Annabelle: I’ve done enough for JC

With the campaign over, Annabelle Rama is bracing to resume her job as talent manager, saying, “I think I’m among the few candidates who are not bitter that we lost,” she said after losing her bid for the congressional seat in North Cebu. “I’m happy pa nga because my cousin Mike (Rama) won for Mayor of Cebu.”

The contracts of some of the more than a dozen talents in her stable are expiring, one of them  JC de Vera whose contract with TV5 is not about to be renewed (the network’s option).

“What can I do?” sighed Annabelle. “Ayaw na ng TV5. JC said he wanted a guaranteed contract dahil marami daw siyang kompromiso sa buhay, so I told him that somebody else could help him. Baka sa ibang manager suwertihin siya.”

In the 10 years that Annabelle managed JC’s career, she said that she has done everything.

“I’ve done enough for him,” explained Annabelle. “He was cast in everything — action, comedy, drama. But nothing happened. Kasalanan ba ng manager kung hindi siya sumikat?,” adding, “but we were okay for 10 years. JC has been nice and obedient, he never gave me any problem. Mabait ang batang ‘yan, masipag. I have no regrets.”

They parted amicably.

BE Resort (Mactan Island) officials Rona de Vera (marketing communications manager, left)) and Gary Garcia (general manager, fourth from left) with Mutya screening committee members Christine Caballero, fashion designer Renee Salud and 2013 Miss International Tourism Rizzini Alexis Gomez, and Mutya director Jefferson Tan.

There’s a rumor that JC is sending “feelers” to GMA, the former home that he left after he caused a rift between Annabelle and Wilma Galvante (now with TV5) who have since reconciled after Wilma retired from GMA.

Asked about her son Richard Gutierrez’s soon-to-expire contract with GMA, Annabelle said, “No plans yet.”

More Mutya screenings set

After Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and Angeles, the screenings for candidates to the 2013 Mutya ng Pilipinas contest will continue on two Saturdays (June 15 and 29) and July 3 (Wednesday), 1 to 6 p.m. at the Sequoia Hotel (Mother Ignacia corner Timog Avenue, Quezon City); and on June 22 in Mabalacat and June 27 in Puerto Princesa.

If you are 18 to 25 years old, at least 5’5” tall, a high school graduate, Filipino, single (meaning not having had any child) and speaks fluent English and Filipino, you qualify. (Call 332-1023, 736-3328 or 0917-6148354 for more information.)

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