MANILA, Philippines - Jojo Alejar had three things to celebrate last June 19: His birthday, his fatherhood and his good health. His second name is Rizalito, which his parents culled from the national hero, whose birthday he shares. The star was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at UST’s Faculty of Arts and Letters when show business snatched him for good in 1983. But even way back in his Marist High School years, the limelight has beckoned, with his dance trio The Tigers, doing the tinsel town rounds. From youth-oriented television programs like Kuya Germs’ That’s Entertainment, he crossed over to the movies, and now is coming full circle as he is back in the network circuit, hosting a late-night talk show running for half a decade now, called Medyo Late Nite Show with Jojo A.
Except for his fair complexion, Jojo is a dead ringer for the national hero: From his typical Filipino height to the clean-cut black hair parted on the side, cascading in a wave to his patrician brow — uncanny resemblance straight from the popular photographs of the national hero in his European garb. In his deconstructive book Rizal without the Overcoat, historian Ambeth Ocampo gave archival insights into the quirks of the hero, who like Jojo and other mortals, was concerned with mundane things — among them, budgeting his meager allowance, and the conscious hero that he was keeping physically fit while immersed in his writing and medical studies in the continent.
Jojo, hero of late-night Philippine TV keeps a punishing schedule, too, but shows no sign of slowing down. No, he has not found the fountain of youth — just faithfulness to his health regimen. “I try to keep fit with regular exercise and a healthy diet, and for that needed vitality, I take Pollen B from England,” he shares his secret. Knowing that his profession banks on stamina, he treats his body like the proverbial temple. Pollen B has been helping build his immune system as it contains protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins A, C, D, E, and lecithin, beta-carotene and selenium — all nutrients that have been shown to have powerful antioxidants effects in the body.
His doctors subscribe to the theory that bee pollen could help treat conditions associated with free-radical damage, such as cancer, heart disease, and decreased mental function. “Bee pollen has also been touted as an anti-aging supplement, and its proponents claim that it can prevent the weight gain, decreased libido, lethargy, and decline in muscle and skin tone associated with aging,” explains Jojo.
“Natural medicine practitioners also believe that bee pollen has also been used to treat allergies, the idea being that small amounts of bee pollen will, like allergy shots, gradually build immunity to all the plant pollens collected from the bees,” he continues, showing the golden tablets he keeps in his pocket. “I always carry Pollen B as I have to anticipate puyatan and emergency meetings in my line of work,” he smiles.
Jojo is joining the august company of the legendary queen of songs, Pilita Corales and the classy crooner from the musical Albert family, Joey, as endorser for Pollen B. His ads will soon grace the Manila landscape in print and billboards. “I usually take my family to week end swimming sprees in nearby hotels as bonding and physical fitness quality time with them,” shares Jojo.
Central Bank officer Anna Villapando Reyes has only praises for Jojo as a Papa to their kids. “He makes it a point to balance his career and family life,” she confides. The two recently tied the knot in church having been wed in civil rites for quite a time, with their three offsprings Alfredo Alexander, Aurora Leticia and Alfredo Emmanuel in the entourage.
While Cesar Montano and Albert Martinez had their chance to portray “Pepe,” the pride of the Malay race on the big screen, Jojo has yet to essay this dream role. “So long as they will not have me killed by firing squad, I will do the role for free,” jokes Jojo. But seriously, he believes that his older brother Toby (also a bagets heartthrob like him in the ’80s) can excellently direct and his bossom buddy Isko Salvador (a.k.a. Brod Pete) can write the screenplay for this dream Rizal movie. For his leading ladies, Anna is first in his wish list. “But who can ask for anyone else with more “K,” with the likes of Kris Aquino and Korina Sanchez as his Leonor Rivera or Josephine Bracken?” asks Jojo. If this fantasy pans out, Kris will have put one over her first cousin Mikey Cojuangco, who entranced the Luneta audience, singing her role as Rizal’s Maria Clara opposite Ogie Alcasid in the Music Theater Philippines’ 1996 musical Sino ka ba Jose Rizal?
With his health at its peak, Jojo’s career is taking epic proportions. Aside from his nightly show, he will soon start a Saturday afternoon radio program with Salvador on DZIQ and will write a weekly column for a tabloid. He and fellow Thomasian friend, Teddy Pereña, will also launch Life Begins@40 Cagefest, a sporting event of fun, exercise and bonding programmed for people in their mid 40s in September in Pasig. For details, call TEAM at Tel. 894-3576 or 759-5550.