Pinky & Karel: Each other’s teacher

Actress-singer Pinky Marquez received a special gift last Mother‘s Day. She began rehearsals with her daughter Karel for Atlantis Productions’ Beauty and the Beast.

It is indeed a special opportunity for mother and daughter to perform together. Karel will be playing the lead role of Belle (which she alternates with KC Concepcion) and Pinky will be playing the motherly Mrs. Potts. Pinky will also sing the show’s theme song at every performance when the musical begins its limited engagement at the Meralco Theater on June 16.

This isn’t the first time, though, that mother and daughter have performed together. "We were together in El Filibusterismo staged at the CCP. Although Karel wasn’t originally part of the cast, she expressed her desire to perform to the director and he allowed her to cross the stage in a crowd scene . Since then, Karel has been in love with theater. We also did Magnificat directed by Nestor Torre. He gave her a part as a singing angel and I was the Virgin Mary. I was brought to tears every time I heard her sing. Later on, I played Maria in The Sound of Music at the Meralco Theater and she played Marta," Pinky recalls.

Karel remembers those days with fondness. "Being with my mom on stage was always exciting because I used to watch her ever since I can remember. It was from watching her that I knew I wanted to be a performer too. I always felt proud to be with her on stage."

The pride mother and daughter feel for each other will even grow as they begin rehearsals for the musical, directed by my good friend Bobby Garcia. It will mark Karel’s first lead role in the professional music theater scene. Pinky couldn’t be happier for her daughter. "I really love this musical. I used to watch it over and over when I was growing up. More so now that Karel is playing the lead role, Belle! I never dreamed this would be offered to her. It’s a blessing just to be offered any role in a musicall but to be given the chance to play Mrs. Potts is a real bonus for me. I still can’t believe it. Every time I hear Karel rehearse the songs at home, I cry."

Karel, MYX Live’s most-requested VJ, continues to watch and learn from her mother. "I see a lot of sensitivity when my mom performs. She is very serious with her work because this is really what she loves to do. My mom has a very strong yet gentle voice. She puts her soul into every note. "I’ve learned from my mom to be professional, to adjust to everyone and listen. And to always learn from my mistakes."

Pinky always finds herself watching and learning from her daughter. "I see in Karel a determination to always do her best. I see strength of character. Her musicality is very natural. I’ve learned from Karel to be childlike and truthful in every performance."

As they embark on a new phase in their careers and their lives, mother and daughter have some advice for each other.

Karel says, "I still have a lot to learn about life but my advice to mom is: Life may be difficult at times but we need to go through rough times to appreciate the beauty around us. Just keep your chin up, smile and pray."

Pinky’s motherly advice to her daughter echoes the many years of performing Pinky has mastered. "Life is like a stage. We all have our own little roles to play and we must do it with the best of our ability till curtain call."

Congratulations, Atty. Aga

My favorite lawyer and dear, dear friend, Atty. Aga, is going to places! His radio show, Ito Ang Batas With Atty. Aga, will now be included in the number one OFW radio program Philippines Tonight aired in Hong Kong over Metro Plus 1044 AM every Thursday and Saturday. This is to give in to the numerous requests of our kababayans in Hong Kong for free legal advice.

From one of the conversations I had with Atty. Aga, he said most of the problems of the OFWs are legal in nature. "Since we started our Tuklas Batas segment in my radio show over DZXL, I have been receiving more than 100 messages a day, both local and overseas, seeking for legal advice. And most of these messages came from Hong Kong," he shares.

Due to Atty. Aga’s increasing popularity in Hong Kong, 1528 Smart (a mobile service provider in Hong Kong) requested him to be its endorser and has included in its value-added service free legal advice from Atty. Aga.

Since then, Atty. Aga has been going to Hong Kong almost every week to give legal advice to OFW’s.

On Sunday, (March 15) 1528 Smart Hong Kong will launch Atty. Aga as its official endorser at the Pinoy Center in Central Hong Kong. It will be hosted by Atty. Aga’s gorgeous, talented son, TV host Drew Arellano.

Mabuhay ka, Atty. Aga!