Knowledge is power… Joross, Iza & Joanna are aware of it

MANILA, Philippines — The fame and fortune that a showbiz career brings can understandably be dizzying. At such a young age, stars bring home loads of money that ordinary people will not even earn in a lifetime. No wonder, most of them forget their studies or worse, take it for granted.

Not 34-year-old actor Joross Gamboa. While it is true that Joross started earning his own money after he joined showbiz when he won second runner-up in the first Star Circle Quest on ABS-CBN in 2004, he knew education is still valuable and important.

No wonder, after 13 years of juggling his time between school and showbiz, Joross earned his college degree of Mass Communication from Southville International School and Colleges in 2014.

Subsequently, he tied the knot that same year with his long-time, non-showbiz girlfriend then, Kathy Kimberly Saga. They are now proud parents of two boys.

Joross knows the value of hard-earned money. He sent himself to school since he started earning his own keep. At the same time, he is aware about the importance of good education.

“Knowledge is power,” said Joross at the Third Guild of Educators Mentors and Students (GEMS) Awards given by De La Salle Santiago Zobel last Thursday in the school campus in Ayala Alabang Village. “More powerful is the application of that knowledge.”

Joross received the award as Best Actor in a Single Performance for the episode, Alkansya of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the long-running drama anthology on ABS-CBN. He was accompanied by his wife and was part of the multi-awarded Team Noel of talent manager Noel Ferrer.

After a slew of successful films last year — Buy Bust, Ang Sikreto Ni Rosario and Three Words To Forever — Joross is slated to fly to Hong Kong to be part of the Alden Richards-Kathryn Bernardo movie under director Cathy Garcia-Molina for Star Cinema.

Iza Calzado, also a proud member of Team Noel, was awarded Best Female Performance in a Supporting Role for the primetime drama series, Ngayon at Kailanman. She was consistently loathed for her contravida role as Rebecca in the series, proof that Iza was a very effective actress.

“There are so many people in the industry whom I’m grateful for sharing some time with,” Iza acknowledged. “My first job in the industry, I got the chance to work with Sunshine Dizon. She was the lead (in a teleserye), but she was so generous to teach me so many things about acting.”

Admittedly, Iza never got the chance to finish college. Yet, she humbly encouraged the young students to be diligent in their studies and graduate with flying colors.”Tapusin niyo ‘yan at pag-igihan niyo,” Iza told the students.

The actress dedicated her award to both her parents, Lito Calzado and Maria Antonia Ussher, “who are now in heaven,” as well as to her husband, Ben Wintle, who was out of the country for work.

Iza went to London last weekend for a shoot of an international advertising campaign. She will soon start filming her Cinemalaya 15 entry, Pandanggo Sa Hukay. She is likewise set to do a much-awaited film before the end of the year.

Iza’s manager, Noel Ferrer, accepted his second award from GEMS Hiyas ng Sining as Best Male Entertainment Broadcast Journalist for his Level Up: Showbiz Saturdate for Radyo Inquirer 990 khz AM.

Noel has also started his media apostolate radio program in Radio Katipunan, Ateneo Campus Radio 87.9 FM every Friday, from 3 to 5 p.m. The pilot episode guests were Agot Isidro and CNN Philippines chief correspondent Pia Hontiveros.

The toast of international theater, Joanna Ampil, was named Best Actress in a Musical for Waitress, produced by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG). Following her Best Actress win in 2017 for Ang Larawan, Joanna just finished the film, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3, with Eugene Domingo.

Joanna will soon start a new digital series, Don’t Call Me Tita, with Cherry Pie Picache, Mylene Dizon, Agot Isidro and Ice Seguerra. She will also headline the international cast of Cats in Manila in November.

“Excellence and goodwill will always be the mark of Team Noel in the industry,” said the talent manager, educator, multi-media producer and broadcast journalist.