A new challenge for Cherie

Atlantis Productions will bring Broadway’s hottest and most awarded new play Doubt to Manila this year starring Cherie Gil.

John Patrick Shanley’s controversial, suspenseful play Doubt recently won four Tony Awards including the award for Best Play and the highly-coveted 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Doubt continues to play on Broadway to SRO crowds and has become Broadway’s runaway hit of the season.

Set against the backdrop of a Bronx Catholic School in 1964, Doubt is the story of a strong-minded woman faced with a difficult decision: should she voice concerns about one of her male colleagues, even if she’s not entirely certain of the truth?

Cherie, one of the country’s finest and most versatile actresses plays the lead role of Sister Aloysius. Cherie is a popular figure in film and television whose work has been critically acclaimed and embraced by the public that her characters have become contemporary icons. The lines she gave life to ("You’re nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copycat!") are repeated from generation to generation.

While we are seeing her on TV in the highly-rated remake of the soap opera Gulong ng Palad, Cherie will also be preparing for the highly anticipated run of Doubt.

"I am still in the process of preparing. I cannot describe it in words just yet. I am working on the physical character…because it is a real challenge for me to play a 50-year- old woman! I am researching our era in the play and understanding the philosophy of the Sisters of Charity in the ’60s. After my bout with the tsunami, I have learned not to plan anything. I take things as they come…but I do have a lot of desires. Like performing a wonderfully written script like Doubt onstage. I would really like to do more of this stuff this year. It gives me an adrenalin rush which I have been longing for but do not get much of from doing soap operas."

Doubt will be directed by Chari Arespacochaga, set and costume design by Mio Infante, lighting design by Jonsy Reyes and original music scoring by ManMan Angsico. For more information on show buying and fund raising opportunities, contact Sally at Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.

Jewelry from Pomellato

One thing that I cannot leave home without is my scapular. I have been wearing my scapular for a long time now. It was given to me by a friend who thought I should wear it and I did. No questions asked. I never take my scapular off my neck. I don’t know why. Even when I take a bath, I still wear it. I feel safe with it. It’s like an anting-anting. It’s also like second skin to me. When Brooke Shields said, "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins" I say nothing comes between me and my scapular.

An avid watcher of my show, Private Conversations with Boy Abunda, noticed this ubiquitous thing I wear everyday. She wrote me a letter saying she often sees me with my scapular and that she was selling me a gold one. I could not say no to the lady. Thus, I bought the gold scapular. The funny thing is, I haven’t worn my gold scapular. It stays in my drawer. I am not really into gold or silver or diamonds. I am not much into jewelry. Clothes, yes. But I always say they do not define who I am. I work hard and I love to indulge myself once in a while.

Why don’t I wear jewelry? I don’t know. But lately, many must have noticed something on my wrist that I wear often to add to my scapular. It is a Philip Stein Teslar watch which Kris Aquino and I wear for very good reasons. It has miraculous health benefits and it allows people to experience an exceptional energized calm that enhances health and well-being. It’s good for the health. It helps make your sleep uninterrupted. It has, as the makers of the watch say, properties that induce peace in your body. I agree. Hollywood celebrities wear Philip Stein Teslar for its health benefits aside of course from its being fashionable.

The latest craze among the most powerful and beautiful men and women in the world is the Italian handcrafted Pomellato jewelry. Pomellato is available at Vanafi Boutiques. Year after year, Pomellato produces an admirable collection of dazzling jewelry, coveted by the most stylish people in the world. Pomellato offers an array of tastefully-designed sparklers that combine contemporary and classic designs, deep textures, rich colors and striking, intricate details that create an alluring charm that will surely dazzle any jewelry connoisseur.

Among its varied regalia are: Lola, velvet chains that exude warmth and love; Baby, miniature-sized rings and earrings that highlight the beauty of champagne diamonds; Nausicaa, resplendent jewelry inspired by the waves of the sea; Lucciole, stunning bracelets that perfectly capture the color variations of gold and diamonds; Orso, adorable necklaces with diamond-studded, bear-shaped pendants;

Pin Up, charismatic stones and diamonds meant to be pinned near the heart; Narciso, splendid gold and rock crystal earrings, necklaces and bracelets that rightly reflect the beauty of each stone; Echo, resonant chains of gold studded with brown diamonds; Tango, rings that come full circle with the coral tortoise, peridot and amethyst and Nudo, the best-selling line that reflects the candy colors of romantic gemstones.

From objects of beauty, Vanafi has also the signature La Perla lingerie. La Perla, the world’s most celebrated intimate prêt-a-porter, fuses innovation and tradition to create a variety of lingerie and fashion collections that perfectly capture the emotions of a woman at play, and transform them into comfortable, wearable art for the chic, modern woman. From the collections of La Perla, La Perla Black Label, La Perla Glamour to La Perla Studio and Malizia, La Perla offers exquisite lingerie in sensual lace, tulle, pure Egyptian cotton and 100 percent silk.

If you can’t wear jewelry, at least wear a luxurious lingerie. It feels good. Try it.