Precious happy being ‘sweet’ - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Had she agreed to bare what she calls "my private parts," Precious Valencia could have been a popular star by now – a bold star, that is. The offer was much too tempting, all right, with overnight stardom guaranteed, but the 22-year-old Precious politely said no, "I’m not that much of a hurry to become a star," so the role landed on somebody else’s (yes, naked) lap. Precious’ "loss" was that former aspiring starlet’s gain.

Now starring in Willy Milan’s Super Idol with April Boy Regino, Carmina Villarroel (whom April Boy saw voraciously eating sampaloc on the set, an indirect confirmation that Carmina was then infanticipating) and Vice-Presidential Son Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo (who’s "98 percent sure" about running for Vice Governor in Pampanga), Precious refuses to name that actress (must be a big name now) even as she expresses no regrets passing that sure chance for stardom.

"But by and by," explains Precious, a Business Administration and HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) graduate from the NCBA Fairview (National College of Business and Arts), "I might do mature roles, pero hanggang sexy lang. As of now, hindi ko pa talaga kayang mag-bold. I don’t want to do something against my will naman."

A cross between Rufa Mae Quinto and Maricar de Mesa (also a graduate of Kuya Germs’ That’s Entertainment), Precious doesn’t mind riding on a slow boat to stardom. She’s not sure if her refusal to go bold led to the cancellation of her two-year/10-picture contract with Viva, producer of that abortive bold venture, and Precious just shrugs it off as "part of the hazards of the trade." You know, win some, lose some. Kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol.

Super Idol is Precious’ fourth movie in her barely four years in showbiz, following the Cesar Montano Viva starrer Bullet, Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin (which also topbilled April Boy, shown first week of January last year) and the recent Tatlong Puso Isang Pangarap (which was shot in San Francisco, California, directed by J.C. Pangilinan).

One of two brothers and two sisters, Precious (a 5’8" tall, 34-25-35-perfect beauty) had a brief stint with That’s (until it folded up) before she joined the 1997 Mutya ng Pilipinas search, finishing second runner-up, the same place she bagged when she represented the country that same year in the Queen of the Year International contest in Kuala Lumpur.

In-between films and TV guestings, Precious personally manages the laundry business (Suds & Foams, located at the corner of Tomas Morato Avenue and Kamuning Road in Quezon City) she has sunk her savings into.

She could have been perfect for a movie like Gloria, Gloria, Labandera, don’t you think?

A case of paranoia?

The newest, most popular term in the texting world today, thanks to Miriam After Dark (as in, yes, MAD), is colloquy (consult Mr. Webster what it means), followed by baliw, sira-ulo, Brenda (as in Brain Damage), intoxicated with power (but for how long!?!), insecure with prettier women, arrogant and – are you looking at me, kid!?! – paranoid.

That Thursday’s "loss-of-temper" incident at the impeachment trial convinced me beyond doubt that I have been vindicated for not voting for "that woman" in the 1992 and 1998 elections (and I promise not to vote for her in future elections, so help me God).

Anyway, the embarrassing "MAD" episode has nothing to do with the following report from a Funfare DPA (the "victim") even if it does has something to do with paranoia.

Here it is:

Last Sunday, my friends and I were watching the 10:30 p.m. screening of Wonderboys at G4. We noticed Jake Roxas was seated right after my friend on the same row. Like what we always do when we’re together, we made fun of each other during the times when they were just screening commercials and trailers. We called one of our friends Mama Sita because of the resemblance and laughed out loud (as our usual custom) at the Bangon Na Kabayan video of Nora.

After the movie ended, Jake Roxas stood up and threw a fit! Feeling niya siya ang pinagtatawanan namin! Feeling ha! He said something like "Pagsasampalin ko kayong lahat." Very rude! Very curt!

As if that wasn’t enough, going out of the moviehouse, he was still at it. He made other snide remarks to my friend which caused another companion to exclaim, "Huwag mo nang pansinin; ’yang mga taong ganyan di umaasenso!" This irked the insecure starlet even further. He stood outside the moviehouse with his poor PA and waited for us. When he saw my friend, he was at it again, hurling all kinds of invectives in all his brusque manner. Actually, pati yung PA niya natatawa sa kanya! Walang tact, walang finesse, walang sense of PR especially for someone in the movies.

He only stopped when some movie reporters came out of the moviehouse and tried to approach him. He left in a huff!

What’s up?

• Condolence to Kuya Mar d’ Guzman Cruz on the death last Sunday (Jan. 7) of his sister, Rosario Cruz-Balbanero. Her remains lie at the Cruz residence in San Rafael, Bulacan, where the burial will be held at the public cemetery on Thursday, Jan. 11, after the mass.

• Among the most memorable Christmas cards I received was the one from John Woo (Mission Impossible 2, etc.), signed both in English and in Chinese, showing his signature "dove" (ubiquitous in his movies’ action scenes) with wings spread around a lighted candle and carrying this message: your trials will seem insignificant and your fortune immense. Thanks to "The Woo Family."

• Reader Lea L. Fagela (no address in the e-mail) is hoping and praying that Rio Diaz’s cancer is gone for good, as hundreds of other readers are also wishing.

• The Lucero Clan will have a grand reunion on Saturday, Jan. 13, at JB Star Resort, 58 Dao st., Marikina Heights, Marikina City. Registration starts at 9 a.m., followed by a mass at 10. For particulars, call 941-28-04 or 932-86-71.