Cess and Reg dish on wifely duties

REGINE Velasquez sarap diva facebook

I had a  blast at the taping of Regine Velasquez’s cooking-cum-talk show on GMA 7, “Sarap Diva” (Saturdays, 9:40 a.m.).  My “sister” Princess Punzalan and I were Reg’s guests.

We talked about our iconic moms, Inday Badiday and Helen Vela. The episode will  air in December.

It was a happy reunion for Cess and I since she’s now based in the United States with husband Jason Field. She had come home to organize the video library of her late mom’s well-loved show, “Lovingly Yours, Helen.”

She said, “I’ve had some offers to do teleseryes but I’d have to stay for three months.” “I can’t be gone that long. As a wife, my priorities have changed.”  I kept ribbing Cess that she ought to win an Ulirang Asawa Award.

Reg made us feel instantly at home. I love how cook-y she can get. “Multitasking ako dito sa show na ito,” she beamed.

“I sing, interview and cook.  When I got married, that’s when I discovered my passion for cooking. I wanted to do that for my husband. Ogie loves everything I cook, especially my fish dishes.”

Sometimes, though, Ogie gives suggestions on how she can improve a certain dish. “He wants his food clean and simple. He doesn’t want me to take culinary lessons because I may get too technical and lose my natural flair for experimenting. But I don’t cook every day, so it doesn’t become routine.”

Does she sing while she cooks?  “It depends. But it’s only now that I’m getting my voice back,” she pointed out. “When I got pregnant I had to rest. I enjoyed that!  Since I stopped using my vocal chords, it took a while for my voice to adjust when I started singing again.”

She related that she sings lullabies tirelessly to her adorable baby Nate. “I am going gaga over my little boy,” she gushed. “Sobrang gigil ko sa kanya; parang ang sarap niya papakin!”

She brings Nate with her to the studio until  he has to go home for bedtime. He serves as her adrenaline shot as she goes through a long day at work.

I’d rather not preempt our episode. Suffice to say, Princess and I revealed a lot about our late, great moms. It felt like they were both with us in the studio since GMA 7 was their home network for a long time.

When Reg asked us about Christmas without them, we waxed sentimental.  After we shared our stories, Reg said that while she was listening to us, she couldn’t imagine what it’s like to lose a parent. That’s why she’s thankful that her Daddy “Gerry” has recovered from his illness.  He has always been the wind beneath  Asia’s Songbird’s wings.

Thank You, Reg, for letting Princess and I pay homage to our “Mommies Dearest.” Someday, Nate will pay tribute to you, too. Thanks  for the warm welcome into your “Sarap Diva” home. You  are a diva like no other—I mean that in a positive way. I am your friend as well as your fan. You can quote me on that!