Jet. That's mighty rude of you to tell that to Hero Angeles! So what if he calls you kuya? That's his sign of respecting you and you should respect him in return by giving him that." I didn't say anything. I respected her opinion because I think she's prettier and I know she's richer than I am. She always likes to have the last word everytime we debate so she concluded the argument by saying, "Hay naku Jet. I'm sure you'd be punished for what you did to the poor boy."

A few days later, I chanced upon Star Circle Reload. I rarely watch that show because my Sunday afternoons are usually reserved for reading (I'll explain why in one blog entry soon) but when I opened my TV, I saw a bomba Hero along with other bomba Star Circle boys! They were just wearing shorts and they were taking a bath on the street using a tabo! That for me was the most brilliant moment on TV! A topless Hero! A topless Hero with other topless boys to boot! It was ecstatic! It was orgasmic! It was homoerotic! That alone should win an Emmy Award!

And with a quick boost of confidence, I texted my prettier and richer friend back, "God really rewards good gays! I saw Hero topless on his TV show! So much for God punishing me for being rude to him!"

Sorry to my my richer and prettier friend but regarding this argument, I have the last word!

---000---

To trinkets_08, I'm so sorry but I really don't know how to go to the thingy you're talking about... The Pinoyexchange ek ek. Is this like a fan club? Could I join?!?! A friend told me it's like a part of a website and I'm an idiot when it comes to anything high-tech so I really don't know how to check it! But I'll still try! And to those who are asking me if they can upload my blog, go ahead! I don't know actually what it means but as long as it's not satanic, go go go! he he! Thanks again for allowing me to waste your time last 2004 and let's continue to do so in 2005!

Giving Love on Christmas Day

2004-12-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas day has passed and I still have a hangover from all the Yuletide revelry. And because we all know that this is a season for loving, I dedicate this entry to the (showbiz) people I love.

I love Boy Abunda, my boss. But he's not only a boss. He's a father, mother, brother, sister, friend and many more to me. He's a wise man who's not afraid to share his wisdom to others. He is blessed because he knows how to share his blessings.

I love Belinda Panelo. She's my "best-est" friend in the business. She is in fact, my soul mate. We're so much alike that had I been straight, I would've proposed marriage to her five minutes after meeting her. But the one thing that differentiates us majorly is that I don't have her gits. She faces life with the gung-ho attitude and spunk that I can only wish I can have. She's now in New York studying acting, leaving behind a promising career as an MTV VJ and actress. I love her and miss her terribly.

I love Piolo Pascual. He's a gentle soul who knows how to treasure friendship. And how can one not love a guy who has drowned a couple of times in his own frailties and weaknesses? But Piolo has managed to come out of the water breathing -- alive and in love with life.

I love Marvin Agustin and the respect he gives his work. He works as if there's no tomorrow. I also love Dominic Ochoa who is a "papa" in every sense of the word.

I love Bianca Gonzalez. She's effortlessly beautiful inside and out. I love her because in the times we've shared together, she's never been afraid to show her vulnerability, teaching and reminding everyone that even in times of trouble, one should always stuggle to move on and steal a moment of two to be able to laugh about life, about the world and about one's self. I love Bianca because she laughs at herself before anyone laughs at her. I love her because she laughs at me.

I love Mariel Rodriguez. She may seem frail on the outside but there's a feisty side in her that most of the time, I get surprised that she completes all the challenges given to her in her show, Extra Challenge. I love Mariel because she's fun, irreverent, sometimes kikay like all of us, except that she does it with more elan than the rest of the world. It's always fun to laugh with Mariel. It's a different experience because her laughter never fails to excite.

I love Drew Arellano. He thinks I'm fabulous and I think he is, too. I love Chase Tinio because he knows how to make me laugh.

I love Bianca King. In (only) some ways, she's like a young version of me -- not afraid to be who she is, what she was and who she will be -- although I think I'm way prettier and sexier than her! I love JC de Vera. Our merry times together over bottles of San Miguel Beer will never be forgotten. I love JC because he introduced me to Hero Angeles.

Speaking of which.... I love Hero Angeles. He's a nice guy. He always seems to be quiet, always deep in thought. I love him because he's grateful for all the blessings he has gotten and his feet remain firmly planted on the ground. I love him for making an effort to greeet me on my birthday. I love him for being himself.

I love John Prats. His life story may not be biblical in proportion as his namesake Baptist saint, because I think John Prats has commited more sins. But don't expect him to be beheaded by King Herod because John in a good person with his values intact, and he knows how to be grateful. I love him because I love his family, especially his sister Camille. I love John because he has a pet name for me: he and only he calls me "Jeti." And it's only him that I will give the right to do so because I love him.

I love Ryan Agoncillo because he's one of the smartest, wittiest persons I've ever met. I love him because he calls me "dude" and "bro" -- monickers no one would bother calling me because I'm too effeminate to be either. But he does it with such a genuine affectation that I don't bother correcting him. I love Y Speak resident Wais Speaker Fr. Tito Caluag because I think he's the only man in white robes who would genuinely pray for my soul not to go to Hell. I love him for the real friendship he has offered me.

I love Gabb Drilon, Mikel Campos, Mark Herras and Raymond Gutierrez. They are young boys who make me feel young when I hang out with them. I love Brad Turvey because he's my big poppa and I'm his big momma. I love Kakai Brosas and her Boxer groupmate Daniel Lardizabal because of the friendship they have given me that I admittedly can't match. I love Erik Santos and TJ Manotoc because they're very respectful of me and my work. I love Sarah Meier, KC Montero and Troy Montero because they are fun people to hang out with. I love Shannen Torres because she's more gay than I am. I love G Tongi because she has never forogtten the exciting times we've shared together. I love Joey Reyes and Manny Castaneda because they're simply fabulous. When I grow up I would love to be just like them.

I love Francis Magalona because he has remained a kid at heart. And with his good looks and fabulous skin, he is, in fact the youngest looking on Eat Bulaga! I love him because he loves his wife Pia and his wonderful kids Unna, Nic, Maxene, Frank, Saab, Moe, Bark and Clara. I love him because I can invade his house anytime to just chill.

Finally, I love them all because they all love me.

happy birthday to me!

2004-12-15T01:08:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday. Except for a few glitches brought about by the stupidty of some people, today is truly a happy birthday.

But last night wasn’t happy for me. I was practically ecstatic over what my kids did for me. They threw me a surprise birthday party to greet my birthday at 12 MN. Drew Arellano, Bianca Gonzalez, Mariel Rodriguez and Chase Tinio and our good friend Franco Saycon were there to share with me that Hallmark moment.

You see, I was never thrown a surprise birthday, graduation or anything party. Maybe I’m not worth throwing one for but last night, my kids deemed me worthy finally for one.

I was totally surprised because I came from an exhausting event in ABS-CBN. The night before, Mariel texted me that she and her family (complete daw with lolo and lola) are having dinner and that they want to meet me since she’s always been telling them about me. I wasn’t excited with the idea actually. Meeting parents of my straight friends always make me nervous because I’m gay. You see, my parents, especially my father aren’t happy and gay with my being gay and maybe it scarred in my mind that all parents are. So, that night, thinking I’m going to meet Mariel’s family, I decided to wear something low key and prepared to put my most respectful foot forward. I was even practicing in my mind how to tone down my gayness notches lower.

The supposed dinner was set at 9:30ish in Brazil Brazil at Metrowalk. I arrived in the parking lot of Metrowalk at 11PM. Before then, I was texting Mariel – apologizing profusely and telling her if her family has to go, it’s OK. I reckon that Mariel and I had prior plans to greet my birthday in nearby Oyster Boy (I was supposed to invite other friends for this, including Drew, Bianca and Chase but all of them said they had something already. I in fact, cancelled it but Mariel was insistent and said, “Mother, losers sila if they don’t go. Kahit tayong dalawa lang pumunta, OK lang yun.” I agreed because Mariel and I always have a blast even if it’s just the two of us. Franco, our other friend agreed to join with us so I figured it’d be actually be OK to push through with it even if we were only three), upon them leaving, we can just meet straight in Oyster Boy. She said no. Her whole family is still there just waiting for me.

Anyway, I arrived at Brazil Brazil and lo and behold, my kids are there! Drew, Bianca, Chase and Mariel with Franco! With matching birthday hats, balloons and a sinful chocolate cake in the middle with candles corresponding to my age (sorry, that’d remain a secret!). All of them gave me a hug. I almost cried actually and told them this was my first surprise anything! They were just pretending they all had something to surprise me all along!

They then presented me their gift – a fabulous Prada black leather two-fold wallet to replace my war torn Ralph Lauren wallet which I had since I was in college. I simply refused to part with my trusty wallet because it was a lucky one – as in I never lost it for years and for some strange reason, it always contained money. But that night, for love of my kids, I threw it away and psyched myself to use my spankin’ Prada wallet. Anyway, after the gift giving, we made small talk and decided to walk to Oyster Boy to cap the night.

We ordered our drinks. I teased Franco to order sinigang because I know how he loves the Oyster Boy sinigang and garlic rice. Other friends started to follow. I was starting to get a barrage of text messages and calls greeting me happy birthday.

And at 12 MN, it happened. I got a text from Hero Angeles. It was simple. It just said “Hapi bday!:)” Of course, I gave the most orgasmic scream and everyone in our table looked at me as if I were being abducted by aliens. I screamed for like a minute and finally showed them the text. They were all so happy for me. I answered Hero and we texted a few messages. He apologized for not being able to go to Oyster Boy because he needs rest as he just had an eye operation in his left eye for an infection.

We had a few drinks more and everyone started to leave while other friends started to go in. Gabb Drilon was the last to arrive in full basketball gear because he said he just came from a game. By last order (shortly after 2PM), we got the bill and planned to invade the nearby 24 hour Mc Donald’s – our tradition after a drinking session.

Going home, I thanked God for giving me a happy birthday. For giving me friends who make me happy. For giving me people whom I can help feel happy too.

Truly, December 15, 2004 is chalked up forever in my memory as a truly, happy day. Thanks kids! Thank you for loving your neurotic, bitchy mother!

---000---

Thank you to the others who greeted me either personally or thru calling or texting me: My sister, my nephew JP and niece Trixie, Boy Abunda, Bonq Quintana and the entire backroom staff, Mark Herras, direk Jon Mendoza and Joan formerly of Click,Noel Ferrer, Rendy and JOey Macaraeg and girlfriend Kat, Puffy and their friend Mike, Alvin Matic, Atty Aga, JOnathan Valdez, Walden and Cathy Belen, Myra Ramilo, Belinda Panelo and Devon, Joseph Lizardo, Crispina Belen, Francis, Pia, Maxene, Saab and Moe Magalona, Ryan Agoncillo, Ian Roxas, Danice and Leila of Review Night, Chin Chin Bona Larosa, Eric John Salut, Rikka Dylim, AJ Dee, Celeste Paredes, Jay of Game Channel, John Prats, Bianca King, Rainier Galutera,Aleli, John Ornel, Jenny and Love, Rich Ilustre, Kat Kat Brusola, Marcia Gokongwei-Sy, Justin Ventura, Chin-Chin Bona Larosa, Lorenz of L Timestudio, Janna Victoria, Belle Ramos, JC de Vera, Jobert Sucaldito, TJ Manotoc, Grace Solis, Brad Turvey, Paolo Bustamante, Noel Manapat, Derek Ramsey, Jamie Wilson and many many more. If ever I forgot someone (and I'm very sure I forgot a lot) thank you thank you and forgive me...it's my birthday naman eh!

Of Brats and Bitches

2004-11-21T23:35:00.000-08:00

John Prats called me a brat.

It was during a phone conversation we had last night while I was in the station ID shoot of GMA-7 at Wildlife in Quezon City. The air was cold but it stank of smoke as brought about by the set up of actor-soldiers roasting chicken.

I was there to accompany two of my children, Mariel Rodriguez and Drew Arellano. Their location was set there because both are part of the prestigious GMA News and Public Affairs (Drew with Unang Hirit and Mariel with Extra Challenge). Call time was at 6 PM and at 8Pm, nothing yet was happening.

I was starting to get restless for a lot of reasons but one reason was that I was supposed to meet someone earlier. She said she'd be done by 4PM but she only called me up at 5 PM to say she's done and ready to meet up. No apologies, nothing whatsoever why she was late. I said I was in Fairview and that it'd take me 20 minutes to get to Tomas Morato (it's a Sunday so there's no traffic). She said she's too restless to wait so I just barked back at her if she wants to go home, she's free to do so. So she hung up the phone and went home to her kingdom.

That and add to annoying looking people at the Station ID shoot (I don't consider Mike Enriquez, Susan Enriquez, Arnold Clavio and Jessica Soho annoying. They're actually scary looking because their presence was so imposing!!). One of whom is a Production Assistant (PA) whom I met previously because she's also a PA in another GMA show. She's very annoying and she thinks she's the bomb but actually, it looks like a bomb exploded on her face and in her fashion sense.

John called me up during the station ID shoot and I said that I'm not in the mood because I'm hot headed. He blurted out that "You're just being a brat." I said nothing. Then he told me about his day and whatever was happening to him, obviously just killing time because he was in a shooting for a new movie. He then had to put down the phone because they had to do their blocking.

A few minutes after putting down the phone, I just realized that John called me a brat! I was so infuriated that I called him back. He wasn't answering. A few minutes later, he returned my call. I shouted back at him to say I'm not a brat! He just laughed at me and said he meant is as a joke all along but I was serious and said to him again, I ain't no brat.

He then said, "Eh Jet, sometimes you are kasi pag hindi mo gusto, talagang pinapakita mo." I said that's very different from being a brat. Sometimes, you really have to assert yourself to get what you want. I refuse to be a pushover, especially because I'm gay. I'm not the stereotypical gay who is submissive and just laughs at whatever discomforts I feel. I say what's on my mind and I believe that I am rarely senseless.

John reluctantly agreed with me. He even said aloud, "Hey everyone. Just to let you know that Jet Valle isn't a brat."

I calmed down. We then proceeded to chat about everything until I had to put down the phone already because the station ID shoot was about to roll.

Him calling me a brat made me think again. In fact, I asked Bianca Gonzalez if I were a brat and she said sometimes I am. I didn't choose to argue with her. She's my daughter and maybe she knows better than John.

Ok ok. Maybe I can be a brat sometimes. Maybe I can act irrational and insensitive to other people. But it's because I know what I want. Why is it bad for someone, especially a homosexual to whine and whine about something stupid? I whine but I make sure I do something about it. I assert myself. Who cares if people would say I'm a brat.... whether sometimes or all the time. All I know is that I don't hurt anyone by acting bratty... OK OK, bitchy actually.

And that said, I conclude I AM a bitch because I have to. In this business I'm in, it's not enough to smile at everyone and act as if I want to win the Ms. Congeniality title. In showbiz, where people can be eaten alive for just one small mistake, you have to be on your toes... you have to be alert... you have to be aggressive.... you have to assert yourself more.... or else you'll just disappear like foam in the sea. And not only in showbizness but also in life. Never be a wallflower in life. You don't have to please anyone but yourself....And if expressing yourself fully is being called bitchy, then so be it.

As what Stephen King wrote, "Sometimes a woman has to be a high-riding bitch in order to survive."

Hero Sandwiches in a debut

2004-11-08T03:01:00.000-08:00

I hate going to debut parties. They're all boring. I just go to the debut of my special friends... friends who will commit harakiri if i don't make it. And almost always, I just end up getting drunk in debuts.

Why? Because I'm a bitter old fag that's why. My age is about to be out of the calendar range and i hate it. I hate growing old. And going in a debut reminds me that I'm no longer young and fresh like a debutante.

But last Saturday, I just had to go to Angelica Panganiban's debut. It took me only two words in the invitation to convince me to go there: Hero Angeles. Apparently, Hero is one of the 18 roses so I just had to be there!

Don't get me wrong. Angelica and I aren't close. I was just invited to be one of the press people to cover it. I told myself I don't have to sit my ass off there the whole time. Besides, there were two words again that Rikka Dylim of ABS-CBN Talent Center whispered to me that convinced me also to go: OPEN BAR.

So, that Saturday, I got into one of my suits I was going to wear for the first time. It was a pinstriped black three-button suit I bought in Hugo Boss (sale!). Then I put a black cabbage rose to accessorize it. I just wore a plain white dress shirt and black tie inside. Of course, I was wearing my killer Gucci dress shoes(sale!). But before that, I passed by a fashion show held at Rockwell tent where Maxene Magalona and her equally beautiful sister Saab were modeling for some charity ek ek. At 9PM, thinking the whole 18 brouhaha in the debut was over, I made my way to the EDSA Shang hotel.

Well talk about bad timing, the 18 chuvas haven't started yet! Everyone was still outside. The first one I saw was Dominic Ochoa and Jericho Rosales. Dominic was in a fab brown pinstriped suit while Jericho was wearing a beige suit that for me, was inappropriate because it was too casual. He was even wearing a hat to complement the look. But if he wanted to go for that Cuban haciendero look, he should have lost the shoes. They offered me to get me a drink. Of course I said yes. I knew it was going to be a long night! Piolo Pascual was the next one I saw. He was wearing a dark suit with a lovely blue tie. I wanted to take it off from him because I thought that tie would look better on me! He too, offered me a drink. It was then I learned from him that it was Piolo who was the source of all the drinks. John Lloyd Cruz and his Talent Center handler Nenette joined our small group.

After a few minutes of chika with the men, John Prats called me up asking where I was. We had an agreement earlier that we won't stay long in the debut and that after his participation, we'll go out. He went outside the hall where we were staying and we planned our escape. And it was at that instant I saw him....HERO ANGELES! Now it felt ironic because John Prats was the subject of my adoration before. As in what Im feeling for Hero in the present, that's how I felt for John in the past! Now I'm so over him and John is one of my good friends in the biz. Anyway, it was then that I realized I was "sandwiched" between my past crush (John) and my present (Hero). It was a sandwich I won't mind eating and eating though... I might as well call this situation I'm in a hero sandwich! Ha ha!

Hero looked so heroic and angelic that I was stunned. Never mind if he was wearing casual loafers and that the color of his dress shirt inside was a little tacky. He was so delicious that he might as well be wearing an Armani suit! My mouth watered and I couldn't say anything. John was just smirking. Good thing he knows I now love Hero or else he would've thought I was going into a demonic trance.

John then called Hero and said, "Kunan ko kayo ng picture ni Jet!" He smiled and said, "Hi KUYA jet!" My trance got suspended because I heard again the four-letter word from his lips (KUYA?!?!)! He asked me a question which I tried to answer but I really couldn't say anything. Then John told him again, "Kunan ko kayo ng picture!" Hero posed beside me and I wished that a cold wind from the North Pole would suddenly blow in the EDSA Shang lobby so we'll be frozen forever. Instead, Rikka Dylim and Eric John Salut (PR of ABS-CBN) breezed over us and said they'll also take a picture of us! At that point, I could die already! It was such a heavenly experience!

Then this hellish Production Assistant shouted to everyone that they should be in their places. It was then I realized the whole 18 eklaboos haven't started yet! Dejected, I went to my table and ordered alcohol. The waiter said only red wine was available and that it was only cash bar! I don't drink red wine and I don't plan to splurge on overpriced drinks in a hotel! So I went up to the smoking area of the hotel. It was then I saw the car of the daddy of Drew Arellano, the adorable but cunning lawyer Atty AGA Arellano. I texted him to verify if he was at the EDSA Shang that time. He called me back and he asked me what I was doing at the EDSA Shang. I told him I was in some debut and then he asked me, "What are you drinking?" I said, none. He said, "What's your table number at the Isla Ballroom? I'll send you scotch!"

And he did! I was so delirious as the scotch touched my lips.... I imagined I were in some faraway bar than in some debut party that reminded me how old I am. After finishing my drinks, I texted John I was about to leave and what were his plans. John was also going to leave but he told me he and his parents have to check out this bar first. I decided to go ahead and meet up with friends in Bistro 110. Ryan Agoncillo, Bianca Gonzalez, her fabulous sister Aissa and Bianca's friends Justin and Carlo were there. Upon seeing them, I breathed a sigh of relief. Albeit I still was the oldest in the group, I was glad that they were closer to MY age group. After a night of drinking, Aissa, Bianca and I went to the 24 hour Mc Donald's branch in Greenbelt where I ordered only fries and a coke!

Nope, I didn't bother getting a sandwich! Because earlier, in my mind, I just had one aptly called a Hero sandwich!

Dear FabulousJet...

2004-10-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm over my search for Hero. He's my textmate na eh! He's polite and courteous when he texts me. I tried saving ALL his messages at first but I had to erase it for fear that my phone might hang! But don't get me wrong. I still like, or rather love him!

One thing I also love is reading the comments left on my blog entries. So I decided to gather a number and answer them (upon the prodding of Bianca to update my blog) To Bianca, Franco and Hipstah -- you know na my answers to your comments so I won't bother answering them here he he

From Roanne:
wow! I think Francis M is a good dad. Imagine he was able to manage his 8 kids while having a stellar career an actor/host! Whoa that's supah!

-- couldn't agree with you more Roanne that it's "supah!" But remember, he's not only an actor and host. He's also a rapper and even became one of the first Pinoy MTV VJ's. He's achieved so much but "managing" his 8 kids still remain as his greatest achievement. And I also couldn't agree with him more.

From Cat:
What a wonderful post. I have always heard good things about Francis M from my friends in the industry. Especially his being a good husband and father. But you really put depth to him and his accomplishments.

-- Why thank you Cat! Yup, he's a good father and husband. When he and Pia go out, they still hold hands. When Pia and I are out, Francis M calls her regularly to check on us and reports what he's doing. Now isn't that sweet? Putting depth into Francis M is easy. He's a very deep person actually that's why putting him into that light is not tedious.

From SCQ:
Hero is gross!!

-- Well that's your opinion dear so I'll respect it. I hope you respect my opinion too when I say that Hero is far from gross. He is gorgeous!

From Angelvodka:
Finally! I'm so happy for you :) By the way, does he really look like Vic Shu?

-- No. Not at all. Hero is more guwapo! he he

From Gerb:
Wow! Swerte! Cute din ba si Joross?

-- Hmmmm. Joross is cute in his own way but his grin is too toothy, and his persona is too strong for me. He actually is more fun to talk with because he's makulit but I'm sorry, and please don't be sick and tired when I say this but Hero is still my guy. Besides, Hero has One million freaking pesos already in the bank he he

From Cat:
ha ha ha! The quest is over! Congratulations on finding your holy grail!

-- Hear hear! But unlike Robert Langdon, my adventure in finding Hero is more significant and life changing than finding the Holy Grail! he he

From Jeff:
Sana hiningi mo friendster email add niya dba? Para ganun totoong account niya ang ma-add mo...I saw all of them na except Hero nalang. I wanna see them all.

-- Dear, as much as possible, I want my real friends in my friendster account. Don't you think you should do the same thing? Most of the friendster accounts of celebrities are fake anyway. But don't worry. I'll TRY to ask him (with much emphasis on try that's why they're all caps) next time I see him for you.

From Paris:
I'm so happy for you! I've seen him too! I was totally stunned! Super duper guwapo!

-- I know what you mean Paris! I mean, when I saw him, he said Hi to me DAW, touched my cabbage rose on my shirt DAW and asked DAW me if I was already going home but I ignored him DAW according to my friends who were with me when he saw me in ABS! I swear, I didn't hear him say that. I was just too stunned! I doubt if my friends were playing with me because other people who were also there confirmed it! Haaay. If I could only turn back time!

From Gelli:
So :) for you! Meron ka bang pics ni JC? Luv him!

-- Nope. Sorry I don't have his photo. Hmmm. Maybe I can take a picture of him on my phone and send it to you or post it here or whatever. So sorry Gelli.

From Judith:
I had fun reading tour meeting Hero adventure! Aliw :) Can I link you? Thanks!

-- Sure dear! Thanks!

From Leah:
Wow! Very interesting yung blog mo! Swerte mo naman na-meet mo si Hero and marami pang ibang artista

-- Yeah Leah I have to admit when I was new in the business, I was totally starstruck by some artistas! Like the first time I saw John Prats, I couldn't say anything! Then when I saw Kuya Bodjie of Batibot (I grew up watching him!), me and my friend kept shouting, "Kuya Bodjie! Kuya Bodjie!" He just looked at us and must think we're retards because he just ignored us. But yeah, meeting artistas is fun because it makes me think that they're all normal like the rest of us. They fart, poo, pee and do whatever stuff we do too but maybe in my case, not ALL the things I do because I'm gay! ha ha!

From Charisse:
Hero is gay like you. You both suck!

-- Uh OK. i have to admit since I'm gay, I really suck certain things dear. But regarding Hero, that's what you think and I'll respect what you think. But there's nothing wrong with being gay and it doesn't mean, in your words, I suck in another way that I don't want to. I just hope you open your mind soon. You seem to be angst-ridden dear? Why? maybe you too should more often be happy....and gay!

From Denissy:
Just blog-hopped and found myself warped in a hilarious zone that managed to crack my badmoodiness today. Cheers to that, hope you get to meet Hero soon.

-- Why thank you Dennisy. My making you smile made me smile too. Hope you have no more of `em badmoodiness!

From Charisse:
Di kayo talo ni Hero dahil pareho kayong bading!

-- Oh! You again Charisse! Ok ok.....Sweetie, I just hope you know that by law, when i quote you and publish you, it can be considered as "factual" and you can even be subject to libel. Just letting you know dear!

From meeh_mai:
OMG! Like your life's the coolest..what's your job pala?

-- Hmmmm. I'm a talent handler, scriptwriter, columnist and publicist all-rolled into one. But if you ask me, I'm really a prostitute in this maddening industry selling my mind, body and my non-existent breasts to people!

From Chinggay:
Love reading your stuff :)

-- Thanks! Wag ka sana magsawa!

From jillsaabs:
Ooohhh... Now you make me want to become a Hero convert too! Stop it! :)

-- I won't! The more Hero worshippers, the merrier but as what I wrote in one blog entry, I don't appreciate added competition he he

From Gerb:
This blog is climbing up my blog chart :) I'm so entertained!

-- Why thank you Gerb! I hope I keep entertaining you with my misadventures and my kalandian! ha ha!

From anonymous:
I've wanted a gay friend for the longest time and reading your blog makes me want to actually go out to look for one :) Cheers!

-- Then no one's stopping you dear! Go go go! having a gay friend will be life-changing for you! Go get one! Hey, maybe you can ask Charisse to go search with you!

From Minaaa:
The gospel according to madonna.... ha ha! That's priceless! Can;t you just picture a priest saying that? ha ha :)

-- No. I can't but I want to ha ha! Madonna is a very profound artist. Beyond her over-the-top image, Madonna is very deep. With apologies to Brintey who's so far from her but Madonna pushes boundaries in music and in society. She is fearless and truthful in her songs. She can write a song about love, sex, death, paternal or maternal relationships, religion and many more. Despite me being a rock music lover, Madonna is my favorite artist of all time. Sorry to Courtney, Gwen or Shirley, but Madonna rocks!

And all your comments rock! Keep `em coming people! I'll be happy to answer them!

I love Francis M

2004-10-15T01:36:00.000-07:00

I love Francis Magalona. Ever since I saw him back in the 80's dancing to The Eurythmics' Here Comes The Rain Again in some noontime show, that's when I knew I was gay (but my acceptance of my being gay is another story). He was tagged as the next Aga Muhlach. I didn't agree. I think he's way cuter than Aga.

I love Francis M because despite his stellar lineage (his grandpop was a politician, a senator if I'm not mistaken while his parents are superstars back in the Sampaguita and LVN days), he made his name on his own. He became part of That's Entertainment and did a number of forgettable movies but when he started to explode in the rap scene, Philippine music was never the same again. He ruled the airwaves as the Master Rapper. He released one successul album after another, spawning monstrous hits like Mga Kababayan, Kaleidescope World, Cold Summer Nights, Ito Ang Gusto Ko and many more.

I love Francis M because his music focused on postivisim -- touching on issues concerning young people. He is an intense artist and is not afraid to explore new things.

I love Francis M because despite the fact that he has conquered the whole world, he remains a kid at heart with the an insatiable desire to please the people around him. He has remained humble and like a child, he isn't aware of the hypnotic power he has on people.

I love Francis M because he loves his wife Pia and his 8 adorable children -- Unna, Nic, Maxene, Saab, Frank, Elmo, Arkin and Clara. And despite his brilliant achievements, he thinks his being a pop to them is his crowning glory.

I love Francis M because I love Pia Magalona. Pia isn't afraid to be who she is. In a world where being plastic is considered the norm, she'd laugh, bite, shout, roll her eyes whenever and wherever she wants to. She is a wise woman who spreads her wisdom to her kids -- and to friends like me.

I love Francis M because he invited me to his birthday party. It was a triple treat -- celebrating his, Pia's and Arkin's birthday. It was a Sunday afternoon barbecue and it was pure, unadulterated wholesome fun. And I really enjoyed it. In fact, I was the last one who left!

I love Francis M because I brought spaghetti to his birthday party and he fearlessly declared, "Jet, your spaghetti is the bomb!" He now wants me to cook for him my famous spaghetti monthly.

I love Francis M because he isn't afraid to nurture the Philippine hip hop scene he has heped found in this country. He has produced various rap albums of upcoming artists, the latest of which is a special commemorative CD available at Fubu concept stores nationwide.

I love Francis M because he laughs with me at my jokes, and I laugh with him at his jokes. When he laughs, his dark eyes crinkle adorably. Staring at those eyes, I even feel sexually harassed sometimes!

Finally, I love Francis M because he loves me!

meeting a hero!

2004-09-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

I finally met Hero Angeles!

Thank god my quest is over. I was prepared to make a petition on why should I meet Hero and submit it to ABS-CBN. I was even willing to rally in the studios of the mentioned network just to fight for my cause to meet Hero. But luckily for me, last night, I bumped into Tenten, the PA of Michelle Madrigal in Starbucks ABS. She told me, “Hinihintay ko si JC (de Vera, girlfriend of Michelle) tapos aakyat kami sa dance rehearsal ni Michelle. Sama ka Jet. Please….kasi nandun si Hero!”

She didn’t have to plead with me! Heck, if Saddam Hussein ordered me to launch ten nuclear missles to Washington so I could meet Hero, I would do it in a heartbeat! Hero is worth three hundred nuclear wars!

So, JC came and the three of us went up to the dance rehearsal studio of ABS. Walking there, I wiped my face with the Cover and Clean blue sheet and sprayed perfume. I didn’t want Hero to think I was some smelly and some oily homosexual!

Upon entering the dance studio, I saw Michelle and two other girls dancing. I saw a couple of boys and it turned out to be Joross and Joseph. Joross gave me his toothy smile to which I asked him again, “Huy, virgin ka pa ba sa bakla?” Joseph gave me a high-five and I didn’t say anything. I was scanning the place for Hero!

Finally he arrived. My heart stopped beating, I swear. I felt my mouth opening and my jaw dropping. In fact, I thought even my underwear was dropping!

Hero said he came from the john. He greeted JC like he were his long-lost brother, laughing and hugging at the same time. Michelle grabbed Hero and introduced me to him… “Hero, si Jet. Jet, si Hero.” He shook my hand… I blushed like a virgin. He was looking at me while he shook my hand…his gaze was so piercing that I thought I was being violated by his eyes alone! I had to turn away because a second longer and I would have been arrested for child molestation!

Thank God he started talking again to Michelle. It was then I suddenly saw Errol, the first Star Circle Questor I interviewed. He remembered me and said Hi. He’s a lot different now. He seems to exude more confidence. He, in fact, dyed his hair and his body mass increased. In fairness, he danced well in the rehearsal and he looked so cute… cute in a dwarf sense of way that you’d want to take him home and cuddle him like the first time you bought a Tickle Me Elmo. I said “Hi” back to him.

But carnal thoughts came into my mind again when JC whispered to Michelle, “kunan mo kaming tatlo nila Jet and Hero ng picture para ibigay ko kay Jet!” At that point, I wanted to kiss JC in gratitude. Michelle asked Hero to pose with us and even said, “Dapat si Jet sa gitna!” I wanted to kiss Michelle too. So Hero gamely posed. JC, leaned his head towards me and was pushing my head towards the other direction so that it’d be bumping into Hero’s! At that point I didn’t want to kiss JC anymore. I wanted to kiss Hero because he was just a breath away…. And being beside him was taking my breath away! But when I thought I was safe from asphyxiation, Michelle told Hero, “O kayong dalawa naman ni Kuya Jet.” Hero posed again and I instantly forgave Michelle for calling me “kuya,” especially in front of Hero! In normal circumstances, I would have given anyone who calls me kuya an upper cut except that time because Michelle was taking a picture of me and Hero. I wanted to give Michelle money for her bugawing skills!

After taking a picture, Michelle said, “O KUYA Jet, asan ang phone mo? Para meron kayong picture ni Hero sa phone mo!” I gave it to Michelle and at that point, I wanted to thank all the Gods in the universe for giving me a friend like Michelle and that the sticker on the back of my phone has faded…. Because the sticker is that of the face of Hero!

Hero made small talk and I couldn’t answer him straight. I was still stunned! Thank God before he would think I’m some retard, he started rehearsing. I MMS’ed our picture right away to my good friends Bianca Gonzalez and Franco. Franco replied, “Finally you met him.” Bianca was maniacal. She replied something like, “Whaaaaaaaaaattttttt????!?!?!? Hoooooowwwwww??!?!? Paaano ako?!?!” Well I’m a mean girl so I texted her back, “Mamatay ka sa inggit! Che!”

JC made me snap out of my revelry and told me that we should go down because Mark Herras is in the nearby Gerry’s and is inviting us to have dinner. I didn’t want to leave the studio first because I just wanted to stare at Hero until I die but JC had to drag me again to meet him and said, “Promise Jet, pasusunurin ko si Hero.” So like a wounded soldier, I trooped to Gerry’s with JC.

Upon arriving Gerry’s, I just discovered I only had P200 in my wallet so I told JC and Mark, “Hoy, libre niyo ako ha! Wala akong pera!” Both Mark and JC said, “Sure!” So the three of us made small talk. I then remembered that our other friend, Drew Arellano was in the ABS area so I called him up to follow. He did but only passed by because it was the birthday of his kuya in Red Box. He asked me if I wanted to go because he knows I am a karaoke addict but I politely turned him down. He couldn’t believe I didn’t wanna go singing with him and his family so I blurted out, “I’m waiting for Hero noh!” He then flashed his smile and said, “OK, I understand momma.” Drew left and after a few minutes, Mark had to leave too because he had taping for his soap opera (without leaving money of course to me for OUR share in the bill).

So I finished my dinner comprised of tuna and pork sisig and tuna belly and a serving of garlic rice. I was downing my third beer when like a vision from Heaven, Hero finally appeared. He arrived with Michelle and Ten-Ten. Hero sat beside me and said, “Hi again.” I wanted to die! But I actually wanted to go to the banyo because I really wanted to pee but I held it for Hero. Hero again made small talk and all I can do is attempt to mutter something barley intelligent to him. I really couldn’t say anything! Then suddenly, his dad appeared like a vision from Hell. He was kinda pissed at Hero because he still had to do an interview for Nginig, a show in ABS talking about ghostly experiences. At that point, I concluded that Hero’s dad is my ghostly experience. He politely said his goodbyes and he said “Next time!”

Dejected, I just finished my beer. JC and Michelle wanted to go already and I went with them. They dropped me off in my office where my car was parked. I said goodbye to them. They must have finally seen my crestfallen face because JC said, “Jet, bisita tayo sa taping nila bukas!” I hugged JC and said, “Sige! Let’s text each other tomorrow ha!”

Well, today is “tomorrow” and I’m still ecstatic over meeting him. I still remember his gaze…how it molested me and how it made me turn into a sinner. His dimples still lingered in my mind like the first time I saw Brad Pitt’s shiny ass in Troy.

And Jose Rizal be damned, Hero is my hero!!!!!!! Che!

My quest for hero

2004-09-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

I wanna kill myself. I didn’t get to meet Hero Angeles last Friday night. And now, three days later, I’m finally writing about it. It took me that long a time to recover.

It was all the fault of JC de Vera. Yes, JC of Joyride didn’t help me get joy in my ride. JC of SOP Gigsters didn’t wanna join my gig to meet Hero.

It started when, after writing my blog entry on Hero and the possibility of meeting him that night, JC suddenly texted me asking if we’ll indeed visit the Star Circle Quest taping (he was planning to visit his girlfriend, Michelle Madrigal who's one of the cast members of SCQ Reload). I texted back, “It’s up to you.” He replied, “Sige, text kita mamaya kung tuloy ako.” I ended by saying, “I’ll just go if you’ll go.”

Of course, JC supposedly showing up in the taping added “legitimacy” for me to show up unannounced in the Star Circle Quest taping. The night before, Michelle was pleading to me to pass by the taping as if she were a lawyer defending a maltreated domestic helper against an unscrupulous employer. She didn’t make a strong case because I really felt doubtful. The best reason that she could only come up with was it was on my way going home.

But the lack of good reasons Michelle can come up with, she made it up with “tips.” She said that Hero is always talkative and that he likes someone he can converse with. No problem with that, I thought. I’ve always been a talkative person and I can converse with anyone in this world…. From cockroaches to countesses.

She also said that Hero is now always eating and he always craves for food. And that his favorite food to eat is cake, mango cake in particular. At that point, I wished I were master baker Heny Sison and I will whip him up one hell of a Mango Cake. But the skill of baking was deprived to me and instead, it was given to my niece. Of course, I can’t tell her to bake a cake for Hero. She might not understand her desperate tita who’s asking her to bake a cake for a boy. Besides, she also likes Hero and I don’t appreciate added competition.

Anyway, a little before dinnertime, JC suddenly texted me that he’s not pushing thru because he has a headache. At that point, I wanted to hire a ninja assassin to give him a flying kick for ditching me. Obviously, he was oblivious to how life changing that night was supposed to be for me!

Maybe I’m not meant to meet Hero. After all, it’s karma lang for me eh. I mean, I had the opportunities before to meet him in not one but two press conferences. Instead, I just ignored him and to think that ALL the Star Circle Questors were present then.

In the first presscon, it was Emman whom I ended up interviewing because no one was interested to interview him. The Star Quest publicist was pleading to me to interview him because everyone just wanted to interview the other Questors like Joross, Sandara , Roxanne etc.

Emman was like a little kid and I remembered getting the surprise of my life that he was already 13. I think he’s less than five feet tall. My nephew is 5 years younger and he’s just his height but I think he can beat the crap out of Emman. Personally, I think he hasn’t been circumcised ergo his height deficiency.

Anyway, at the second press con, I was also in a hurry to leave. At that point, the Star Quest publicist was no longer begging me to interview Emman because he was already eliminated. This time he was asking if I can be interviewed for the show regarding their darling of the press award. I told her I’ll pass because I haven’t seen a single episode in the show and I haven’t met anyone of them (they were the final five then) and it would be unfair. Another publicist then butted in and told me, “Sige na Jet. Vote nalang for Hero. You know what, last Christmas, champorado lang their noche Buena!”

That hit me. I always want an underdog story so I told them to interview me now before I change my mind. So I did the interview, albeit no make-up and fearlessly declared I voted for Hero for the darling of the press award and I said he will also win. Of course, I didn’t say it was because he had champorado for Christmas. I lied and I just said I’m voting for him because he was good-looking and talented…It was easy to do it because nowadays, "good-looking" and "Talented" are words that are often used and misused in describing showbiz people so I told myself that I might as well do it. I mean, for chrissakes, even the bomba-est of the bomba stars are now described as "good-looking" and "talented."

Anyway, right after the interview, I left the press con because I heard other reporters from TV media asking if they can also interview me to ask who my vote was. I ignored them and ran away as if I were a prostitute whose client had a heart attack in the middle of my, uh, service. One interview of lies was enough!

Anyway, had I stayed, I would’ve met Hero. Who knows? Maybe in the interview he’d be impressed with the way I look…. The way I dress…. The way I ask questions…. The way I sit down…. The way I smoke my cigarette....I mean anything! Maybe we could’ve exchanged numbers or maybe we could have continued our interview with a few drinks in a nearby bar.

One thing’s for sure. If I had stayed longer in both presscons, I wouldn’t be whining now like a pathetic loser wanting to meet Hero!

It’s a bitter lesson to learn…. A difficult thing to swallow like a jagged little pill. Next time, I vow to myself, I won’t let these opportunities pass me by. Regardless if I were to meet Hero or anyone, I should always slow down and take my time. Time moves so fast nowadays. Yesterday, I was an earnest debutante at 18 and now, I’m….. well hulaan ninyo noh! A whole life has passed in my eyes and there were a lot of times I regretted for not being able to linger on it, to fully appreciate that moment. We live in such a fast-paced world that we are always obliged to move along with it. I mean yeah, it's OK to do so but always learn to stop, look and listen. Moving so fast in life, you wouldn't notice how beautiful indeed the sky is in a sunny morning, how grateful you are that someone invented the toilet (imagine if someone didn't), how wonderful it is to be alive. Period. You really need time to appreciate those and more and moving fast would make you totally forget the blessings you always get from God.

Anyway, there's always a next time. When I get to meet Hero, Ill make sure to linger. I'll make sure that I would fully appreciate him. I'll really take the time to appreciate his beautiful face. I'll savor every word he says. I'll take a mental picture that I'd be able to bring with me forever.

`Til then, I’ll just sulk and curse JC de Vera til Kingdom come!

Search for a Hero...

2004-09-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

Three days after writing my blog entry on Hero Angeles, I almost met MY hero.

It all happened last September 9 when I was invited by the ABS-CBN promo department to a presscon featuring Archie Alemania, Joross Gamboa, Ahron Villanueva and Maja Salvador. I came, I saw and I conquered the hearts of Archie and Joross. Ahron, I wasn't able to interview because he looks scary and brooding with his big body and all. Maja I didn't want to because she's now being linked to my other crush John Prats.

Anyway, i talked to Archie and Joross. They entered the room together and Archie right away greeted me because we're familiar with each other due to Wazzup Wazzup (I am the agent of one of the Wazzup hosts). Joross greeted everyone, including me even if I haven't met him. I told ABS-CBN PR Rikka Dy-Lim that he's plastic because he's never met me and he greeted me as if I were his long-lost classmate from nursery school. If you ask me, Joross looks and acts like Willie Revillame. They possess the same toothy grin, they are both crass that they're bordering on the "jologs" and they both feel like they're god's gift to women and gays.

Albeit this feeling, I went on to interview Joross and of course, Archie. I am not totally impressionable when it comes to artistas so when I do an interview with them, I always challenge them by turning intellectual and snooty on them. And in the case of Archie and Joross, it worked because they were completely stumped with my line of intelligent and sensible questioning like... "Mga virgins pa ba kayo sa bakla?" O diba? Hard-hitting journalists like Wolf Blitzer would be so proud! Of course i wasn't serious when I asked them those questions but on the other hand, I seriously wanted to know if indeed they are.

After a few minutes, I got bored and left the press-con venue and met with my friend Bianca Araneta in Starbucks ABS to catch up. We haven't seen each other for the longest time and it felt good to just talk about life, live and yes, lust. It was then I saw Michelle Madrigal, Star Circle Questor walk towards the Loop. She was so far away that's why I wasn't sure if it was her so I texted her boyfriend, JC de Vera to ask him if indeed Michelle was in ABS that time. JC replied that yes, Michelle has a dance rehearsal for Star Circle Quest. My eyes popped open and I told JC to text Michelle to introduce me to Hero because he's my crush. He texted me, "Eh paano na ako?" I didn't reply back. He might think I'm some oversexed matrona (which I think I really am) who's waiting for little boys like him and Hero to prey upon.

Anyway, a few minutes later, I decided to pass by the Wazzup Wazzup set. I saw the band Sandwich and I made small talk with Marc, Myrene, Diego and Raymund. It's been a long time since we've seen each other. When they performed on the set, I clapped and shouted but as soon as they ended, I left (without Marc kissing my cheek first of course!). I didn't want to stay in the Wazzup Wazzup set because of the psychology theory in perception called Proximity and Similarity (it means if you're always with someone or something, people will associate you with it or them like if you're a PA in Eat Bulaga! and you were outside by the line where the audience are coming in, people who don't know you would think you're also an audience member). I'm sorry but I would never want to be associated with the Wazzup Wazzup people for reasons I wouldn't want to share in my blog entry.

Anyway, by the time I left the Wazzup Wazzup studio, I got a text from Michelle asking me where I was. I told her I was on my way back to Starbucks and she told me to meet her there. After a few minutes, she appeared like an apparition from heaven because I thought that her being there would be my ticket to finally meet Hero and this was God's reward to me for being a good gay! Michelle said she just came from dance rehearsals and with a twinkle in her eyes, she said, "Tinext ako ni JC. Wala si Hero pa eh. 8:30 pa ang call time ng rehearsal niya."

She must have noticed how my face fell and she said, "Baka mamaya maabutan natin siya. Promise introduce kita sa kanya." I felt excited....flushed even. It felt like I was menstruating! Michelle's PA, Ten-Ten said, "Oo Michelle, pakilala natin siya kay Hero." So i waited, and pretended to be nochalant about the whole thing. But I thought, when I get to finally meet him, what would I say? What would I do? I checked my outfit: A white button down long sleeved shirt from Tyler, Gap bootleg pants and pointed shoes from the night market in Mongkok, HK. Well at least I looked good I told myself. But my stomach wasn't agreeing with me because I was so scared I just wanted to throw up. I was so tensed that I felt like I was a virgin on her honeymoon. Although this isn't my honeymoon.... And I'm still a virgin (he he he)!!!!

Anyway, Michelle and I waited and waited until JC followed us in ABS. He was already tired and he invited us to grab a bite to eat. I ignored him again. I just wanted to grab Hero and eat him! But JC was persistent and Michelle was starting to get hungry so my hunger for Hero had to wait. I really felt sad. Then, Michelle perked up and said, "Jet, tomorrow, may taping kami! Dumaan ka!" I started to feel better.

We went to Packo's Grill to eat late dinner. I had to admit I started to get dizzy of hunger so I ordered tuna Sisig and TWO (!??!) orders of garlic rice. To wash it down, I ordered a bottle of San Mig Light. The food wasn't that good but I was hungry that even if they served ampalaya and they priced it at P500.00, I would still order it. Anyway, after devouring the sorta-feast in front of me, I really felt full. I ordered another beer. After a few minutes, I decided to leave Michelle, JC, Ten-Ten and JC's friends because waiting for my hero certainly drained the energy out of me.

I really felt sad when I walked towards my car. Oh well. Maybe tonight nga in the taping of Michelle, I would meet finally meet Hero and get to talk to him. Who knows, maybe he can be my boyfriend! Maybe he can be my hero! Maybe he can take away the pain and take my breath away like Enrique Iglesias!

By the time I reached home, I still felt bloated because of the heavy dinner I ate. But deep inside, I was still hungry. I didn't know why and it suddenly hit me: I am still hungry to have my HERO!!!

---000---

As of the time I was writing this, I am still deciding if I'll indeed go to the taping of Michelle tonight to visit her and finally be introduced to Hero. I'm still scared actually. Anyway, I'll let you bloggers know!

Hero is my hero

2004-09-06T01:50:00.000-07:00

With apologies to Enrique Iglesias, Hero Angeles can be my hero. He can take away my pain and he certainly can take my breath away.

I didn't like him at first. I actually saw him twice in the press-cons for the Star Circle Quest long before he won the grand prize. My friend Bianca Gonzalez kept pestering me about him, saying he was cute and all that. I just ignored her. After all, i just thought she was ovulating. Our maid Shirley also fearlessly declares that "mahal na mahal ko si Hero!" When I asked why, she just shot back, "Basta!"

But in the taping of Y Speak, the new show of ABS-CBN featuring Bianca, Ryan Agoncillo, Karen Davila and Father Tito Caluag (shown every Wednesday night after Special Assignment), I suddenly discovered that I can be Hero's heroine. That night, he was cute and he looked dapper in a button down shirt, jeans and (cheap?!?!) Skechers shoes which I smelled a mile away (probably his sponsor). He was also wearing glasses and it made him, OK, handsome. I wanted to grab Ryan to introduce me to him but I ended up talking to another guest of the show: Mystica. Don't make me start with her because I would never end.... with her japayuki styled platform boots and all. There's nothing mystifying about Mystica actually because in a "split" second, she would tell all to an intrigue-hungry public how her condo unit is now haunted that's why she refused to pay the rent, how her son is no longer going home to her house because he ran away etc. etc. Ok enough!

Anyway, back to Hero and my admiration of him. I like him. Period. And now here are a number of reasons why I like Hero:

1. Because Hero's look is appealing. He looks like a lost F4 member.
2. Because Hero has charm and won over the press people during the press conferences they held. He even has gained friends among them, greeting and hugging them as he saw them. "Aba! Ma-PR siya!" declared one jaded and bitchy editor who was clearly impressed.
3. Because even if he was wearing make-up during the press presentations I saw him, he still looked masculine.
4. Because he looks so vulnerable, so puerile that you want to cuddle him like a mother putting her newly circumsized boy to sleep. You want to protect and comfort him -- although he's way past the circumcision age.
5. Because FYI, I don't mind taking a peek if he indeed is already circumcised!
6. Because he receives a lot of fanmail from girls -- and women old enough to be his grandmother whose last sexual experience was when Magellan discovered the Philippines. Some women just don't know how to give up!
7. Because he receives a lot of fan mail also from gays -- you go sistahs!
8. Because he looks like a guy you can bring home to your parents and they'll instantly tell you to marry him!
9. Because their family is poor. Someone told me they had to eat champorado for noche buena! Ooohhh. Had he told me, I could've offered myself as his banquet! Finger food galore! ha ha!
10. Because he denies any romantic involvement with Sandara whom my gay-friend Jonathan Garcia finds irritating. He throws his remote-control to his TV set everytime he sees the music video of Sandara in MYX.
11. Because during Star Circle Quest, he seemed genuinely affected by the judges' criticisms and takes them by heart.
12. Because while everyone tells him to gain weight, I would kill the other Star Quest finalists just to have his waifish body. Think of all the fabulous clothes I can wear!
13. Because I would also kill people just to "get his body" in another way....
14. Because he is until now a student at the University of the Philippines. O diba? Smart?
15. Because he used to share cab rides with a fellow Star Circle Questor before to share the fare. Had he told me, I would've acted as his chauffer!
16. Because he has a weirdly shaped nose which is quite adorable actually.
17. Because I like his smile.
18. Because as our maid Shirley would say....basta!

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Again, super thanks to those who commented on my past entries....And hipstah, thanks for those comments. Duly noted. I checked on your blog and it looks cool. You seem to be a sensible and intelligent girl who knows how to have fun. I hope to meet you soon.

2004-08-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Talent Managers are often seen as deft, cunning, sly and many more.

Why not? They are always seen as one who can make or break the career of any showbiz wannabe. More often than not, they're the ones who can get you in a Tv show. They're the ones who can negotiate for a higher fee for you. And in some cases, they're the ones who acts as your bugaw to DOM's and politicians. They are often seen as omnipotent and all-knowing.

I have handled a few talents already and I've always dealt with a whole lot of managers. There's the always affable manager who seems to be too good to be true when he says, "Naku, basta ikaw....ako bahala sa iyo!" There's the deadma manager who doesn't return calls or text messages when you inquire about their wards. There's the mataray manager who will ask for the sun, the moon and the entire Milky Way galaxy when you're just asking how much will his alaga cost if I get him to host a corporate event for my client.

In some cases, some managers will give big promises to an actor wannabe that he'll be the next big thing. Although the next thing we know is that the actor's big thing is already inside the manager's mouth. There are also managers who prioritize their other talents who are more popular, more in-demand, leaving their other talents waiting in the sidelines until the spotlight finally hits them.

I'm not painting a bad picture of talent managers. Some of them are friends of mine, the rest are acquaintances only. But this is showbusiness.... the business of show and some talent managers often see other talent managers as a threat. I would like to think that I'm not one of them. I even admire a lot of them on how they craftily stage a coup to introduce their alaga or how they tried to move heaven and earth plus purgatory just to get their alaga a launching movie. But more often than not, I don't turn green, blue and violet with envy if their ward gets something i secretly wish that my alaga would get.

Because I've always believed that everyone has his time and place in showbusiness and if it's his alaga's turn to shine, so be it. My alagas would eventually do in the near future.

Some artists have already approached me if I can manage their career. Many of them are artists who are not happy with their current agent. I always get apprehensive with those kinds of artistas. They ALMOST ALWAYS blame their managers why their career didn't take off, why they didn't get the lucky breaks this other artista is getting, why they have a pimple growing on their nose or why she forgot to pickup his laundry and many more. Managers, while they're often admired are often being slammed for being lazy, practicing favoritism and practically called every negative name in the book.

Stars expect their managers to stop the rain for them, look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.... dance, sing and tickle them until they smile. If you ask me, talents just expect too much.

While I am a very jaded bitch, i always TRY to look at the glass half-full and stars, in their own convulted world think that they're always the bida in the teleserye of their life. They cannot stomach it when they're no longer the bida in the manager's lifestory...or so they say.

What stars do not know is that there's a world beyond the klieg lights and the four corners of the studios of ABS-CBN and GMA 7. They don't know that managers work hard, sometimes losing precious hours of sleep and selling their body, including their nipples just to get their alagas work. They do not see the way they fight for them to producers, talent coordinators, magazine editors etc. They do not see how these managers, while not often being credited, do the dirty work while their alagas come out shiny and spotless.

But it doesn't take a great manager alone to make a star. It takes looks, talent, luck, X-factor, perfect timing and whataver to make a star. Some stars are overnight sensations while others, thru patience and perseverance arrive to where they are. And between managers and their wards, they should have chemistry.

We are ALL guilty of this human trait: when someone does 58 million good things for you but makes a mistake of making one bad thing, you remember the bad thing and unfortunately, the good things are erased. That's especially true for artistas and that trait is multiplied 58 million times than normal. They tend to forget that their managers plucked them from nowhere, got them gigs, paid for their pictorial or whatever. They just remember that this other artista got a job they think they deserve.

At the end of the day, it;s just this question that should remain to be answered. While stars if they get famous, are in the frontline and often being credited that the reason they are where they are is because of them, then why can't they accept that the reason they have fallen down or have not risen up any further is because of them too?

Ego, while it can help you in some way, can certainly cloud your judgement to a fault....whether you're an artista or a prostitute.....like me!

2004-08-20T00:50:00.000-07:00

Many people want to be Lea Salonga. I wanted to be Lea Salonga. When I was just 5 years old, I saw her performing in pigtails and in a sailor outfit Tomorrow, a song from Annie the musicale on TV. She also stuck in my mind as the girl who sang I Am But A Small Voice.

Next thing I saw of her, Lea joined That’s Entertainment (which Kuya German Moreno always banners whenever he does his reminiscing which actually irritates the hell out of me). She then made headlines when she was chosen to do Kim in Miss Saigon, a move which totally changed her life and has made her a legitimate international actress (winning the Sir Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actress in a musicale). She then went on to do Les Miserables and Flower Drum Song and did guesting stints in various shows like ER.

Until now, my friends in New York say when you mention the name Lea Salonga, theater thespians are still in awe of her. According to another friend, whenever she’s in Broadway, paparazzi still take her pictures.

In the country, she still commands a price for her name to be lent in products – whether clothes or conditioners, Lea is still a much in-demand endorser. Her concerts continue to sell out despite the high prices.

And most importantly for a frustrated international supermodel-actress-singer social climber like me, Lea is also in a first name basis with stars like Ricky Martin, Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway and many more.

Now who wouldn’t want to be her?

Lea Salonga has been called a million names already -- world-class performer, international actress etc. But one thing that stuck to my mind is Ms. Anal.

It was told that one time, she was following up the lyrics of this song she was supposed to sutdy for a concert (yup, she followed it up herself. No alalay). She even added in her note, "you know me, I get anal with these things." The concert production staff then typed a message for the music researcher (a music researcher finds and prepares the study tapes for concert artists) and said, "Pa-follow up naman ng lyrics. You know naman Ms. Anal." She mistakenly sent this to Lea herself to which, Lea forwarded the message and added, "Yes, you know me, Ms. Anal."

There was also a story to which she was about to be interviewed by a TV host whom she just met. When they were about to sit on the set-up, ang Unang Hirit ni Lea to theTV host was, "There's something between your teeth." Embarassed TV host ran towards the bathroom and removed his tinga. When TV host was in the bathroom, Lea nonchalantly said, "I want people also to tell me straight if there's something between my teeth!"

There were also stories that Lea memorizes the parts of all her cast members and takes note of their blockings. Like one time, in Miss Saigon, while singing an emotional song, she was pointing with her mouth to her co-actor the right place where he should have been. Of course, actor got irritated with her and lost concentration.

Lea is indeed full of idiosyncrasies that may irritate a lot of people. But if you're a genius of a singer and an actor, I would give you space for that. I have worked with the most mataray people in the business and sometimes I forgive them, sometimes I curse them til Kingdom come.

I've always believed that you don't have to be mataray just to get the job done but I also believe in giving due space to people who are brilliant and stellar in what they do.

And Lea is indeed brilliant and stellar. She is never late, she always comes prepared knowing her lines and blocking. I still remember the story when BMG Records Pilipinas execs came to New York to record her album. They alloted two weeks to record 14 or so tracks (which is the right estimate actually) but so perfect and prepared is Lea (she really reviewed the study tape and musical arrangements sent to her) that she finished recording in less than two days. Ryan Cayabyab was there to supervise the recording and he was floored.

Her movie with Aga Muhlach titled Sana Maulit Muli had her saying this famous line, "Pasensya ka na, hindi ako katulad mong napaka-perfect."

I'm sorry but in my eyes, she is.

---000---

Other Notes:
Lea Salonga now stars in Baby the musical which runs from August 18-September 5 at the Meralco Theatre. For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892 7078 or 840 1187 or TicketWorld at 891 9999.

It was Madonna's birthday last August 16. Happy 46th! Like many, I too believe in the gospel according to Madonna

Thanks again to those who commented on my last post! Truly truly appreciated!

Birds of the same feather

2004-08-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

Let's first get things out of the way.

I'd like to thank the three people who commented on my last post. At least someone's reading my blog. O diba? And I thought it would just be me and our maid who would appreciate it. Thank you thank you.

Anyway, this morning, I got a text message from my very good friend Pia Arroyo-Magalona (who still looks fabulous after all these years). It's a quote from Will Smith in a magazine interview -- "You're only as good as the people you associate with. Look at the five friends that you spend the most time with. That's who you are."

I forwarded this message to my friends and some showbiz people, namely: Piolo Pascual, Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa, Rufa Mae Quinto, Erik Santos, Bianca Gonzalez, Belinda Panelo, Alfred Vargas, Drew Arellano, John Prats, Brad Turvey, Diether Ocampo, Bianca King, Mikel Santos, JC de Vera, BJ Palanca, Jericho Rosales and Bianca Araneta.

It's weird but only a few of them responded. I remember the time when text messaging was new and everytime a quote or a joke was forwarded, everyone would respond with a smiley face or with a witty remark or even a simple thank you. Even the busiest of the busiest will take time to reply to your message -- sort of a validation that yes, they appreciate your time texting them and having them in your mind.

The sparity of replies to my text message only means two things -- it's either in this high-tech age, communication via high tech gadgets has become too impersonal or it became too personal that if it weren't a personal text or email, people would just ignore it and go on with their lives.

First things first, I don't always forward messages, jokes or quotes anymore. It should be a quote that should really be striking and I'll just forward this to people whom I know can totally relate to it.

I've always believed that you are your friends. What papa Will actually said is just a paraphrase of the cliche "Show me who your friends are and I'll show you who you are" or even the more blase "Birds of the same feather flock together." I first forwarded that to my nephew and niece because I always tell them not to choose the people they relate to but to carefully choose their friends. My niece (who's so kikay and is now a 2nd year high school student in Assumption) told me, "Tito Jet, you're teaching us to be snobs like you!" I had to admit that kinda hit me but I retorted by saying, do not choose the people you talk to but you have to deliberately choose your friends. And by forwarding that message from someone they admire (yup, they totally adored him in Men in Black and Independence Day), i thought it can knock sense into their heads. By the way, my niece is 14 while my nephew is 9 and they both replied to my text.

I'd like to think that the few replies to my text only means that if it weren't a personal message, people would just ignore it. I know it's weird but I sincerely hope that's the reason. But I hope that the non-repsondents would appreciate what I sent them. After all, I rarely send them just trash messages. It's actually the first time I forwarded something like that to some of them while to the other few, it was my first time in a long long time in doing so.

Most of the non-respondents are the ones who just text or suddenly call me if they just need something. It really made me think if they're in my top 5 or not.

And after only 5 seconds of thinking, they now belong to the bottom 5.

Love is Blind (?) so here's a blind item for you!

2004-07-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

Hey you jetsetters! Did you miss me?!?!? I'm sure you didn't but anyway, I don't have anything better to do so might as well post a new blog entry.

I've been so busy the past few weeks. But not in terms of my career. More on my personal life. My boyfriend (?) and I just seem to not hit it off well. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I really don't like him THAT much in the first place so it doesn't matter if nothing nice happens in this relationship. I don't know. I don't think love is THAT blind. But I have to admit I'm quite affected when I learn of something about him that I don't like or he did something nasty to me. But maybe that's just me. If I don't like something, get ready to face my wrath!!!

Which I think does apply to this showbiz couple. Hay, love talaga! This showbiz couple has admitted to a not-that-curious-public that yes, they are an item. And that was about more than two years ago. Girl just came out from an "unlucky" relationship. She was a balikbayan....doe-eyed but not that naive. In fact, people say she's a bitch but that didn't stop her from getting high-profile ads until suddenly, she caught the eye of a network executive and offered her to join them.

Guy, well maybe you knew him first as a little boy wearing bright colored pants, neon shaded caps and what-the-hell-are-you-thinking-of suspenders. He was known as a comedian and slowly but surely, he gained a name for himself beside the river. He was known for his wild exploits with women, claiming that he even had an affair with an actress-wife of a basketball player even when they weren't divorced yet. But shocker of shockers, this happened when he was in his prepubescent age!

The high-libido antics of guy didn't end there. There'd be talks of various one-night stands with different women, menage-a-trois exploits that would even make Jetsetter blush! In fact, the four walls of showbizness still remember in humor the one time when guy and his then girlfriend who was also his c0-star in a soap opera did the nasty in their car.... Nothing shocking with that but the two thought that their lapel microphones were already turned off and the whole cast and crew of the show beside the river had a blast listening to them! Last we heard with co-star, she's now trying to get a new lease in life after a former lover exposed that she was "leaving las vegas" to disengage from the Tivoli tribe.

Anyway, back to the original showbiz couple story. We all thought that guy would tame down since he found the love of his life. He was so smitten with this girl first time he laid eyes on her that he kept requesting his "classmates" to guest her even if she was from the other channel just to meet her. When they finally met, he pursued and pursued her. Girl was in a relationship then but was caught by his then lover and he abruptly left her (side kwento....the boyfriend now is an upcoming TV host). So guy and girl continued their love story, against all odds and they're still playing beautiful music together. In fact, guy eventually joined girl in her network and were cast in various shows together. They now even have a dog and are now talking about buying a house in Ayala Alabang. Sweet no?

Little does girl know that guy was still continuing his antics. One time, guy and his guy actor friend were taking a shower in the gym and were exchaging sexploitation stories. Guy boasted to his actor friend that he did it with a sexy starlet in the dressing room of a network. In fact, sometimes, they'd still meet just to do the nasty. Guy actor friend didn't get shocked with the revelation. he in fact said, that yes, he also did it with that hot babe of a girl.

Haaaay.... And I thought my love life was so complicated. Poor girl. She thought that she was able "to fish" a perfect guy but lo and behold..... she wasn't able to tame him down. I'm not that sympathetic to the girl actually because I guess it's karma for fooling around that time she had a boyfriend. But I hope eventually she does. I'm not that bitter and I hope they really find happiness. Sayang naman. How will they go love to love if ever she doesn't? Hanggang kailan siya maghihintay?

Abangan sa Jetsetter!

sorry!

2004-07-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being a delinquent blogger. I actually wrote one before and I swear I posted it pero flop siya! As in nada! Medyo I got turned off with this whole blogger thing but now, based on the many feedback I got on my first entry (actually, i only got three), here's a new one and I hope it doesn't get lost forever in cyberspace. Enjoy!

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Kill Bill Volume 2 is fabulousss!!

That’s the text message I sent my friends after Sky Films held a press preview for the grind house movie now pop phenomenon. When one of my friends texted back, “Is it better than the first?” I just ignored him. After all, it would be unfair. You must not compare Toy Story 1 and Toy Story 2. You must not compare Xmen 1 and X2. And same goes with Kill Bill Vol 1 and Vol 2.

Quentin Tarantino, the director of the film is just plain crazy and you’ll love that lunacy as it is perfectly reflected on the screen, from the kooky characters to the even kookier plot and sub-plots of the movie. But it has worked with Volume 1, and it definitely works in volume 2.

Tarantino’s sanity has been debated more than once in the past by me and my friends. At 40, Quentin doesn’t seem so terribly far from the filmmaker whose light burned brightly through the 90’s as he filled endless tabloid pages in the US with tales of fistfights, partying, romances and of course, breakups. Why the fascination over Quentin? Of course, his is a Hollywood dream story: a young video clerk from humble beginnings who wrote and directed a stylish, over-the-top violent film called Reservoir Dogs and created much buzz in the independent film circuit. His follow-up, Pulp Fiction etched him forever in pop history because it was groundbreaking in a sense that an independent film has never been accepted this much critically AND commercially. Then came Jackie Brown starring the uber-fabulous Pam Grier, Quentin’s homage to blaxpoitation movies that was just received less than warmly. Then after, nothing. Nada.

Urban legends came out. One was that he had writer’s block. Another was that he was arrested in Europe for possession of pot. Another was that he was in the backburn factory of Miramax films rewriting each script that was greenlit by the film company’s big boss Harvey Weinstein. None of which were true – or completely false.

He was acting in Broadway to a less than receptive audience. He was also working on a script about World War II until he bumped to Uma Thurman at the Miramax Oscar party in 2000. They got to talking and Uma asked about an old revenge movie that they cooked up in a bar while shooting Pulp Fiction. Tarantino’s interest flared. He threw out his World War II script and started working on what is then to become Kill Bill.

Many say that the story of Kill Bill, which tells the story of a character named only The Bride, who takes a bullet to the head on her wedding day rehearsal, recovers and goes on a kill-happy rampage, visiting on her former love Bill and his team of sexy hired guns, the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS) is so shallow. Yeah, it is a thin, bloody story actually but the near-endless action sequences and countless stylized touches make Kill Bill work.

Quentin considers his Kill Bill movies as his passion projects. Sort of a tribute to the kung-fu flicks he watched as a kid. And you feel his passion. You feel his lunacy.

Watch Kill Bill Volume 2 on July 7 because of this. And not only that, watch it also for the fabulous Uma Thurman. I would want to also write about her but that would take another entire blogger entry so don’t get me started!

First Time - Like a Virgin!

2004-05-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

I've always been a technoramus. It was only this year that I learned (and still learning) how to surf the `net and email. It was only two months ago that I seriously took my friendster account. And now, I have my own blogspot!

It was my friend Bianca Gonzalez who actually told me about this. And I'm quite excited to post my first message.... Feeling Carrie Bradshaw without the fabulous clothes and shoes though....

Well what can I say about Jet Set? It's going to be about anything and everything under the sun! I'm quite opinionated and I have lots of things to say about lots of things and at least this blogspot thing gives me an outlet (I sometimes feel my friends are sick and tired of hearing my strong opinions on things)!

Well, before you think what right do I have to share my opinion on you guys, let me tell you something about myself. I graduated high school and grade school from an exclusive boys school and graduated college from a girls' school (well almost because it was exclusive for many years and we were one of the few boys who actually enrolled in their school. Besides, I feel and think like a girl even if I;m a guy and it's what's in your heart that matters right?!?!). I'm now working as a publicist, talent agent, columnist and scriptwriter all rolled into one. But come to think of it, I'm just a prostitute in the maddening industry I chose to invest my time and my body in!

i described showbiz as maddening but that's an understatement -- and I'm not bitter. It's actually what makes this industry so fascinating and keeps pulling me towards it like a newly escaped prisoner to a prostitute. Showbiz is reality multiplied in fantastic proportions. In showbiz, we actually feel, think, talk, breath, fart and poo just like the rest of the world but it's often multiplied a thousand times.

And so forgive me if I'll use this blogspot to maintain my sanity by venting out and using you guys as my mental punching bag but it's your choice. You can log out now at this moment or maybe you can join Jet Set in its maiden flight -- whether we soar to greater heights or crash and burn together -- only the gods can say. But one thing's for sure, when you ride in Jet Set, there's no turning back! So sit back, relax and fasten your seat belts. We're about to take off!