TFC All Access Vol 1 Issue 5

www.tfc-usa.com/AllAccess

eresal fnort fo

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Tour BOY ABUNDA’s home

The witness to the significant events in his life

exclusive

JESSY MENDIOLA

Opens up about her past heartbreaks and her new love

Trace the CESAR MONTANO and SUNSHINE CRUZ

Love timeline and the events leading to the big break up

BAMBOO opens up about his life and career

tographed side.

PLUS! WIN 1 of 2 au Find out how in Bamboo shirts.

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Note from the Editor

What A Year It Was! When TFC All Access made its debut in February 2013 in the U.S., we had an inkling that this will be an eventful year; we just didn’t realize how DRAMATICALLY eventful it would be.

The island province of Bohol was disrupted by the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in 23 years. Experts say that Typhoon Haiyan may be the strongest ever to hit land (and it hit the Philippines). The twin tragedies may have given the world the most heartbreaking images and stories, but the unmatched outpouring of help in time, talent and treasure from the world over is and will remain the bigger story - the story of selfless giving, hope, unity, love and joy.

This is the spirit of the season that we want to convey in our last issue for our first year. Life with all its tears and trials - remains a gift that we should continue to celebrate because of its lessons, promise and blessings.

In this issue, catch the tell-all interview of Maria Mercedes star Jessy Mendiola, who shares her own ‘journey of the heart’ as it involves her past and rumored present love, Sam Milby. Learn the inside story of how Sam is courting Jessy as shared by one of Jessy’s closest friends.

For a true story on the ups and downs of a showbiz marriage and how life goes on after trials, we also feature a timeline of the love story of Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano.

We also take the readers to an inside visual tour of one of the four grand homes of awardwinning TV host, publicist, talent manager and celebrity endorser Boy Abunda and the abode of the country’s Prince of Pop Erik Santos.

The always interesting and sometimes enigmatic Bamboo - fresh from his numerous international concerts and TV stint as one of the four celebrity coaches of The Voice of the Philippines - opens up about his private life and sterling career and debunks myths and chatter about leaving his popular band, Rivermaya.

And last but not least, we feature the country’s Pop Princess and certified Box Office Queen, Sarah Geronimo, who just finished her very succesful 10th year anniversary concerts. One of the female celebrity coaches of The Voice of the Philippines, Sarah tells readers the huge role of her biggest love - music - in her life.

And so we end the year on a bright and happy note: Thank you for taking the ride of adventure with us and we promise bigger and brighter things to come as TFC celebrates its 20th year in 2014. Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon Sa Inyong Lahat! Happy Reading!

Leylanie Go, Editor-in-Chief

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Volume 1 Issue 6 • contents

Kwentu-juan sa Barangay USA California’s Great America Santa Clara, California October 20, 2013

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One Kapamilya Go Project Head Submission of your material constitutes ABSOur annual event madepermission historyforyet CBN International to allow its use, again as it was held over in part or inone whole,weekend in all media.

Fan sightings

in New Jersey (for the very first time) and in California.

One Kapamilya Go is our labor of love to our Kapamilyas in the United States. Its various activities and impressive main show is TFC viewing experience realized in a live setting.

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The artists and the staff worked tirelessly and slogged through sleepless nights in order to bring you the best, worthwhile, and meaningful live entertainment.

Jessy Mendiola

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in an honest, understands your needs better Nobody and revealing than the men and women behind TFC exclusive interview

One Kapamilya Go the culmination of a year of fun and exciting events”

events.

At the end of the day, we live the same lives, we face the same challenges, we too are fans of the stars we see on TV, we also yearn for a piece of our country that we once called home.

One Kapamilya Go is our love story.

That is why it is very special.

style 8 Star Magic Ball 2013 s ta r s 20 Bamboo others 18 Citizen Pinoy: The Lawyer Is In 46 Star Speak: Sarah Geronimo

See you next year, Kapamilya!

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Erik Santos

takes tour of his Quezon City home

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For the latest in entertainment news and celebrity lifestyle, read StarStudio Magazine.

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Prudential Center Newark, New Jersey October 18, 2013

California’s Great America Santa Clara, California October 20, 2013

TFC CLOSED THE EVENT SEASON WITH A BANG...

HEARD ON BOTH COASTS!

by Ricky I. Resurreccion One Kapamilya Go Project Head Our annual event made history yet again as it was held over one weekend in New Jersey (for the very first time) and in California.

One Kapamilya Go is our labor of love to our Kapamilyas in the United States. Its various activities and impressive main show is TFC viewing experience realized in a live setting.

The artists and the staff worked tirelessly and slogged through sleepless nights in order to bring you the best, worthwhile, and meaningful live entertainment.

Nobody understands your needs better than the men and women behind TFC events.

At the end of the day, we live the same lives, we face the same challenges, we too are fans of the stars we see on TV, we also yearn for a piece of our country that we once called home.

One Kapamilya Go is our love story.

That is why it is very special.

See you next year, Kapamilya!

PHOTO: Ricky with Ricky

www.OneKapamilyaGo.com

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Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

These ladies stood out on the red carpet in stunning gowns that were either executed in immaculate white or off-white with whimsical touches of silver and pearl accents

SHAINA MAGDAYAO Like what she wore at the Star Magic Ball last year, Shaina’s gown for this year’s ball was a sexy backless number—only this time she went for a sleeker and more sophisticated take in this long-sleeved gown with train by Rajo Laurel. She amped up her look with the help of stylist Pam Quiñones, makeup artist Jigs Mayuga and hair stylist Jaime Sy.

KIM CHIU There’s no doubt that Kim was the belle of the ball in this longsleeved, deep v-neck sheer and embellished ball gown by Pepsi Herrera. Her look was put together by styling duo Kim and Boop Yap, makeup artist Albert Kurniawan, and hair stylist Jerry Javier.

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ERICH GONZALES Erich took on the red carpet in a sophisticated and exquisite heavily beaded pearl creation

by Ezra Santos; the serpentina cut and shoulder cut-outs lent her a sexier appeal. She was styled by Kat Cruz, along with makeup artist RB Chanco and hair stylist Nante Alingasa.

ANGELICA PANGANIBAN Devoid of intricate details, Angelica’s Vania Romoff gown with a thigh-high slit and a fringed cape—accessorized with jewels by Dina Castro— looked impeccable and simply elegant on her. The glam squad behind this look was stylist Pam Quiñones, makeup artist Juan Sarte and hair stylist John Valle.

text by tinna s. bonifacio and grace libero • additional interviews by julian mauricio • Photography by ALLAN SANCON, mark gacer AND RENATO LU

Silvery White

ST AR

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GIC

Dramatic Black

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Black is a classic and timeless choice of many for galas, but these artists defied the tried-and-tested formula; they wore long black dresses that were made trendier with sexy and over-the-top cuts and details

JESSY MENDIOLA Showbiz’s latest It-girl sure deserves nothing less than perfection—which she absolutely embodied in this long-sleeved, deep v-neck, heavily beaded and embroidered gown with a thigh-high front slit

by Francis Libiran, styled

by Rex Atienza. Kusie Ho did her makeup and Randy Gabin was in charge of her side-swept hair.

MAJA SALVADOR Undeniably one of the night’s best dressed stars, Maja wowed in an alluring creation by Cary Santiago. It is mermaid-cut with sheer cut-outs and lace and sequin details. The gown was accessorized with a purple clutch by Neil San Pedro. The winning look was put together by stylist Rex Atienza, makeup artist Mickey See and hair stylist Angelu Dominguez.

POKWANG Comedienne Pokwang upstaged everyone at the ball, what with a couture black and pewter outfit

by Arielle Agasang, which features exaggerated sleeves, a ruffled skirt, and a thigh-high slit.

MARICAR REYES-POON Maricar still had that newlywed glow about her, looking effortlessly beautiful in a column gown with alternating black and silver splashes of sequins (which created a nice asymmetrical stripe pattern) by Rhett Eala, as styled by Sidney Yap. She did her own makeup, while Regine Ballesca took care of her hair.

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STEALING GLANCES That’s what happened when some of showbiz’s most watched, most talked-about and controversial couples made their entrance at the Star Magic Ball that night

Piolo Pascual did not have much to say to reporters about why he arrived solo on the red carpet, but inside the ballroom, he hardly left the side of his date for the evening, Shaina Magdayao.

moet & chandon fabulous pair

John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban proved that they were still very much a couple when they arrived and walked the red carpet together. It was also their first time to attend the ball as each other’s date.

Best dressed male & Female

Xian Lim was a complete gentleman that night as he escorted date Kim Chiu down the red carpet and into the ballroom. Kim was a bit slow in moving around because of her voluminous gown. At one point during the evening, Xian joked: “May folding stool siya sa loob niyan, kaya siya nakakaupo.”

Teen couple Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo drew the most attention from the fans on the red carpet. As they exited the hotel’s back entrance to begin their red carpet walk, they were accompanied by family, including Kathryn’s mother, Mommy Min Bernardo. Sightings of the two were much in-demand all night.

It was the first public appearance of sweethearts Gerald Anderson and Maja Salvador. Asked whether they were worried about the public backlash that could come after being seen arm-in-arm at the ball, Gerald told StarStudio that he wasn’t.

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couple of the night

Sam Milby, who confirmed that he’s been courting Jessy Mendiola, arrived at the hotel by himself, but later caught up with Jessy outside the ballroom.

When Jessy was interviewed by the press upon arriving, she was asked why she chose to go solo.

“I wanted to arrive alone. Magkikita-kita naman kami inside,” said the actress.

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Begin Again After two high-profile romances that didn’t end so well, Maria Mercedes star Jessy Mendiola—in an honest, revealing and exclusive interview—opens up to StarStudio about coping with heartbreak, how she moved past the pain and tells us why she’s willing to put her heart on the line and start all over

By Julian Mauricio With additional research by Angela Denilla

Jessy Mendiola arrived solo at last year’s 2012 Star Magic Ball. At that time, she and JM de Guzman were reported to be going through a rough patch. When asked how she would react if JM came up to her and started talking to her, Jessy’s reply was a noncommittl, “We’ll see.”

A

t 20 years old, Jessy Mendiola has already had her fair share of heartbreak from high-profile breakups with gifted yet troubled actor JM de Guzman, and actor and athlete Matteo Guidicelli.

So when word of the Maria Mercedes star’s budding romance with a then-unnamed Kapamilya actor first broke out, people were happy for her. Within seconds, her Twitter account was flooded with mentions from people like ABS-CBN Publicity and Social Media Head Eric John Salut who said: “Happy ako sa nabalitaan ko about you!”

In the days that followed, Jessy kept her silence as the public’s curiosity grew about the identity of this new man in her life. Even when Sam Milby finally admitted it was him that was courting her during a live interview on The Buzz on August 25, she didn’t react, at least not openly.

But when her friends saw the familiar sparkle in Jessy’s eyes— and realized it hadn’t been there since the day she and Matteo fell apart—they knew that something was about to begin again.

JM de Guzman: The star-crossed love

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With the hints dropped on social media followed by Sam’s open admission on The Buzz, the Jessy and Sam romance is starting off in stark contrast to her relationship with JM, which was, for the most part—and because so many of her friends and family, including mom Judith, were opposed to it—kept secret.

“It was really hard because everyone—my family, some of my friends, people I work with—was against it,” recalls Jessy. “May iba naman na inaasar pa kaming dalawa sa isa’t-isa. But when it started to become different, they started saying things na parang, ‘Hey, it’s not meant for you guys.’ We’re not meant for each other daw.”

When they first met, JM was doing Mula Sa Puso and Jessy was starring in Sabel. In the beginning, there was a feeling that since both were actors, they would understand each other, which meant a smooth-sailing relationship. But Jessy’s mom, in particular, saw the effect it had on her and was adamant about her feelings. Says Jessy: “I asked my mom one time kung bakit ganun. Sabi lang niya, she felt I was becoming a different person, like nawawalan daw ako ng time for my family noon and she felt it was because of him.”

But that didn’t stop Jessy, who was in a self-described rebellious phase. She was turning 18, and was determined to gradually exercise her right to be independent. “I was pasaway, and when you really love someone, you’re blinded. I guess that was it,” she says.

Jessy and JM had to keep their relationship tightly under wraps because of this disapproval, meeting in secret and exchanging latenight text messages. But eventually, JM realized he loved Jessy too much to keep their relationship in the dark. So he changed tactics, 1

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JM finally caught up with Jessy outside the ballroom of the Shangri-la Makati where the ball was held. Later, he would say: “Ang ganda ni Jessy ngayon.” (Jessy was wearing a gown by Nat Manilag). The two eventually entered the ballroom together.

While the rest of the Star Magic talents were glued to the ongoing basketball game at last year’s Star Magic Games, JM for his part, was busy entertaining Jessy, trying to make her laugh.

put into it—the Jessy-JM romance ended almost as quietly as it began. Hardly anyone outside their inner circle knew they got together in the first place, and the same was true of their breakup. It actually wasn’t until her emotional confession at a press conference for her new show Maria Mercedes earlier this year that most people found out about her almost two-year relationship with JM. “Opo, naging kami ni JM,” Jessy said at the press conference. “I really couldn’t say so kasi nu’ng time na ’yun, hindi talaga kami okay ng mom ko and I didn’t want to make things worse pa. Inisip ko kasi noon na kapag umamin ako na kami na nga ni JM, baka maging magulo pa lalo ang sitwasyon. Dumating din sa time na hindi na talaga kami nag-uusap ng mom ko, like minsan gumigising ako at umaalis ng bahay para pumunta ng taping na hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya.”

Jessy also talked about having to put up with criticism from people who felt it was unfair that JM spoke up and she didn’t say a word on his behalf. She said she had her reasons.

“Maraming nagsasabi na napakasama kong tao kay JM kasi hindi talaga ako nagsalita tungkol sa kanya, pero nagkataon lang na umamin siya nung wala na kami at ayoko na dagdagan kasi hindi kami okay ng mom ko noon. Parang pinili ko na lang na ako ’yung lumabas na masama, kasi sinasabi ng lahat nu’ng time na ’yun na ang sweet niya kasi umamin siya sa TV. And I’m really happy for him na nagawa niya ’yun para sa akin.

But on my part, as long as alam ng maraming taong malapit sa akin kung sino talaga ako at may paninindigan ako na one day magiging okay din kami ng

mom ko, pinili ko lang na ’wag magsalita.

JM and I broke up even before he said he loved me on TV. I think he said that because he wanted to get back together, but it really didn’t help.”

On the real reason behind their breakup, Jessy tells StarStudio that she realized it was high time she put herself and her career first, plus at one point their relationship became unhealthy.

“It was difficult nung first year, then it became easy in the second year, but it became difficult again. ’Yung panliligaw niya sa mom ko worked for a while, but then things started to get different ulit. I don’t want to say why for his best interests, but on my part I couldn’t concentrate on my work, I was being so in love na naman, and there were times na I’d cry because we’d have arguments and the arguments were palala nang palala, and us as people na rin. So I really wanted it to end.”

Jessy, though, does not regret her time with JM and expressed concern regarding the unsavory rumors that sprung up around him following their breakup.

“Marami akong natutunan sa part na ’yun ng buhay ko,” she said. “Mas pinili ko lang muna alagaan ’yung sarili ko.

Nag-usap kaming dalawa at tinanggap naman niya, kaya nagulat na lang ako nung may lumalabas na balita na hindi pala siya okay, kasi nung nag-usap kami okay naman. Mas minahal ko na lang muna ’yung sarili ko, kasi mahirap din pala ’yung hindi ka nagtitira nang konting pagmamahal sa sarili mo. But I still worry about him naman, and I still want him to get back on his feet.”

There were developments that followed which seemed to confirm that all was not right with JM. A few months ago, he gave up what would have been the starring role, no less, in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2013-bound Blessed Pedro Calungsod biopic, in which he was replaced by Rocco Nacino. The reason given was “health concerns”.

In an interview with veteran entertainment editor Ricky Lo of The Philippine STAR, JM’s father Ronniel said that

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Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

trying his hardest to win Jessy’s mother over. In August 2012, while promoting the Star Cinema barkada movie The Reunion, Jessy shared with reporters some details on how JM did that. “Siya ’yung pumupunta sa condo ko with my mom. Umaakyat siya nang ligaw sa mom ko. Magdadala siya ng chocolates at flowers, tapos tutugtog siya kasi ’yung mom ko mahilig sa music. Kinakalikot niya ’yung guitar ng mom ko. They would sing together, which was so cute. Eh di ba sa Filipino values, mom muna ang dapat ligawan bago anak? Pero siya baliktad, until niligawan niya ’yung mom ko for me.”

That seemed to work for a while, but eventually their romance hit a rough patch, when JM admitted on national TV that he loved Jessy. At the press screening for Precious Hearts Romances Presents Paraiso, Jessy admitted to reporters that she and JM had been exclusively dating until his public declaration of love.

She was taken completely by surprise and decided to break up with him as a result. But something told her to give him another chance, so she did, telling reporters, “Gusto ko rin namang sabihin ’yung side ko na, ‘Opo, may time na hindi kami okay kasi kung anu-ano na po ang nasasabi sa TV.’ Nabigla ako, sana man lang may heads-up.Pero bago na ngayon, mas natatanggap na ng tao at na-aappreciate ang konting honesty. Ngayon, okay naman na kami. Parang normal ulit.

We’re friends, we’re talking.”

But again, that didn’t last for long.

Eventually—and despite all that they

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his son was “not yet stable but getting better.

A few more months and he will be okay.

Maybe by December, he will be recovered.

He will be a better man when he emerges and he himself will tell the whole true story.”

Matteo Guidicelli: The ‘almost’ love

When Jessy broke up with JM, she wasn’t looking to get into a new relationship.

Matteo also wasn’t on her radar until they were halfway through Precious Hearts Romances Presents Paraiso. They weren’t even friends in the beginning. It was her growing interest in fitness—an interest that the athletic Matteo encouraged by inviting her to go jogging around their location (a resort in Caramoan, Camarines Sur)—that drew them closer together.

Jessy can’t pinpoint the moment when the emotional tide between them shifted. “It just happened. He just started being close to me,” she says. It really did come as a surprise to both of them, because Matteo thought she was intimidating and she thought he just wasn’t her type. “Hindi ko talaga akalain na magiging ganun kami ka-close sa isa’t-isa, like kapag may problema kami about something, we would talk about it,” shares Jessy. “Natuwa ako kasi that was the first time na may ka-love team ako na naging sobrang open sa akin, kaya nakita ko na ibang-iba pala siya sa naging perception ko sa kanya. I never expected him to be so humble.”

The two of them met up in Cebu last Holy Week. Jessy had long been planning a trip to Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, a five-star getaway on Mactan Island with

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her closest friends. Meanwhile, Matteo was participating in a triathlon on Bantayan Island, which lies off the coast of the northern end of Cebu. When he heard that Jessy and her friends were in Plantation Bay, Matteo dropped everything to meet them, traveling a little over three hours to reach their location. Upon arriving, he invited them to his family’s beach house. Jessy was surprised. “I wasn’t expecting him to call me,” she says.

But the real surprise of that trip—at least as far as Jessy was concerned—came when Matteo introduced her to his extended family over dinner at a French restaurant.

Jessy recalls there being with about 15 people present, including Matteo’s parents Gianluca and Glenna. “Kasama pa namin pati mga cousins, titos and titas niya,” she recalls. “I was kind of scared because almost all of them are Italian and I couldn’t understand anything. Marunong din silang mag-English, but they had thick accents.

But they were really nice naman. The whole family was there but I didn’t think of it as anything muna. I just thought of it as a fellow actor introducing his leading lady to his family.”

But something told her there was more to the day than just that. “They were teasing us. His lolo Nono kept saying, ‘She’s so beautiful. Bella (‘beautiful’ in English)!’

Pero sinabi ko sa sarili ko, baka wala lang.

But then why would you introduce your leading lady to your whole family, at doon pa sa Cebu? Iba kasi kung sa parents lang niya ako pinakilala. But no, it was the whole family, plus I also met his close friends. So I thought, this is kind of different.”

The truth would come out later. In the months that followed, Matteo admitted in several interviews that he was smitten with Jessy and she was the only girl he was “seeing” at the time. In one interview conducted in January of this year, he even described Jessy as his “inspiration” and acknowledged that she had most of the qualities he looks for in a girl. But he always stopped short of saying he was courting her. In an April 19 guesting on s u e 6 Kris TV, Matteo said,

“We don’t want to put a label on what we have. We are very happy with each other’s presence and we even spend a lot of time together kahit wala na ’yung show.”

Jessy wasn’t sure about where she stood with him. But it wasn’t until he returned from a US tour with Sarah Geronimo that she asked him exactly what was going on.

“Kasi ganun ako. If I’m close to someone, I want that person to tell me everything, exactly what he’s feeling, what he’s thinking. Para maintindihan ko and para I know where to stand,” she explains. “So I asked him. And he was just like ‘Hey, I have a lot of projects and I don’t think we’ll be able to see each other.’ Parang ganun ’yung sinabi niya.”

Jessy was surprised, but didn’t let it show.

She told Matteo it was alright because she also had a lot to do. She had an upcoming movie with John Lloyd Cruz, Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. She was shooting several commercials and there was Maria Mercedes. “So I said, ‘Sige. We can remain friends.’ ” How far did that friendship reach? Jessy says that if there was a line that separated “friends” from “more than friends,” they came really close to crossing it but never did. “I can’t really say that we got together, but I also can’t say that nothing happened.”

They would probably have become honest-to-goodness friends after that, but things took a different turn when he didn’t defend Jessy after some people started bashing her. “I don’t know why they were doing that,” Jessy says. “But even our fans, nagkakagulo na rin. I told them, ‘Wag na lang tayo makipag-away sa Internet.

But it’s just weird that Matteo went to the States and bashers started coming in. He was even tagged in some of the tweets, but he didn’t react.”

Matteo remained silent, which hurt Jessy. She unfollowed him on Instagram and Twitter and deleted some of their photos together. News of Jessy’s actions spread like wildfire, which surprised her.

“It was realy a spur-of-the-moment thing where I was hurt that all the bashers were saying bad stuff and he wasn’t defending me. It was hard. I’m a normal girl. I get hurt also. It’s just weird that people found out about it because I didn’t tell anyone na I unfollowed him. But I understand din naman why he didn’t say anything, kasi baka ayaw niya siya naman ’yung mabash or anything like that. Siguro ayaw niya lang ma-aggravate ’yung situation.”

Since then, Matteo has been linked to Sarah Geronimo and X-Factor Philippines winner KZ Tandingan. Jessy has nothing against either girl. She adds that she

Sam Milby: The new love?

And then there’s Sam Milby. Because of what happened with JM and Matteo, Jessy has become quite gun-shy and hesitant about discussing her private life. Some of her closest friends, including ABS-CBN teleserye writer Noreen Capili, say that is Jessy’s way of keeping herself from getting hurt again, especially now that Sam has expressed interest in her.

Sam went on The Buzz and confirmed his panliligaw of Jessy last August 25, long after StarStudio’s interview with her. Sam was on tour in the US when we tried to reach him for comment, so

Jessy authorized Noreen to speak on her behalf.

When Noreen sat down with us on September 1, one of the first things she said was, “Bagongbago pa lang itong kung ano man ang meron sina Sam at Jessy. Mga three weeks ago lang talaga ito nagumpisa.”

“He’s very consistent and he’s very According to attentive. He’s observant. Kumbaga, Noreen, the two if you need anything or something, he knows,” Jessy shared about Sam first got to know during her interview on TV Patrol on each other on the September 2 when she confirmed that set of a Maalaala the actor was courting her.

Mo Kaya episode they worked on a year and a half ago, it.’ Tapos sinabi rin niya sa akin na he’s but the seeds of this new beginning were been single for four years and since his planted during a recent night out Sam last relationship, ngayon lang daw siya ulit spent with Jessy and her friends. nakaramdam ng ganito.”

Shortly thereafter, Jessy told Noreen The next day, Jessy was there again, what was happening. “Nagpunta siya sa and this time, Sam brought food. “Bumili bahay ko. Inamin niya na nanliligaw si siya ng pagkain. Ang nakakatuwa pa dun, Sam sa kanya. Pero dahil may trust issues hindi niya alam kung ano ang gusto ni siya because of how things with Matteo Jessy, so binili niya lahat ng pastries and ended, feeling niya baka hindi seryoso si sandwiches na meron sila. Isa ’yun sa mga Sam sa kanya. Tapos naiisip din niya kasi bagay na nag-convince sa akin na seryoso lahat nung mga na-link kay Sam before nga siya, kasi he’s nice not only kay Jessy, na parang wala naman daw nangyari, so but sa friends din niya. Nakikita ko talaga natatakot siya na baka sa ganun din sila ’yung effort niya.” mauwi.”

Jessy, meanwhile, is taking her time.

Jessy asked Noreen if she thought Her parting words were: “In terms of Sam was serious about her. At the time, love life, I can say that I’m broken but I’m Sam was on the set of Huwag Ka Lang not shattered. So it can still be put back Mawawala, but he was in constant together. It just needs time, it just needs communication with Jessy via text. When the right moment, the right person, Jessy told Noreen of this, Noreen replied, the right situation. For me kasi, I’m “Kung pupunta siya dito after ng taping happy with my career right now. I’m para lang makita ka, seryoso yan sa ’yo. Eh happy with myself. So I think it’s a sign umuulan noon, kasagsagan ng bagyo, so also from God na ‘Hey, ’wag muna hindi umaasa si Jessy na pupunta nga si masyadong serious’ because I still have Sam sa bahay ko. Pero pumunta siya.” this upcoming teleserye. You know what Sam showed up after taping his last I always say? ‘If God takes something sequence for the day, and both Jessy and away from you, it means He is emptying Noreen were surprised when he called your hands to give you something and said he was on his way up to Noreen’s better. So it all comes down to that. condominium unit in a residential If you’re down, if you lose something building near ABS-CBN. Even when really special to you, have faith that Noreen opened the door and saw Sam God will replace it with something standing there, craning his neck to try and better. And when it comes, you’ll be catch a glimpse of Jessy who was inside, able to handle it not just with one hand, she couldn’t believe it. Later that night, but with two.”

Noreen had a few minutes alone with Sam Only time will tell if that something and she chose that moment to ask him better is named Sam Milby. For Jessy, if he was really serious about courting what’s important is that after the Jessy. He replied, “Seryoso ako, Ate. I’m breaks in her heart, she’s open to the willing to wait and I’m willing to prove possibility of beginning again.

Photo from www.bidakapamilyablogspot.com

and Matteo are fine, to the point that they were able to shoot a campaign for their newest endorsement,a phone app, recently. But Jessy readily admits that a part of her still feels bad about what happened. “Mabait talaga si Matteo, sobrang bait niyang tao. I’m not the type na if you did something bad to me, goodbye na. I’m a totally forgiving person. But you also have to work hard for it. It’s not like, kapag may problema kayo ng isang tao, you apologize lang and then okay na. Of course it’s not like that.

Kung gaano kataaas ’yung level ng hurt na nararamdaman ng isang tao, dapat ganun din kataas ’yung level ng effort na ipakita mo para mapababa ’yun. Madali lang naman ’yun.”

When asked if he’s working for it, Jessy says, “We’ll see. That’s why although I’m open to following him again, I haven’t done that yet. But I really have nothing against him. He’s a nice person naman and he was brought up very well.”

Jessy knows that some of the things she said in this interview with StarStudio might ruffle a few feathers. But she’s not worried. “Kung lumabas ito at mabasa ito ng mga ibang bashers, magagalit sila sa akin lalo. Okay. I mean, there are people who like you and there are people who don’t, so you might as well just say something. If I play safe, there will be people who will say, ‘Hay naku, ang arte naman ni Jessy!’ But if I tell the truth, ganu’n din naman ang sasabihin nila.

So basically, I’ll say the whole thing na lang, say what I think and what I feel. Like during the presscon, people were saying na, ‘Oh, she’s just saying all these things to promote Maria Mercedes.’ Sabi ko, ‘I’m not doing this for the show because the show isn’t even airing yet.’ That presscon, sa totoo lang, it was just for me. Not the show.

It was just an announcement. Iba pa ’yung presscon ng show mismo.”

From Deportation to Green Cards in 11 Days: Citizen Pinoy Enables a Family to Live their American Dream

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itizen Pinoy features the long and painful journey of TNTs in the US, because their eventual triumphs inspire Filipino communities worldwide, who may have similar immigration problems, hopes, and dreams.

The story of the Villarosa Family, headed by Jun, which was first featured in 2007, is always among the favorite success stories. Their ordeal demonstrates the difficult, yet fulfilling and inspiring, journey of every Filipino who migrates to the US for greener pastures. Their story embodies a hardfought accomplishment and has become a beacon of hope for others.

For Jun Villarosa, living in the US with his family was his top priority. When their story was first featured in Citizen Pinoy, viewers were moved by their immigration experience, from receiving denials to a possible deportation, until they sought the help of Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel. Even though they were already told by 3 attorneys that the only option was to go home, Atty. Gurfinkel did not want to give up, and told them that

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going home is reminded perhaps of “not an option the same way that Atty. for you. We will Gurfinkel solved their fight to re-open immigration problems. your case.” Soon Now with the holiday enough, in just season approaching, 11 days, the case they can continue to FROM DEPORTATION TO GREEN CARDS IN 11 was reopened celebrate Christmas DAYS. After being told to “go home” by 3 attorneys and approved, and New Year together, (and facing possible deportation) the Villarosa family and the entire and, of course, with was able to get their green cards in 11 days, with Atty. family obtained Gurfinkel’s help. Now they are together, in the US, living Thanksgiving there’s a their green lot to be thankful for— their American Dream. cards. a family who not only Seven years later, Citizen Pinoy avoided deportation, but got their legal revisited the Villarosa family to look back status in record time, all through a lawyer on where they were, and how far they whose mission and passion are to save had come living the American Dream. immigrants and keep their families. Just We were elated that their persistence like the Villarosa Family. paid off for the better. Before, the entire Like what Atty. Gurfinkel said, family was cramped in one apartment, “We cannot guarantee results, but with six people sharing one bathroom. we guarantee we will fight for you.”

But today, they are living comfortably What this message echoes is what in a home they now call their own, Citizen Pinoy’s relationship is with the with enough bedrooms and bathrooms Filipino Community: our audience is to accommodate the whole family. our Kapamilya, and we stand by them More importantly, all of Jun’s children from the beginning to end, sharing their are now nurses, never failing to help continuous pursuit of the American others ease their pains and problems, Dream, while celebrating their triumphs.

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Behind the Music Bamboo, one of OPM’s most media-shy rockers, opens up to StarStudio and debunks some of the myths about his life and career

By Julian Mauricio

“I used to call this the loneliest job in the world,” says Bamboo of the rockstar life.

“It’s a hard dynamic.

But I’ve found the joy now. I’m doing my thing now.”

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espite the fact that Bamboo Mañalac has been putting pieces of himself out there for years in the form of hit albums and singles, so much of him remains shrouded in mystery.

That’s probably because he rarely grants interviews, regardless of the medium. Bamboo is hardly ever seen in blogs, magazines or on showbiz talk shows, unless he has something to promote, like a new album or his stint as a coach on the reality-based talent search The Voice of the Philippines. Some say that’s probably out of a desire to let his body of 20

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work—an impressive lineup of achievements spanning nearly a decade in the industry— speak for itself. But whatever his reasons may be, Bamboo’s tendency to be media-shy is why, outside of his discography, not much is known about him.

Unfortunately, the air of mystery surrounding him gave rise to many misconceptions about him and his career.

When he granted an exclusive interview to StarStudio—which took place in his dressing room at Resorts World’s Newport Performing Arts Theater during a rehearsal for the first

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live show of The Voice of the Philippines—we took this opportunity to debunk most of them and get at the truth behind the music.

Leaving Rivermaya One of the biggest misconceptions about Bamboo involves the real reason he left Rivermaya. Some believe that he left to pursue other opportunities abroad, while some insist that Bamboo left Rivermaya because the band wasn’t big enough for him and Rico Blanco, in the sense that both wanted to be its frontman and neither one wanted to back down. But according to Bamboo, he left because he simply needed to find himself.

In Rivermaya’s early days, it was known as Xaga and had a very different lineup featuring bassist Nathan Azarcon, backing vocalist and keyboardist (not to mention chief songwriter) Rico Blanco, lead guitarist Kenneth Ilagan, drummer Rome Velayo, and vocalist Jesse Gonzales. The latter two were eventually replaced by Mark Escueta, a childhood friend of Nathan’s who stepped into Rome’s shoes, and Bamboo, who took over for Jesse. They also tapped Perfecto “Perf” de Castro to be their new guitarist. At that point, since they had a new lineup in place, they decided to leave the Xaga name behind too and rechristened themselves Rivermaya.

Massive success followed the release of their self-titled debut album in 1994, and their second and third albums only solidified their position as one of the top bands in local music.

But by 1998, when they left the Philippines to tour in Canada and the United States, Perf quit the band, citing “artistic differences,” and Bamboo was having some second thoughts of his own. Living the life of a rockstar had begun to take its toll on him. He enjoyed making music and sharing it with everyone who flocked to their gigs, but he had also been exposed to a side of the music business that he didn’t like.

“I felt na maybe this wasn’t for me, maybe the business wasn’t for me, the business itself,” says Bamboo of his mindset at the time. “I loved music, but seeing how things worked

Philippines to throw himself into music again— but on his own terms this time. “I knew I was going to make music no matter what. Deep down I knew. But I wanted it to be pure. I didn’t want it to be tainted by the business.”

He reconnected with Nathan in 2002—by this time, Nathan had also left Rivermaya—and his former bandmate introduced Bamboo to Ira Cruz and Vic Mercado. Bamboo the band was born soon after and released four albums to commercial and critical success before its members went their separate ways in 2011.

Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

for excelling at his job. “For me, that was my happiest award,” he says, his eyes twinkling. “In my first year, they gave me the Rookie of the Year Award for being the best employee, the best salesman. I was working on commission then—the hourly rate was low, but I was making money off of whatever I sold. I wasn’t the best salesman in the world, but I was fast. I was determined. I had a system, so I was making more money than most managers and they were so amazed. They were all like, ‘Who is this guy and why is he making more money than we are?’”

But he never completely turned his back on music. Even while Bamboo was working hard for the money, he was still writing songs.

His loved ones tried to convince him to do something with his new material. Eventually, after thinking long and hard about it, Bamboo decided to go back to the Philippines and the OPM scene.

“After I left Rivermaya, I went to the US to try to decompress first, then I came back,” he shares. “That time it was my crossroads. I was still in school, I was in third year and I was also writing music. I was with my family and friends, and they said, ‘Why don’t you just go back and release these songs?’ Because even though some of those songs were in English, the themes were still very Filipino, like ‘Pride in the Flame’ and stuff like that. So they said, ‘Why don’t you just go back and do that? You can always go back to film.’”

Bamboo saw the wisdom in what they were saying. “The thing with film din naman, as I discovered, a lot of my favorite filmmakers sort of did it on their own. They didn’t go to school. So I thought if these guys could do it just by picking up the camera and just getting out there and working, I could do that too. So I said, ‘Okay, I’ll take the music route first.’ Pause muna ako sa film. So it was really family who did that for me. They are the ones who said, ‘This is really what you’re born to do.’”

So it was that Bamboo flew back to the

Coming back home

Bamboo launched a solo career in 2012 with the release of his debut solo album No Water, No Moon under PolyEast Records. The album eventually went gold and spawned the hit single “No Questions”. But people’s continued curiosity about him belied that song’s title—and perhaps the biggest question on their minds was: “What is Bamboo really like offstage?”

Because Bamboo is a rockstar, some think he lives a sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle— but he counters that and says the truth is as far from that as it can get. “People think it’s the bright lights and the party. I’m so not the rockstar,” he says, almost guiltily. “I love being home. After gigs, I just love going back to the hotel. I just watch a movie or pick up a book.

That’s my thing. And I also meditate after that.”

At the time of StarStudio’s sit-down with him, Bamboo’s latest read was about the late former US Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. “But I’m not into politics,” he quickly clarifies. “I just read everything.

Whatever comes about, I just read. Like, in the past few months I’ve read Susan Cain’s book Quiet.” Titled Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, the book laments how introverted people—those who prefer solitary pursuits instead of group activities—are misunderstood and taken for granted.

The Voice of the Philippines coaches (from left) Sarah Geronimo, Apl. de.ap, Lea Salonga and Bamboo treat the audience to a rare performance during one of their live shows at Resorts World Manila.

“If this is the avenue they have chosen now to discover their singers, I say I want to put my hand in there.

I want to be part of it,” says Bamboo of The Voice of the Philippines.

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Additional photos by Renato Lu

behind the scenes and stuff, at some point that left a bad taste for me. I’m very idealistic, and I guess the fantasy just didn’t match. Peter Pan had to grow up at some point.”

Bamboo felt like there was something else he wanted to pursue aside from music and he needed to take time off to figure out what that was. “I did love music, but I never thought it would be my career. My struggle was that I always wanted to do something else. I even tried going into film—I went to school for that.

I was a film major. So music was never a dream in that sense. It just came to that point.”

So after their tour, Bamboo announced his plan to stay in the US to spend some time with his family, most of whom were already based there, and continue his studies as well. Bamboo looks back on all that time with fondness.

“When I left Rivermaya, I was studying and working at the same time in the US and I loved it. I really loved that experience. I was just myself and working a good old blue-collar job.

I left because I wanted to decompress and go back to school. Get a bit of life experience.

Basically ’yun lang ’yun. That was the best decision I ever made.”

In the US, Bamboo lived a life that was very different from the rockstar treatment he enjoyed in the Philippines. He had no managers or personal assistants to attend to his needs. He had to do everything by himself, so he did—and he loved every second of it. “I had to pay for my own schooling, I had to pay for my rent and stuff like that, so I had a number of jobs I did. You name it, I did it,” he recalls. “It was such a freeing moment for me. Coming from a time when Rivermaya was like a bubble squeezing me in and in, I just didn’t feel that I was growing up at the time. Okay, I could do this, I could do that, but I wasn’t happy anymore. I just felt I really needed to live first and gain some experience and actually know what you’re writing about. That was my thing.”

While he was in the US, Bamboo found much fulfillment in the smallest of things, like working at a retail chain and winning an award

When Bamboo started reading it, he was hooked from the very first page. “That book was sort of a revelation for myself,” he says. “I was going through it and saying, ‘Hey, that was me in high school. Wait, that was me at another point in my life.’ I saw myself in those pages. It was such an interesting read for myself. That’s why I loved the book because it made me feel like, ‘Man, ganito pala ako.’ And I learned that as an introvert— parang to sort of be able to function in this world… introverts naman aren’t necessarily shy. I can talk to people and be friendly and outgoing.

It’s just that after, I drop. I’m just drained from it lang. Now I understand myself more. That’s why I just collapse when I get home. That book is a great read.”

Instead of Manila’s famed nightspots, Bamboo prefers to hang out in bookstores and examine the merchandise. He says that if the Philippines had public libraries just like the ones in the US, he would be holed up in one on his days off. (“Some of my best memories from when I was young involve the library,” he explains.) He also kills time by going to the bank, and get this—cooking.

“Yes, I do cook,” he reveals. “I haven’t done it recently, not in a while, but I really can cook.

Actually, Italian cuisine is my specialty—baked eggs with basil, baked tomato on spaghetti, pastas, things like that. Cooking is something you have to learn because it’s expensive and not healthy when you keep buying or ordering out. Ako, I like to eat when I’m working. I also like Japanese food.”

Whenever Bamboo appears on TV, he puts just enough of himself on display to satisfy viewers, but manages to keep the important things private.

Some people also believe that his success has gone to his head, making him unapproachable, which surprises Bamboo. Because even as the number of people who look up to him increases, the idea that some already see him as a stalwart in the OPM scene has yet to sink in for him. In fact, if you listen to him talk about it, you might get the impression that he would be just as happy to be able to shrug off the “stalwart” label and just keep doing his own thing without all the pressure that comes with it.

“That’s so far from how I see myself,” he says.

“I mean, I’m just me so I totally don’t get that.

When I think of that word, I think of people like Bob Dylan, George Harrison, John Lennon, the Beatles—to me, they’re my guys. So when I hear people call me that, I cringe. I’m not used to it.

When I’m walking on the street and someone calls out to me saying, ‘Oh, idol!’ I’m always surprised.

I say, ‘Thank you so much. Salamat, salamat.’ I appreciate that. It’s very humbling. The fact that people like what I do, how I perform, how I sing, that’s very encouraging to me.

“I just want to be honest and true to what I am and what I do, and carry myself in a way I feel that I should,” he continues. “Yes, on a certain level I am a role model, because I have kids and families come to watch my shows. I totally get that. But I don’t want to play a role so I just try to be myself.”

Bamboo says that’s the great thing about his role on The Voice of the Philippines—it allows him to draw back the curtain on his life a bit and show people exactly what he’s like behind the scenes, like when he’s working on music. He also likes it because it allows him to learn from up-andcoming artists. “It’s such a great experience for me. Even to this point I still don’t think I’m a teacher. I’m still just a student. That’s how I think of myself. I’m also learning from my guys.

I’m also learning more about myself.”

A friendship renewed

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Being a coach to the members of Kamp Kawayan on The Voice of the Philippines has allowed him to come full circle—from being a newbie when Rivermaya released its first record, now he’s the one in the coach’s chair giving newbies advice. But Bamboo also came full circle in a different way earlier this year, when he and Rico caught up with each other backstage at ASAP 18 one Sunday.

For the record, Bamboo clarifies that he and Rico never had a knock-down, drag-out fight that led to his exit from Rivermaya or a falling out in the years that followed. He believes that story was just widely circulated at the time because some people wanted uthere e 6to be blood on the floor to explain why

Bamboo left Rivermaya when the band was at its peak. But the truth is that there wasn’t.

“I think that was the narrative thrown out,” he explains. “’Yun ’yung story nung umalis na ako ng band. When I left Rivermaya, these people couldn’t grasp the idea. People just couldn’t handle it. ‘He’s leaving for school? People leave school for a career in music.’ So ’yun ’yung narrative that was thrown out, I’m guessing, because I was not here.”

Bamboo reveals that while Rico was “pretty happy” at the news that he wanted to pursue other things, no one staged a coup to get him to arrive at that decision and that he gave the band a heads up. He didn’t leave them in the lurch.

Bamboo even remained in contact with Rico for a while after he left for the US. “To be honest, I gave them one year’s notice before I left. When the time did come, they weren’t happy, of course. Well, Rico was pretty happy, the others weren’t. Rico was sort of prepared already. He wanted to step up na also.

Rico is a really great producer and songwriter.

So I felt it was a perfect fit for him also. I knew he was ready for it. He wanted it. But when it happened, Rico had doubts at the time. I know.

I even saw him after I left, when he came back to the US. We visited each other. Nagkita pa kami. That’s why I don’t understand why some say there’s a rift. We don’t work together these days but when I do see him, I bump into him and say hello. It’s very casual. But we don’t talk that frequently. The one I usually talk to from Rivermaya these days is Mark.”

That was what happened when they both guested on ASAP 18 a few weeks before our interview. Bamboo says Rico came up to him first. “I said, ‘Hey, what’s up, man? My dad was there with me because he was visiting from the US. We talked about the songs we were going to sing on the show. It was nothing really major.

So I think it’s funny when I read tweets to me that say, ‘It’s good to hear that you and Rico are talking again’ when we’ve been good all these years.”

Now that he’s ventured into mainstream showbiz with all the TV work he’s been doing—he has since become an ASAP 18 regular in addition to his coaching duties on The Voice of the Philippines—Bamboo has learned to adjust to the demands of his new world, like having to open up more. But there are still some things he prefers to keep private.

“I try to sort of change that so I can show people that I’m as normal as them. But I still have a wall. I keep my personal life very private. Just keeping boundaries, that’s something I think I follow as a rule. Private life here, work life here.”

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WHAT WENT WRONG

An Unhappy Ending?

They stood by each other’s side through various trials, from alleged third parties to a death in the family—but then, in a strange turn of events, Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz decided to bring the fight out of the house and into the courts. StarStudio revisits their story, and traces the challenges they faced, in an attempt to find out what caused the couple to break apart

By Pilar Mateo and Kaye Villagomez of Justice last August to accuse her husband of marital rape. A shocker of a revelation, it showed that compared to a movie script, real life follows a more twisted path, and may lead to places one never expects to reach.

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he breakup of Cesar Montano, 51, and Sunshine Cruz, 36, came as a surprise to the showbiz world.

All roads pointed to a possible reconciliation even after Cesar and Sunshine decided to live apart following the actress’ discovery of an alleged affair between her husband and Krista Miller, his co-star in The Untold Story of Alfredo S. Lim. Cesar openly talked about his desire to mend what was broken, and hopefully still weather the storm as one family. But on August 13, Sunshine sought a different ending to the story.

She marched to the Quezon City Hall

Cesar and Sunshine found love on the set of the 1999 film Bullet. The title of the movie must have been prophetic, for it was with bullet-like speed that Cesar decided to marry Sunshine in a lavish Christian sunset ceremony at the Coconut Palace on September 14, 2000.

The couple was blissfully happy.

In a 2001 interview with veteran entertainment editor and columnist Ricky Lo of The Philippine STAR, Cesar spoke of the changes his new marital state brought to his life. “Mas inspired ako. I became busier. Nadagdagan ang trabaho ko. Kailangan asikasuhin ko si Shine, although most of the time she’s the one taking care of me. Unlike before, ang iniisip ko lang, si Angelo at si Angela (his children from a previous marriage). Now I have to always think of my wife.”

The actor was in his teens when he married his first wife, Marilyn Polinga, also a Boholano. Marilyn died in 1993 due to a brain tumor, and a few years later, Cesar and Sunshine met, and fell in love. The six or seven years that passed from his wife’s death to the day he married Sunshine made everything feel like the first time for the actor-director.

He felt like a first-time husband again.

Sunshine, true to her name, brought light back into his life. Cesar remembers, “When I first got married kasi, I was

very young. Teenager pa ako noon; very immature pa. Angelo and Angela started living with me talaga only after their mother died. Before I married Shine, sometimes katabi ko matulog si Angelo.

We would watch movies in bed together hanggang makatulog kami. Now, iba na ang set-up. Dati, malungkot akong madalas mag-isa sa room ko. With Shine around,masaya na.”

In an exclusive interview—one of the few she had given since separating from Cesar—Sunshine denies reports that he prevented her from moving forward with her acting career after the wedding.

It was her decision, she admits, to slow down with her career

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Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

Love on set

Live your Dreams. Live your Passions.

Bakersfield

Central Florida

Tampa Bay

Lifestyle Network

Ch. 437

Ch. 979

Ch. 979

Myx TV

Ch. 811

Ch. 475

Ch. 633

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and focus on her family. “Nag-asawa ako,” she tells StarStudio, “so, dapat na ang tahanan na namin ang maging mundo ko. Decision ‘yun. And it wasn’t so hard to do. I was with the man I loved na naghatid sa akin sa dambana.”

It was her wedding that led her to want a domesticated life. “Masunurin ako [as a wife] in the sense na siyempre, siya ang lalake, and head of the family.

Pero, hindi naman ’yung oo rin lang nang oo. May mga misunderstanding every now and then, pero ’yung normal lang naman sa buhay ng mag-asawa.”

Meeting challenges

In showbiz events, awards nights, or press conferences, they would become the ‘it’ couple, almost always seen together, flashing happy smiles, a concrete example of a perfect, enduring relationship. However, the comfortable lulls that described the Cesar-Sunshine union would occasionally be jolted by big, controversial events, that would shake the foundations of their partnership.

The first serious trial came in 2002, when bootleg video clips of Sunshine’s unreleased sexy Viva-produced film Dukot Queen hit the streets. Ironically, the footage was not even an entire movie, but a clip showing Sunshine in a rough bed scene with co-actor Jay Manalo.

Many thought the controversy would drive a wedge between the couple, but they were able to ride it out—and in September that year, they announced the birth of Angeline Isabelle, the first of their three daughters. Three weeks after the baby’s arrival, Cesar’s film Mananabas grossed more than P5 million, which prompted husband and wife to describe her birth as a very timely “lucky charm”.

The year 2005 was also a blessed year for Cesar and Sunshine. Apart from the arrival of their second daughter Samantha Angeline, the couple renewed their wedding vows in Pak Meng Beach Trang, Thailand. “It was really an unforgettable experience, because we met couples from different countries and local press there knew that we were actors from the Philippines,” she told reporters in the summer of 2005.

The event was supposed to be Cesar’s Valentine surprise for Sunshine, but his wife read the text invite Cesar received from Thai Airways International before

’Yung mga link-link nga sa mga babae, hindi ko naman pinapansin pero nung dumadalas na, iba-iba na siyempre, nagiging cause na ng arguments.”

— Sunshine on the unending rumors about Cesar’s fidelity the Jose Rizal actor was able to tell her all about it. Nonetheless, Sunshine found the gesture “really sweet and exciting.”

The pair was one of 45 couples who took that dive for lasting love. After six years since falling in love on the set of Bullet, Sunshine and Cesar starred in their second movie, Ligalig in 2006. That same year, the couple welcomed Angel Francheska, their third daughter. It was, for most of their fans who followed their love life, a vision of perfection.

A death in the family

Then when everyone thought things were alright between them, the couple had to face a new challenge that was unlike any they had survived before.

On March 26, 2010, Christian Angelo Manhilot, Cesar’s 23–year old son from his previous marriage, was found dead, victim of an apparent suicide inside their home in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

During the entire ordeal, Sunshine had Cesar’s back as the actor went through the most painful experience every parent dreads: to bury his or her own son or daughter. Yet, Sunshine was a picture of quiet grace. She was just there to support her grieving husband, to mourn with him and their children.

Cesar did not grant lengthy media interviews about the tragedy. Instead, in March 2010, he issued this statement: “To our dear friends in the media, I received the shocking news of my son, Christian Angelo’s death very early this morning while I was in Bohol. I, along with my wife Sunshine and daughter Angela, immediately flew back to Manila first thing today to be with my son.

No words can describe the grief that my family and I are experiencing with this devastating news. He was so young, a cheerful, thoughtful and loving son who has a generous heart and spirit.

I was just with him yesterday before leaving for Bohol. Little did I know that it would be the last time I was to see him alive. Dr. Tony Leachon, a good friend and neighbor, pronounced Angelo dead on arrival at the Malvar General Hospital in Quezon City early this morning. Initial police investigation showed that Angelo died from a single gunshot wound in the head. We are still trying to piece together some facts pertaining to his death. While I am still reeling from this tragic incident, my family and I would like to appeal to everyone to respect the privacy of my grieving family at this time. Thank you very much for your understanding. May God’s strength be with all of us.”

In an ABS-CBN news report dated April 4, 2010, Cesar described how Sunshine was devastated as he was, over the shocking loss. “Si Shine, from day one, grabe ’yan. Hagulgol talaga to the max. Dahil nga kapag pinapagalitan ko minsan si Angelo, ang takbuhan niya si Sunshine.”

The third party test

People say that only the existence of a third party can really cause a crack in a marriage as solid as Cesar and Sunshine’s appeared to be. But again—as they had done in the past—the couple

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survived reports in 2007 of the actor’s rumored involvement with Brazilian model Mariana del Rio, who was only 16 years old at the time. Mariana, who always dreamed of being an actress, met Cesar in Bohol in September 2007.

She met with the actor-director again sometime later, to read some lines of a script at Cesar’s Quezon City restaurant.

One time in Rockwell where Mariana attended a film screening, she happened to meet Sunshine, who was introduced to her by Cesar, and the Brazilian model found the actress to be “nice”.

However, things did not go as smoothly as expected. Sometime later, reports of Cesar’s involvement with the model surfaced, and the marital strain this had caused forced Sunshine to move out of their conjugal QC home on Christmas day of 2007. Mariana, who had appeared in a TV commercial for a canned food product, told The Buzz in 2008 that Cesar offered her a chance to star in three films, but avowed that she did not cause the couple’s Christmas separation. She told Cesar: “Go back to Sunshine and be happy.”

Then to the media, she expressed her hopes for an end to the controversy. “I hope they get together and be really happy because I didn’t cause anything and I really hope that they get happy together.”

After suspecting that something was allegedly amiss, Sunshine confronted Mariana via phone call months later.

The model revealed in the same The Buzz interview: “She was not angry.

Hindi sobrang galit, pero galit. Hindi like

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scandalous or shouting, no. Pero galit siya. She’s asking me what was going on.

I told her that I met him in the airport and he asked me to do a movie with him.

He offered me three movies. I explained to her everything and then after we put down the phone, I texted her explaining again everything that really happened and asking her if it was clear. If she was okay with that. She said all good, okay, thank you, and I pretty thought she was okay.”

Cesar and Sunshine managed the issue, and moved on as a couple. In September of 2008, they celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary in the US. Sunshine tells StarStudio that they have had misunderstandings in the past. But then, these misunderstandings became far more intense, and this time, with social media becoming an integral part of it. In December 2012, Sunshine was once again put in a familiar position, with Instagram posts hinting at suspicions of an extra-marital affair between Cesar and starlet Krista Miller, 23. Miller first auditioned for a role in a movie being helmed by direk Cesar, and she was hired on the spot. After Krista’s and Cesar’s names were linked together since, it was already a downward spiral for the Cesar-Sunshine marriage.

Sunshine says she tried her best to ignore what she could of the alleged “affairs.” “’Yung mga link-link nga sa mga babae, hindi ko naman pinapansin pero nung dumadalas na, iba-iba na siyempre, nagiging cause na ng arguments. And whenever a fight would ensue, ang focus ko, sa mga anak ko natutuon. I don’t want them to see na nagkakagulo Sunshine reunites with kami ng Daddy daughters on August 15 nila.” after the girls stayed with Sunshine Cesar since late July. claimed that Krista posted in the latter’s Instagram account certain items which were gifts Sunshine herself gave to Cesar. This Instagram post, the wife said, was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and made her feel like their marriage had reached the I s s u e

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boiling point. For Sunshine, the sense of betrayal was apparently too strong to ignore, a nightmare in an otherwise dream union. “’Yun na nga. Siya ang first love ko. Siya lang ang tanging naging boyfriend ko. And we were blessed with three wonderful daughters—Angeline Isabelle (11), Samantha Angeline (8) and Angel Franchesca (7).”

And yet, Sunshine at this point seemed to have had enough. She eventually filed charges of marital rape and petitioned the courts for a Permanent Protection Order (PPO) order against Cesar on August 13, because she had not been allowed to see her daughters since late July.

Finding resolution

Cesar and Sunshine are taking a quieter path to resolve their problems. On August 15, Cesar and Sunshine faced each other behind closed doors of the QC Hall of Justice for the hearing of the Permanent Protection Order and petition for habeas corpus Sunshine filed against Cesar.

The public has become used to seeing Cesar and Sunshine together attending red carpet screenings and other events, arm in arm and by each other’s side. But this “public appearance” was a totally different scene, because Cesar was with his lawyer Atty. Joel Ferrer, and Sunshine was with hers, Atty. Bonifacio Alentajan.

Cesar and Sunshine have refused to talk about details of the cases since then, but they agreed on one thing: Both were doing the best they could for their children.

When StarStudio and other members of the press caught up with Cesar during the launch of his new GMA-7 primetimer show Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, the actor pleaded his way out of more personal questions. “This is not an issue between me and my wife. Kahit saang anggulo, maaapektuhan, masasaktan ang mga bata. So ang pinakamabuti, the best is tumahimik and to pray.”

He went on to say that he simply does not want to talk about anything that might affect the results of any further hearing he may have to face in the future.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Pasensiya na po, pero ayokong pag-usapan pa ang mga detalye.”

Sunshine, for her part, confessed that she has more questions than answers.

“Kung tatanungin ko ang sarili ko, yes, that’s what I would ask myself, what went wrong? We both aren’t perfect. But somewhere, merong nagkamali at merong may pinuntahang hindi same ng direction

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Love Timeline The Cesar-Sunshine relationship,

na dapat pareho kaming tumahak.”

Reflecting on the same line of thought, Cesar said in a recent press conference, “There exists a lot of regrets sa buhay ng bawat tao. If we could bring back a lot of things, marami kang ibabalik. But I thank God for the blessings and even the problems I have right now. God is preparing me for a bigger task, a bigger issue in life. When you are undergoing something difficult, it does not mean that you are no longer blessed. God is just testing you, [and preparing you] for something bigger.”

at a glance

Written and researched

by Robert Requintina July 1999 Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz appear in the actiondrama flick Bullet, their first movie together.

A full stop

September 2000 Cesar and Sunshine are married in a Christian ceremony. Two years later, their eldest daughter Angeline Isabelle is born.

After all had been said and done, while 13 years of wedded bliss might have come to a full stop for the couple, life, however, goes on.

For now, Sunshine is focusing on her acting comeback. Her role in Dugong Buhay has inspired her into accepting more challenging roles. Soon, she will be in another ABS-CBN soap, Galema with Andi Eigenmann and her (Sunshine’s) cousin Sheryl Cruz. “It’s good to be back sa acting. I missed this for the longest time.”

Cesar himself is still figuring things out but not holding himself back from returning on TV with Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas. At this point, Cesar and Sunshine are taking the future one day at a time for the sake of their children.

Sunshine said, “My daughters are my priority. And kung nag-bounce back ako in my being an actress, dahil pa rin ito sa kanila. I want to give them the best in life. Like ’yung bonding moments namin. I will have all the time for them. At kinakaya ko ’yun. We go to watch movies, kain sa labas. Taking care of them is where my heart is at gusto ko nga lagi silang nasa tabi ko.”

Cesar mirrors the same feeling as a father. They have declared a ceasefire for now, he said in a press huddle dated August 29.

“Sobrang pagmamahal ko sa mga anak ko, talagang ’yun ang aking intensiyon. ’Yun ang aking prayer. Gusto kong matapos na ’to kasi ’yung mga bata, kawawa.

Ako, sino ako? Batang kalsada ako, Sta. Ana boy ako. Tsinelas ko, nag-iisa lang, naglalakad ako, masaya ako. I’m not saying na hindi muna ako masasaktan.

Tao ako, nasasaktan ako. Nalulungkot ako. Pero ako si Buboy, batang Sta. Ana. Eh, ito, mga bata ito, walang kinalaman sa away. The children do not deserve this.”

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February 2005 Cesar and Sunshine renew their marital vows in Phuket, Thailand. In August that year, the couple is blessed with a second daughter, Samantha Angeline.

December 2006 Cesar and Sunshine star in their second movie Ligalig. The release of the movie is followed by the birth of youngest daughter Angel Francheska.

December 2007 Cesar and Sunshine have a big fight because of his alleged involvement with 16-year-old Brazilian model Mariana del Rio, his co-star in a TV ad.

Sunshine reportedly moves out of their conjugal home with their three kids.

January 2008 Cesar and Sunshine appear in Palos, their first TV series together in ABS-CBN. September 2008 Cesar and Sunshine kiss and make up; celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary in the US. May 2010 With Sunshine by his side, Cesar runs for governor of Bohol in the 2010 elections but loses.

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September 2012 Cesar and Sunshine star in the movie Biktima.’

December 2012 Sunshine announces on photo-sharing app Instagram that she and Cesar have separated because of her husband’s supposed involvement with starlet Krista Miller, his co-star in the movie The Untold Story of Alfredo S. Lim. Sunshine alleges that Krista sent provocative photos and sexy messages to her husband.

January 2013 Cesar reportedly returns home after staying in a hotel for a few days; patches up things with Sunshine.

February 2013 Cesar says Sunshine still living in their house. Admits he and wife are having marital problems.

March 2013 Sunshine apparently gives up on husband Cesar; declares she’s a single mom.

April 2013 Sunshine says in a press conference that she has forgiven Cesar’s alleged involvement with Krista Miller.

April 2013 After Krista Miller, Cesar is linked to Loven Canon Bautista, a nursing graduate from Surigao, whose pictures with Cesar go viral on the Internet. Meanwhile, Sunshine admits she and Cesar have decided to become friends again for the sake of their children.

July 2013 Cesar says on Instagram that Sunshine has a new boyfriend.

August 2013 Sunshine, again via Instagram, asks her estranged husband to return their three daughters to her.

Sunshine claims Cesar raped her on Mother’s Day. Cesar’s camp denies the allegations. “It’s not rape.

It’s a mutual act,’’ the actor says. Sunshine, Cesar face each other in court. Sunshine brings their three minor daughters home after not seeing them for two weeks.

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B

oy Abunda’s Quezon City home could be summarized in two words: Love Story.

Love, because it shelters the loves of his life—his Nanay Lesing and Bong—and story, because almost everything in it has been a mute witness to poignant, significant highlights in the TV host’s life.

The yellow and blue house, which was bought about 10 years ago, is situated in an exclusive village north of Metro Manila. When Boy moved into the area, his neighbors—who have since become friends of both Boy and Bong— thought he would cause a stir because of his celebrity. But Boy, despite all the eloquence and grandeur he exudes on TV, lives a very low-key home life. “The irony of our lives is that we are really quiet,” he says.

Boy’s home is a virtual gallery. His extensive art collection, consisting of some 200 paintings and photographs, plus pieces of furniture, has interesting stories behind each one of them.

Most of the paintings are gifts from friends, and from people and various organizations that invited him to speak on diverse topics like talent management, branding, marketing, even social development and LGBT rights.

He explains how his fascination for art developed. “One time many years ago, siguro back in early 2000,” he says, “si Rock Drilon (abstract painter and chairman of the Mag:net Café Group) hindi ba meron silang association of artists? Marami sila. One time, he told me that they—24 painters and sculptors—were planning a group exhibit to raise funds for a child of one of the artists who had to undergo an operation.

These are some of the most talented guys I know and he said, ‘Instead of us doing an exhibit, would you want to buy them at a really nice price? For more than 50 percent off?’”

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Bong and Boy like to lounge around in the living room with its couches upholstered in patterned fabric. This is usually where Boy’s Nanay Lesing watches television and where Boy had a wide-screen TV installed for her enjoyment. Nanay was diagnosed with mild dementia in 2010 and responds to bright colors, which is why most of the furniture pieces and things like carpets are in shades of orange, yellow and blue.

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The House with a Thousand Stories Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

Boy’s Quezon City house is not just a showcase of art, but one that is truly reflective of who he is

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Boy agreed, as long as he ended up with half the collection or most of the paintings in it. The provenance of the paintings was of minor importance. He was more drawn to the collection because of the reason attached to it. “Hindi ako big-time collector. I just buy artworks that I like, which are usually the ones that have stories. The story about this particular collection was about a girl who needed help and 24 seasoned and brilliant artists came to the rescue. It was a joy to be part of her story of friendship and love.”

In the living room sits a sturdy wooden table on which rest three sculptures by Mike Cacnio, the country’s premier brass sculptor, and 2006 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee. The sculptures serve as mounts for three of Boy’s prized possessions: a 1950s radio, an old harmonica and a worn-out typewriter. Each one, we came to find, means something to him.

“Ito,” he says, pointing to the radio, “ito ’yung radyo na binili ng tatay at ng nanay ko nu’ng 1950s, nu’ng sobra pa kaming mahirap sa Baruk. “Ito ang unang bagay na may halaga na binili ng aking mga magulang. We lived in a remote area, so this radio was the only connection they had to the outside world. Dito sila nakikinig ng halimbawa, magkano ang kopra pag nagbebenta ang tatay sa bayan.”

As for the harmonica, “Natagpuan ito ng tatay by the roadside in the forests of Samar. But I was too young to appreciate when he found it; I think I was only about one year old. He had to wait until I was seven to give this to me as a birthday present. At that age I could already manage it.”

Then we got to the Korea-made typewriter that Backroom (Boy’s management, publicity and production company) started with. “As in, ito talaga yung ginagamit ko when my ‘office’ was a tiny space under the stairs of a small apartment in QC. When I found these things, I went to Mike and said ‘I want you to mount them and make sculptural pieces of these things that literally tell my story.”

He also has sculptures and functional art pieces by respected names in Philippine art and society, or his good friends: Rosario Bitanga, Prudencio Lamarroza, Norma Belleza, Louie Ignacio, Jose Ibay, Philipp Badon, Leeroy New, Mike Cacnio, Pete Jimenez, Adrian Mariano, Jinggoy Salcedo, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Aurelio Tolentino, Rica dela Merced (who did Boy’s beautiful couches and chairs), Cecilia Gutierrez (the late mother of actress Chin Chin Gutierrez), Baron Geisler, and the late President Corazon Aquino, to name a few.

One of President Cory’s many pieces of art that she gifted to Boy hangs above the TV in the living room. Inside the master bedroom is a figure of the Risen Christ encased in glass. The figure used to be displayed in the bedroom of the late President. One, he says, is with (his best friend, TV host and now presidential sister) Kris “and the other is with me”. Kris passed it on to him and wrote him a touching note to go with it, after her mother’s death in August 2009.

But since Boy’s home can only accommodate so many art pieces, he plans to transfer most of them to his other properties. “For example, 13 of the furniture pieces in this house will move to condos that I’m decorating. In about a month from now, this place will look different.”

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The formal dining room doubles as an art gallery for paintings, sculptural pieces and memorabilia, many of which were given to Boy as gifts. A number of them are mother-and-child pieces, a testament to Boy’s great love for his mother.

This area used to be an outdoor garden, until Boy converted it into a covered lanai.

Now it also doubles as an informal seating area.

At the end of this hallway is a set of steps leading down to the basement.

These are not just decorative pieces, but like many of the things in Boy’s home, are attached to places, people, and events in his past. The radio is a family heirloom; the typewriter is a relic from Boy’s first office; and the third is a harmonica given to him by his father. All were mounted by sculptural artist Mike Cacnio. “When I found these things, I went to Mike, who is my neighbor, and I said, I want you to mount them and make sculptural pieces of these things that literally tell my story.’”

Greenfield AD (DAMAGE)

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Early struggles

Boy struggled during his early years in Manila. His fortunes began to turn sometime around 1992, when his alaga, balladeer Ariel Rivera, earned a Gold Record award from the recording company BMG for his album Sana Kahit Minsan. Both song and album became big hits and served as Boy’s launchpad to a career as a talent manager in mainstream showbiz. That gold record award now sits on top of a metal sculpture designed with music notes and symbols by renowned brass designer Jude Tiotuico.

“This one,” he says, pointing to the trophy, “is so nice at ang ganda ng kuwento nito because this started it all for me as a manager in 1990, when we started to manage Ariel.”

The sculpture is also a reminder of Boy’s big move from being the late Conchita Sunico’s PR man, to finding a place among the country’s biggest talent managers.

Among the many art pieces he has all over the house are a number of mother-and-child sculptures and paintings, a clear indication of Boy’s and his mother’s deep, strong, and now close-to-legendary relationship. Boy now spends most of his time in this house, so he can be close to Nanay Lesing, who was diagnosed with mild dementia three years ago. Her condition forced Boy to give up his Backroom office and teaching. A room near the stairs has been converted into a makeshift office, where he spends most of his working hours along with a small staff. “I want her to hear my voice. I want to hear her voice. I created this small working area so my assistants and I could work. Unless it’s really important for me to go out, I really don’t.”

Nanay used to sleep in the room next to Boy and Bong’s room upstairs. But Boy recently gave up his walk-in closet on the first floor and turned it into a colorful bedroom for Nanay.

“Nahihirapan kasi s’ya if she has to go upstairs to her room. So we decided na dito na s’ya sa baba and this has really become her area, her place. She moves to the kitchen and watches TV here.”

When Boy first moved to Manila, his bed was a rented papag. Now, he sleeps in this king-size four-poster bed where there is plenty of room to move around. But one thing that has not changed about his nighttime ritual is that Boy still keeps religious items—such as rosaries—by the bed.

Boy and Bong are not just virtual mirror images of each other physically; they also share the same playful sense of humor. During the StarStudio shoot, photographer Jovel Lorenzo—who is also bald—would stand close to the couple to direct them. Whenever the three of them were near each other, Bong would laugh and say: “Candy Crush!” referring to the popular game in which the object is to match three candies of the same type.

Colors of Love

Boy doesn’t care much for style themes, pattern and order.

Who needs all those in a house that has many beautiful stories to tell? “I think pattern and order should submit to the story,” he reflects thoughtfully.

Boy’s not sure when he will stop collecting art. “I don’t know. If hindi na kasya rito, probably [we will need] another house somewhere up north in Pampanga. I have a lot there in Mexico, Pampanga and that’s our dream, kami ni Bong [to see that built].”

“What is this house? It’s really me. It’s colorful, it’s conflicted.

Everything here is so colorful. Sabi ko nga kay Bong, if one day we are able to afford a super big house, I’m not going to leave this,” he says with a laugh. “I don’t know why, but I think it has a lot to do with proximity, accessibility to work. So even when we get the chance to buy a huge house, I’m keeping this one at dito pa rin ako, because Nanay lives here.”

Boy’s working area at home is dominated by this elaboratelydesigned chair and wooden table where he does his work instead of going to an office so that he can be available to Nanay 24/7.

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Thrilling Taste Of Home From

Resorts World Manila

There’s always something exciting about friends and family members coming over for a visit.Whether it’s for the holidays or just a simple trip, barkadas and relatives always take with them a taste of home whenever they go stateside.

With its upcoming “Thrill The World Roadshow”, Resorts World Manila (RWM), the Philippines’ premier one-stop, nonstop lifestyle destination, carries more than just a whiff of local flavor--it brings with it a slew of homegrown talents set to wow leagues of kababayans who miss the air of Filipino flair.

WOW THE WORLD Scheduled to make stops in key cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, RWM’s “Thrill The World Roadshow” will storm through the United States with acts and personalities that would surely draw Filipino communities together. From September 4 to 16, the barn burner tour will sweep across the continent, from sunny California to the bright 40

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lights of New York, living, loving and preaching the word “It’s More Fun in the Philippines!”

“The tourism industry has never been more alive in the Philippines than it is today,” says Martin Paz, RWM’s Chief Integrated Marketing Officer. “The emerging market plus the government’s initiative in attracting both local and foreign tourists have really breathed new life into the industry and Resorts World I s s u e

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Manila is at the forefront of this revolution. By introducing the integrated resorts concept to the country, RWM makes it more conducive for tourists to come and explore the wonders of the country,” Paz adds.

HOME OF NON-STOP THRILLS Situated just a stone’s throw away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), RWM’s integrated resorts concept offers visitors the ultimate lifestyle options all in one place. Be it a short stop or an overnight layover, guests are truly in for a thrilling time in RWM. RWM houses the largest gaming facility in the country to go along with three premier hotel brands: the all-suite luxury MAXIMS Hotel; the five-star MARRIOTT Hotel Manila; and REMINGTON Hotel which offers cozy accommodations for great value. Add in RWM’s wide dining options from over 50 signature restaurants, the integrated resort has truly become a destination of choice for tourists and city dwellers alike.

RWM’s Newport Mall, on the other hand, offers choices that would suit any guests fancy

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from high end shopping at any of the mall’s partner merchants, unique viewing experience at the Newport Cinema, and infinite fun for the whole family at GameZoo amusement center.

Of course, no visit to RWM is complete without a sampling of worldclass entertainment which the integrated resort delivers consistently. Whether it be in the 1,500-seat, state-of-the-art Newport Performing Arts Theatre, the Newport Mall Plaza, or at the entertainment hub Bar 360, guests are in for a grand experience at RWM. RWM Stars Hit The Road As RWM goes on tour for its “Thrill The World Roadshow”, it’ll not only bring catchy lines, flashy signs and a promise of exciting things waiting back home, the brand will also be taking with it some of the acts that have made the integrated resorts the center of entertainment in the country.

Filipino-Americans hungry for some homegrown entertainment can catch a

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trifecta of RWM talents beginning with onethird of power vocal trio Primo Jon Joven, the alluring Ms. Resorts World Manila 2012 Alexandra Salmeron, and Electro Acoustic Violinist and YouTube sensation Bryson Andres, whose video has already earned over 3million hits in the popular streaming site.

These top acts will be on display as they hit the road and make stops at the PhilippineAmerican Exposition to be held at the LAX Convention Center on September 7 & 8 and at the “TFC OK GO USA” event which will be held in Coney Island, New York, USA in October 2013.

This thrilling taste of home will surely be a sight to see, so be sure to mark your

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calendars when the tour hits your city. For those who can’t settle for teasers and short-lived samplers, RWM has an even better deal in-store. With its Balikbayan Pamilya Promo, RWM lets our beloved Kababayans in on an exclusive holiday package to experience the best of what home has in store.

To know more about this great deal, call the Resorts World Manila Contact Center at +63 (02) 908-8833; +63 (02) 836-6333 or email customerservice@rwmanila.com.

You can also book your Balikbayan Pamilya Package now at www.tfc.tv.

1. RWM’s state-of-the-art Newport Performing Arts Theatre 2. RWM invites Kababayans abroad to come home through its exclusive Balikbayan Pamilya Promo 3. Thrilling family fun at the GameZoo amusement center 4. Ultramodern viewing experience at the Newport Cinema 5. Ms. Resorts World Manila 2012 Alexandra Salmeron 6. Electro Acoustic Violinist Bryson Andres 7. Power Vocal Trio Primo’s Jon Joven

Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

Top of the Pops As he prepares to mark his 10th year in the business, Erik Santos takes StarStudio on a tour of his Quezon City home and gives us a glimpse into the challenging life of a singing champion

By Tinna S. Bonifacio Photography by Jovel Lorenzo

G (Above) Erik in the living room of the five-bedroom home he bought for his family in 2005, a year after winning as grand champion on Star in a Million which held its grand finals in January 2004. He moved his family out of their Malabon home and into this one because he wanted a house that wouldn’t leave him feeling anxious each time it rained. “Eh ang Malabon, Flood Capital of the Philippines ’yon,” he says.

But before buying, he searched the Internet and Classified Ads and actually knocked on neighbors’ doors, asking them about living conditions there.

rowing up in Malabon, Erik was born to a father who was an engineer and who later left the country to work abroad; his mother was a housewife who had little businesses on the side. Thus, Erik and his siblings did not exactly have a deprived childhood. He remembers happy times being doted on by relatives—“Paborito kami ng lolo ko”—and waiting excitedly for the balikbayan boxes that his father would send from abroad. They contained popular playthings of that time: Lego, remote-controlled cars and battery-operated toys that were considered luxuries even then.

The only thing he didn’t get to do as a child was play in the rain. “’Yung lugar namin, mistulang swimming pool na hanggang baywang ang tubig, so nagiging playground siya ng maraming bata kapag umuulan. Pero ’yung nanay ko,” says Erik, “Hindi kami pinapayagan. Bawal maligo sa ulan, bawal maligo sa baha.

Istrikto siya sa amin n’un. Sobrang maalaga. Kung paliguan nga kami, grabe siya magkuskos. May cologne at lotion pa. Minsan, nakakapuslit kami pero pinapalo kami after. So pinapanood na lang namin mga kalaro namin sa labas.”

Despite that, Erik says his childhood was blissful and happy. Things only started to get tough when he decided to make music his career.

The road there

Erik was only four years old when he realized he could sing. He sang every chance he got, even if it meant disturbing the peace of their middle-class neighborhood.

“Minsan, ’yung kanta ka lang nang kanta kahit natutulili na ’yung tenga ng mga kapitbahay sa iyo, pero wala kang pakialam,” he says with a laugh.

He joined his first singing contest at age six, but didn’t win.

He joined several others after that, but won only once, during a barangay singing contest in Bayan-Bayanan, Malabon—and he feels it was only because his grand-uncle, his grandfather’s brother, was the contest organizer. Erik was the youngest contestant. “Puro matatanda ang mga kalaban ko. Parang ’yung pamilya ko, gusto nila akong mapanood sa stage, kasi siyempre, proud ka kapag ’yung kamag-anak mo, napapanood mong kumanta.”

But before his big break on Star in a Million, Erik struggled to find his his place in the industry. He tried anything and everything; he auditioned for a boy band that never got off the ground. He saved his allowance and put together a demo tape that he sent to popular composer and music producer Vehnee Saturno at his office near Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City (the cassette’s plastic cover had a photo of Erik shot at the Tropicana Studios, then one of the top photo studios in Manila) but despite all his efforts, didn’t get so much as a callback. Erik also remembers that he once auditioned for a spot on a TV show, waiting in line with other hopefuls from 7AM to 9PM and reaching home two hours later, tired and hungry.

At one point, Erik also tried working as a bit player—an ekstra—in films. He waited on the set for 24 hours, and all he did in the movie was run across the screen. The scene was so brief, but what’s worse is that he never received his agreed-upon fee of P200. “Two hundred pesos lang, tapos tinakasan pa kami n’ung talent coordinator,” says Erik.

Then Star in a Million came along and changed everything.

Today, Erik is at the top of his game. His singing career has enabled him to provide for his family—not that he had to, since his OFW father had a good job—take them on trips and build them this house in a middle-class, flood-free Quezon City community. Erik also made his father quit his job and come home after years of working in the Middle East.

The interiors of the house were styled by decorator Tess Medina, who also did Sam Milby’s home. Erik specified that he wanted walls that were predominantly white “para maaliwalas”. The touches of green, Tess added for a more cooling effect. There is also a bar (left) with pinlights that run along the edge. At right is the family’s living room.

The table with a huge mirror also holds a WiFi router so that Erik can surf the Internet no matter where he is in the house.

The home has a beautiful dining room, but Erik and his family actually rarely eat at this table, doing so only when all of them are together. On the wall of the dining room is a painting of koi, the Japanese fish that, according to http://feng-shui.lovetoknow.com, have an ability “to swim against currents and travel upstream”. This power is believed to bring luck, although Erik, a Christian who attends the Victory Fellowship, does not really ascribe to such beliefs. The painting was a gift from Erik’s friend Pinky Tobiano.

Now marking his 10th year in the business, it is time, says Erik, to start fulfilling his own dreams. He kicks that off with a major concert on November 9 at the at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Titled InTENse, it will retrace his musical and life journey these past 10 years.

But this, says Erik, is only the beginning. He still has a lot of unfulfilled dreams. One of them is to record an international album. Most of all, he hopes to go far enough to do what Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano have done, which is to celebrate 30 years in the business.

“Gusto ko din nang ganu’n. Ang sarap nu’n, ’yung umaanniversary ka ng 30 years or 40 years. Parang for me, it’s something na ang hirap-hirap gawin nowadays because ang daming gustong mag-artista, ang dami nang singing contest, and people come and go,” says Erik. “Kaya nga sabi ko, I’m just so thankful na nakarating ako ng ten years— and my dream is to stay for another ten, twenty, thirty years.”

Of course, there are days when even his life’s dream starts to fade, and he struggles to keep going. But he knows that whatever happens, music and singing will always be a part of his life. The tiredness is something he can always shrug off. “Doon sa pagod na ’yun, ’pag naiisip ko ’yung fans na wala naman silang kaligayahan kung hindi makinig at makita akong nagpe-perform, parang ‘Sige, continue’, at saka parang for me, as long as I live, as long as may boses ako, kakanta ako talaga.”

Erik also has a special place for his collection of Mickey Mouse figurines which he collected during some of his trips abroad; the others were gifts from fans and supporters, including the members of his Erik Santos Friends Online (ESFO).

Erik’s second-floor bedroom is the only room in the house whose color has remained unchanged after two remodelings. Erik prefers the blue-andwhite color scheme because he finds it more relaxing.

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This is Erik’s trophy room and is where he keeps all the awards he has won over the last 10 years in the business.

He treasures every single one. Each time he goes into the room and looks at the trophies and awards, “naiisip ko, ang dami na pala. Na sa dinamidami ng artists, parang isa ako sa mga yearly, kahit paano, na-re-recognize.”

Star

finding what’s real

speak

There are no perfect decisions. Kasi bawat decision mo, di ba, ipagdadasal mo kung tama o mali. Pero kung nagkamali ka sa desisyon mo, ipagdadasal mo din lang na ibalik ka sa tama.

A good laugh is contagious.

Harry Potter is a childhood friend. Oo, close kami. Hindi, actually teenage friend kasi teenager na ako nu’ng ma-discover ko siya.

Friends should never betray you. Shouldn’t that be ‘real friends’? Iba kasi ’yung real friends sa friends eh. Kasi di ba, pwede mong sabihin lang na ‘Uy, friends kami sa Facebook.’ Pero kung talagang real friend or good friends, inaasahan mong hindi ka ibe-betray or magsisinungaling sa’yo. Talagang sasabihin sa’yo ang totoo kahit alam nilang masasaktan ka.

If I could choose to have anything in this life, I would want God in each person’s life.

Because in this world we live in, mahirap talaga i-sustain ’yung faith mo sa Diyos. When things go wrong, kapag confused ka kung bakit, when you ask why things happen to you and why

you keep failing, ang hirap. Pero kapag talagang sturdy or matibay ’yung faith mo sa Diyos, iba. Kaya talagang bilib na bilib ako sa mga taong talagang surrender sila sa Diyos at wala silang worries dahil alam nilang ang Diyos ay in charge sa buhay nila, sa future nila.

Mothers and daughters are, most of the time, identical or alike. Kasi kung ano ’yung nakikita mo sa nanay mo—kung nakasama mo siya—or kahit naman pag may namana ka sa traits ng mama mo di ba, parang pareho kayo eh.

My biggest regret in life is siguro not being able to take formal voice lessons or i-defy ’yung trend noon na kailangan bumirit ka, o i-challenge ’yung perception na magaling ka kapag bumirit ka. Kumbaga ang tagal bago ko na-realize ang gusto ko talaga simula nu’ng bata ako. Kasi Michael Jackson [fan] talaga ako. Sobrang enjoy na enjoy ako mag-song and dance, ’yung may beat at hindi ’yung wagas na birit talaga. It’s

okay na mag-belt out ka pag reasonable pero hindi mo kailangan i-end ’yung song na big note lagi.

A girl can never have too many requests granted for her or favors na binibigay sa kanya.

Kasi she will not learn kung lahat ng requests niya binibigay, magiging spoiled siya.

I believe in eternal happiness. Is that possible?

Sarah Geronimo is an old girl. No, wait—she’s a normal girl who wants a normal life, but she chose to not have a normal life because of her passion for music. Sarah Geronimo is complicated. In all senses of the word.

— Interview by Julian Mauricio

Story courtesy of Starstudio magazine

Music heals all wounds in time. Kasi proseso din ’yan eh.

Photo courtesy of THE VOICE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Pop Princess and The Voice of the Philippines coach Sarah Geronimo shares her views on random subjects, including the importance of making the distinction between friends and ‘real friends’ who can always be counted on to tell you the truth, no matter how much it hurts