Page 14 By A� y. Lozano

FilAm actress Alice Dixson welcomes first baby at 51

By Jo Erlinda Maufi t

A fi rst time mother at 51?

That’s the case of Filipino American actress Alice Dixson.

She gave birth to her fi rst child in the United States and immediately announced the “miracle” on her Instagram and Facebook accounts and splashed in the media in the Philippines and the United States.

She accompanied her announcement with a photo of a document imprinted with baby’s feet and stated her wish has fi nally come true after a long wait of 10 years.

“Despite the unexpected trials this year. God gave us a little miracle,” she said in the caption

The baby of Alice automatically is an American citizen by birth like her having been born 51 years ago in Florida.

But before she and her baby returned to the Philippines, Alice secured a visa for the baby.

Consul General Elmer G. Cato of the Philippine Consulate General in New York posted on Facebook a photo of Alice with him and the PCG staff .

Cato wrote in the caption of the photos: “Most of us remember her as Faye, the fairy princess in Okay Ka Fairy Ko, the television fantasy comedy series that aired in the Philippines from 1987 to 1996. We also know her for the “I can feel it” Palmolive soap commercial that made her famous.”

Cato, a former journalist, added: “Two weeks ago, actress, model, beauty queen and new mom Alice Dixson visited us at the Philippine Consulate General in New York to process her baby’s visa application. A few days later, Alice messaged us from Manila to say that she and her baby arrived safely and to thank us for the assistance extended.” In interviews before she gave birth, Dixson has been open about wanting to have a baby and her dream of being a mother despite her age.

“For those of you who really know me — you’ve known that I’ve been praying for this every year on my birthday for 10 years now. Each year — my wish [is] the same when I blew out my candles,” she said.

“So with great patience, belief and trust — I am happy to announce my wish has fi nally come true,” she added.

“From my family to yours, advanced Happy Easter,” said the star of GMA’s

IN NEW YORK. FilAm actress Alice Dixson poses with Consul General Elmer Cato and staff at the PCG offi ce at the Philippine Center in New York.

upcoming teleserye “Legal Wives.”

Dixson was previously married to businessman Ronnie Miranda from 1999 to 2013. They separated due to what Dixson described in interviews as “irreconcilable diff erences.

It is unclear who the father of the baby is, but in a 2019 interview with Karen Davila on ANC’s “Headstart,” Dixson revealed that she and her unnamed partner were in the process of surrogacy. The actress also mentioned that she had doubts of ever having a baby.

She spoke of her personal journey, “Sa akin (For me), it was never about the way that I would look after [the pregnancy]. It was about my age and my concern about the safety of the child, the wellness of the pregnancy. I had tried previously, it didn’t work out, so my partner and I decided, okay, let’s try surrogacy.

“I have not given up on [surrogacy], and I think this is our last year to try,” she said.

Alice had disclosed that she tried getting pregnant, but “it didn’t work out.”

She said, “Sa akin it was never about the way I would look after. It was about my age and my concern about the safety of the child, the wellness of the pregnancy. I’ve tried previously and it didn’t work out. So parang my partner and I decided, ‘Okay let’s try surrogacy.’”

Alice and her partner have been together for nine years. They met in April 2012, and were introduced by her makeup artist Jean Castor.

To this day, she has not revealed his name. But in some of her previous posts, she referred to him as “GS.”

On Instagram, fellow actors shared their excitement. Ogie Alcasid wrote, “Oh wow[!] Praise God,” and Bianca Manalo posted heart emojis. Screenwriter Garlic Garcia said, “Truly happy for you Alice. I know this silent prayer in your heart. We rejoice with you.”

Metro Manila Film Festival summer edition scrapped, yearend edition set

The Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee has decided to postpone the summer edition of the annual fi lm event.

In a statement, the committee led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the decision stays until partner cinemas are again able to open.

Cinemas in the metropolis are closed because of strict community quarantine.

The MMFF EXECOM also decided to focus on the yearend holiday festival. Deadlines were also announced for the submission of entries. Deadline of submission of letter of intent will be at 5 p.m. on June 30 (Wednesday).

Deadline of submission of fi nished fi lm entries and other required documents including offi cial trailer/clippings/ behind-the-scenes will be 5 p.m.., September 3 (Friday) for Early Birds and September 30 for regular submission

The committe said announcement of the 8 offi cial fi nished fi lm-entries will be on October 15 (Friday).

The MMFF said it is encouraging producers and fi lmmakers to submit entries that would inspire, uplift and connect to a broader Filipino audience for this year’s fi lm festival amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

DENNIS PADILLA RECOVERING FROM THE VIRUS

In a recent interview, my friend Actor Dennis Padilla revealed to fans that he recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus and underwent isolation, but that he has now fully recovered.

In a recent interview, Dennis shared that he spent 12 days confi ned at a hospital.

In his fi rst days in confi nement, DEnnis admitted that he was scared for his life, but prayed for recovery as he wants to be there for his children.

“Talagang nung fi rst, second, third day… kasi tinataas ko lang yung kamay ko. Sabi ko, ‘Lord, hindi ko alam kung ito na yun.’ Sabi ko lang sa Kanya, ‘Sana mapagbigyan mo pa ako ng isa pang pagkakataon, kasi maliliit pa yung mga anak ko,”‘ Padilla recalled. (On the fi rst, second, third day… I just raised my hand and said, “Lord, I do not know if this is it.” I just told Him, “I hope You can still give me one more chance, because my children are still young.”)

“Sana (I hope), You can give me another chance for life,’” he added.

The actor also shared that during his isolation, he still got to talk to his children almost every night and learned that his children were praying for his recovery as well.

“Ang paniwala ko, mukhang pinakamalakas na pakinggan ng Panginoon yung mga dasal ng mga anak ko (I believe that the strongest prayers that God hears are those of my children),” he said.

“They were praying for their father. They were praying for my recovery,” he added.

Although he did not mention where he was confi ned, Dennis recently posted a photo of him with a health worker at the Capitol Medical Center and thanked the hospital staff .

Dennis is one of many celebrities who have battled or are battling COVID-19, including President Erap, Iza Calzado, Michael V, Christopher DeLeon, K Brosas, Rhian Ramos, Ted Failon, Sunshine Cruz, Gab & Angeli Valenciano, Angelica Jones and Angeline Quinto, Nikki Valdez, Joel Lamangan, and Claire Dela Fuente, who unfortunately didn’t recover.

Take care and be safe everyone!

JUDY ANN SANTOS COOKS FOR SHARON CUNETA

Actress, Sharon Cuneta thanked Judy Ann Santos for taking care of her cravings while she was sick.

In her Instagram account, Sharon posted photos of Juday’s cooking to thank her showbiz sister.

“Hindi po nya binebenta ito. Pero ilang araw na ako pinagluluto ng kapatid kong si Juday @offi cialjuday para daw lumakas at gumaling ako agad!” Sharon wrote

“Tulad ng pinakamasarap na Chicken Curry sa mundo na gawa nya and alam nyang paborito ko. Nung isang araw naman champorado, arroz caldo, at lahat na yata ng paborito ko pinagbuhusan niya ng panahon at pagod para lang sa akin,” she added.

Apart from cooking, Sharon also shared that Juday checked her from time to time with her condition.

“Mayat-maya tinetext nya ako. Nung isang araw magkafacetime kami. Iba si Juday sa puso at buhay ko. Hanggang kabilang buhay magkasama at magdadamayan kami. I love you with all my heart, sis. Thank you so much for taking good care of me,” she said.

Juday commented on Sharon’s post, assuring Sharon that she will always be there for her.

“Feel better soon my ate... Basta kumain ka lang, I’ll take care of you kahit hanggang sa pagkain lang muna... Just promise me that you will take care of yourself as well... I love you ate... I’m just here no matter what.”

Thanks you all for reading Phils News Today. Be safe & God Bless everyone!

 ENTERTAINMENT Sunshine Dizon moving to ABS-CBN?

Is Sunshine Dizon switching to the Kapamilya network after 25 years with GMA Network?

The poser was raised after two Kapuso stars were the subject of blind items speculating that they were moving to the Kapamilya network.

There is no confi rmation of Sunshine’s decision to transfer to the ABS-CBN group but showbiz editor Evelyn Diao reported that the actress attended the story conference of the new drama series led by Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez.

The rumored transfer came as a surprise for some of her fans. How could Sunshine transfer while she has been properly taken care by her home network, they asked.

She has been given new projects and the feedbacks about those have been good, it was learned.

But according to sources, GMA-7 did not renew her contract, therefore, she is now free to accept projects from other agencies. It was not disclosed if Sunshine did sign an exclusive contract with Kapamilya network.

Her manager Perry Lansigan has not yet commented on the report even as fans wait for Sunshine’s statement on her transfer.

The series would be a reunion of former Kapuso and now Kapamilya artists — Janine Gutierrez, Paulo Avelino with Sunshine Dizon. Janine and Paulo became known for their good performances since they left the network where they started.

One of the reasons they transferred is career move. Moving forward, not backward. And defi nitely not standing or sitting still.

There are many tradeoff s and adjustments in every transfer particulary now that ABS-CBN is shut down and has no franchise.

So while it may not be an entirely fi nancial reason, what could have led some of the Kapuso artists to move to the Kapamilya station like Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, Iza Calzado and Regine Velasquez?

Speculations are they are hundred percent grateful to the Kapuso network for starting them up. But just like any growing child, they felt the need to grow in another environment. it was learned.