by Isah V. Red and Nickie Wang
It’s the time of the year when movie and TV stars become lesser mortals again. At least, for the next week or so. Most of them hie off to places where the populace don’t recognize them at all. Kris Aquino, whose ubiquitous face and easily recognizable voice and affected speech can’t spend a quiet vacation even in the very private Amanpulo resort, so after the Filmfest awards tomorrow night, she and BFF (best friend forever) Liz Uy whose romantic episode with President Noynoy Aquino, Kris’ brother, of course, didn’t prosper, will fly to Bali, Indonesia for what she calls “Eat, Pray, Love” vacation.
“Di ba I deserve it naman,” she told the movie press during a press conference for the movie “Dalaw” which she co-produced and starred in and is now screening in theaters across the Philippines for the annual Metro Manil Film Festival.
No, Bimbi , that’s her son by estranged husband and basketball star James Yap, isn’t tagging along. He’ll be in the care of his daddy.
Kris is using this chance to bond with Liz who she said didn’t turn down his brother, but didn’t just encourage the relationship to prosper.
Apart from Kris, actors who find themselves in forced-vacation mode, take advantage of the lull in their career to spend time with their family, here or abroad.
There are many actors who are jovial because of the bonuses they got from their mother stations, and there are those who are just plain thankful for a having a stable job. Young actor JC DeVera is ecstatic because of the extra paycheck he got from TV5. According to John Estrada, another Kapatid, TV5 artists received one month bonus each. So that’s the reason why JC is jumping for joy. Yes, celebrities are like ordinary people who look forward to this festive month.
Like most us, showbiz personalities look forward to celebrating the Christmas holiday because they rarely get the chance to meet up with their relatives or spend quality time with their loved ones. Some actors have already packed their bags and drove to their provinces where they will spend the Noche Buena like actor Rafael Rossel. Other celebs are still working especially those who are promoting movies, which are entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival. So where did some of local celebrities celebrate Christmas?
Manny Pacquiao and his whole family flew to Boracay to spend the Holiday season. According to Jinky, after several months of being busy at the House of Representatives and training for his bout with Antonio Margarito, she can truly have a quite time now with her husband (Dyan Castillejo won’t be covering this event, she has an injured heel whish she got when she ran with Pacman recently).
Kim Chiu’s upcoming leading man in a series tentatively billed Binondo Girl (the General’s Daughter), Matteo Guidicelli flew to Cebu yesterday. The Fil-Italian kart racer’s family resides in the bustling island. He will spend the whole holiday season in the place before returning to Manila to resume with his showbiz engagements.
Meanwhile, Kim Chiu is in Japan because she has never seen snow and wanted to see it for herself.
FHM favorites Ehra and Michelle Madrigal are busy with a huge family Christmas party in Bulacan. But of course part of the party is sprucing themselves up as well, and the sexy way to start it was doing their toe nails.
Juicy and Willing Willie co-host Mo Twister spent Christmas in Bangkok. Based on his tweets, the midget sized DJ would stay in that city just for a day. Although he was quick to defend himself that he didn’t go there to meet rumored girlfriend Rhian Ramos, everybody believed otherwise.
Like most celebrities whose family and friends reside abroad, host Iya Villania and Brapanese import Fabio Ide jetted to their respective homeland. Iya left boyfriend Drew Arellano for a while and visited her family in Sydney. Commercial model Fabio, on the other hand, will have a vacation in Brazil for two weeks. Although he already misses the Philippines he can’t still compare Brazil’s vibrant vibes to the friendly smiles he receives from local folks here.
But Akihiro Sato is in town, still euphoric over the P3 million prize he won in the Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. Last year, he flew to Sao Paolo to spend Christmas with his parents and brothers. He would have loved to fly them over to Manila, but on second thought, he might just do that in summer.
Broadway star Lea Salonga is currently in California to celebrate Christmas with husband Robert and daughter Nichole. The prime singer, who was on the same flight with Glee star Darren Criss, immediately left the country after attending Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez nuptials. Lea prefers a winter Christmas most probably.
Newlyweds Ogie and Regine are not going anywhere for their honeymoon. They will be playing hosts to Ogie’s ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren and her new husband and children.
After the New Year, these stars will be back in their firmament, and they won’t be as normal again.
VERY WANG 