Why Champagne is sparkling - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Tomorrow is April 1 (as if you didn’t know) and it happens to be a special day for Champagne Morales not because it’s April Fools Day but because, yes, it’s her 18th birthday. Champagne will have her coming-out party (a gift from her doting mom, the Dinah Dominguez) at the Enchanted Kingdom (Sta. Rosa, Laguna).

Asked what other "gift" she wants from her mom (who tries very hard not to be tagged a "stage mother," even if she hovers over her darling daughter anywhere Champagne goes), the debutante flashed a sweet smile and said, "Well, maybe a little more freedom. Just a little."

Not that Mom Dinah is choking Champagne with affection.

"She isn‘t as strict as she used to be," explained Champagne, "but I wish she’d be even less strict. I’m 18 and I need a little more breathing space. But Mom is understanding naman, even if I still find it hard to ask permission when I go out. But I’m of age now and she trusts me, I know. Besides, I’m not the gimikera type; homebody ako, e."

Champagne has crushes (no names, please!), all right, but no boyfriend yet.

"That’s what my Mom worries about constantly," smiled Champagne who’s an AB Psychology sophomore at La Salle. "Boys. She keeps reminding me, ‘O, Champagne, don’t marry early, ha! Huwag mo akong gayahin!’ You see, my Mom was 17 when she gave birth to my sister."

But having the mom around gives Champagne a certain degree of security and assurance.

"She’s knowledgeable about showbiz so she can guide me and give me all kinds of advice, such as how to keep on striving and how to make my every performance as though it were the last, thus encouraging me to always do my best. She also gives me tips on how to dress properly and how to act. If I feel bad about something, she’s there to give me moral support. She’s honest with me. She tells me what’s wrong with my performance – you know, ‘Pangit ang pagkanta mo,’ etc. It’s constructive criticism even if it hurts sometimes."

A regular on GMA 7’s S.O.P., Champagne is now preparing her second album (also by Sony Music) which, unlike her self-titled first album (which carried slow tunes), will be more upbeat and danceable. It might also include selections from the Metropop (the GMA-sponsored singing contest of which Champagne was once a winner).

Off from school (she’s a full-load student who attends classes whole day Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; half day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), Champagne will have her hands full this summer. She’ll join the Trumpets Workshop (under Audie Gemora) and prepare for her concert on April 19 at the Cavite Coliseum with Audie Gemora and Carla Martinez, besides finalizing the selection and recording of songs for her new album.

Champagne actually started her journey in showbiz via theater (the movies next time?) five years ago when she played one of the children (the eldest, alternating with Donna Cruz) in The Sound of Music. She then went on to win first the Metropop and then the GMA Star Search.

Her role-model is not a female singer but Gary Valenciano.

"Why? Because Gary outshines other artists. He sings about God, about love, about life. I just love his inspirational songs."

But her favorite song is not by Gary but the Broadway hit On My Own (from Les Miserables).

"That song is deep," said Champagne. "Especially now that I’m in showbiz and I can’t really tell who’s real and who’s not, that song gives me a reassuring feeling. Sometimes, I feel that I’m really on my own. It also speaks about love, a simple song about loving someone who doesn’t even know that you exist or who doesn’t appreciate your presence at all."

Meet the current Close-Up Boy

The Close-Up TV commercial is a rich source of showbiz material. Among those discovered through that "smiling" commercial are Tonton Gutierrez, Dawn Zulueta, Gabby Concepcion, Robbie Tarroza, Rudolph Yaptinchay, Ronald Jayme and Leandro Muñoz.

Now comes Rafael Rosell, the current Close-Up Boy (see those arrows he’s exchanging with a pretty girl!). Rafael, 18, is a member of the ABS-CBN Talent Center, slated to be launched with a dozen other aspirants (winnowed down from the 24 now undergoing rigid training) sometime in May, collectively known as Star Circle Batch 9.

Rafael was born in Stavenger, Norway, where both his parents work. His mom, Amelia Quimpo, is a nurse from Cebu; and his father, Rafael Rosell IV, is a geologist connected with the British Petroleum AMOCO. He has two brothers, Ralph and Russell.

It was his mom, who came here for a vacation, who persuaded Rafael to send his bio-data and photos to Talent Center whose recruitment manager, David Fabros, convinced Rafael to come and try his luck here.

With his family in Norway, Rafael is living by his lonesome at a place he’s renting near ABS-CBN in Quezon City. He’s now guesting in ABS-CBN shows and brushing up on his Tagalog.

Open letter to Eddie G.

Here’s an "open letter" from Butch Jimenez of GMA Films (producer of Deathrow) to Eddie Garcia who won as Best Actor in the recent 24th Urian Awards:

Dear Tito Eddie,

Dreams do come true. For a while there, I thought this dream wouldn’t. I will never forget the lunch meeting we had when I was sharing with you my dreams for Deathrow. Of course, there was the dream for a "Three-peat" and maybe even an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. But what I really wanted to happen was for you to go up the stage and accept a Best Actor award.

Well, you did it, and with the Urian at that. I just thought I’d let the whole world know how proud and happy I am for you. You do deserve it. I have yet to meet an actor with the depth, intensity and realism that you showed in Deathrow (maybe if I meet Pacino or De Niro).

A lot of things make producers jump up and down for joy. . . a box-office hit, a Best Picture award, a box-office hit, critical acclaim, a box-office hit, and more box-office hits. But for me, when your name was announced as Best Actor for Deathrow, I was happiest and proudest as a producer.

I’ve always said I count it a privilege to have worked with an exemplary actor like you. Now it is a great honor to have in some way contributed to a distinguished career.

As far as I know, there are still a few minors in death row. Hopefully soon, they’ll be given justice. When that day comes, then another dream comes true.

Congratulations!

–Butch Jimenez

What’s up?

• Funfare congratulates Mario Miguel "Em-Em" Bautista, son of Vicky and Mario Bautista, who’s graduating from UP with a degree in Electrical and Communications Engineering. Em-Em has been gainfully employed at Customs Power a few months before graduation (next week). His (older) sister, Hannah, is working at GMA 7 until January next year when she gets married to her boyfriend based in the States.

• Erratum: In the Funfare story on Raffy Tulfo last Wednesday, March 28, Raffy’s kuya Mon Tulfo was identified as a columnist of Bulletin (his former paper) when in fact Mon is now writing for Inquirer. Also, VACC stands for Volunteers (not Victims) Against Crime and Corruption.