How Ma’am Charo lost ‘it’ in America

Curtain-raisers:

• No, it wasn’t ABS-CBN which financed the US trip of suspended MTB host Willie Revillame who decided to spend his (and John Estrada’s) week-long suspension by taping episodes with senior Filipino immigrants in Las Vegas for his other show, Willingly Yours. The truth is that it was Willie’s manager Wyngard Tracy who gave Willie his round-trip ticket.

• Some people are asking why Joey de Leon (of Eat, Bulaga!) wasn’t suspended by either GMA 7 or the MTRCB when he tongue-lashed Cristy Fermin whom Joey called tarantado. For the information of Funfare readers, Joey has also reportedly received a "warning" from the MTRCB, a warning which, I guess, applies to other TV hosts who have the nasty habit of making green jokes and other unsavory remarks (using unpalatable language). So there’s no discrimination here.

• Our condolences to Celia Rodriguez and family on the death of their mother, Perla Rodriguez, 88, whose remains lie at the Funeraria Nacional at the Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

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Only a few years ago, ABS-CBN Executive Vice President could travel around America "anonymous." Not anymore. Ma’am Charo has lost "it" (her "anonymity’" that is) because of The Filipino Channel (TFC), ABS-CBN’s sister company which beams ABS-CBN shows to various parts of the US, Middle East and parts of Asia and Australia.

Ma’am Charo is currently in California to supervise a series of TFC events. In Los Angeles, Ma’am Charo met up with old friend Baby K. Jimenez (a movie journalist). Here’s Baby’s report on that much-awaited reunion:

Looks like the "period of anonymity" for Charo Santos is over. Since the TFC’s capture of America (especially the California region), Charo has become a household name/word, a part of the Filipino family in America.

"I could travel almost undetected before. But now, the Filipinos have started noticing," the ABS-CBN Executive Vice President said in all modesty. Actually, she has become a heavy favorite – some fans are even calling her "Ms. Maalala Mo Kaya?"

Charo was invited by the Filipino community in New York to grace the Philippine Independence Day celebration. Included in her itinerary was San Francisco, home of TFC. Last minute though, she had to fly to Los Angeles on June 14 in acquiescence to popular request that was coursed through her only brother, Joey Santos, who is actively engaged in TFC networking (aside from his regular job).

The affair was one huge celebration called Magkaisa Tayo in a thickly-populated Pinoy area in the City of Carson, held at Veterans Park. Charo said she has never seen so many Filipinos – and to think, this is just one area of Los Angeles. As we joined Charo in Joey’s TFC booth, we kept teasing her as a megastar as she posed with fans and signed autographs.

On rumors about her being the next President of ABS-CBN, she simply paused and smiled. I remember Charo’s Uncle (her late mom’s first cousin) is Jimmy Navarro who used to be an ABS-CBN bigwig. I asked her if she was ever close to him and her daughter Leah. "We are the poor relations from the province (Mindoro)," she said, adding "Oh, my movie fan days. I would go to the old ABS then and line up to watch the noontime show Stop, Look and Listen. The guard was not so strict as I kept persuading him to let me go – and at times I mentioned that Jimmy Navarro is an uncle." Then she looked at me, "Ikaw, I always read you! Your articles, your columns!"

This brought us more to the past. I reminded her when Lino Brocka called me in 1976. "Mike de Leon might be calling you. We discovered the leading lady for Itim. Just remember her name – Charo Santos. Beauty and brains iyan. Bi-build up-in mo."

And during the production stage, we found her to be withdrawn and shy. Now when I mention the word shy to her, both of us would let out a guffaw. One day she asked me then, "I have an interview with Ike Lozada at KBS tomorrow…Will you be very kind enough to come with me?" Imagine the same locale that she now lords as vice president.

Guess who else was there at the Carson affair – Mr. Elvis Presley himself, Eddie Mesa! He came with wife Rosemarie Gil (yes, they have reconciled if you have not heard yet). She said they’ve been in L.A. for a month and Eddie right now is busy with his being an Evangelist. Eddie still looks good except for his thinning hair, but his voice has not changed (the crowd loved his rock and rolling) and he has no need to shed extra poundage. Also present were Carina Afable, Fe de Los Reyes and Joey Albert.

Robin and Juday: Happy together

There’s a mutual friendly affection between Robin Padilla and Judy Ann Santos established during their constant togetherness during tapings for their ABS-CBN sitcom Basta’t Kasama Kita. Something like, uh, "brotherly/sisterly" love?

A Funfare DPA said that when Judy Ann celebrated her birthday in Palawan a few weeks ago, Robin, accompanied by his and Judy Ann’s mutual friend, direk Joyce Bernal, paid Judy Ann a surprise visit. Now that Judy Ann is having some problems, prompting her to seek privacy somewhere in Quezon City and away from home (in Susana Heights, also in Quezon City), it’s Robin who offers a ready shoulder for her to cry on. Oh, well, that’s what friends are for, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, Robin is said to be a front-runner in the Best Actor race in the awards night tomorrow for the ongoing Manila Film Festival for his performance in Alab ng Lahi, a film set in World War II with Japanese actor John Woo as one of his co-stars.

"When I was making the movie," said Robin who conceptualized the project fror FLT Films, "I didn’t have winning an award in mind. All I was thinking of was making a good movie."

And it must be good, indeed, for the DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) to endorse it (especially) to high-school. students. "After the movie’s preview by the MTRCB, Tito Mario (Hernando, an MTRCB member) congratrulated me pa. Maganda daw ‘yung pelikula, sabi niya."

In Alab ng Lahi, Robin plays Gregorio Magtanggol, a Hukbalahap rebel during the liberation period in l945. John Woo plays Yamato, a Japanese soldier left behind after his comrades surrended. (Will Woo win as Best Supporting Actor? Stay tuned.)

But then, you can never tell who the "sure" winners are until the moment the names of the winners are announced.

Now, will Jay Manalo (for Huling Birhen sa Lupa) emerge the winner? Or Christopher de Leon (for Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka). In the Best Actress race, it could be a toss-up between Regine Velasquez (for Pangarap) and Ara Mina (for Huling Birhen). Or, why not, Aubrey Miles (for Sanib).

It’s anybody’s ballgame. Just the same, keep on "fearful forecasting."

Melanie’s secret

Have your ever wondered what, rather who, Melanie Marquez’s beauty secret is?

Yes, she’s none other than Ellen Lising who takes good care of Melanie’s face, aside from those of her other star clients (including Victor Neri, Elizabeth Oropesa, Daisy Reyes, Selena Sevilla and Stella L.).

With branches all over Manila (and some in the provinces, including in her native Pampanga), Ellen’s Aesthetic Center specializes in skin care, particularly facelifting and removal of eyebags without surgery, permanent eyebrow, eyeliner and lipstick, eyelash perming, eyebrow correction, facial and laser treatment, warts removal, foot scrub, instant body peeling and other special skin treatments.

(For inquiries, 982-8793, 438-8072, 413-6357 or 372-8849.)

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