Roxanne happily 'expecting'

Roxanne Guinoo and Angelo, her Chinese-Filipino boyfriend, are getting married early next year. Angelo is 20 years old and comes from a conservative, hardworking, well-off family. Roxanne met him through a common friend. They have been together for nearly three years. There have been so many positive changes in her life ever since she and Angelo went steady. “Marami siyang naitama sa buhay ko. Mas nabibigyan ko ng halaga ang work, sarili at pamilya ko.”

Roxanne is now 12 weeks pregnant. She came to know that she was pregnant during the last week of January. The pregnancy was not planned, and she and Angelo consider the baby a blessing. “We don’t consider this as a big mistake. Itong batang ito ang magsisimbulo ng pagsasama namin until the end of time.”

She was crying, scared but happy when she learned that she was pregnant. “Masaya at masarap ang pakiramdam. Kaya ko pala gumawa ng baby that I will be proud of.”

Since she is already pregnant, Roxanne didn’t expect Angelo to propose marriage. But she was in for a big surprise. Angelo brought her to the garden of his house with all the lights off. When they turned on the lights, she was shocked to see a cake with a proposal that says, “will you marry me”. Roxanne said, it was at this moment when she felt she was very important to Angelo. She also showed me her sparkling diamond engagement ring.

Roxanne denied that she had an abortion; that her mother (who cried when she learned of Roxanne’s pregnancy) asked for a house and lot. “We have a house and lot even before I entered showbiz. At may sariling negosyo po ang pamilya namin,” she declared. She will not be leaving showbiz even after she marries.

Babies are always lucky and Roxanne is a lucky girl.

* * *

Aside from being a champion of women’s rights, House Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela partylist, (now a senatorial candidate) is bravely sashaying into the world of fashion. Her outfits though are not ordinary ones. Her clothes speak about her advocacies, the issues she strongly stands for or against. The Gabriela fashion show, for example which she spearheaded, spoke of women’s opposition to politics of evil. When former US president George Bush addressed the Philippine congress in 2003, Liza wore a Filipiñana outfit with hand painted panuelo that articulated her position against military intervention and war. Last year during the President’s state of the nation address, Liza donned a katsa gown accentuated with wooden beads and hand painted golden image of President Arroyo weaving an embroidery of Constituent Assembly to portray her opposition to Con-ass.

Liza will launch the Maza Line, a collection of dresses that evokes the principle of new politics; that nationalism is fashionable; and that political messages can be conveyed through fashionable creations that seek to educate the general public and to bring to the fore issues on women.

The collection of three creations done by young fashion designer Dennis Cabalinan will be worn by Liza Maza herself, Angel Locsin and Lala Jara. Liza will wear a dress themed with patriotism; Angel will be dressed in clothes bearing the issues on women’s rights, and Lala will show off a creation with a subject on poverty. The creations will be launched to coincide with the International Women’s day in March.

* * *

Escuela Legarda founded by Beia Legarda, daughter of famous lawyer and my good friend Katrina Legarda, celebrates its first anniversary. It is also now accepting new students.

Beia reports that “The first graduates from Escuela Legarda successfully hurdled the entrance examinations of top-notch schools like La Salle Greenhills and St. Therese College, Quezon City.”

Escuela Legarda offers wholistic and quality pre-school education boasting of English speaking teachers and a great learning environment with a garden and wide outdoor space surrounded by trees where children can learn and play without having to worry about the dangers of the city streets.

Located in the heart of Sampaloc Manila, the goal of Escuela Legarda is to encourage students to love reading, to speak English, to learn math, to enjoy art, to interact with peers. For details, call 02-3795034 or 09228306454, email [email protected] or visit No. 1 Sobriedad Rd. Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila.

Beia is a graduate of De La Salle College Taft and has a degree in Early Childhood Learning. She is also a certified Special Education(SPED) teacher and is presently taking up Masters in Reading Specialty at the UP.