MANILA, Philippines — Dressed in Filipiniana attire, Bulakeña beauty queen and singer-actress Ali Forbes has treasured the moments she sang with her heart the Philippine National Anthem during Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s recent fight in Kuala Lumpur. She sang with Marcelito Pomoy and nine male pastors from General Santos City.
“I was overwhelmed for I was the only female in that group, as if I became their muse,” she said with contagious laughter inside the Good Guys Steaks and Jazz restaurant (located on corners Teodoro Gener and K1st streets in Kamuning, Quezon City) which she co-owns with actors-directors Al Tantay and Edgar Mortiz, singer Joey San Andres and lawyer Brando Viernesto.
“But I was proud and excited to be given the opportunity to sing our National Anthem in front of many of our kababayan. It was a different feeling while you were on stage as you would know that the fighter is from the Philippines,” continued Ali who was informed earlier by her manager Arnold Vegafria that she would be part of a singing group.
Interestingly, she was able to talk to Sen. Pacquiao just before the actual fight inside the ring and wished him good luck.
Ali, who started as a lounge singer in five-star hotels and later joined beauty pageants (starting with Miss Makati’s first runner-up in 2010, Miss Bulacan in 2011, Bb. Pilipinas’ first runner-up in 2012) that catapulted her later to win as first Miss Grand International Philippines and Miss Grand International’s third runner-up in 2013, joined the ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Season 7 as rampa raketera of Bulacan and is now a part of Channel 2’s popular TV series Sana Dalawa ang Puso with Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Yap and Robin Padilla in the lead. She plays Tisay Tabayoyong, sister of Robin in the top-rated morning TV series.
“I am learning a lot from Kuya Robin Padilla, Ate Jodi Sta. Maria and others. When we are on the set, we are learning about life and they are treating us like a family. They are guiding us on our acts. Our tapings are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Our next location shoot is in Marikina Heights. In the story, we transferred our residence three times (previously in Quezon City’s Muñoz and Teachers Village areas),” said she with a gleam in her eyes.
As of this writing, Ali misses her fellow Pinoy Big Brother housemates and hopes they can be reunited someday. Besides being busy with the teleserye, she attends to her Good Guys Steaks and Jazz restaurant, which began serving customers last May 29. It is the newest and coolest hangout where one can listen to good jazz, standard and pop music (every Tuesday is open mic). On top of the musical entertainment, it offers excellent angus steak and angus burger for lunch and dinner. For the love of music, Ali sings there every Thursday night.
She attributes her joining beauty pageant days to her eldest sister Lea, a horse-racing TV host, who was the first one to join competitions and taught and guided her. Her youngest sister Julie has also joined beauty contests.
Likewise, her participation in charitable institutions is also essential for her as paying back for the myriad blessings she has received from God, and this writer has witnessed her giving ample time to kids with cancer several times at East Avenue Medical Center’s Tahan-Tahanan (the late Dra. Victoria Abesamis was its medical director), special and indigent kids at the Sacred Heart Center in Fairview, Quezon City, and other institutions. Years ago, she received the Gintong Kabataan Award from the municipality of Guiginto, Bulacan.
For the love of music, she has good news for her fans. Her first album, through Star Records, with Lito Camo as composer of her songs, is in the works. Soon, she is included in the cast of the movie, Bahaghari sa Dapithapon, to be directed by Joel Lamangan and to be starred by Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia, Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Dizon and Max Collins.
With her kind and humble heart, she is indeed blessed for bringing sunshine to others.