Sylvia Sanchez: 'Spare my family!'

Sylvia Sanchez is in a fighting mood. And you can’t blame her.

Since September last year when news leaked out on social media that her son Arjo Atayde and Maine Mendoza have been dating after they met at an event (they came to know each other better when they appeared together in Jack Em Popoy, the 2018 Metro Filmfest entry topbilled by Vic Sotto and Coco Martin), Arjo has been bashed by some members of AlDub Nation who want Maine to be exclusively for Alden Richards. No can do, as they would say. Alden has been insisting that he and Maine are just friends and that he has no girlfriend (despite reports that he has a “hidden” girlfriend).

Sylvia and Arjo’s sister Ria (in fact, the rest of the Atayde family) were not spared by the bashing that got worse lately when Arjo admitted that, yes, he and Maine are “exclusively dating” (a euphemism for, ehem, “going steady”?), vehemently denying that, as unfairly accused, he’s “using” Maine. “This is not a showbiz thing,” explained Arjo in a report. “This is totally on a personal level. We haven’t talked anything like that,” meaning doing a movie together. “Never ko talagang naisip na trabaho agad, na magiging leading lady ko siya. If ever we do something, thank you, Lord. But if we don’t, it doesn’t really matter. What matters to me is the personal side.”

When the death threats started coming, Sylvia has had enough. Blowing her top, she challenged the bashers to a “confrontation” at a five-star hotel but nobody showed up.

At the recent presscon for Jesusa, her new movie directed by Ronald Carballo, Sylvia said that she didn’t really want to meddle in the personal affairs of her son ­— until other members of her family were dragged into the mess.

With son Arjo Atayde and daughter Ria who, like Sylvia and the rest of the Ataydes, have been bashed over reports that Arjo and Maine Mendoza are ‘exclusively dating.’

“Death threats are serious,” Sylvia said, “at hindi puedeng ipag-walang bahala.”

In Jesusa, Sylvia plays a mother driven to “the depths of despair” by an abusive partner. “Naging luka-luka at naging addict,” was how Sylvia described the character. The project was first offered to Nora Aunor but the negotiation fell through. Heard that Lorna Tolentino said no to the offer because she didn’t want to play a drug addict. Sylvia doesn’t really mind being the third choice; what’s important is that she’s the final choice.

“It’s not the first time that it happened,” admitted Sylvia who, as always, has proven to be the best choice after all.

But she frowned being compared to Nora, saying in all humility that she holds Nora in high esteem as the only Superstar ­— “At wala pa ako sa kalingkingan sa naabot niya and nobody can equal her achievement.”

Ronald is impressed with Sylvia’s dedication as an actress and her acting ability.

It is said that for one scene, Ronald asked Sylvia to let a tear fall from her right eye. But during the take, Ronald changed his mind and told Sylvia that the tear should fall from her left eye.

“I thought he was trying to make a fool of me,” Sylvia recalled during the presscon. “I thought, ginagago ako nito. So I told him, ‘Give me two minutes.’ Sabi ko sa luha ko, pumatak ka sa kaliwang mata, fall from my left eye. Bayad ka na; you are paid.”

True enough, the tear fell from her left eye!

Jaclyn mum on Andi’s pregnancy

Jaclyn Jose and daughter Andi Eigenmann (file photo): No comment on the pregnancy issue

Unlike during her daughter Andi Eigenmann’s first pregnancy eight years ago when she stood by her, Jaclyn Jose is mum after Andi announced on her Instagram account that she’s 14 weeks pregnant courtesy of her boyfriend Philmar Alipayo, a champion surfer resident of Siargao where Andi has been living happily ever after only months after she broke up with a Baler-based boyfriend.

When Funfare would text Jaclyn about anything, she promptly texted back. But this time…silence! She must have been hurt when she was “left out” in Andi’s IG revelation.

“Haven’t been as active on social media for many great reasons,” wrote Andi with a photo showing her bump. “Been adjusting slowly but surely to my new life. The journey has been so exciting yet scary at the same time but we have been so happy and at peace nonetheless. Still wouldn’t have my life other way. We are now on our way to moving to our new island home where my growing family will make joyful memories together. Our loved ones, especially Ellie and @chepoxz and I CANNOT WAIT.”

In December last year, Funfare asked Jaclyn in a forum what her “bluest Christmas” was. She replied, “My Christmas is dark.” Did Jaclyn already have a hunch about Andi’s condition? To console Jaclyn, her friends led by Ali Sotto paid her a surprise visit.

Could it be true that Jaclyn has yet to meet the would-be father of Andi’s second child?

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2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler revisits Palawan

2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler in Coron, Palawan (photo by Juan Miguel Torres) and (right) during the presscon at Novotel (photo by Celso de Guzman Caparas).

When Gabriela Isler representing Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow on Nov. 9, 2013, the southern regions of the Philippines were reeling from the fury of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Devastated to hear about the disaster, Gabriela established the Miss Universe Relief Foundation shortly after her coronation and raised $250,000 to finance relief efforts in the region.

She first visited the Philippines on March 27, 2014, heading straight to Coron, Palawan, to start rehabilitation projects for three coastal communities, with the support of the Miss Universe Foundation and Cordaid.

Last Jan. 17, Gabriela returned to Palawan to oversee the progress of the relief efforts and recovery, particularly in Malawig and two other remote fishing villages.

Gabriela was happy to see how the local economies have flourished, thanks in part to ongoing livelihood programs and the enhancement of basic necessities such as water and electricity.

Gabriela wants to pursue a career in the Philippines. With the guidance of Miss World Philippines national director Arnold Vegafria, she can easily make it here.

Her exemplary communication skills, she is perfect as Venezuela’s national director for Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International (along with fellow Venezuelans, 1995 Miss World Jacqueline Aguilera and 1985 Miss International Nina Sicilia), a job that she describes as “corporate work” and which she started on since April 2018. — Celso de Guzman Caparas