Tough guys Cesar Montano and Alvin Anson’s battle with COVID

From left: Cesar Montano, Alvin Anson and the author

My BFF Buboy (Cesar Montano) and Bestie Alvin Anson are family to me. So when I found out that they got hospitalized due to COVID-19, I could not hold back my tears. But I just cheered myself up with the thought that both of them are born fighters, so I know they will pull through. In jest, I told them, “Time to unleash your action star moves to defeat the virus.”

With BFF and Bestie’s permission, I am writing about their COVID ordeal. May this piece put an end to speculations that their condition is serious.

Both of them are on the way to full recovery. Buboy has been transferred to a non-COVID floor. He already got his appetite back, so I sent BFF his fave sushi bake. I teared up while watching his “thank you” video for me. Even at his weakest, BFF still manages to be at his sweetest.

Buboy still has pneumonia, so his confinement has been extended. He is undergoing therapy after being bedridden for days. He is slowly but surely getting his groove back. Since he’s a fitness buff and is always on the go, being sedentary is quite a “torture” for him. If only I had a magic wand to make BFF get back in fighting form pronto.

One sure sign that he’s feeling better is that his “joker side” is already very much alive. But the doctors advised him to refrain from laughing or talking too much. Even with an oxygen mask on, BFF is in high spirits.

If there’s one good thing that happened because of his health scare, it’s that Buboy and his son, Diego Loyzaga, have finally made peace. Along with the “Tres Marias,” his daughters with Sunshine Cruz, Diego made a video call to their Dad. That call surely beats all of BFF’s medications to hasten his recuperation. So aside from Buboy’s recovery, healing has also begun in their father-son relationship.

As for Bestie Alvin, here’s his latest message to me: “Thanks Bes for all the prayers. I can breathe better now, but I’m still on 24/7 oxygen because they’re waiting for my oxygen level to go back up to normal. I’m still in upper 80s and low 90s. They’re still treating my pneumonia, but mukhang OK naman s’ya. Praise and thank God I’m slowly getting better. Love you, Bes.”

My dear readers, kindly say a little prayer for their 100 percent recovery. May you all be COVID-free. BFF and Bes, I cannot thank God enough for not yet sending your “call slip” to heaven. Both of you spread your joie de vivre around so well, that’s why you were given a second lease on life as a carrier of “good vibes.” I can hardly wait for the day when we can live it up again as the “3 wine-keteers.”

AJ and Sean not in a rush for romance

AJ Raval (left) and Sean de Guzman in ‘Taya’

AJ Raval and Sean de Guzman have a “flirt-ationship.”

It was so obvious during the Zoom media con of their movie, “Taya,” which is now streaming on Vivamax. When AJ broke up with her boyfriend, Axel Torres, she told Sean, “Break na kami. Puwede mo na akong ligawan.” I could almost feel their giddiness emanating from my screen.

The psychedelic erotic thriller is directed by Roman Perez Jr. Aside from arousing your carnal desires, it will also give you an adrenaline rush. Living up to their movie’s title, AJ and Sean are more than willing to bet (“taya”) on each other.

Here’s my chat with AJ (A), Sean (S) and Direk Roman (R).

A: Just like our movie that centers on the underground world of online betting, I gave up my love life in order to gamble with my career. My ex-BF Axel doesn’t approve of my being a sexy star, that’s why we split up. Pack up, change casting (laughs).

S: It’s impossible not to get aroused while doing sexy scenes. I’m always in character, so feel na feel ko talaga. But not to the point of taking advantage of my costar.

R: Our movie is called a psychedelic thriller because there’s a “drug” element to it. I was challenged to make millennials and Gen X understand sensuality. There are many power lines to watch out for in our film, like “Nag-aasawa lang ba tayo para magkaanak o para may parausan?”

A: I get offended when people question my virginity just because I’m a sexy star. Women should not be defined by their virginity.

S: AJ is wife material. We are a few steps away from being boyfriend and girlfriend. But we aren’t rushing things. We will let our friendship lead the way to wherever it takes us.

R: I am anticensorship. Nobody has the right to regulate filmmakers in expressing their art.