China Cojuangco pursues stage acting in ‘Katy’

CHINA Cojuangco

China Cojuangco is delighted to be in the cast  of  “Katy,” the musical  that runs until Sunday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater (Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino).

“I’m part of the ensemble so my role varies per scene,” she beamed. “I do a young Gloria Romero, for one. This original Filipino musical is about Katy de la Cruz, the bodabil performer known as the country’s queen of jazz. It’s a must-see because it uplifts our spirits as Filipinos and as individuals.”

China welcomes TV projects and movies as well. “I enjoyed my (mainstream) movie appearance in ‘24/7 In Love’ even if it was just a cameo role,” she said. “I met great actors. It would be nice to do a remake of my sister Mikee’s movie ‘Forever.’”

Is she ready to spend the rest of her life with her boyfriend, chef Gino Gonzales?

“We’ll see,” she mused. “We’ll never know when he’s going to propose. We’ve been together for six years. I have no dream wedding. I just want all my loved ones to be present.”

That would definitely be a big celebration for their prominent clan.

What’s the hardest part of being a Cojuangco? “As much as I can, I live as normal a life as any person,” she said. “I am no different from anyone, except for my name. There are certain expectations from others but when they get to know me as me, everything changes.”

China is as real as can be. She’s not trapped in the trappings of fortune. The charming scion’s true wealth is her joie de vivre, which she freely spreads around.

Proud moms

Boy Abunda and Willy Ocier  hosted the first council of advisers’ meeting for Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) at the Makati Shangri-La.

Tito Boy established the foundation MYNP to honor mothers all over the country. Aside from his own Nanay Lesing, the multiawarded host dedicated the foundation to Conchita Sunico, who served as his second mother during his early days in Manila when, as a probinsyano, he had to make both ends meet.

Special guest Ima Castro sang a beautiful rendition of “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” while actress Angel Aquino recited a poem by Maya Angelou titled, “Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me.”

Mixed reactions

The Sunshine-Cesar-Krista brouhaha have elicited mixed reactions, such as, “Krista again,” “Sounds familiar” and “Living up to the Year of the Snake.”

It’s hard enough to make a marriage work. What more if all eyes are on you?

Let’s give the couple some breathing space.

“Patawarin,” one of the songs in Cesar’s self-titled CD, is his song for Sunshine. It may sound like a broken record, but if she listens with her heart, it may be music to her ears all over again.