Stars support fitness place in Kapuso coop site

JULIE Anne San Jose, Janine Gutierrez and Kylie Padilla

Members of the Kapuso Family have no reason not to stay fit. Just across GMA Network, at the GEMPC (GMA 7 Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative) Building, is the new Options Studio.

Felipe Yalong, GMA executive vice president and chief financial officer, explains that the GEMPC building is owned by the employees. “We’re the only broadcast company with a very active cooperative,” he notes.

Initial source of income was the capital contribution, or regular contributions, from members, including employees from the network’s subsidiary companies.

The six-story building is now an income-generating venture.

As a lessee, Yalong went into partnership with fitness guru and Options Studio owner Florencio Eugenio to put up the latter’s fifth branch.

Options Studio has a roster of celebrity clients that includes Jackielou Blanco, Karylle, Jennylyn Mercado and Janine Gutierrez.

Seen at the formal opening recently were GMA president Gilberto Duavit Jr. and the power women of the entertainment division: Lilybeth Rasonable, senior vice president for GMA Entertainment Group; Redgie Magno, vice president for drama productions; Gigi Lara, senior assistant vice president for alternative productions; and Marivin Arayata, vice president for entertainment. Marge Enriquez