Kapuso stars sizzle in Cebu

“SECOND Chances” lead stars (from left) JennylynMercado, Raymart Santiago, Camille Prats and Rafael Rosell ham it up on stage.

CEBU City—Perhaps it’s the much-needed change of scenery and pace. Celebrities, we’ve observed, tend to be more easy-going on out-of-town junkets, such as this recent one, the participation of several GMA 7 stars in the Sinulog Festival.

“Cebu is highly urbanized, but life here is laid-back compared to Manila,” noted singer Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, who flew in two days prior to the celebrations, held every third Sunday of January.

She had just gotten off a morning flight from Manila, and headed straight to a restaurant about 30 minutes from the airport, to chat with local scribes over lunch. But Regine was upbeat, occasionally bursting into laughter that could well pass off as a belted note.

Dressed comfortably in jeans and a loose long-sleeved shirt, she fielded questions about her career and personal life—baby plans, in particular.

“I’d love to have another one, but I’d be happy with whatever God gives me and [my husband] Ogie,” related Regine, without makeup a spitting image of her son, Nate.

MIGUEL Tanfelix makes a young
fan very happy.

Also at the media event were the lead actors of the coming series “Healing Hearts,” Joyce Ching and Kristoffer Martin, both in a cheery mood, giggling through the interview filled mostly with perfunctory getting-to-know you questions.

Asked if they were ever a romantic couple, Joyce swiftly replied, “We dated for three years… then we broke up.” Added Kristoffer, “Now, we’re very, very close friends.”

Next day, it was the turn of the main cast members of “Once Upon a Kiss” (Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali) and “Second Chances” (Jennlyn Mercado, Raymart Santiago, Camille Prats and Rafael Rosell) to mingle with the Cebu press.

Successful year

Expectedly, Jennylyn was the most sought-after interviewee, owing to the successful 2014 she just had that was capped by a best actress win at the Metro Manila Film Festival for the romantic-comedy “English Only, Please.”

KRISTOFFER Martin and Joyce Ching at Ayala Terraces

After queries about her triumphs and career prospects, the 27-year-old was inevitably prodded about her love life—rather, the lack of it. It was a question that had been thrown at her numerous times lately, but one that she still made sure to answer.

“Maybe I’m luckier now that I’m single! But I don’t want to stay that way forever! I want to get married someday and have another child,” she said. “I have a few suitors, but I’d rather focus on family and career for now.”

Has she found time to slow down and reward herself for all that hard work? “Not yet!” Jennylyn exclaimed. “I would love to go on a long vacation—not the usual harried three days, two nights trips… maybe two weeks in Greece.”

We were introduced to Rafael, who passionately talked about environmental preservation and his being a vegan. “I don’t eat things that fornicate!” said the actor, who expressed support for the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.

The eloquent Camille sounded earnest discussing her experience finding new love after losing her husband to throat cancer in 2011, and the intrigues that came with it. Said the actress, “At first I thought, ‘Is it wrong to fall in love again?’ But I didn’t ask for love; it just happened. And when it did, it felt right.”

Bianca related how she copes with being orphaned at such a young age. “I hope they’re proud of me,” said the 14-year-old newbie (her mother died of breast cancer when the actress was

MALL crowd photographed with Joyce and Kristoffer

only 5; her father passed away five years later, from a heart attack). “I dedicate everything to them.”

Mall shows

After the interviews, the stars proceeded to take the stage in various malls around the city. At the Ayala Terraces, Regine treated the audience to a rousing set of her songs, plus an Adele medley. Kristoffer was mobbed by fan girls as he sang “Talk Dirty.” Joyce did “Rude.”

At SM City Cebu, which was bursting at the seams with locals and tourists, Jennylyn, Camille, Raymart, Rafael, Miguel and Bianca, sang, danced and gave away goodies to the spectators.

JENNYLYN Mercado, the big draw

While singing “I’m Yours,” Rafael pulled out a towel from his pants, wiped his abs with it, then tossed it to a group of shrieking girls. Jennylyn plucked a young man from the crowd to join her as she belted “Till My Heartaches End.”

“Every year, GMA 7 makes it a point to be involved in the country’s biggest festivals. What better way to do this than by bringing the stars to touch base with their fans?” said Oliver Amoroso, AVP and Regional TV-Integrated Marketing Division head.

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