MANILA, Philippines?In the aftermath of Tropical Storm ?Ondoy,? let us take comfort in the thought that after every storm, God sends us rainbows. All we have to do is keep looking up.
I?m grateful to have been spared from the wrath of ?Ondoy? but my heart bleeds for all those who were not as fortunate. Seeing the destruction it caused reminded me of one day in the 1970s, when the roof of our house was blown away by Super Typhoon ?Yoling??while we were having lunch. That horrible experience has left an indelible mark on me.
Celebs have their own horror stories about typhoons. Read on:
Alfred Vargas: ?Seeing a lot of coffins lined up inside a covered court-turned-evacuation center-turned-funeral chapel in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, is one unforgettable ?Ondoy? experience. Seeing the bodies... I can still remember every detail. Their faces all showed agony and desperation. And now their families are feeling helpless and hopeless.?
Ogie Alcasid: ?I woke up one morning 11 years ago to see that my place in Magallanes already had floodwater on the first floor.?
Christian Bautista: ?Two storms combined hit Cavite when I was in high school. There were waist-deep floods everywhere. We went to my lola?s house to move her appliances to the second floor.?
Benjie Paras: ?When I was in high school, I walked through the floods from Recto to Sta Mesa.?
For ?Ondoy? victims
My fave Boracay-based singer/songwriter Armand TJ composed a song, ?S.O.S. from the Philippines? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSmxhkLxV2g) to help raise more funds from abroad for ?Ondoy? victims. May it pierce more hearts to keep on giving.
Thankful tandem
Amid the chaos brought about by Ondoy, the entire cast and crew of ?Yaya & Angelina: The Spoiled Brat Movie? hosted a thanksgiving party for many positive developments, including the safety of friends and the support of fans.
Lead stars Ogie Alcasid and Michael V are overwhelmed that their movie grossed P10 million on opening day. They also worked as a tandem in real life by donating relief funds and soliciting help from their sponsors. It?s ?The Spoiled Brat? stars? turn to spoil the typhoon victims.
Remembering Kiko
Pia Magalona and her kids celebrated the birthday of their beloved FrancisM on Oct. 4 in a special way. ?We visited Kiko at 9 a.m. then went to Mass at noon,? said Pia. ?We followed our usual Sunday routine like we did when he was still with us. Had lunch at Cibo Shang, then Urban Spa. The only part missing was the dinner for two in the evening which we normally did since my birthday follows on the 6th.?
It?s more than a coincidence that Kiko and Pia?s birthdays fall almost on the same day. It only goes to show that they were destined to be together.
Raising gay kids
My son IC and I had fun as guests on QTV?s ?Full Time Moms,? which premieres third week of October. It?s hosted by hot mamas Cristine Jacobs-Sandejas and Suzi Entrata-Abrera, who have the right combination of wit and candor.
Our episode was about raising a gay child. Philip Lazaro said there are times they forget their obligations as gays or that they are gay to begin with. Arnell Ignacio said guys don?t necessarily fall for gays who shower them with gifts. ?Guys will say thank you,? said Arnel, ?but not ?I love you? kahit pag niregaluhan mo ng bonggang bongga. Tama na ang D.O.M. syndrome.?
What a delightful ?bading bonding? we had!
Gold mark
Broadcast journalist Daniel Razon?s ?Isang Araw Lang? CD hit gold upon release.
Produced by Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI), it contains nine OPM cover tunes??So Many Questions,? ?Your Love,? ?Habang May Buhay,? ?With a Smile,? ?Huwag Na Lang Kaya,? ?I?ll Never Go,? ?Forevermore,? ?Tag-ulan,? ?Hold On? and one original, the title track which is also the promotional single.
?Isang Araw Lang? (titled similarly as the advocacy) was launched at the Big Dome during the ?YCONCON: Isang Araw Lang? concert for the benefit of juvenile drug abusers. Mr. Public Service is now enjoying public adulation!
Davao fest
ABS-CBN Regional Network Group?s Kapamilya Karavan went to the ?Fruit Basket of the Philippines,? Davao, to celebrate the Kadayawan Festival with its stars at the jampacked Gaisano Mall Atrium.
Anne Curtis, Gerald Anderson, Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks, Coco Martin, The Gigger Boys, Claudette of Kapamilya Winner Ka (Davao) and Bb. Pilipinas-International ?07 Nadia Shami performed special numbers. It was the most attended show in the mall?s 12-year history.
Said ABS-CBN station manager Trisha Corpuz: ?We are overwhelmed by the support of Davaoeños to the Kapamilya network. Mounting this show is not even enough to repay their love and loyalty for the network.?
Fiesta ala Kapamilya!
PERSONAL: Thanks a mil to the cool team of Circuit Mag (Apryl, Andrea, Renan & JR) for featuring me in an advertorial in their October issue. Gracias also to fotog Albert Miranda for the fab shots. Grab your free copy of Circuit in hotels and bars so you?ll be in the loop.
E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com
