Why Gel is leaving for the US - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

It was a decision Gel Santos Relos found very easy to make – that is, quit television and start an entirely new life in America with her doctor-husband Rene Relos and their four children (Christopher, 16; Misty, 13; Katrina, 4; and Renzo, 3). For Gel, family is first and foremost in her priorities, with her career taking a back seat. For what’s the use of having a successful career at the expense of your family?

"Besides," said Gel, "I feel that I have done what I wanted to do in television and in radio. Ang hindi ko na lang nagagawa," Gel added in jest, "ay ang mag-artista."

This Saturday, May 5, Gel and her three children – Misty, Katrina and Renzo – will be flying to Minneapolis to join Rene who has been there since 1999 taking special courses and undergoing special training. Their eldest child, Christopher (a senior at the Philippine Science High School), went ahead after the close of the semester to take a vacation with his dad.

Since Rene’s training (fellowship) doesn’t end until June, Gel and the children will first stay one week in Minneapolis for a tour before they proceed to New Jersey where the family will eventually settle down. By the time Rene joins them, Gel will be ready to start work as PR and marketing person of Merry Hearts Help Care Campus, a company owned by her aunt.

Christopher will have to come home end of May to resume his studies and will join the family again next year after his high-school graduation.

Some people might find it strange for Gel to have decided to quit television at the peak of her career. Gel has been keeping her decision to herself, making many people wonder why she was conspicuously absent – was she left out or being snubbed by management? – in the recent program reformat and reshuffle at ABS-CBN. Gel simply disappeared from Headlines (now anchored by Karen Davila) and, three weeks ago, formally bade goodbye to listeners of her DZMM radio program Relos Reports.

Two years ago, Gel filed an annulment case against Rene (a brilliant and charming doctor whom other women find irresistibly attractive, much to the chagrin of Gel), only to withdraw it middle of last year after she and Rene had a heart-to-heart talk and realized that, despite a third party (from whom Rene has completely dissociated himself since then), they were meant for each other, for better or for worse.

"We discovered that we really loved each other," said Gel, "so, also last year after I withdrew the annulment case, we decided to renew our vows. In short, we got married for the second time."

After the "wedding," Rene went back to Minneapolis where Gel joined him in October last year for a (delayed) second honeymoon. Gel went back there in December to spend the Christmas holiday with Rene, came back and went there again last February when they had a serious talk about the whole family migrating to America.

"Did Rene ask me to quit television and join him? No, he did not. It was a mutual decision. Sayang naman ang training niya sa States if he just comes home. Mas maganda ang future niya sa States where doctors get good pay. It would be impossible naman if we lived apart; ako dito, siya doon. Besides, the children are fast growing up at maganda naman kung magkakasama-sama kaming lahat.

"During our talk, I told Rene that I was tired of what I was doing and I wanted a new beginning, a new life with my family intact. It was last December when I visited her in New Jersey that my aunt asked me to work at Merry Hearts kung sakali daw magma-migrate kami sa States."

Gel graduated cum laude from the UP College of Mass Communications in the early ’80s (Rene finished Medicine summa cum laude). From 1984 to 1991, Gel worked as instructor in Broadcast Communications at UP; from 1992 to 1996, she was real-estate branch manager of Fil-Estate Marketing Association, Inc.; in 1993, she worked briefly as PR manager of Century Park Sheraton. She wrote a column for the Journal Group of Companies before she joined ABS-CBN in 1990, first as a radio commentator and then as anchorwoman (Hoy Gising) and host (Tatak Pinoy of which she was the executive producer). In 1994, she started producing DZMM’s Relos Reports which she also co-hosted, once with now-Sen. Rene Cayetano who was also with Gel in the TV show Compañero y Compañera. After a stint on ABS-CBN’s news program Pulso, Gel went on to anchor its replacement Headlines until she decided to quit.

Asked if she’s ready to live and start anew in the US, Gel said, "Yes, I am - emotionally, spiritually, mentally. Socially, well, I guess I have to adjust to social life in New Jersey. I’m sad because I’d be leaving friends behind but I look forward to making new ones in the US."