In defense of Vivian Sarabia

Curtain-raisers:

• It’s confirmed: A movie-TV singer-actress and her non-showbiz husband (whose brother is married to a TV host) are into what the Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent) describes as “a temporary separation.” She discovered in her husband’s Facebook account that, added the VDPA, “he has many girls.” The couple is childless. Said the VDPA, “She’s super-sad. She feels like Tiger Woods’ wife who was crashed when she found out that she was sharing her husband with other women. She has already talked to her in-laws. ” The friends’ well-meaning advice to the super-sad wife: Pray. It helps.

• Glad to know that Wyngard Tracy is recovering fast after undergoing a double bypass and two other heart surgeries three weeks ago at the Makati Med. He’s home now. “Prayer and love truly heal,” said Wyngard who, through Funfare, is thanking all those who offered prayer, love and care for his speedy recovery. Praise God!

• From actress Tessie Villarama, this “smiley” text message:

Reminiscent of the good old days:

• Ten cents lang ang pamasahe, kandong libre pa

• Girl lang ang may hikaw

• Convicts lang ang may tattoo

• Arcega’s and Escolta ang shoppingan

• Five cents lang ang softdrinks

• Manual typewriter pa ang gamit

• Black and white ang TV

• Good Earth Emporium (GEE) ang sikat na mall

If you remember these, medyo may edad ka na. If you don’t, ulyanin ka na! (Hehehe!).

* * *

I think it’s unfair for some quarters to compare the appointment of Vivian Sarabia, Eyewear Stylist to the Stars, as member of the Board of Optometry to the case of the manicurist appointed (but later turned down) by her boss, former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as director of the Pag-Ibig Fund. Questions have been raised after Vivian recently took her oath of office before Pres. Noynoy “P-Noy” Aquino.

Because I know Vivian can very well defend herself, I’m not saying another word. Here’s Vivian:

I am a 1971 graduate of Doctor of Optometry, took and passed the licensee board exam given by the Professional Regulations Commission in the same year. I took further studies in Contact Lens Management in New York City and at the same time I worked as assistant optometrist in the optical department of Bloomingdale’s. I have given non-stop, more than 40 years of my life in the practice of Optometry and continue to be in active practice up to now.

In mid-2007, I received a call from the Presidential Management Staff Search Committee of then President Arroyo, requesting for my resume as there was a vacancy in the Board of Optometry and I was being considered for the position. Since I was busy I didn’t get to submit my resume until Feb. 2008, together with all the pertinent requirements for the application — NBI, Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan clearances. This also included the recommendation, nomination and endorsement of the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrist. After submission, I left it at that and went on with my everyday life. In May, 2009, after a year of submission, I received a call from the PRC that I would be interviewed by the PRC commissioner’s Ruth Padilla and Nilo Rosas to further assess my qualifications. I was informed after the interview that I was No. 1 in the short list of nominees. I was again asked to renew all my clearances as they had all expired from 2008. I went through the whole process. After submission of all requested clearances in May 2009, I didn’t hear from them anymore nor did I make any effort to follow up.

I have been making the glasses of PGMA since 2006; I never told her about my application. I know that my credentials would speak for me, and I just waited for whenever would come. In May 2010, I again made glasses for PGMA and delivered them to Malacañang and she invited me to join her for lunch. Casually, she asked if I was already in the Optometry Board (she knew about my association endorsement since 2007). I told her it had been two years but it’s okay. She was surprised and told me she would check and see what happened considering that all this time the Optometry Board had a vacancy of two more members to complete the board. Again, I left it at that and let it be, since I was aware that by June 30, Pres. Aquino would be the new president.

In the afternoon of June 22, 2010, I received a call from an Optometry Board Member, congratulating me as I have been appointed “Acting Member, Board of Optometry” and that I should immediately report to PRC the next day to take my oath. I questioned the urgency and was told it’s because the Board Exams for Optometry would be held on July 7-13 and I was needed. I told PRC my preference to wait until P-Noy took office  so as not to complicate things but was told that I am in “Acting Capacity” anyway. With that and the call of duty, I took my oath as “Acting Member, Board of Optometry” June 23, 2010 and conducted the July 7-13 Optometry Board Exams.

On the first week of July, I submitted my papers to the office of President Aquino for review of my credentials, background check and my “limbo,” status. I dutifully conducted the scheduled optometry exams, performed my duties in “acting capacity” and waited for results from Malacañang. After a month of submission and processing of my papers, P-Noy confirmed my appointment from “Acting Member to Member, Board of Optometry” and took my oath last Aug. 12, 2010. That’s more or less three years from the time the Malacañang search committee asked me for my resume to fill in a vacant position!

I have been making P-Noy’s glasses since he was a congressman and would drop by my Megamall optical for his glasses. I also made Pres. Cory’s glasses, many important personalities, celebrities and all my patients in the span of my 40 years of practice; I am their personal optometrist!

Sarabia Optical has been providing eyecare for 104 years! Sarabia is personal optometrist to all those we have served and still serving. From the sister of Jose Rizal, a patient of my grandfather, Dr. Federico B. Sarabia (first Filipino optometrist), to all the presidents, patients of my father, Dr. Federico G. Sarabia (Chairman Optometry Board 1972-1979) and now to me. I am the third Sarabia generation and my son Dr. Francis Sarabia-Ong is also a practising Optometrist. I come from a family of 33 licensed optometrists and opthalmologists all practising in the Philippines. For the past 104 years we have served and provided quality eyecare. The Sarabia Family, has safeguarded and kept the integrity and professionalism of our name.

I am grateful to P-Noy for recognizing my family’s contribution and mine to the profession of Optometry in our country and will continue to do so with God’s grace for many more generations to come.

MiG Ayesa with Constantine Maroulis in the US tour of Rock of Ages

After being featured as male lead vocalist in last year’s world and US tours of Broadway’s ballroom smash Burn The Floor, Fil-Aussie rocker MiG Ayesa will star opposite Tony-nominee Constantine Maroulis (of the American Idol fame, photo at right) in the 60-city US tour of another Broadway hit musical, Rock of Ages.

This piece of good news was relayed to me by Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter).

The tour, which will kick off on Sept. 21 at the Bank of America Theater in Chicago, Illinois, will highlight MiG for eight months in a major role as the flamboyant, over-the-top ’80s rock star Stacee Jaxx, a character that is a far cry from MiG’s simple and down-to-earth real-life personality.

“It’s actually a very funny part,” Edmund quoted MiG as saying during a Manhattan seafood lunch hosted by MiG’s aunt, Dr. Ching Legarda. “Stacee Jaxx is the lead singer of the band called Arsenal, which is supposed to be the biggest rock band of the ’80s. He’s the antithesis of every rock star. He’s the typical drugged out, over the top rock star. He’s basically a contravida to Constantine’s character (Drew Bowie) who is leaving the Broadway production to reprise his role in the US tour.”

Rock of Ages, set in 1987 and features a book by Chris D’Arenzio, focuses on a young rocker hungry for his big break and a small town girl who meet in 1987 at a legendary Hollywood club facing its imminent demise. The rock/jukebox musical is built around classic rock hits of the ’80s featuring songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steven Perry, Poison and Asia.

In the musical, MiG gets to perform with the cast several rock hits such as We Built This City, Wanted Dead or Alive, I Want To Know What Love Is, Every Rose Has Its Thorn,Waiting For A Girl Like You, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Renegade, Just Like Paradise, Sister Christian, Don’t Stop Believin’ and many more.

Although Stacee Jaxx is the most outrageous role in Rock of Ages and shares almost the same stage time with Constantine, MiG says he has no illusion of stealing the thunder from the American Idol finalist, who is a fellow rocker he first met on board the Philippine Airlines on their way to the Philippines to perform in 2006.

“It’s gonna be very hard to even match Constantine because when I saw Rock of Ages on Broadway and Constantine blew me away,” MiG confided to Edmund. “His voice is unbelievable, his acting is perfect. It’s really a thrill to be on the same stage with him. For me, it’s enough that Stacee Jaxx is a role everyone will remember. It’s a very good role and it’s the role that I really wanted.”

Rock of Ages opened on April 7, 2009 at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre to critical acclaim, following an off Broadway engagement in the fall of 2008. The Broadway production was nominated for five 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and New Line Records released the original Broadway cast recording in July 2009 featuring 28 songs from the show. A New Line Records film of the musical, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), is scheduled to be released in 2011.

Last Aug. 5, the Broadway cast of Rock of Ages sent the first national tour cast off in style at BB King Blues Club & Grill on 42nd Street in Manhattan, with special musical guests Lipstick-N-Leather, the best ’80s rock band in the New York tri-state area.

MiG, who was a third placer on Rock Star: INXS search, has been seen in the West End productions of We Will Rock You and Rent, as well as Australian productions of Grease, Fame, West Side Story, Rent and Buddy. He briefly appeared on Broadway last year (his debut on the Great White Way), stepping in to sing lead vocals for the limited engagement of Burn the Floor prior to the successful world and U.S. tour.

Added Edmund, “Unknown to his fans, MiG has become a good friend of Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon after they met through MiG’s wife, Simone, who is a personal trainer of Matt, his wife Luciana, and other A-List Hollywood celebrities. Matt and Luciana even attended MiG’s Broadway performance last year in Burn the Floor to show support. Last month, just days before signing up with Rock of Ages, MiG went surfing with Matt and actor Don Cheadle in Hawaii. He has the photos to prove it, but MiG begged off to share them for publication saying he wants to respect the privacy of Matt and Luciana. He says those photos will stay in his ‘private archive’ which contains his ‘private photos’ with other noted figures.”

Interestingly, on July 31, MiG and his wife were also invited to the much-talked about lavish wedding of former presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky at the elegant Astor Courts, a 50-acre Beaux-Arts estate overlooking the Hudson River in Rhinebeck, New York.

“That one I didn’t have pictures because no camera was allowed in the wedding,” MiG told Edmund, laughing. “They were very strict that all guests had to park their cars in one place and a bus drove us all to the venue. And that’s all I can tell you.”

Pretty Mutyas all in a row

The 24 official candidates of the 42nd edition of the Mutya ng Pilipinas were presented to the media at the Atrium of the Maxim’s Hotel last Aug. 11. The batch includes representatives of Filipino communities abroad.

This year’s pageant events are made possible with the cooperation of the Mutya organization, and Scribble Works Production Company which will have operational control of all the segments of the pageant events.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas National Pageant Organization promotes tourism in the Philippines and overseas through its partner organizations among the Overseas Communities. This year’s event is co-chaired by Consul General Fortune Ledesma and Nathasha Fortuna. Operational control is managed by an all-ladies team.

The lucky ladies will be recipients of a travel treat as they visit Puerto Princesa City to promote “Beauty Tourism” through the support of City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, a vibrant and staunch supporter of promoting Puerto Princesa as a key destination in the world among travelers and tourists. They are slated to visit the wonderful sites of Puerto Princesa City.

The 2010 Mutya grand finals will be held on Aug. 28 at the Resorts World Complex.

More screenings for Walk To Fame

More screenings for the Walk To Fame (WTF) search are scheduled today and tomorrow, Aug. 22, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The search is open to those aged 16 to 23 who have pleasing personality and good moral character. Height must be 5’10” for men and 5’7” for women. Applicants must complete a form and present a copy of birth certificate and one close-up photo, plus two whole-body photos. Venue is the rooftop (20th floor) of Wack-Wack Royal Mansion, Wack-Wack Road, Mandaluyong City. For more information, call (632)914-0600.

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