Why Gel is ‘left out’ in ABS-CBN (rat)race - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

In case you haven’t noticed it, Gel Santos-Relos is "missing" in the current merry-go-round at ABS-CBN when she should be in the thick of it, Gel being one of the station’s top newspersons.

Tintin Bersola and Julius Babao have quit Alas Singko y Medya (now hosted by Cherie Mercado, Mon Ilagan and Cheryl Cosim) to host the new late-morning show Talk TV (with Ryan Agoncillo and Janette McBride) which took the timeslot vacated by Today With Kris Aquino whose host (Dear Kris) is now with Balitang K(ris) from which Korina Sanchez quit to replace Senatoriable Noli de Castro as host (with Henry Omaga-Diaz and Aljo Bendijo) of TV Patrol, while Karen Davila now anchors Headlines which used to be the turf of, that’s it, Gel Santos-Relos.

What happened? Why was Gel, uh, "left out" of the (rat)race? Has she been totally discarded, totally ignored in the radical reformatting and re-organization at ABS-CBN?

No, nothing of that sort happened. Gel voluntarily stayed away and out of the (rat)race because she has decided to quit television and join (with their kids) her doctor-husband in the US, proving to the whole world once again that family should come first and foremost. No amount of success (and money) in one’s career can compensate for an unhappy family.

Gel and her husband almost broke up for good, until last year when they realized that they really love each other, prompting Gel to withdraw the annulment case she had filed against her husband. In fact, they renewed marriage vows, middle of last year, and Gel joined her husband during the holiday season in Minneapolis where he’s based.

So there.

Well, what can we say to Gel but, "Good luck and be happy!" But do keep us posted on your life in the US, Gel. Your followers (this one included) will terribly miss you and your refreshing smile.

Robin’s phobia

Did you know that Robin Padilla has a phobia for fire?

"Check out my house," said Robin whose latest caper, Star Cinema’s Ooops, Teka Lang...Diskarte Ko ‘To (with Claudine Barretto as leading lady), "and you will see fire extinguishers all over. Takot talaga ako sa apoy."

It’s because a few years ago while shooting a highlight for Utol Kong Hoodlum (his starrer with former flame Vina Morales) in Baguio, Robin got burned and he was confined in the hospital for two months (one month here and one month in Japan).

"Mayabang ako noon," recalled Robin with a laugh. "For that scene, gusto kong gayahin si Rambo who was very popular at that time. The special effects man warned me against it, dahil wala daw tayong equipment pampatay ng sunog sa set, but I insisted. During the take, nasunog ako when I ran through the blastings at hayun, sa ospital ang bagsak ko."

Since he was prone to keloid, Robin’s burned parts couldn’t be grafted so he now carries glaring "souvenirs" of his derringdo.

"Kaya ngayon," said Robin, "kapag nakakakita ako ng apoy, nanginginig ako sa takot. During a blasting scene in Ooops, Teka Lang..., I was on alert. I was afraid baka masunog na naman ako. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko doon sa apoy."

Now, can you blame Robin if he now refuses to, uh, play with fire (literally)?

More of Ai Ai

Last month when she staged another hit act called People Power 2: Remember Me at the Music Museum, Ai Ai delas Alas was on edge when she learned that some 20 members of the Malacañang press corps were in the audience (they were not). You see, the show was so politically daring, with Ai Ai and co-stars spoofing people in government (with emphasis on figures at the EDSA People Power 2), that some "onion skin" might be rubbed off the wrong way (you know how hyper-sensitive government officials can sometimes be).

On March 16 and 17, 30 and 31, Ai Ai will be back at the same venue for yet another "politically-motivated" show called People Power 2: Campaign Me in time for the ongoing political circus, er, campaign. For sure, Ai Ai (and company) will again be a riot (better be there). Her co-performers are Philip Lazaro, Ate Guy, Arnel Tamayo, Vivora and Whiplash Dancers.

Prominent "characters" to be roasted, er, portrayed/impersonated include (can you identify their real-life versions?) Bibing Arina, Maarnie Menriquez, Dra. Borloloy, Tita Cory Anino, Candy Quimpo, Sigfred Misfortune, Teysie Anino-Cometa, Delia Rashes and many others. Directing the show is Floy Quintos, with Ricky Lopez as writer.

Ai Ai will be doing Maarni, Reyna Hustisya and Inang Bayan (complete with a "nationalistic" red-white-and-blue costume). Maarni is, of course, patterned after Laarni Enriquez, you know...

How well does Ai Ai know Laarni?

"I have friends who are her friends," said Ai Ai who, like Laarni, also studied at FEU. "Her friends would describe Laarni to me, kung ano ang mga mannerisms niya, etc. I even know what Laarni calls Erap – Pappy. Ginaya ko nga siya, e. For a while, I was also calling Miguel (Vera, her ex-lover) Pappy."

People Power 2: Campaign Me marks Ai Ai’s return to the stand-up act which she last did in 1995.

"Stand-up acts are hard to do because everything has to be memorized, you have to act and talk according to the script, unlike in my other shows where I adlib a lot, hataw lang ako nang hataw."

The only comedian who has filled up the overwhelming Folk Arts Theater to the rafters, Ai Ai said that her current "mission" is to help uplift the lot of stand-up artists.

"Mahal ko sila. Mahirap ang ginagawa nila. I also started as a stand-up artist so I know all the hardships they’re going through. At magkano lang ang suweldo nila even if they work for long hours? By filling up the Folk Arts Theater, I hope I was able to elevate the status of the comedian na parang binabale-wala kung minsan when in fact sila ang nagpapasaya at nagpapatawa sa mga tao."

Let’s give Ai Ai a round of applause for that.

Meanwhile, will the 20-strong Malacañang press corps show up at the Music Museum for People Power 2: Campaign Me? Here’s a word of caution: Leave whatever "politically-provocative" dialogue or punchlines at the Music Museum; don’t relay them to the people victimized, er, concerned.