Mikey: Torn between showbiz and politics

Curtain-raisers:

* Birthday greetings to new GMA big boss Manny Pangilinan who’s celebrating his birthday today in San Francisco with his mother, family members and friends. Joining him are PLDT executives Ricky Vargas and Al Panlilio, NBC’s Marco Borlongan and GMA Network’s Butch Jimenez. Funfare is wishing Manny a fruitful stint as GMA head.

* While in Hong Kong to cover the launching of Zhang Ziyi as a Tag Heuer endorser, Lyn Ching consulted a feng shui expert who told her, "You will break up with your boyfriend." Is that why Lyn Ching came home with sadness in her eyes? "Maybe the feng shui expert made a wrong reading," she said. Maybe… let’s hope!

* John Estrada denies the rumor that he’s giving "import" Victoria London, you know, "the eye." Told that Victoria said in an interview that he’s not "my type," John simply smiled, as if to say, "Tingnan natin." Yeah, tingnan natin! Wait till John wields his much-talked-about "secret weapon."

* * *

Does Mikey Macapagal Arroyo feels "on top of the world" because he happens to be a First Son (you can imagine the quirks that go with it — or so many people think)?

"Actually," Mikey told a dozen movie writers he invited to his cozy pad somewhere in Quezon City, "it’s not at all easy; it’s not fun at all."

Since his Mom, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was swept into Malacañang by EDSA People Power II last January, according to Mikey, his life has never been the same again.

"Your every word and every movement is magnified," he said. "You are placed under the microscope. So I have to be careful with what I do and what I say because if I get criticized by the media, such as what happened recently, it’s my Mom who gets hurt and who calls my attention first thing in the morning after she hears daily mass and reads The Bible. Yes, when she’s mad, she screams at me, saying, ‘I have more than enough problems; don’t add to them!’ Kaya, ingat na ingat ako," added the newly-elected Vice Governor of Pampanga (with Lito Lapid as Governor).

Although he doesn’t hear mass everyday (unlike his Mom), Mikey regularly attends mass every Sunday, naming St. Ignatius (founder of the Society of Jesus and patron saint of Ateneo de Manila, his alma mater) as his favorite saint. Ask him to recite the Ateneo prayer and Mikey obliges, with a smile: Teach me to be generous, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and to heal the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save God knowing I’m doing Your most holy will.

Now that he’s being promoted to full stardom (after doing supporting/second-lead roles in his previous five movies) in Mahal Kita, Kahit Sino Ka Pa with Judy Ann Santos as his leading lady, Mikey expects more flak to come his way (critics will have a field day dissecting his acting, I’m sure). But Mikey said he has conditioned himself for that — and more.

"It comes with the territory," he said philosophically, echoing what his Mom said about criticism (especially negative ones). "My Mom told me, ‘If they hit you, turn the other cheek.’ Dapat hindi onion-skinned."

Because he has been in showbiz for four years now and in politics for barely four months, Mikey feels more at home with showbiz folk than with politicians. Why, until now he hasn’t even gotten used to living — and sleeping — in Malacañang where he occupies the room once occupied by (Ilocos Norte Gov.) Bongbong Marcos.

"Food in La Vista (where the Macapagal Arroyos actually reside) is far better than food in Malacañang" revealed Mikey, explaining that since his Mom is practising austerity, she doesn’t really splurge on food. "That’s why when my friends visit me in Malacañang, when I’m there, I ask them to eat outside first. Or we go out to eat."

Denying for the nth time that he’s courting Judy Ann, Mikey admitted that he has found "the girl I like" but she, who’s non-showbiz doesn’t seem to believe him, thinking that he’s only taking her "for a ride; akala binobola ko lang siya."

No, his Mom doesn’t meddle in his love life — that is, as long as the girl possesses the qualities GMA wants in a (future) daughter-in-law, namely "matino, hindi burara, God-fearing, not really rich but of good moral character."

Would there be another wedding in Malacañang (after that of Jo Ramos and Lloyd Samartino in 1993) in the near future?

Mikey simply smiled.

Mayor Toby’s laudable move

The recent Funfare item about the move of Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco to rid his town of pirated tapes (CDs and movies) has been receiving positive feedback from both entertainment industry and the public sector.

The irony of it all is that it took a non-showbiz mayor (even if Mayor Toby is showbiz because Mel Tiangco happens to be his aunt) to make a radical move against piracy, something the actor-mayors of several Metro towns and cities have failed to do, such as Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez, Caloocan City OIC/Mayor Rey Malonzo, former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, etc.

One of those who’s praising Mayor Toby’s anti-piracy campaign is Viva Boss Vic del Rosario, Jr.

Let’s hope that other Metro mayors — for that matter, all mayors throughout the country — will follow Mayor Toby’s good example.