Why Angelica is on Cloud 9

If you see Angelica Jones smiling from ear to ear these days, it’s not only because she’s very much in love with Chowtime Na! co-host Bobby Yan but also, more so, because the Yan family has reportedly already accepted her.

You see, according to blind items in the tabs, a "certain flawless noontime show host" is persona non grata to the "buena familia" of her co-host boyfriend and they made Angelica (who felt alluded to) cry a river. Bobby left first week of October for Canada not because his family, again according to the blind items, wanted to take him away from Angelica but for a much-needed rest after a throat surgery (he was suffering from sleep apnea).

But Miss E.A. said that the Yans invited Angelica (who, again as per the blind items, was allegedly "barred" from visiting Bobby at the hospital) to the despedida for Bobby and to the baby shower for Geraldine, Bobby’s older sister.

"It’s not true that Angelica wasn’t allowed to visit Bobby at the hospital," clarified Miss E.A., who is close to Angelica. "She was cordially welcomed by Bobby’s gracious mom, Cita, whom Angelica found to be soft-spoken and down-to-earth. Bobby’s mom even thanked Angelica for taking care of Bobby during his hospitalization."

Before Bobby, Angelica was linked to a member of an all-male dance group, also coming from a "buena familia," who denied their relationship, making Angelica also cry a river because she felt that the guy was "ashamed" to be identified as her boyfriend. So she dumped him.

The romance of Bobby and Angelica bloomed on the set of Chowtime Na!, IBC 13’s noontime show which has recently undergone a reformatting, now with Onemig Bondoc among the hosts.

An image model of Index Beauty Salon, Angelica has a lot in common with Bobby.

"They are both philanthropic," said Miss E.A. "They go with medical missions, they visit orphanages."

Asked if the couple has started talking about marriage, Miss E.A. said no.

"They haven’t reached that stage yet," she said.

Why a US-based couple broke up

Meanwhile, here’s a piece of sad news from California:

A young showbiz (well, more of "TV") couple has broken up after more than four years of togetherness which everybody thought would last forever and ever as they claimed. After all, didn’t they turn their backs on their flourishing career here and flew to the US to start life anew?

Their departure was very dramatic. As they entered the NAIA departure area, the guy saw some media people nearby and he reportedly told his girlfriend to give them the dirty-finger sign. The obedient girl did as she was told.

In California, they had a love child and they were well on their way to living happily ever after when something hit the girl’s conscience, or so claimed Funfare’s roving California DPA.

"The girl has turned Born-again Christian," said the DPA, "and she was overcome with guilt realizing that she and her boyfriend were living in sin. So she asked the guy that they get married but the guy begged off. So she bade him goodbye and good riddance."

The un-couple’s love child (ther guy’s second because he has another one with the actress-sister of another actress) is with the girl who has a well-paying job and is not inclined to return to showbiz. "She’s happy where she is," added the DPA. "She has gained a little weight but she’s as pretty as ever."

Well, some good things never last, do they?

Bambbi Fuentes and the D’Freemales

As if he’s not busy managing his star-studded beauty parlor on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, and moonlighting as Kris Aquino’s personal hair/makeup artist, Bambbi Fuentes has also preoccupied himself with co-managing (with choreographer Josh Valdez, formerly with the Big Men dance group, and Willy Balingit) the year-old D’Freemales.

"Wala lang," said Bambbi. "Hilig lang."

D’Freemales is composed of 13 well-selected young men aged 18 to 21 who have been catching attention in their guestings on such TV shows as the defunct Morning Star and M.R.S. (Most Requested Show), ASAP Fanatic, Home Boy, Master Showman (Walang Tulugan), SIS and Chowtime Na!

"We auditioned more than 100 hopefuls early last year," said Bambbi. "We first selected the first eight members. And then, we chose five more, bringing the number of members to 13. I believe in the Lucky 13."

Before D’Freemales were launched on Oct. 17 last year, they underwent rigid training.

"It was all worth it," said Bambbi.

During the group’s first-anniversary meet-the-press, they gave samples of what Bambbi called "harmonized dance routines" and the media guys were impressed.

"They are available for corporate events and private parties," said Bambbi. "Either groups of five or six, and not really all 13."

(Note: For booking, call Josh at 0927-492-0323, 0920-532-2055 or 0922-813-3947.)

An appeal for a worthy project

I got a letter from Retired Manila RTC Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion, charter president of the Rotary Club of Quezon City North, and president and executive trustee of the Foundation for the Soup Kitchen, Food Bank & Training Center, Inc. and Lighthouse Center for Children Foundation, Inc.

Judge Veneracion wrote that for almost 15 years now, he has been working with disadvantaged children of Payatas, Quezon City, feeding them, educating them and empowering their families to be more productive so they can live with dignity, confidence and self-respect.

"The cost of feeding is P2.75 per day," wrote Judge Veneracion whose group is helped with donations from good-hearted people and companies (Rustan’s, etc.). "We would like to feed 5,000 Payatas children every day for six months to one year. After that, the children would have gained weight and their parents would be more productive, so we propose who will feed another batch of 5,000 children in the next community. We are duly licensed by DSWD and accredited by the Quezon City Government."

In short, Judge Veneracion is appealing to other kind-hearted people out there for support. (Those interested to help may contact Judge Veneracion at 939-8288 or 0917-525-2068.)

Tips on training and traps in training

Beam with great self-confidence.

Observe proper grooming in every training session.

Possess good presentation and facilitation skills.

Have exceptional rapport with the trainees.

Master the training topic.

Develop a highly-creative training design and methodology.

These are some of the pointers for good trainers from the book Tips on Training & Traps in Training by Dr. Nick A. Matias launched recently. The author has trained more than 70,000 employees from local and foreign companies. An OD consultant and a licensed change management and productivity specialist, Matias was a former banker, an entrepreneur and director of Top (Tough) Talk Consulting and Mc Gregor & Pryce Consultants.

By this time, the book should be available at your friendly bookstore. Go get a copy.

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