The stars' true & loyal friends

I don’t like the concept that when one refers to someone being pretentious or hypocritical, he says “showbiz ka.” Even if said in jest, it still annoys me. But I also understand that it’s coming from the fact that showbiz indeed is a make believe world. Who was it who said that show business is the sum total of all the quotable quotes pronounced by its denizens?

I always tell friends who are not too familiar with the celebrity industry that we may thrive in magical chaos but when catastrophe engulfs the entertainment industry, there is an instinctive movement to get together and to take care of one another. Barbra Streisand once said that she hoped for people not to wait for tragedies and calamities to be good to one another. True, but I can’t complain about goodness exercised anytime of our life.

I also tell people that you can find true, loyal and enduring friends in the business.

I asked some celebrities about this and who their friends are. Read on:

Ai Ai de las Alas — Allan K and Arnell Ignacio. Allan is a business partner and we call each other BF. Si Arnell noong nasa Music Box pa ako. And my mega women best friends are Malu Sevillia, we’re twins and Rechi del Carmen who is a school mate in college. College pa lang barkada ko na sila. Coy General, Joey Atienza and Jerry Catama mga best friend kong lalake since college and Music Box days. May history na kami. Kasama ko na sila di pa ako artista. And of course, Fr. Erik Santos my BF priest and spiritual adviser.

Dulce — My friend is my husband Bernard because he listens.

Jomari Yllana — I am surrounded with different sets of friends. Nonetheless, they have one common trait. They are very loyal to me and yet can be honest to me when I am going wayward. My asset cannot be determined by the thickness of my bank account. Rather, my friends are my wealth. I may fall and rise, but I know whichever way I go, my friends will be there to stay come hell or high water. Right now in this new endeavor, that I am venturing in, the outpouring of love and support by way of unwavering support from friends is immeasurable. My greatest wealth are my friends.

Ana Feleo — I have lots of colleagues and acquaintances but only few trusted friends. My closest friends are from the classical music industry who have known me from the very beginning such as Karla Fernandez, who’s brutally honest with me but also very, very supportive. Another one is Jonathan Badon whom I’ve sung and traveled with for four years now and whose dedication inspires me. But my best friend really is my sister Ina. She has been my source of strength. She is my worst critic and my support. Nobody knows me more than she does. I strongly believe that friendship should be based on honesty and loyalty.

Sitti — I am a friend to anyone who treats me as one but there are few who really are close to my heart. My best friends are friends I’ve known since Grade 6, high school and college; people from my e-group with whom I share a love of music with; people I work with and those I’ve attended a series of view changing seminars with. They are my friends because I enjoy being with them. We share almost the same passions and inclinations and have spent serious, fun, quality bonding time together.

Gerald Madrid — I have a lot of best friends, people who stuck with me through thick and thin. They have always been there and did not abandon me through bad times. Siempre bukod sa kanila, I also have several dogs sila ang best buddies ko. Friendship for me should have loyalty.

Rufa Mae Quinto — My best friends are the people that I hang out with, people I love, people I share my happiness and my problems with. They are LJ Moreno, Erik Santos, Ai Ai, Gretchen Barretto, Ana Abiera, Pops Fernandez, Marjorie, Bitoy (Michael V), Regine (Velasquez), Ogie (Alcasid), Allan K, Jaya, Nads, Direk Joyce (Bernal), Wenn Deramas., Rico G., Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, Juday, Uge, Rustom, Joyce Jimenez., the Gutierrez family, Tita Daisy, Mikee C., Ryan my road manager, K Brosas, my family GMA Kapuso executives, my sponsors and Viva family. With them I can be myself. I grow into them and they respect me as a person and as an artist. They support my decisions whether they are right or wrong. They love me despite my flaws. Di man kami magkita, parati, we know ’pag kailangan nandiyan. They are happy, cool and lucky people and they are fun to be with. They have good intentions parati kaya successful. They are also nice and true. They never judge. They wish me happiness and they listen to my dramas. Higit sa lahat, they inspire. And not to forget, my church groups are also part of my best friends.