TFC All Access Vol 2 Issue 4 by TFC ALL ACCESS

VO LU M E 2 I S S U E 4

www.tfc-usa.com/AllAccess

ERESALE FRNOT FO

SUNSHINE CRUZ on being her own woman

XIAN LIM The Journey to Acceptance: his story, his home and his love for his craft

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Note from the Editor August’s Merry Mix & Mash Ups

ugust is a mighty interesting month in the U.S.: it sits on the cusp of summer’s end and the beginning of fall. This transition month makes for a curious and fascinating mix of events, trends and activities all over the U.S. which goes the same for my editorial this issue. TFC All Access’ August headlines are a thematic mash-up. We start with 20 Years of ABSCBN Star Cinema’s Love Stories. In two decades, the film outfit has produced 14 Valentine’s Day cinematic offerings that have left indelible prints in the hearts of Filipinos across the globe. Learn what the people behind Star Cinema’s passionate storytelling on the big screen have to say about this milestone. From love stories, we move to one half of the Philippines’s hottest love team: Xian Lim. Doing minor roles on film and TV and modeling when he moved from Daly City, California to Manila, Philippines in 2009, Xian got his major break when he was cast as male lead to teenage showbiz princess Kim Chiu in My Binondo Girl. The “KimXi” loveteam was born and it has cast a global spell among Filipino fans worldwide with another blockbuster teleserye like, Ina, Kapatid Anak, and movies like Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? and Bride for Rent. Xian has become in-demand also for TFC events abroad and draws thousands of fans to these festivities. He is proud of his newly built 3000-square meter house in Antipolo which is a testament to his hard work and successful career. Read his journey to accepting his life and work in the Philippines. We also have features on top Filipina beauties like Sunshine Dizon, Alice Dixon and Shamcey Supsup to add more spice to this issue If those items didn’t fill your mind with exciting, assorted stuff, let me add to this merry August mix more stimulating news bits: for TFC, get ready for our biggest One Kapamilya Go event yet with the huge ASAP cast in Los Angeles! More on those in future issues! For those with Lifestyle Network, our channel that offers programs on fashion, travel, food, home and wellness, catch the brand new talk show, On Your Marc, hosted by Filipino American Marc Anthony Nicolas, three-time Emmy nominated producer for “The Talk” on CBS. The channel also offers Style Bites with model and TV host Kara Birkenstock. Calling all UAAP fans: catch the university basketball wars on Bro, the ultimate action channel for the Pinoy. Looking for all-time Filipino film classics? Don’t forget to get Cinema One Global for awardwinning Filipino movies. For more information on all these, just visit www.tfc-usa.com. Meanwhile, enjoy the last days of summer in August! Photo by Ken Alcazar.

Sincerely, During the fun press conference for On Your Marc and StyleBites of Lifestyle Network, (L to R) Marc Anthony Nicolas, Leylanie Go and Kara Birkenstock.

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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6 • CONTENTS

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4 • CONTENTS

CELEBRATING STAR CINEMA’S 20 YEARS OF LOVE STORIES

XIAN LIM’S JOURNEY OF ACCEPTANCE, HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN DALY CITY TO THE HILLSIDE MANSION HE CALLS HOME IN ANTIPOLO HILLS

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SUNSHINE CRUZ IS BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT AFTER BREAK UP WITH CESAR MONTANO

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36 CITIZEN PINOY THE LAWYER IS IN 38 STAR SPEAK: ALICE DIXSON AND SHAMCEY SUPSUP-LEE ANSWER “BEAUTY QUEEN” QUESTIONS

RICHARD, SARAH & ZION

D O U B L E

YOUR BEST SOURCE OF

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AUGUST 2014 VOL. 14 NO. 5

AND CELEBRITY LIFESTYLE

‘It was really the worst... Sa banyo na lang ako kumakain.’ ‘There’s a point siyempre na rin sa life mo, na ayaw mo nang apakapakan ka ng tao.’

HIS LIVING ROOM

XIAN WELCOMES

YOU Into his breezy A STARSTUDIO hilltop mansionand bright FIRST!

HIS INSPIRING

EXCLUSIVE

‘LAKAS NG LOOB TURNAROUND

STORY

LANG TALAGA’

How XIAN LIM survived being bullied and made butt of jokes for being the ‘unpopulabeing fat, the painful strugglethe of r kid’—and the tough journey to where he is now

THE DINING AREA

LOVE STOR

For the latest in entertainment news and celebrity lifestyle, read StarStudio Magazine. Digital edition available via www.zinio. com/starstudio and the iTunes App Store

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C E L E B R AT I N G S TA R C I N E M A’ S 2 0 Y E A R S

STORIES

y his own admission, Gabby Lopez is a child of the television generation, but had the vision to move into uncharted territory with the creation of Star Cinema 20 years ago. It was a giant step that moved the company forward. This is a story of one man’s determination, persistence and creative vision that has made it possible for people to enjoy movies as we know them today.

I was a movie fan. I like action movies, but I watched mostly English movies when I was growing up. Ngayon, wala na ’yung Rizal Theater but every Sunday, we would be there watching movies (the Rizal Theater was a movie theater and live entertainment venue located near where the Shangri-La Makati Hotel now stands). Mura noon, mga P6 or P7 lang yata ang movie ticket. I remember watching films like West Side Story and The Sound of Music. Was I a fan of movie musicals? I guess, because I remember those movies, especially The Sound of Music. I remember the songs, and si Maria (Von Trapp, the character played by Julie Andrews). A good movie lasts many generations because my kids still watch The Sound of Music. Why did I want to put up a movie company? Well, the history of ABS-CBN is really as a TV station, and that’s what my father (the late founder and Chairman or ‘Kapitan’ Eugenio Lopez, Sr.) knew—television. But unlike him, I was not shackled by the history of ABS-CBN; I was coming into it brand new. What we were thinking of then was transitioning ABS-CBN from strictly being a television company into a content company, and the first manifestation, the first realization of that, was really Star Cinema. Obviously it was a difficult sell in the company: my father wasn’t crazy about it; when I discussed it with Freddie (Garcia, then network president), he wasn’t crazy about it. They were firmly entrenched in Channel 2, and

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that’s where they wanted to be. We made it because we had a strategic alliance with Regal Films. It was really the stars of Regal that created that new wave for us, and that really brought us forward the first 10 years. We used the stars of Regal to create new TV shows, and that opened my eyes to the possibility that you could create stars, and you could create content, not only on TV but also in the movies. I remember very early on having a discussion with Malou (Santos, now Star Cinema Managing Director) about Star Cinema. It was the early days in terms of what we were doing on television, so wala pa kami masyadong pera to do movies. Back then, I think the cost of our movies then was between P6 million to P7 million. Today, ’pag inisip natin, our average cost is P20 million (per movie). At the time, P6 to P7 million was a lot of money for us, and we were just starting to reap the benefits of our success in television. So I think that’s what led me to say (that we needed three years to put the plans into action). Kailangan mag-ipon muna tayo, and we wanted to use the stars from television, and bring them into the movies instead of the other way around—or taking the stars of movies and bringing them to television. Ang gusto namin baliktad. We had to develop the stars first that would move into the movie genre. I have also always loved the films of Inang (Star Cinema Creative Head and director Olivia M. Lamasan). I think she’s clearly one of the best writers and directors of her generation, and I think many years from now, people who are students of cinema will still be studying her films. I’ve really enjoyed all her films. Madrasta is one of the films that really comes to mind. There was a father-son scene there that I think was a very touching scene. I think it was with Christopher de Leon and Patrick Garcia. That scene really stands out in my mind. When I look back on Star Cinema’s legacy over the last 20 years, I think what I am most proud of is that it’s created certain films that will be there for many, many years. When you talk about companies that create products, many create products that 20 years from now will be history. But the products we create (at Star Cinema) will still be there. It gives me a lot of pride to be

part of a company whose products will be here 20 years from now. — Tinna S. Bonifacio

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EUGENIO “GABBY” LOPEZ III ABS-CBN CHAIRMAN

Photography by SHAIRA LUNA/ Grooming by CARMIE LOCSIN

‘IT GIVES ME A LOT OF PRIDE TO BE PART OF A COMPANY WHOSE PRODUCTS WILL BE HERE 20 YEARS FROM NOW.’

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This story is not about the many #1’s of Star Cinema. Not about the multi-million peso box-office receipts, the biggest superstars under its wing, nor its mega-bucks tandems. This is not about the endless queues, the passionate testimonials, and the screaming crowds that characterize its every screening. Not about its tear-jerking/’kilig’/heart-wrenching/horrifying/reality-shaking narratives, with captivating beginnings, and beautiful endings. This is just a story—about love. A love for telling compelling stories that show different sides of the human spirit, for the craft of filmmaking, and for building a legacy that will last long after its creators are gone. For Star Cinema’s 20th year, StarStudio gathers stories of people with unique voices, each with a tale to tell. People whose simple, distinct journeys of love for the cinema are worthy to be told.

‘I AM IN A WORLD WHERE I AM MOST FULFILLED AND PASSIONATE.’

CHARO SANTOS-CONCIO ABS-CBN PRESIDENT,

Photography by SHAIRA LUNA/ Grooming by CARMIE LOCSIN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER

he lived what she describes as a “sheltered life” in the province, but the medium of film—introduced to her by her doctor-father who would bring her to the theaters—opened her eyes to worlds she had never seen. Fascinated by what this exciting new world had to offer, Maria Rosario ‘Charo’ Santos, from being a young dreamer, and fan, went on to scale the heights in the world of entertainment, becoming an industry powerhouse, and the first and so far only woman to assume the presidency of ABS-CBN. Today, she remains a movie fan and a storyteller at heart. From the long-running and multi-awarded TV drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) to Star Cinema’s landmark films, Charo has always believed that there is nothing as timeless or as powerful as a good story. Here, she shares her history with Star Cinema—a history deeply rooted in her childhood as moviegoer, and passionate fan.

I lived a very sheltered life in the province, but the movies widened my perspective, introduced me to worlds I had never seen before, and further enhanced my imagination and creativity. The inspiration was drawn from my parents, who were also storytellers. After watching a movie, we would gather and talk about its characters, story, and values. It developed my sense of perception and genuine interest in other people’s lives. It was Gabby Lopez who wanted ABS-CBN to get into cinema to address our increasing content needs and to create a venue for our growing stable of artists. It was challenging because the competitive landscape on television was very tough at that time, and I was asked to start with one project. Malou and Olive were with me from Day 1. We all know that it later led to 11 other projects before I turned over the helm to Malou Santos. Fortunately, those 12 films were box-office hits. It was a record-breaking performance for Star Cinema. Star Cinema has produced several box-office hits, but

it had its share of misses for a time. There was a year when Star Cinema employees didn’t receive Christmas bonuses, and their Christmas party was held in a parking lot with only pancit and barbecue. It was a painful year but that was a turning point for us. We’ve actually learned more from our failures than our successes. More than just providing an interesting plot, we have to study the characters and their motivations in order to engage the audience. There is no formula for success. It is a combination of intuition, gut feel, and the simple science and art of good storytelling. And we should learn from our mistakes. There is always a small chance that your story will not be liked by your audience. So it is important that you know your audience and respect their needs and wants. I am fortunate that I get to do what I love to do. I am in a world where I am most fulfilled and passionate. I was a fan and will continue to be a fan. And so when I see them, I know that some of them will also be working for ABS-

CBN and Star Cinema someday. — Tinna S. Bonifacio

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‘EVERY MOVIE YOU DO IS SPECIAL IN DIFFERENT WAYS.’

Interviews by ANZENNE ROBLE

hey’ve done seven films together, but they are most remembered for the iconic One More Chance (2007), the movie that redefined this generation’s concept of “romantic drama”. They have also found success with other screen partners, but when they do reunite (as they did in 2010’s Miss You Like Crazy and in the movie that marked their tandem’s 10th year in showbiz, 2012’s The Mistress), they remind moviegoers that theirs is truly a winning combination.

JOHN LLOYD: Of course I still remember the first movie I ever made under Star Cinema. I did it even before I was launched as part of Star Circle Batch 5. The movie was titled Ikaw Pala ang Mahal Ko, and it starred Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen, and was directed by Jose Javier Reyes. I played the role of Gelli’s little brother. BEA: Kasama ko na si Lloydie sa first movie ko with Star Cinema. It was My First Romance, and dalawang love teams ang nandu’n—kami ni Lloydie, and sina John Prats and Heart Evangelista. I was about 14 or 15 years old nu’ng ginawa namin ’yun. JOHN LLOYD: One of my most memorable projects for Star Cinema is One More Chance. Career-wise and in life, that movie will always be sentimental to me. That was memorable, it was a generation movie, sabi nga ng mga taga-Star Cinema. Also In My Life, with the kissing scene with Luis Manzano—and I got to slap Ate Vi (Vilma Santos), so in a different way, that was memorable. But you know, every movie you do naman has a different value. They’re all special in different ways, ’di ba? BEA: Madami akong natutunan from my projects with Star Cinema, and from my co-actors. When Tita Hilda Koronel and I were doing The Mistress, there was this one scene na sinugod niya ’ko sa shop, shot niya muna ’yung inuna. Grabe. Each take, iba ’yung binibigay niya. To be in front of her and watching her, ibang klaseng experience ’yun. JOHN LLOYD: For me, kung tatanungin ako kung ano ba ’yung biggest lesson na natutunan ko from Star Cinema, siguro it has to do with what I learned from my parents, especially my dad—’yung pakikisama. There are all these people na involved sa paggawa ng pelikula, from the director, to the crew, to the staff, to the utility persons, all of them are very much involved in the process of filmmaking. But sadly parang unsung heroes sila, kasi hindi sila nabibigyan ng appropriate credits, ’no? That’s sad. So dahil nga sa tinuro sa akin ng parents ko, I was able to practice that—’yung ma-bridge ’yung glitz and glamor and ’yung down to earth process ng paggawa ng mga pelikula. BEA: Special ang Star Cinema sa aming dalawa ni Lloydie. For me, it’s ‘family’. Lumaki kasi akong kasama ng mga taga-Star Cinema. Nakita nila ’yung best ko, nakita nila ’yung worst ko, and they still loved me. Kaya family sila para sa akin. JOHN LLOYD: I think Star Cinema is a source of hope, and I also think it has a great opportunity in bridging the gap between commercial and indie films. ’Di ba parang napaka-interesting nu’n kung iisipin mo, kasi hindi madali ’yun. Star Cinema has a very interesting and very tough position in the film industry and that makes it truly special. — Julian Mauricio

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ & BEAACTORS ALONZO

RICHARD, SARAH & ZION

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To read the full feature, download the digital edition of StarStudio from www.zinio.com/ starstudio or the iTunes App Store

D O U B L E

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C O V E R

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AUGUST 2014 VOL. 14 NO. 5

AND CELEBRITY LIFESTYLE

‘It was really the worst... Sa banyo na lang ako kumakain.’ ‘There’s a point siyempre na rin sa life mo, na ayaw mo nang apakapakan ka ng tao.’

HIS LIVING ROOM

XIAN WELCOMES

YOU Into his breezy A STARSTUDIO hilltop mansionand bright FIRST!

HIS INSPIRING

EXCLUSIVE

‘LAKAS NG LOOB TURNAROUND

STORY

LANG TALAGA’

How XIAN LIM survived being bullied and made butt of jokes for being the ‘unpopulabeing fat, the painful strugglethe of r kid’—and the tough journey to where he is now

THE DINING AREA

LOVE STOR

IES CELEBR ATING 20 YEARS OF STAR CINEMA

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o one would doubt why Piolo Pascual is on this list. It’s because his major career highlight—an acting grand slam in which he won all the awards handed out in one season for his role as Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon’s left-leaning rebel son in Dekada ’70, which he did in 2002—is tied up with Star Cinema, which produced it. Piolo’s journey with Star Cinema straddles multiple film genres, from actionthrillers to dramas to romantic comedies, proving his unmatched versatility as an actor.

I tried to back out from Dekada ’70 because then, I was really intimidated by the presence of all the people I was going to work with. But Tita Malou [Santos] asked me to do it and Mr. M [Johnny Manahan] asked me also. They have a way of building your confidence. So, I had to go for it even if I was just starting out then and despite the fact that it was a challenging role. All the scenes that you do, they entail a lot of hard work, a lot of training. [In one scene in Dekada ’70], they placed me on top of an ice chest all in my naked glory. I don’t know how or why I did it but I had to. That was the most difficult, challenging and memorable scene I’ve ever done in my life. It changed me as an actor because I was recognized with several Best Supporting Actor awards for my performance. I love doing action-thrillers, too, like On The Job. While Star Cinema is fearless in many ways, it also believes in the talent of its actors. But of course, ang forte naman ng Star Cinema is romantic-comedy. They make the best rom-coms ever. It’s always a fresh take. A lot of the things that I live by now as an actor are things I learned through the years while working with Star Cinema. Being a versatile actor is just one of them. — Jerry Benedict C. Rosete

PIOLOACTOR PASCUAL

Interview by FRANCIS SIMEON / Photo courtesy of STAR CINEMA

ice Ganda is one of the country’s most recognizable movie comedians and TV hosts and as an actor, has starred in some of the highest-grossing films in Philippine cinematic history: The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin (2011), Sisterakas (2012), and Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013). His most memorable moment in cinema happened right in his first film with Star Cinema—it was a moment that Vice Ganda will never forget. ’Yung first movie ko with Star Cinema, that was In My Life directed by Inang [Olivia M. Lamasan], sobrang ang laki nang binago niya sa buhay ko. Ang laking moment nu’n. Sobrang unkabogable ’yung moment na ’yun kasi nakasama ko si Vilma Santos. Ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya sa trabaho, tapos ’yung hindi ko inaakala na darating sa buhay ko ’yung makaka-close ko ’yung Star for all Seasons na maya’t-maya pinapanood ng nanay ko sa TV ’yung Vilma in Person (VIP). Sobrang fan kasi ’yung nanay ko. Tapos si Ate Vi hindi ko naramdaman sa kanya ’yung intimidation na, ‘Hello I’m a big star. You’re a beginner. You’re no one. You’re a nobody.’ Wala akong

‘SOBRANG UNKABOGABLE ’YUNG MOMENT NA ’YUN KASI NAKASAMA KO SI VILMA SANTOS.’ naramdaman na ganu’n. Close niya lahat. Parang anak niya lahat na sobra kaming naging close na hanggang ngayon sobrang close kami ni Ate Vi. Hindi ko makakalimutan ’yun kasi ’yun ’yung moment noong hindi pa kami masyadong close ni Ate Vi, tapos napanood niya pala ’yung MMK [Maalaala Mo Kaya] ko. Sabi niya, ‘Napanood ko ’yung MMK mo. ’Di ba ’yung nanay mo nandito sa America?’ Sabi ko, ‘Opo.’ Sabi niya, ‘Kelan ka ba uuwi ng Pilipinas?’ Sabi ko, ‘After po ng shooting.’ Sabi ni Vilma, ‘Huwag kang uuwi ng Pilipinas nang hindi mo napupuntahan ang nanay mo. Puntahan mo ang nanay mo. Kausapin mo siya. Sabihin mo ang gusto mong sabihin. Yakapin mo siya. Magpasalamat ka sa kanya.’ Pagkatapos nu’n, pag-uwi namin ng hotel, iyak ako nang iyak. Tapos totoo, pumunta ako sa nanay ko. ’Yun ’yung turning point kaya naging okay kami ng nanay ko. Ang laki ng tulong ni Ate Vi, hindi lang sa propesyonal, ’yung personal na bagay naayos niya ako. — Rome Jorge

VICE GANDA TV HOST/COMEDIAN

‘KAILANGAN MO I-PUSH ’YUNG SARILI MO KASI NAKAKAHIYA SA MGA KATRABAHO MO.’

ne of the current generation’s top leading ladies, Angel Locsin is also one of the most versatile. She has made audiences laugh and cry on both the small and big screen. It was Star Cinema, she says, that helped her transition from being a star to becoming a true actress who stands out among so many. Her fine onscreen performances like in One More Try, have left viewers breathless, but there is one thing she still longs to do—and when she does, then she will consider herself to have come full circle.

ANGEL LOCSIN ACTRESS

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Interviewed by LEAH INCIONG

‘I DON’T KNOW HOW OR WHY I DID IT, BUT I HAD TO.’

Nakakatuwa ang Star Cinema kasi ’pag gumawa ng pelikula, bukod sa box-office siya dito sa Pilipinas, nakikilala ka sa ibang bansa. At saka dito talaga ako nahasa. Utang ko ’yung acting career ko talaga sa Star Cinema, kasi sila ang nakapagbigay sa akin ng acting awards. Kahit sino puwedeng maging celebrity, pero ’yung matawag kang artista, ’yung magsusulat ka sa immigration na ang occupation mo ay actress, na hindi ka mahihiya, dito sa StarCinema talaga ’yan. And ’yung makatrabaho mo ’yung mga ‘best’ sa industriya, ang dami mong matututunan. Kailangan mo i-push ’yung sarili mo kasi nakakahiya sa mga katrabaho mo talaga na binibigay ’yung best nila.

(Halimbawa) kay Inang (Star Cinema Creative Head and director Olivia Lamasan). Lahat gina-guide niya, para siyang nanay. Tapos makikita mo ’yung dedication niya sa trabaho, at ’yung pagmamahal niya sa ginagawa niya. Actually, sa bawat director na nakakatrabaho ko talaga, meron at me ron akong natututnan. (Ang dream ko ay) ’yung makagawa ng mga proyekto na inspirational sa mga tao. ’Yung parang medyo taboo, parang napaka-controversial, ’yung napakagandang kuwento na maihahatid mo sa tao. So excited ako every project—nandiyan na naman lahat ng tanong, mula sa kung anong kuwento na naman ito, ano namang kuwento ang ihahatid natin sa mga tao, sinong tao ang mata-touch nito, kaninong buhay na naman ang mata-touch natin nito? — Tinna S. Bonifacio TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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Breathing Space

Thirteen years after going into semi-retirement to focus on being a wife and mother, Sunshine Cruz is back in the limelight, enjoying her independence and freedom, re-learning how to be her own woman and happy with her daughters and her new home By Grace C. Diez Photography by Harold Tapan

hey say the best revenge is to be happy. More than a year after separating from her action-star/director husband Cesar Montano, actress and newly-single woman Sunshine Cruz is back on track, grateful about being welcomed back by an industry not always known for giving out second chances. Since getting on the comeback trail last year, Sunshine has marveled over how the industry can still be so welcoming even after she’s been out of the limelight for so long. Her comeback kicked off in 2013 with a role in the hit afternoon soap Dugong Buhay followed by Galema co-starring Andi Eigenmann, Matteo Guidicelli and her cousin Sheryl Cruz. As proof that when it rains, it pours, Sunshine is currently working on another show: the local adaptation of the Koreanovela Pure Love with Alex Gonzaga. She also has her hands full with appearances, notably on KrisTV, as well as several endorsements, and more upcoming projects. “I’m so blessed and thankful that after quitting showbiz, may binalikan pa ako and tinanggap pa ako ng showbiz with open arms again,” Sunshine declares.

From the start

Sunshine’s marriage to Cesar was dogged by controversy and drama, right from the start. Cesar tragically lost his first wife, Marilyn Polinga, to

Styling by SIDNEY TFC ALL ACCESSYAP, V O assisted L U M Eby PAULETTE 2 • I S S TECSON U E 4 • Makeup by ERLIE ‘VANS’ BENTAYAO • Hair Styling by EDDIEMAR CABILTES

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Special thanks to Hip Culture and Cathy Valencia

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Sunshine’s new home reflects her sunny state of mind. The living room is done in light shades, is spacious and allows natural light to come streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and the windows. Sunshine did not hire an interior designer; instead, she worked with a friend, saying only that she wanted a “minimalist design” for her new home.

The mistress of the house with her daughters (from left) Angelina Isabelle, Samantha Angeline and Angel Francheska. Although separated from the girls’ father, actor-director Cesar Montano, Sunshine encourages them to stay in constant communication with him. “Sinasabihan ko ang mga bata to always message him and assure him na mahal nila siya,” she says. TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E 2 • I S S U E 4 15

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a brain tumor. It would take years before he would even consider falling in love again. Sunshine came into his life, and the couple was united in a beautiful sunset wedding at the Coconut Palace overlooking Manila Bay in September 2000. The couple’s marriage started out well. Sunshine was the picture of a contented wife especially when she decided to slow down to focus on her raising a family with Cesar. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Angelina Isabelle, now 12; Samantha Angeline, 9; and Angel Francheska, 8. “Dapat na ang tahanan na namin ang maging mundo ko. Decision iyon. And it wasn’t hard to do. I was with the man I loved na naghatid sa akin sa dambana,”

The second floor houses a common area where Sunshine and her daughters spend time together. Samantha and Francheska have bedrooms on this same floor, while their Ate Angelina has her bedroom on the uppermost floor of the house.

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Sunshine told Star Studio. But as solid as the marriage seemed, stories of Cesar’s alleged infidelity began to hound them—and all of the alleged incidents are a matter of public record. The public first caught a glimpse of the trouble brewing in the relationship in 2004 when sexy actress Juliana Palermo did the movie Panaghoy sa Suba with Cesar. It wasn’t long before the two were being romantically linked, causing Sunshine to reportedly pack her bags and leave the conjugal home after a fight. However, Juliana strongly denied any romantic dalliance with the actor-director, and clarified in her Philippine Star column that it was all a misunderstanding. The couple patched things up, but in 2007, controversy reared its ugly head again when 17-yearold Brazilian model Mariana del Rio entered the picture. Mariana met Cesar in Bohol where they met to discuss the possibility of doing movies together. When news of Cesar being linked to the model surfaced, Sunshine reportedly found herself moving out again of their Quezon City home on Christmas Day. Cesar continued to deny any involvement with Mariana, and the couple was able to rise above the issue. But rumors of marital discord stuck to them like glue. When Cesar returned from filming scenes for Palos in Macau in January 2008, he was met at the airport by TV crews and reporters, who asked him about talk that he and Sunshine were on the verge of parting ways. A smiling Cesar—who didn’t seem bothered at all by the persistent rumors (which were reportedly confirmed by Sunshine’s longtime manager Alfie Lorenzo himself)—emerged from the arrival area, telling reporters in a video clip aired on the now defunct showbiz talk show E (Entertainment) Live,“Mabuti po kami ni Sunshine, maraming salamat.” Asked if he was courting his wife again, he said: “Hindi masamang manligaw. Magandang manligaw, lalo na po kung ang liligawan n’yo, asawa n’yo.” Cesar said that he missed his family very much while filming in Macau, “lalo na ang asawa ko”, then got in his car and sped off

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Along with the minimalist design, Sunshine also wanted a “hotel feel” to her new home. This is reflected in the second floor common area, with the huge entertainment center, wide-screen TV (photo below) and glass and wooden divider overlooking the ground floor.

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One of Sunshine’s favorite spots in her new home is the kitchen and dining area. She and Cesar used to own an Italian restaurant in Quezon City—and now that she’s on her own, she still loves cooking for friends when she can. The dining area reflects her minimalist design inspiration and has a lot of space for guests to move around in. The creatively-designed wall clock was commissioned by her friend Jun Natividad.

before reporters could ask him any more questions. Everything seemed peaceful on the home front during the next few years. However, reports of another alleged extra-marital affair surfaced in 2012 with no less than Sunshine herself breaking the news on social media app Instagram. This time, the reports involved a sexy star named Krista Miller, Cesar’s co-star in The Untold Story of Alfredo S. Lim. In a guesting on Kris TV, Sunshine revealed that she confronted Cesar after seeing text messages allegedly sent by Krista to her husband. When she saw the sexy star posting pictures of items given by Cesar (including an iPhone 5) which allegedly turned out to be Sunshine’s gifts to him, she felt greatly betrayed, and her illusion of a dream marriage was shattered. Sunshine would later remark, in an interview, “Siya ang first love ko. Siya lang ang tanging naging boyfriend ko.” It was the beginning of the end. Early last year, the couple finally called it quits, and it was Cesar who left the conjugal home in Quezon City.

Her new life

Now, after all that surrounded her marriage to Cesar, Sunshine, who stayed in rented Quezon City digs after the separation, has moved to a new home TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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in south Metro Manila where she now has breathing space, literally and figuratively. It was the actress herself who decided that it was best to leave familiar ground which was home to her with Cesar, and move clear across town to Parañaque. She moved to be closer to her family, and because Quezon City—where they also owned a business, the Italian fine dining place called Bellissimo Ristorante on Scout Castor street—held too many painful memories. Says Sunshine: “I like the fact that I’m now very near my mom and sister. ’Yon ang the best dito. Kapag may emergency, may mapupuntahan.” She seems to have found peace here. “I like it here because it’s quiet. Ako lang yata ang maingay dito. Kasi minsan, nagpapatugtog ako ng music sa labas or nilalaro namin ang mga dogs. Pero mabait naman mga neighbors ko, I feel welcome. Minsan sa lanai, kumakaway sila sa akin,” she says. It was Sunshine’s mother who helped her look for her new home. Sunshine has adjusted to life in here, although coping with the distance between work and home is a bit more difficult. “Travel time lang naman ang talagang adjustment since most of the tapings are in Quezon City. Okay naman. I like the South. It’s a small community pero complete na,” she beams. The interiors of the house, which sits on a corner lot, boast of a modern minimalist design which allows the generous interplay of space and light. “It’s a blessing na hindi ako nagpa-interior design because my best friend Jun Natividad helped me. He would email me the colors and the items for the house and would show me pictures,” she said. “All I ever did was tell him na gusto ko lang minimalist and ’yung bedroom parang nasa hotel. Importante ’yon kasi lamang-kuwarto ako. Mabubuhay ako kahit isang linggo lang na nasa kuwarto ako. We installed glass and mirrors para mukhang malaki. Mahilig din kami sa salamin dahil mahilig kaming humarap sa mirror at mag-selfie,” Sunshine giggles, describing her house as “selfie-friendly.” Her favorite parts of the house are her room and the lanai since that’s where she and her daughters play with their dogs Tory, Star and Holiday. It seems that Sunshine was meant to be here, because things just

Sunshine is a stickler for order, and likes everything to be in its proper place. She has obviously passed on this habit to her daughters, as can be seen in this tidy little study corner in her daughter Samantha’s room.

One of the girls’ bedrooms. The ones they had in their former home were bigger in terms of space, but they love the ones they have now, because each of them has their own personal bathroom and wall-mounted shelves that hold items special to20 them, like stuffed TFC ALL toys, ACCESS V O L U M E figurines, and books.

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naturally fell into place. For instance, when Sunshine needed a bed, she got one, seemingly without effort: she got a Uratex bed that costs P80,000 but was given to her for free. “Anytime pwede silang dalawin at ipasyal ng Daddy nila. Hindi ko naman ipagkakait ang oras na makasama nila Daddy nila. Whatever happens, tatay nila iyan. Kasama rin lagi sa prayers namin si Buboy. We always pray na maging masaya siya at makahanap ng someone who will make him happy at magkaroon siya ng maraming trabaho,” Sunshine remarked. “Sinasabihan ko mga bata to always message him and assure him na mahal nila siya,” she thoughtfully continued.

Moving forward

Nowadays, Sunshine revels in the new life she’s living as she rediscovers her love for acting and singing. Having rekindled her relationship with her cousin Sheryl while working on Galema, Sunshine shares that she recorded a duet with her cousin. Apart from Pure Love, the actress is willing to do more out-of-the-box projects. “Gusto ko magka-indie film. Gusto kong mag-kontrabida sa teleserye para machallenge pa ako. Sana magka-album din kasi I love singing. Basta dire-diretso projects at may meaty roles, happy na ako,” she shared. Being single also affords her the time to explore the things she loves doing. “I love Zumba and dancing! It makes me feel happy. I’m happy doing Instagram but most of all, I love spending time with my children—’yon ang hobby ko talaga. Or chatting with my mom and sister. Homebody lang ako. Napakasimple lang,” she said, exuding a happy glow. Sunshine unexpectedly earned the support and admiration of many women who are going through trials in their married lives as well. “Marami sa FB and Instagram ko na nagsabi na sobra daw silang nai-inspire. Siyempre, flattering pero I advise them na una sa lahat, magdasal kayo. Without it, I don’t think kakayanin ko. Then sumama lang sila sa mga tao na good vibes and positive lang. Kapag sumama kayo sa negative ang outlook sa life, mas magiging miserable sila. Basta, prayers and focus on things na magaganda and that will make you happy. For example, masaya ako na kasama kids ko. Just to be with them and my family, nabo-boost confidence ko kasi for the past 13 years, bagsak eh. I thought I was too old to enter showbiz again. Nagpapasalamat ako na may mga taong nagsabing hindi pa huli ang lahat,” she said, spreading positivity and a bright outlook in life, that can make one say that Sunshine, after the darkest of days, is now definitely living up to her name.

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The Kids Are All Right

Sunshine’s princesses, Angelina, Sam and Cheska gamely answer questions about their mom WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT YOUR MOM? Angelina: “The fact that she cares for us and that she would do everything to provide for us. She would go to work every day if she needs to and sometimes she comes home na nga the next day morning. That’s what I really love about her.” Sam: “She always cares for us and she teaches us stuff. She provides for our needs and works really hard to give us our needs and in school.” Cheska: “She does anything to make us happy and she also finds a way to come home early.” WHAT’S YOUR BONDING TIME WITH MOM? Angelina: “We try to wait for her and sleep late so we can bond more often. We watch Frozen and scary movies.” WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS WITH MOM? Cheska: “When we spend time and watch scary movies!” Angelina: “When we watched the Daniel Padilla concert! We were all so excited and so happy.” Sam: “When we also go shopping and go out somewhere.” HOW DO YOU SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR MOM? Angelina: “By listening to her and loving her.” Cheska: “By obeying her. We do it right away.” Sam: “Like my sisters, by listening to her and by always appreciating what she likes.” WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU LEARNED FROM MOM? Angelina: “Don’t make ligaw to a guy and finish your studies. She teaches us proper hygiene, to clean our stuff and to not make the yayas do it. We should learn to clean and do stuff well. Also to love our dad and message him everyday.” Cheska: “Don’t lie to parents. Don’t make jokes about bad stuff.” Angelina: “Always pray everyday. Focus on your studies. She told us that she wants us to be friends with dad and to have a good relationship with him. Everyday, she told us to message him say good morning and stuff.” TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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Chefspirations

from the kitchen of Chef Ron Bilaro Private chef. TV host. Philathropist.

With the scorching summer heat, sit back and relax with these easy recipes that are low on prep and high in satisfaction.

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Ooh La Lam is a cooking program that guides viewers in preparing haute cusine inspired by classic Filipino dishes. Easy-to-follow recipes, tips and an engaging host make watching the show a 30 minutes well-spent. It airs on TFC, Sunday at 5:45pm PST.

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X Marks the Spot From the US to Manila, from a place of bullying and pain, to being embraced and accepted by an entire industry: Xian Lim has finally found his niche. It has been a long journey, but one that everyone who has ever fought to be accepted—that’s you and me—can understand By Rome Jorge Photography by Doc Marlon Pecjo & William Ong (Interiors)

Styling by TON LAO • Grooming by PEPS SILVESTRE SALON for INGLOT COSMETICS • Xian’s shirts and shorts by MINT • Xian’s shoes by GIBI TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E 2 • I SSpecial S U E thanks 4 to MS. MARY ANNE CRUZ and GIDGET DELA CUESTA

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iterally and figuratively, it has taken Xian Lim halfway around the world and back, and a complete turnaround in his life, to arrive at this beautiful, serene, and yes, very new place. This is his first time to have it featured. Set on a 3,000 square meter property in the hills of Antipolo, on gently sloping terrain, with a spacious garage in the front, a 25-meter lap pool in the back, and rooms decorated with Egyptian, European and Orientalinspired furnishings and antique decor, his new home— and everything in it—is a reflection of his choices, his character and his journey through life. To reveal his home is to reveal who Xian is. The transformation he has gone through would make who he is today nearly unrecognizable to the boy he once was. This is his story.

Mr. Awkward

Alexander Xian Cruz Lim Uy, years ago, was a pudgy immigrant boy with an awful mullet tail for hair who didn’t fit in within the Filipino community of Daly City, California, USA. Born in San Francisco, California, Xian was just 10 months old when his family moved back to Manila. When he was 10, his parents separated, Xian and his mother Mary Anne returned to the US, settling in Daly City, where they lived among its Filipino community for 10 years. Xian, a solitary yet precocious boy, enrolled in a

district school, and worked on mingling with other kids (which proved to be a challenge for him—and something he would take with him through his later years) while his mother managed her own music studio teaching piano, guitar, flute and melodica (also known as the pianica or blow-organ). All Xian and his mother had at the time was the courage and determination to make a life for themselves. “Lakas ng loob lang talaga,” says Xian, fondly recalling his younger days with his mother. “We didn’t really know what would happen nu’ng nag-school ako doon. What I’m proud of is we never, me and my mom, we never asked anyone na, ‘Uy, tulungan n’yo naman kami.’ We’re very independent, kami ni Mom. If we can do it ourselves, gagawin talaga namin. So nu’ng nasa States kami, we’re working kasi lakas ng loob lang naman.” As a child, Xian was awkward and shy, and not the type that anyone—least of all his mother—thought would go into show business. “When he was growing up, wala akong nakikitang hilig niya sa showbiz or any public life. Mahiyain siya at saka tahimik,” says his mother. But an even bigger problem would manifest itself during his teenage years. At 13, Xian’s weight ballooned to 180 pounds. Because of it, he was the butt of jokes of his American schoolmates who bullied him. “I just looked really big, with lousy clothes. Nakakatawa talaga ’yung porma ko, and my hair was kasi ’yung Cachupoy (Cachupoy, a famous Filipino comedian in the 50s and 60s, was known for his hair, which was parted down the middle and slicked sideways with pomade),” he recalls.

This lounging area on the second floor has a gently sloping roof with recessed lighting fixtures and comfortable chairs that make it ideal for reading or entertaining visitors. There is also a wall-mounted mirror, a trick that many interior decorators use to make small spaces seem larger than they really are.

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His transformation into who he is today was not the result of an instant makeover. It was a gradual and painful process with many missteps along the way. “Kasi nu’ng elementary, wala akong naging kaibigan, so middle school, wala rin kasi ’di ba they stick together? So elementary and middle school, grades seven and eight, wala talaga. I was the quiet kid, and I was really fat. It took time kasi when I moved there, ’di pa rin ako marunong. I mean, from middle school came this baduy, Cachupoy kid. In high school, I was still baduy. Cachupoy pa rin. Then I decided to grow out a tail which made it even worse, kasi parang ang haba-haba ng buntot ko. It was really long. Tapos nu’ng high school, ang hirap kasi that’s where cliques and groups formed na talaga. The popular kids had their own. It was really the worst. Doon na ’yung time na wala akong katabi. So I decided not to eat na lang. Sa banyo na lang ako kumakain.” There was a conscious effort on the young Xian’s part to try to turn his life around. It was a struggle, but the bashing he was getting left him with no choice. He had to learn how to cope, and that meant standing up for himself. “There’s a point na rin siyempre sa life mo na ayaw mo nang apak-apakan ka ng tao. Ayaw mo nang lait-laitin ka ng tao. Kasi life for me back then was about gaining popularity, gaining friends. ’Di The kitchen bears touches of contemporary influences with its bar stools and modern appliances. The reason for the high bar stools, says Xian, was to ensure the comfort of his mom who occasionally suffers from bursitis, a condition which, according to www. mayoclinic.org, is “a painful condition that affects the small fluidfilled pads—called bursae (bur-SEE)— that act as cushion among your bones and the tendons muscles near your joints.”

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ba ’yon ’yung buhay?” he notes. Xian turned to sports to cure his loneliness, trying crosscountry running and basketball. The pounds began to drop. However, transforming himself from a portly child to an alarmingly skinny boy did not help. “Pumayat naman ako nang sobra, pumayat talaga ako na nakakatawa na ’yung itsura ko. So that didn’t work. Tapos I was pale. I had spiky hair.” When he was accepted into the varsity team in his sophomore year in high school, he finally acquired a few friends. “Pero I was still not the popular kid,” he notes. What finally gained him friends wasn’t any transformation within himself. It was when former bullies began changing themselves that Xian came to have real buddies. “When I started going into sports, I think they also had a life-changing decision. I don’t know, for some reason, I guess they got into trouble a lot na rin, so they decided to stop. When I got into sports, nakikilaro din ako sa kanila. At first I was scared, kasi siyempre they made fun of me. But if you keep on doing it, mawawala rin ’yun,” he confides. Eventually, he gained enough confidence to go out and find a job. Xian will never forget his experience of earning minimum wage at a Costco branch in the US (Costco is a wholesale warehouse club, much like the S & R chain in the Philippines). He even sold movie tickets in a grocery store. Recalls Xian: “They had a promo for three months. In Costco, they put us in the middle sa may cashier. Dalawa kaming marketing. So mag ba-banter banter kami. ‘Spiderman is out!’ Some people would laugh at us.” Ultimately, as seemingly “uncool” as Xian might have thought himself to be, there was nothing really wrong with who he was back then—he was just a quiet, sensitive boy who, like everyone else, only wanted to be liked and accepted.

Finding acceptance

Eventually he was able to get over the bullying and find that acceptance. “I’m very open naman diyan. Yes I was [bullied]. Pero ngayon, whenever I talk about

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ng elders, well-respected niya. And he was taught that while his elders are talking, he should keep quiet, hindi puwede ’yung makikisabay. Very very oldfashioned kami, old school, kaya ngayon din makikita mo…” Xian still calls his grandmother and grandfather Ina, and Ama, respectively.

Among the stars

It was as a basketball player that Xian first intended to make his mark on his homeland upon Xian’s huge walk-in closet was designed so that people, including his stylist Ton Lao, who he considers his his return after his graduation “discoverer and mentor” (Ton discovered Xian walking the ramp at a fashion show and is still his personal from high school at 17 years of stylist until now) could go in without having to pass through the bedroom. Most of the clothes are from Mint, age. He played for the University a clothing brand for which he is one of three celebrity endorsers. On the dresser mirror is a poster featuring Xian and his mother Mary Anne. Xian is Avon’s first male ambassador for its “Speak Out Against Domestic of the East (UE), Manila, as Violence” campaign. a basketball varsity scholar while studying to earn a degree it, very light na lang. Pinagtatawanan na lang namin ng in Psychology. “Yeah I played Team B, but it didn’t mga friends ko from before. Because it actually turned out work out,” Xian admits. He stopped his education in to be a good story naman. Kasi ’yung mga nang bu-bully Psychology at UE after the second year. sa akin nu’ng middle school in Daly City are actually my During this time, as he developed towards having tall best friends now. They are the close friends who taught and angular features, he also tried his hand at modeling. me basketball. Whenever we talk about it, sila ’yung He felt deep inside, though, that he still needed to dating kumukuha ng pera ko. There was this one kid improve himself. Being deeply attached to the arts who made middle school so hard for me, but now we’re from day one, he thought enhancing his skills would friends.” further develop his character. He auditioned for Today he counts two sports buddies as his closest ABS-CBN’s Star Magic in late 2008. Xian explains his friends. Angelo Bautista and Ivan Maranan first met Xian reasons for entering the entertainment industry, stating, on the basketball courts of Daly City, when he was still “Siyempre naman ’pag may nagsasabi, ‘Uy mag- artista in high school. But back then, they came from different ka naman’ ’di ba.’ Aside from that, I love expressing schools. Xian studied in a district school, Angelo went to myself. To music, to drawing, to do something, so nu’ng an expensive exclusive private school, and Ivan studied in-introduce nila sa akin ’yung showbiz, they gave me in what Xian laughingly calls a “thuggish school” (or a workshops.” While others often seek fame and fortune, school filled with rough, rowdy students). it was self-expression, learning, and—still, the need for They didn’t become close friends until years later, acceptance—that drew Xian to the limelight. when they met each other again back in the Philippines. He still remembers his days as a showbiz aspirant. “I As with many things in Xian’s life, their deep friendship came with a fake t-shirt from a tiangge and jeans and didn’t immediately fall into place. Instead, things dirty sneakers, and that’s how I auditioned, and I really worked out for the best on their own sweet time. didn’t know what I was auditioning for. I was introduced Xian is aware that his own upbringing accounts for much of his character. Despite A long hallway connects Xian’s growing up without a father for most of walk-in closet to his minimalist bathroom—tastefully designed with his life, he sees the circumstances of his modern tiles and fixtures—to the childhood as beneficial. He confides, “I guess bedroom. the positive side is you’re really soft inside kasi puro babae nagpalaki sa ’yo—lola, nanay, relatives. I guess mas sensitive akong tao. Mas sensitive ka kasi you’re around sensitive people.” His mother recalls, “He was very lovable. Alam mo, ’pag pinapagalitan ko siya, hindi sya katulad ng ibang bata na they run to their rooms tapos ay, ‘I don’t like it.’ Siya hindi. He listens. He looks at you. Kung nakausap siya TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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Xian’s private space—his bedroom—with its parquet flooring and sloping ceiling, is sparsely decorated unlike the rest of the house. To the side of the bed (inset) is a huge brown teddy bear that is similar to the one Xian gave Kim in 2011. In an interview with www.push.com.ph that year, Xian said: “Kasi she (Kim) wanted a really big life-sized teddy bear. She was talking to someone else and I just overheard. So I looked for the teddy bear and I bought it for her. She said thank you and she was happy. And I’m happy na she’s happy. I guess she’s happy. She was smiling when I gave it.” In a guesting on KrisTV, Kim revealed that Xian ended up purchasing an identical bear for himself. During that guesting, Kim said: “Ano kasi siya, chismoso siya, Ate (Kris Aquino), napakinggan niya lang nag-usap kami ni Direk (Malu Sevilla, who directed them in My Binondo Girl). Sabi ko, ‘Direk, gustong-gusto ko ’yung life-sized teddy bear… kasi sabi ko, ‘Direk, ang ganda ’no para lagi kang may kasama kahit du’n sa movie room ko, may kasama ako. Katabi lang. Teddy bear.”

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Sheep skin wool is draped over a cozy and comfy chair placed near the double glass doors where there is a splendid view of Antipolo’s verdant hillsides. Xian’s home was designed to take full advantage of its location’s panoramic view and the gentle breezes that blow through it.

to Mr. M [or television director Johnny Manahan, Head and now Chairman Emeritus of Star Magic] and ayun nga. I came, so I should have exerted more effort, but okay lang,” he recalls. He made it to the Star Magic roster, but the acceptance from the industry did not come overnight. Xian spent several years biding his time, being content with small projects, and waiting for his big break. When it didn’t happen, he blamed himself, thinking he could have done better or even dressed better during his audition. Since then, Xian has learned his lesson, and has sought to prepare himself in the best way possible every time, for every situation. Again, there it was: the struggle over finding the acceptance that everyone aspires for. He recalls, “When I first got into ABS-CBN, that’s where it all started. When I auditioned, kay Direk Rahyan Carlos ako binigay kaagad to do the basic acting. And I’ve taken so many of his classes, like 10 classes already.” He has also attended the workshop conducted by Hollywood acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. Xian has since paid his dues, worked hard on his physique, and honed his skills with workshops, mentors, and classes. From being the obsessively quiet kid, it seemed that he has finally found a world where he feels comfortable expressing himself. It’s taken a lot to get to where he is today: He has topbilled movies such as My Cactus Heart (2012) with Maja Salvador, and the Kim Chiu starrers Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?

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At the top of the stairs leading to the second floor is a display unit with Xian’s trophies, awards, plaques and the other honors he has earned from being in showbiz, as well as some tokens that were given to him by his fans and supporters. The trophies include one given in 2012, during the Yahoo! Philippines OMG! Awards for Breakthrough Actor of the Year and the ASAP Pop Viewer’s Choice Awards for Pop Original Soundtrack Album for Ina, Kapatid, Anak. But theTFC achievement Xian is Vmost ALL ACCESS O Lproud U M of E has 2 nothing • I S to S do U Ewith4 showbiz—it 29 is a basketball trophy he won in a tournament that he joined back in Daly City with his friends.

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A ‘throwback’ photo from the time when Xian had yet to become the young and stylish celebrity that he is today. “I looked like Cachupoy,” he says.

(2013) and Bride for Rent (2014). He has played pivotal characters in My Binondo Girl (2011) and Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2012-2013), also both with Kim, and hosts shows such as ASAP (2011-present) and all three seasons of Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp. He has released two albums: So It’s You and XL2. He has 20 product endorsements, and his face is everywhere, selling everything. More than a testament to his success, his evergrowing body of work attests to his work ethic, his versatility, and his widespread appeal. But Xian continues to work hard at it. In an industry blighted by one too many celebrities who cannot sing, cannot dance, and cannot act, he stands apart as a perfectionist who counts among his mentors director Rahyan Carlos, Artist Training Head of the Star Magic workshops, pianist and voice teacher Monet Silvestre of Pinoy Dream Academy, painter Joseph Soliman of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, soprano-alto Annie Quintos of the famed vocal harmony group The CompanY, choreographer Georcelle Dapat-Sy of the G-Force, and maestro Gerard Salonga of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. And of course there was Xian’s mother, who first taught him to play the piano, and rudimentary phrases in Spanish and French as a child. Dimples Romana, Xian’s co-host in the i-Shine Talent Camp search, observes, “Xian is always willing to learn. He’s not afraid to acknowledge whenever he makes mistakes, like for example, he even enrolled in G-Force [Dance Center of choreographer Georcelle Dapat-Sy] because he wants to learn how to dance.” Xian himself bashfully admits, “I took like seven classes, ’yung workshops nila, just workshops. Yeah, it’s hip-hop, to get the rhythm. It’s like mga two-three hours each [time].” Dimples laughs and says light-heartedly, “Xian is a good friend of mine, but he really moves medyo awkwardly. But the fact na he tries his best to do it and formally enrolled himself in G-Force, which is one of the most prestigious dance centers in the Philippines, I give him a lot of credit for that. Palagi niloloko ko na, ‘My God, Xi, huwag mo na sasayawin ’yun.’ But I’m super proud every time he does. He tries to dance in front of people. He really makes them laugh.” She reveals an insight into Xian’s character. “I think 30

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The veranda near his bedroom is where Xian likes to hang out sometimes. The view behind him, he shares, is where he usually draws inspiration from when he paints.

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A view of the pool area, with the double glass doors leading to the den. The outdoor patio is where Xian asked that the interview with StarStudio be conducted because it was cooler. “Masarap ang hangin dito,” he said. Seated at the long table, one has a good view of the lawn and the fruit-bearing trees that adorn the property.

he does it not because he wants to learn how to dance. Apart from improving himself, I think he feels happy when he makes other people happy, kasi tinatawanan siya eh, pagka nagsasayaw siya so because of that he feels na, ‘ Ah, it made them happy, so I’ll dance even more,’” she notes. Vocal coach Annie first met Xian when he was readying himself for the recording of his first album. “I was asked to coach him on a couple of songs in his first recording. Soon after that, he decided to have lessons. I actually had one-on-one lessons with him in my studio. I discovered how much of a musician he was, how much musicality he had,” she enthuses. For his part, Monet Silvestre—formerly of the all-male a capella vocal group The Tux—recounts how eager Xian has always been to learn more. “Xian started coming for voice lessons, I think around 2009 when he was just starting in showbiz, so lessons were pretty much regular then, like every two weeks or so. Then at one point, the lessons stopped. Since he returned, he has asked for piano lessons as well. “He would always text on short notice whenever he sees a three-to four-hour window between his other daily commitments. Our lessons aren’t limited to voice or piano lessons anymore. Because of his eagerness to learn, we now study music theory and songwriting as well,” he explains. Monet observes how much Xian has grown as an artist. “Well, biro mo dati, voice lessons lang. And now he has performed with the ABS-CBN Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga, not only as a pianist but also as a trombone player! (A brass instrument with a telescoping slide mechanism, the trombone is both heavy and long, making it one of the most unwieldy to play.) He has revisited his love for the trombone and is now also studying under Maestro Romy San Jose, ABS-CBN Orchestra trombone section leader,” he enthuses. “Xian has the extraordinary ability to copy what is

played in front of him on the piano. That is how his Mom taught him classical piano. He told me that his Mom would sit him beside her when he was a kid, and she would play a piece at the piano and he would copy what was played, note per note, bar after bar. More than talent, that requires a single-minded dedication to his craft. That is how he built his classical piano repertoire. I hope that amidst all his showbiz commitments, that he would still be able to focus on his music. With his classical piano chops and his love for songwriting, if he sets his mind to it, there’s nothing to stop him from being a Louie Ocampo, a Gerard Salonga, or a David Foster. It follows with his singing. It only depends on how much he wants it,” continues Monet. Annie notes, “He is more than he actually he thinks he is, if given lang the chance to really develop it. He has this big insecurity. Hindi pa siya gano’n kasigurado about his singing. But if he just kept that, if he pushed himself a little more and just kept studying, I can see na kaya niya eh. Hindi lang siya confident, it’s not fully there yet. But once he sees how consistent he is especially in his rehearsals, then ’yung confidence niya will build, then he’ll be able to experiment with other things as well not just pop ballads.” She also notes how he often goes the extra mile for a lesson. “He even sometimes brings his own keyboard to the studio,” she recalls him lugging around his cumbersome 88-key Casio weighted keyboard. Monet is impressed by how Xian wastes no time and takes every opportunity to learn. “He texts me one morning asking if he could have a lesson, instead of going home to Antipolo to kill time in between tapings. He arrived and immediately played a rough recording from his laptop of a song he was working on. I gave him suggestions here and there, we recorded a demo and ended the session after three or four hours. The next day he submitted the song to his producers and they liked it. I think he recorded it in one of his albums.” Monet brims with glee and recalls how Xian made him TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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While some people have a game room with different electronically-powered game consoles for amusement, Xian settled on just one: an old-style billiard table flanked by two Egyptian statues. Aside from relaxing with a game of billiards, when he has free time, Xian turns to reading—in another area of the house, he has a large, tree-like bookshelf with several volumes by best-selling fictionist Sidney Sheldon, vampire romance Stephenie Meyer of Twilight fame and others, such as Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, art books and a biography of noted Christian football player Tim Tebow—or to one of the many board games that he keeps stored away. Xian also enjoys basketball, which he usually plays with friends who include Boyet, husband of friend and fellow Star Magic artist Dimples Romana. More than once, Dimples has warned her husband about being careful when playing full-contact sports like basketball with Xian. “Naku, ingatan n’yo ang mukha niyan! Hindi siya puwedeng matamaan sa mukha!” At the same time, Xian also enjoys deep conversations with close friends, who have described him as introspective and someone who likes to think. “In fact, sometimes he tends to overthink things,” says Dimples. Another good friend, Matteo Guidicelli, observes about Xian: “He’s a quiet dude. He’s always quiet in the corner and he’s kind of a loner. I think he’s afraid and he’s intimidated a lot by people. That’s who he is.”

proud as a mentor. “Watching him on TV perform with the ABS-CBN Orchestra was a milestone for him and a proud moment for me. But it’s the little things, like seeing him in YouTube videos singing and playing for his fans in mall shows, fiestas, and any place where he is accessible to the people who love him. That’s where he gives his love back. I feel proud, knowing I played a small part in that,” he says.

Parts of himself

His new home is the realization of Xian’s dreams, and the symbol of his struggle to fit in, first in America, then back in Manila when he came home, and in showbiz. After five years in show business, Xian was able to build this brand-new home, perched high on an uphill winding road in Antipolo City, (thee months old at the same time of our visit). It is Xian himself who welcomes us to the house and takes us on a tour. There are all the requisite signs of the good life that he struggled to have: a baby grand piano in the living room, a spacious dining table, a lap pool, and gym room to share with his friends. And two stray cats that he adopted to keep him company. We enter through the front gate, go down a flight of stone steps and reach the basement-level lanai which faces the back gate where the pool is. Then it’s into the den (where he keeps most of his musical instruments, 32

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including a piano) and up another flight of stairs to the ground floor where we find the living and dining areas, and the kitchen. A third set of stairs leads to where the bedrooms—including Xian’s, with its walk-in closet—are. Just outside Xian’s bedroom is a wooden shelf where his trophies, awards, plaques, certificates, and portraits are. These include a 2012 Yahoo! Philippines OMG! Award for Breakthrough Actor of the Year, and the ASAP Pop Viewer’s Choice Award for Pop Original Soundtrack Album for Ina, Kapatid, Anak, (Xian performed the song titled “Kung Di Sa Iyo”) to name a few. But the truth is that, in Xian’s case, his whole home is his trophy. Every room, every musical instrument, every car, and every piece of furniture provides a clue to who he truly is. These weren’t just chosen by some designer or bought for the prestige. Everything is the product of personal choices, some of which happen to be very tough ones. But each night that Xian comes home and sees this tangible sign of his success, it makes him feel good inside. “It’s such an achievement na 100 percent fulfillment na ikaw talaga tumutok and didn’t let anyone decide for you. Yes, if you had your own designer they would still go to you for approval. This one, ako talaga umiikot sa mall. Ako talaga naghanap sa Internet, nagtitingin ng tiles. Throughout the [building] process, every day binibisita ko siya.”

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Xian during a piano performance in the US. There was a point in his life where he had gotten used to wearing what he calls “lousy clothes” because of his size.

John Irving Lugay—architect for Goldworth Builders that was established by his parents Johnny Lugay and Vicky Arqueza-Lugay—reveals what it was like collaborating with Xian who did the interior designing for his own home. “Basically it’s a mixture of everything, of all our ideas. Xian’s ideas, our ideas, and also our in-house architect’s ideas. It’s a mixture of modern and classical design,” he explains. He notes, “We modified the standards we know to accommodate Xian’s requests [such as that his mother’s bedroom be located on the ground floor]. He wanted fountains. That’s why the swimming pool has fountains. This Antipolo area, it’s very breezy. The view is spectacular. So we maximized the ventilation, the lighting, and the view of the city below. The previous house had a low roofing. When Xian came here, he wanted the ceiling higher. So we modified the roof and

came up with a gable. We left the structure exposed so people could see the gable.” And while he freely takes us on the grand tour to explore every nook and cranny of the house and willingly shares with StarStudio the story of how it all came together, there are parts that he still considers very private. For instance, he is painfully shy about showing people the paintings he’s been working on. On the second floor, discreetly propped up against a wall, is a stack of nearly completed paintings that are his own creations. He is adamant that none of these are seen just yet. Nonetheless, he is no mere dabbler. He is an ardent student of the arts who wants to make sure that he has polished his painting skills to near-perfection before presenting his art to the world. He will exhibit his paintings when he is ready. “Oo naman, I wanna come out with an [exhibit]. I want to show people my paintings. But siyempre they are a work in progress for now,” he explains.

The good and the bad

Xian has come such a long way. In an industry where rumor mongers and Internet trolls abound, he has amassed thousands of fans and admirers who express

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Without Xian Lim knowing, StarStudio gives five of the people closest to him the chance to create the most personal, intimate and revealing questions they can throw at him. We then ask Xian the questions, and he gamely answers back

MARY ANNE CRUZ

MOTHER Of all the women in Xian’s life, she is the one who knows him best. She saw him grow from awkward boy to self-assured, more confident adult. She’s seen both the good and bad sides of him, and with these questions, has helped us see him in an entirely new—and, at times, amusing—light. MA: Wala tayong Christmas tree when you were a child kasi baka hikain ka sa dust. Do you feel na you would have been happier if you had that Christmas tree? X: Hindi naman. Childhood for me was very happy. ’Yung nabigay mo naman sa akin na life was pretty amazing, masasabi ko. So kung nagkaroon man ng Christmas tree o hindi it wouldn’t have changed kung ano man ’yung happiness na naramdaman ko na binigay mo. Over time naman, naging joke na lang natin ’yun eh. ‘Ba’t wala tayong Christmas tree?’ Kung may Christmas tree man, ’yung plastic, ’yung maliliit. MA: When you were 15 and I told you it would be hard to pass both the written and behindthe-wheel driving test, did you think you were smarter than me? X: No. Hindi naman. Of course not. Pero nasa isip ko noon was I would prove you wrong, same with nu’ng piano. Kasi ’yung piano, nagpaturo ako sa iyo. I

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asked you to teach me the minuet (a piano piece in three-fourths time). You always said na palagi kang nasa umpisa n’yan. Pero eventually, natutunan ko ’yung piano so I proved you wrong. Tapos sa driving naman, sabi mo, ‘Ibabagsak mo lang ’yan. Sayang ’yang application,’ Kasi di ba may bayad din ’yung application? ‘Tapos tatamarin ka lang Xian.’ Pero when I took it, I passed it the first time so tuwang-tuwa ka naman du’n.” MA: When I was teaching you to play the piano, did you believe it when I said someday it would do you good? X: At first hindi ako masyadong naniwala. Pero hindi mo naman ako pinipilit magpiano eh. But every time you said that, I thought it was your way of making me play the piano lang. Hindi naman pala. It really benefited me. MA: When I was teaching you to speak French and Spanish, did it feel like I was teaching you too much? X: Yes. Kasi you speak fluently. Akala ko kasi, ‘Oh, Mom, you’re just making yabang.’ But no you’re not. So when you were teaching me, parang ako naman, kinikilabutan ako kasi I felt you were being too much of a mom. ‘I know you know a lot, Mom,’ sabi ko pero medyo lazy [ako noon]. This was when I was around eight or nine years old. You were speaking to me.

Usually when you’re not doing anything, you would have a cassette player. Then you would play back ’yung mga languages na pinag-aralan mo. Then you repeat. MA: Which would you prefer? An all-expense paid trip around the world for a year pero afterwards you forget about it, or a free dinner at your dream restaurant with all the memories? X: Oo naman siyempre, ’yung dinner sa restaurant with all the memories, kasi kaya nga tayo nagta-travel because of the memories. Kung wala lang, eh ’di parang niloko mo lang ang sarili mo.

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their support in various ways, including creating fan art for him. He doesn’t just overcome opponents; he wins people over to his side. However, there is also an equal number of bashers and critics who are quick to point out whatever he does wrong. He declares, “I don’t care. I don’t wanna mind those bashers. They don’t really exist in my world para sa akin. I don’t really feel them. I think ’yung mga bashers kasi hanggang social media lang naman sila eh. Alam kong mas maraming nagmamahal sa akin. For the five, ten bashers, there are more people who love and support me.” Xian’s personal gym is a work in progress, representing a great investment in his own fitness. Nautilus exercise machines and Bowflex free weihts ensure he attains his fitness As successful a man as he is goals even when he can’t leave the house. Yet even here, Xian’s artistry and taste are today, the boy that Xian once evident, with chandeliers illuminating the room and paintings brightening up the walls. was still peers out from time to time. There’s still a hint of awkwardness that keeps his debonair charisma grounded. their dreams, even as he makes his own come to life. He Everything he has been through—both the painful reveals that for his next album, he wants to collaborate and happy experiences—account for Xian’s work ethic with his old friend Ivan, now better known as IZZ, an upand ambitions today. When asked by screen partner Kim and-coming rapper in the local hip-hop community. Chiu what his dream role is, Xian reveals, “I wanna do Xian imagines that his penchant for pop ballads would a psychotic thriller. Gustong-gusto ko talaga ’yung mga complement IZZ’s rapping. “Maganda ’yung collaboration, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt. They’re so versatile; they do so na parang may konting ballad, then add a little bit of hip hop many roles. Parang si Will Smith kasi he produces his and R&B di ba, so its pretty cool that he’s doing that at the own films. ’Yung The Nutty Professor si Eddie Murphy. same time,” he envisions. He produces his own films and he also writes.” Ever the He further reveals, “Ang plan ko sa third album, the main renaissance man, Xian wants to challenge himself with goal siyempre is to have all originals. Kasi now I have three roles both in front and behind the camera. originals, and ’yung isang song doon, “Iibigin Kita” which Xian also wants to help those closest to him achieve was used as a theme song sa show na Aryana, was actually

Dimples Romana

CELEBRITY FRIEND Actress and TV host Dimples Romana is a co-host of Xian in the three seasons of the Promil talent search. Three years Xian’s senior, Dimples, along with her husband Boyet who plays basketball with Xian, provide the young actor not only with a solid friendship, but also a big sister when he needs one. As someone Xian looks up to in the industry, Dimples knows the right questions to ask him. DIMPLES: If you weren’t Xian Lim now, what would you be doing? XIAN: I’d be a psychologist, that’s my plan. I always wanted to understand why (or what?) people were thinking, why do you do a certain thing, and how come when you’re in a group, you are superior? ’Pag mag-isa ka lang, how come you’re not superior? 34

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DIMPLES: If there’s one thing you want to change about yourself, what would it be and why? X: One thing I want to change about myself is my attitude. No, not that I have an attitude problem. Ito lang ’yung feeling ko na I’m always an awkward person, na if there’s a girl, I think I’m the awkward guy na parang wrong place. Ako ’yung parang palaging wrong timing. D: If you had a choice, would you want to remain an only child or gugustuhin mo bang magkakapatid and why? X: I like being solo. I’m very seloso. I don’t like the attention na mawawala sa akin. D: Every night before you go to sleep what is your prayer? A: That tomorrow be better. I hope tomorrow will be better. Yeah, tomorrow will be better than today. D: Bakit ang hilig mong magbigay ng joke kahit na minsan alam mong hindi nakakatawa? X: Well, hindi ko naman alam na hindi nakakatawa kung mag jo-joke ako ’di ba? I’ve always wanted to be the funny guy, pero sometimes I guess I try too hard.

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arranged also by Teacher Monet. I had the melody done. I wrote the lyrics. Sa third album, ang gusto kong direction would be to make the songwriting really strong, to have that lyrical hook to it, ma-hone ko sa sarili ko. So many people got into my life. My friends, all the influences, hip-hop, taking all these lessons, being exposed to all these people, now sasabihin natin it’s gonna be my sixth year [in showbiz] by the time the third album comes out, sana I can put everything together, na sana it will be strong enough na para masabi ng Star Records na this can stand alone.” Summing up his aspirations, Xian Lim, ever the perfectionist, simply states, “What’s next is I wanna do more, I wanna expose myself more. Syempre I wanna learn a lot, a lot more.” There are still traces of that awkward teen trying to fit in. He confesses that he cracks jokes that only he finds funny, and doesn’t mind when he is the only one who laughs out loud. He still is a bit apprehensive about saying the wrong things in public. Thankfully, that public, like his family, his friends, and fans, have learned to see right through him. They see not only the consummate artist or the towering virile icon; they see the boy who belatedly saw his own enormous potential and is finally feeling comfortable in his own skin.

KIM CHIU

LOVETEAM PARTNER AND FRIEND She has been his partner on screen and, many believe, in real life. A winning combination that guarantees box-office success and stratospheric television ratings, Kim and Xian have come to know one another very well both as people, and actors. Despite being the very busy actress that she is, Kim found the time to throw Xian a few questions whose answers reveal how well she knows him. KIM: You’ve been into painting these past few months. Ang ganda-ganda ng paintings mo. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala na ikaw ang gumawa no’n. Bakit ayaw mo pang mag-exhibit at kung meron, kelan ’yon? XIAN: Well, kasi wala pa naman akong maraming paintings. Wala pa naman sa plan, but syempre, libre naman mangarap. Why not? K: Ano ’yung dream destination mo sa buong mundo? At sino ang isasama mo ’pag pumunta ka doon?

Xian’s personal theater features movie posters of beloved films such as Forest Gump, The Clash of Titans, as well as paintings by modern artist Andy Warhol.

His story of awkwardness and dislocation resonates with everyone who has struggled to fit into strange places. Xian Lim’s story of transformation and evolution is an inspiration to anyone dreaming of changing their lives and themselves for the better. Today, Xian remains the same guy that at his core, he always has been—the one that is just looking for acceptance. Just like the rest of us. — With additional research by Aldrin Enriquez

X: Santorini, Greece is my dream destination and siyempre, I’d go with my family at kung ikaw, kung gusto mong sumama, why not? K: Ano ang super dream role mo? X: Super dream role ko, I wanna do a psychotic thriller. Gustong-gusto ko talaga ’yung mga Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, kasi they’re so versatile, and they do so many roles. Parang si Will Smith din, kasi he produces his own films. At saka ’yung sa The Nutty Professor, si Eddie Murphy. He produces his own films and he also writes. K: Kung may problema ka sino ’yung unanguna mong kinakausap? Sino ’yung palagi mong tinatakbuhan at bakit? X: My mom. I can really be open with her. She gives really good advice. She’s a really a good friend. Kasi sometimes kakatok ako sa kwarto niya. ‘Mom! Ano nga pahingi nga advice.’ Tapos sasabihin n’ya, ‘Sige, maupo ka, anak.’” K: Masaya ka ba today, Xian? Bakit? X: Yeah, I’m very, very To read the full feature, happy. Siyempre kung download the digital edition of ano man ’yung naabot ko StarStudio from www.zinio.com/ ngayon makes me really happy, and you also make starstudio or the iTunes App Store me happy. TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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RICHARD, SARAH & ZION

D O U B L E

YOUR BEST SOURCE OF

C O V E R

S P E C I A L

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

AUGUST 2014 VOL. 14 NO. 5

AND CELEBRITY LIFESTYLE

‘It was really the worst... Sa banyo na lang ako kumakain.’ ‘There’s a point siyempre na rin sa life mo, na ayaw mo nang apakapakan ka ng tao.’

HIS LIVING ROOM

XIAN WELCOMES

YOU Into his breezy A STARSTUDIO hilltop mansionand bright FIRST!

HIS INSPIRING

EXCLUSIVE

‘LAKAS NG LOOB TURNAROUND

STORY

LANG TALAGA’

How XIAN LIM survived being bullied and made butt of jokes for being the ‘unpopulabeing fat, the painful strugglethe of r kid’—and the tough journey to where he is now

LOVE STOR

THE DINING AREA

I S S U E

IES CELEBR ATING 20 YEARS OF STAR CINEMA

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Citizen Pinoy’s New Look and New Time!

ecause Citizen Pinoy is constantly aiming to reach more kapamilya nationwide, on June 1st, your favorite immigration program on television took on a new look, at a new time Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel is delighted to bring a more concise and faster question and answer format, reaching a wider audience, on a vast range of immigration topics. As TFC adds, “Magiging mas malawak ang reach ni Atty. Gurfinkel para marating at ma-provide ang public service sa mas marami.” (Atty. Gurfinkel would be able to reach more people, with more information, and be able to provide public service to even more viewers.) With the new 30-minute show and

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its new time slot of 6:15 pm PST (9:15 EST thru select providers) the segment Your Tanong, My Sagot Express provides a quick but substantial discussion of rapidfire questions from the live audience and those sent to Citizen Pinoy via email or social media. This new fastmoving format keeps the program fresh, lively, and interesting. From questions on family petitions, work permits, aged-out and illegitimate children, and visas for human trafficking victims, to petitioning your family member as a caregiver, and more, Atty. Gurfinkel and his Citizen Pinoy team provide practical and straight answers to viewers. As Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel said, he is excited that these changes would not only allow

I S S U E

ATTY. GURFINKEL ON CITIZEN PINOY YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT. Atty. Gurfinkel as he gives simple and easilydigestible answers to one of the audience member’s immigration question.

the show to reach out to more Filipino communities across the nation to address their immigration concerns, but also to answer more questions and provide simple and easily-digestible answers. Each Sunday, we invite you to sit with your loved ones, and get instant answers to your burning immigration questions, on Citizen Pinoy at 6:15 pm PST.

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BEAUTY, BRAINS, SSPTEAARK AND PERSONALITY To celebrate 51 years of Binibining Pilipinas, StarStudio caught up with two of its former beauty titleholders—2011 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee and 1986 Miss International semi-finalist Alice Dixson—and had them answer questions resurrected from previous Binibining Pilipinas question-and-answer portions SHAMCEY SUPSUP-LEE

What is the essence of being a woman? (Question to Precious Lara Quigaman at the 2005 Binibining Pilipinas) Before, people saw women merely as mothers and wives. Now, we’ve gone beyond that, striving to prove ourselves as businesswomen, as lawyers, and in my case, as an architect. Our gift, which is our role, is that we do these things with warmth, understanding and emotional strength. How far would you go to achieve your dreams? (Question to Venus Raj at the 2010 Binibining Pilipinas) As far as I can go. But not to the point that I have to sacrifice my principles and my beliefs just to achieve them. I wonder if you could tell us about the happiest day of your life, please? (Question to Carlene Aguilar at the 2005 Binibining Pilipins) The day I met my husband, my soulmate. No comparison to any other achievements to date. What is your biggest accomplishment to date, and what is your biggest goal in the next 12 months? (Question to Dianne Necio at the 2011 Binibining Pilipinas) My biggest accomplishment is not me winning the crown or topping the architecture board exam but becoming somebody of influence and inspiration. To hear little girls tell me that I have inspired them to study and work harder to pursue their dreams, I think that is the sweetest victory. I’ve tried modeling and hosting, which I both love to do and hope to still be doing for a long time, but I really want to try putting up my own food business. It will be another first for me. Complete the sentence: the ideal Filipina is… (Question to Bea Rose Santiago at the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas) A mixture of homegrown values, yet she is ready to face the world with her wit, beauty and confidence.

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ALICE DIXSON

What worthy cause do you identify yourself with, and why? (Question to Shamcey Supsup-Lee at the 2011 Miss Universe) Most of the charities I support are orphanages. Why? Because, unfortunately, our country doesn’t even provide the basics for kids like clothes, food, and education. I’ve been to a lot of orphanages, and maraming mga bata ang wala talaga nito. Which would you rather be, someone who is respected or someone who is loved? (Question to Nicole Schmitz at the 2012 Binibining Pilipinas) I’d rather be someone who is loved because when someone is loved, usually, there’s some sort of respect that comes with it. But then, when you’re just respected, you are not necessarily loved. What is your biggest accomplishment to date, and what is your biggest goal in the next 12 months? My biggest accomplishment is my ongoing career. I have been in the industry for more than 20 years. I think that’s the main thing I can be proud of. My goal in the next 12 months is probably to get my pilot license. I’ve always wanted to get that; that’s been on my bucket list, and I’d like to do that as soon as I get a break from all of my commitments. What is your stand on the legality of divorce in the country, are you for or against it, and why? This was actually the Binibining Pilipinas question I was asked. When I was younger, I said that I didn’t believe it because if a man and a woman really want to be together, they should get married. I answered that question when I was 16 years old. But now that I’m in my 40s and I experienced divorce myself and got through a rough marriage, my answer has changed. Sometimes it’s not optimal to stay in a relationship that’s not working. I think once divorce is legalized in the Philippines, mas maraming guys ang hindi mambababae kasi once you’re divorced, you have to give a certain alimony to your ex-wife. There is that law which requires you to support your ex-wife, so there’ll be more responsibility on the part of the man. Complete the sentence, the ideal Filipina is… She has to be well-rounded.

7/22/14 10:57 PM

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