Ely’s heart is in the right place

Curtain-raisers:

• Guess who has just tendered her (irrevocable?) resignation from PAMI (Professional Artists Managers, Inc.) — yes, Angeli Pangilinan! Could it be true that Angeli was offended when fellow PAMI member Lolit Solis named her as the most "plastic" person in the industry when Lolit guested on the 40 Forbidden Questions segment of Mo Twister’s much-talked-about Magic 89.9 program in November last year? No, according to Angeli who called up Lolit yesterday to tell her that there were "many other reasons" why she quit the 12-year-old organization which is deemed to be one of the most powerful blocs in the industry. Did husband Gary Valenciano really pressure Angeli into resigning? Incidentally, Angeli has yet to iron things out with Gretchen Barretto, her former ward with whom she recently exchanged heated text messages (most of them were unprintable). During Eddie Gutierrez’s birthday bash the other night, 24 Oras’ Lhar Santiago ambush-interviewed Gretchen and asked her how things were between her and Angeli. With a "questioning" look in her face, Gretchen asked, "Angeli who?" Uy, taray, ‘no!

• A report from Funfare correspondent Ferdinand Lapuz (who’s on extended vacation from Toronto): After winning the Golden Leopard award at the Locarno International Film Festival and 30 other international filmfests, Brillante Mendoza’s Masahista (The Masseur) has started its global distribution. Swift Productions has released the film’s DVD version in November last year in France and in French-speaking territories in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Salzberg Edition launched its own DVD version last Jan. 29 in Germany and German-speaking territories in Austria and Switzerland. Salzberg was also the German distributor of Mel Chionglo’s Sibak and Burlesk King. Masahista will be shown by Joint Entertainment in theaters in Taiwan next month and by Picture This Entertainment in North America in spring. Pecadillo Pictures in London has acquired the film’s distribution rights in UK and Ireland. Negotiations are underway for the distribution in Australia and Israel.

• From Oliver Carnay (of L.A.): Did you know that an upcoming pop/rock singer in Hollywood is a Filipina? Her name is Mare Dayco who’s promoting her latest album entitled On The Flipside. What’s interesting about Mare is that she didn’t let psoriasis (a skin disorder which caused pus to cover her body, driving her to near-death twice) discourage her from attaining her dream. She has written poems and more than 100 songs, and a children’s book entitled Me and My Psoriasis to be released soon. She’s lively; there’s never a dull moment with her.

• From reader Rachel Chueng: I just want to know if the anti-smoking ordinance is still in effect in Quezon City. Several days ago, my family went to Steak Town on Quezon Ave. corner Timog Ave. The dining area was barely 60 square meters. I’m seven months pregnant and I was with two toddlers. There were several other families around. Then, a man came in and started smoking. We complained to the manager who, instead of asking the man to stop smoking, simply told him that the other customers were complaining. Maybe to spite us, the man deliberately continued smoking the whole time we were there. What happened to the anti-smoking (in public) ordinance in Quezon City?

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Everything in moderation — including sex.

A month after he suffered a heart attack, Ely Buendia, 36, is up and about, all right, but his doctor, Wilfred Dee, has advised him to go slow and do things in moderation especially his diet and workout.

"My diet is sodium-free," Ely told Funfare in his first ever interview after he was released two weeks ago from the Philippine Heart Center where he underwent angioplasty in two major arteries and a minor one, following a heart attack he suffered while having a concert with his band, Pupil, in Laguna. "The food I eat is basically tasteless, mostly steamed. For somebody used to eating meat and lechon, which were the staple served during our out-of-town gigs, I find it hard adjusting to the diet."

Besides being genetically predisposed to it, what triggered Ely’s heart attack was his fat/oil-rich diet, and lack of exercise and sleep. And too much stress.

"On the night he had the attack," recalled Ely’s wife Diane, a cancer survivor, "he was already having chest pains radiating to his left arm and shortness of breath but still, he performed pa for one hour and a half and then we rushed him to the hospital, with me on the wheel."

Although he can drive now, Ely is not supposed to lift heavy objects, not even his and Diane’s six-year-old son Eon or carry a guitar. He can exercise by walking, but he shouldn’t engage in any strenuous activity, including having sex.

"The doctor said that it’s a big no-no especially during the first month of his recovery," said Diane. "(Having sex) is under the category daw of strenuous activity."

"I’m also trying to get as much sleep as I can," added Ely who lost more than 10 lbs. during his illness. "Before, I would sleep for only three hours every night. Now, I sleep for as long as 12 hours."

Ely is taking several medications, including Aspirin, to prevent his blood from clotting. The attack left a little scar in his heart.

"But Dr. Dee fixed Ely’s heart in such a way that it’s as good as new," said Diane, adding with a knock on wood, "so it’s unlikely that Ely would suffer another attack. According to Dr. Dee, a brilliant doctor, Ely will be completely healed in two years."

Still and all, Ely is extra careful now.

"As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," said Ely.

He’ll be back on the road anytime now. On Saturday, Feb. 10, he’ll perform at Glorietta and the next day, Feb. 11, he’ll make his first post-angioplasty TV appearance on the GMA 7 noontime show S.O.P. On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, he and the other Pupil guys will have a show in La Union.

What, no Valentine celebration?

"Ely and I don’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day," said Diane.

"I find even just the thought of it corny," smiled Ely. "Why wait for Valentine’s Day to celebrate? We can celebrate any day even if there’s no special occasion."

"One time," said Ely, "nag-Christmas kami nang hindi sa 25th."

Like love, performing is livelier the second time around.

"I feel much more excited and inspired to write more songs," said Ely. "We’re preparing our new album. I can’t wait to get back to work."

RP bet in Manhunt International tilt

Here’s a report from Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Roldunne Jimenez Mendoza, 23, left last Monday, Feb. 5, for South Korea to represent the country in the 2007 Manhunt International pageant. Fifty-one other contestants from the same number of countries are competing for the crown at grand finals scheduled for Feb. 12 in Kang Won Land.

Standing 6’1", Roldunne has been a professional model since 2002. One of Bench Body Models, Roldunne has endorsed such products as Smart, Kenny Rogers, Nescafé and a beer brand. He studies at La Salle-Dasmariñas (Cavite).

Started in 1993, the Manhunt International is one of the leading male pageants in the world. Here’s a rundown of the Philippine bets so far:

• 1993 — Aaron Small, fourth runner-up and Best Physique

• 1994 — Bernie Guinto

• 1995 — Roy de Guzman

• 1996 — no pageant

• 1997 — Vince Pinto, second runner-up

• 1998 — Michael Sol Cruz

• 1999 — Alexander Judilla, Best Costume

• 2000 — Richard Stewart, Mr. Talent

• 2001 — Rick Cayzer, Mr. Personality

• 2002 — Bruce Quebral

• 2003-2004 — no pageant

• 2005 — Brent Javier, Mr. Internet

• 2006 — Iago Raterta, semi-finalist

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])