Jerald Napoles (left) and Kim Molina —NICE PRINT
Jerald Napoles has redefined the art of marriage proposal. He went to the extent of crafting the engagement ring he gave his fiancée, Kim Molina. I chided Je, “You ought to give a crash course on how to be an ideal fiancé.” He proposed to Kim on the same stage where they fell in love while doing “Rak of Aegis” at the Peta Theater. What a journey it has been for “KimJe,” from “Rak” to Je finally giving Kim “the rock.”
Here’s my chat with Je:
Tell us about the engagement ring you made for Kim.
I asked Ynna Asistio and Marnique del Rosario, who own Radiant Lux Jewelry, to help me out. I gave them my budget. I searched for ring designs online and studied about size, color and clarity of diamonds.
I decided to get a heart-shaped diamond because I know that’s what Kim will like even if I had to pay more. I wanted to keep the ring simple so the beauty of the diamond will stand out. That’s why it has three-prong settings and not the usual four prongs. So, it looks like the diamond is floating on the finger. It’s quite symbolic as it reminds me of the floating boat where Kim and I performed in “Rak of Aegis.”
The hardest part was how to keep my meetings with the jewelry store people a secret because Kim and I are always together. It’s a good thing that Kim had work the day I made the ring, so mission accomplished!
Since Kim and you are live-in partners, is it better for couples to live in before taking the plunge?
Living together really secured our relationship. We got to know each other deeply and it made us realize that love is not always a fairy tale.
Feeling complacent in a live-in relationship is a case-to-case basis. But for me, marriage seals the bond. Even if parang mag-asawa na kami ni Kim, we want to make it official not just for us, but for our family in the near future.
What ‘s something Kim does that annoys you but that you’ve learned to live with?
She forgets to return stuff where they belong. I’m usually the one who arranges the mess. But when I remind her on the spot to tidy up, she doesn’t mind and says sorry. But I have accepted the way she is, quirks and all.
What kind of wedding will it be?
It will happen late next year in the most scenic place, with our respective families and closest friends. Just like my marriage proposal, there will definitely be a lot of “pasabog.” I’ve always been poetic, so if people were moved by what I told Kim when I proposed, abangan nila ang wedding vow ko.
Boo Gabunada (left) and Gayle Oblea —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
‘As the Moth Flies’ in Sinag Maynila
After participating in film festivals abroad, “As the Moth Flies” (ATMF) is making its Asian premiere as it competes in Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival 2024 (short film category), slated from Sept. 4 to 8 in Gateway, SM Manila and other cinemas in the metro.
The film has been screened at the Brussels Short Film Festival, which is part of the 169 Oscar-qualifying festivals in the world. It also participated in Little Venice Film Festival (Italy), Greenwich Film Festival (London), and Urban Dreams Festival (New York).
Presented by Creative Kartel, in association with Desi Matters and Happy Manila, it is helmed by filmmaker Gayle Oblea. The film is about a woman who tries to assess her mentally ill partner and their relationship, only to unravel haunting truths about their past. It stars Epy Quizon, Mina Cruz and Boo Gabunada.
ATMF will make you feel like a mind reader as it delves into the inner workings of troubled minds.
Here are quotes from Gayle (G) and Boo (B):
G: I am a high-functioning bipolar, so through our film, I want to challenge the stigma about mental health. When you watch ATMF, it’s like going inside the head of someone who is mentally ill. It’s like having an itch you can’t scratch.
B: The material spoke to me, that’s why I accepted the offer to do the film. We all have our inner demons. Having a mental illness is not a limitation. Those with mental health problems must not be treated as though they are just being dramatic, OA or moody. They must be heard.
G: When a schizophrenic gets an MRI, the result of the brain scan is shaped like a butterfly. So the original title of our film was “Paruparo” (butterfly), but we changed it. When mentally ill people have episodes, that’s when the moth flies.
G: We are all in awe of Epy Quizon. He waived his talent fee because he believes in our advocacy and he wants to help newbies in the industry. Aside from being a brilliant actor, he’s such a kind soul.