Why April Boy is migrating to the US

First, the sad news (for April Boy Regino): Your idol and his family – wife Madel and their two children Charmine, a college graduate, and John Christian, college undergraduate – are migrating to the US on Friday, Oct. 7, on the strength of an "extraordinary ability visa" issued to them recently (the same visa held by Gina Alajar and family, Ryan Cayabyab, Lea Salonga, Fe delos Reyes, Lani Misalucha, Rachel Alejandro and Carlo Muñoz).

In a brief chat with Funfare, April Boy said that he’s sacrificing his career here for the sake of their children.

It was US-based lawyer Jemela Nettles who helped the Reginos get the "extraordinary ability visa," the first time Jemela ever handled this kind of case, although she has also processed the working visas of celebrities (aside from April Boy) like Eddie K., Eraserheads, Rey Kilay, and Camille and John Prats, Mahal, Mura, Dingdong Avanzado and wife Jessa Zaragoza.

Asked how much Jemela charged them, April Boy said, "Not so big; very affordable. Hindi madugo." (The Jemela Agraviador-Nettles law offices are at downtown L.A., telephone number 213-426-6516.)

Initially, the Reginos will stay with April Boy’s relatives (his mom, etc.) in Los Angeles before finally settling down in San Francisco. The Reginos’ two houseboys and a driver will take care of the Reginos’ three-storey house in Cainta, Rizal.

Does it mean April Boy is retiring as a singer?

"No," said April Boy.

Now, the happy news: April Boy will continue his singing career in the US and is open anytime to offers for shows (or recording jobs) here; while Madel plans to put up a business in San Francisco.

Cheloy Ex-Muhlach Is Nutrafit & Exofat Endorser

I chanced upon Cheloy Ignacio (ex Mrs. Alex Muhlach) at Annabel’s Restaurant (Tomas Morato, Quezon City) over the weekend. When you mention the name Cheloy Ignacio, the first thing that comes to mind is her famous Quickmelt ensaymada which is served with meals on international PAL flights (yummy, yummy, yummy!).

Cheloy looked even more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her a few years ago. That time, she was fully recovered from her bitter breakup with Alex and very much in love with a Chinese whom she said she was going to marry.

"The marriage didn’t happen," said Cheloy who sounded not sad but happy (relieved?). "It was a blessing in disguise."

Happily single, Cheloy said she doesn’t intend to fall in love again, not so soon anyway.

Asked how she, in her early ’40s, is able to maintain her looks, Cheloy said that besides diet and exercise, she has been taking fat-burning and other products of Nutrafit and Exofat of which she’s an endorser. A moderate serving of Quickmelt ensaymada won’t do any harm, added Cheloy.

Cheloy is, as the Nutrafit/Exofat blurb says, "fabulously fit forever."

(Note: Nutrafit is available in all Mercury Drug outlets and at Watsons and Ellen’s Aesthetic Centers.)

Briefly Noted

Away from the showbiz scene for quite a spell, Ernie Garcia hasn’t been idle. In between occasional stage plays, Ernie has been dabbling in "painting on tiles." It started as a hobby and evolved into a new career for Ernie.

"I started experimenting a few years ago by doing artwork on the tiles in my bathroom," said Ernie. "I noticed that the paintings didn’t fade after several months, so I decided to do some more, this time on tiles joined together purposely for it."

For a long time, Ernie has been planning to put up an exhibit but he always ran out of material because his works were either given away or bought (some of them commissioned). But he was able to gather enough for an exhibit which opened on Oct. 1 at the Heritage Gallery, SM Megamall A. Check it out and see how creative Ernie is.

Juancho Gutierrez Passes Away, 73

Our condolence to Gloria Romero and daughter Maritess on the death of Gloria’s husband, Juancho Gutierrez, yesterday morning at the San Juan Medical Center, San Juan, Metro Manila. Juancho turned 73 last July 19.

"He had been confined at the ICU since Monday last week," Gloria told Funfare. "So many complications. He was diabetic. His kidneys were affected. He also had a urinary tract infection (UTI)."

Juancho had been wheelchair-bound for more than seven years after he suffered a stroke.

Juancho was discovered by Sampaguita Pictures in the mid-’50s when he won in the Mister Number 1 and Miss Number 1 (won by Amalia Fuentes) contest. He and Gloria were married in 1960 when Gloria was the reigning queen of Sampaguita Pictures. They have only one child, Maritess, and a grandchild, Christopher (a member of the ABS-CBN Star Magic). Their marriage lasted for only a few years.

"We got back together again when he had a stroke," said Gloria who had been taking care of Juancho since then.

Juancho’s remains lie at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati City. Details of the burial will be announced soon.

What’s Up?

• Mishka Adams will perform on Oct. 6 and 20 at Mati, the Greek authentic-cuisine restaurant at the Rockwell Power Plant. She will do selections from her album. The show, which starts at 10 p.m., is open (free) to Mati habitues on a first-come-first-served basis. For inquiries, call 898-2506.

• The premiere of Penis Talks 2 has been moved to Oct. 14, still at the Music Museum. Reason: The musical revue features 25 original songs by Vince de Jesus so more time is needed for rehearsals. Other playdates are Oct. 15, 22 and 28.

• Director Dante Mendoza happily reports that his award-winning digital film Masahista has been approved without cuts for commercial showing starting on Oct. 19. Watch for it.

• MTRCB Chief Ma. Consoliza Laguardia and all 30-plus board members are on hold-over capacity after their terms expired on Sept. 30. It’s not clear if Laguardia will be reappointed by Malacañang.

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