Robin quits TV

FLASH: Robin Padilla is quitting television. His ABS-CBN sitcom, Pwedeng-Pwede, will have its last telecast on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Robin’s contract with ABS-CBN expired last month and he decided not to renew it.

"I want to concentrate on movies," said Robin. "Also, I want to have more time so I can go to Australia to visit my family (wife Liezl Sicangco and their four children) three times a year. The tapings (for Pwedeng-Pwede) have been eating up most of my time."

Asked if he’s getting a "tempting" offer from another station, Robin flatly said no.

Just finished with Videoke King with Pops Fernandez for Star Cinema, Robin is now shooting Viva Films’ Pagdating ng Panahon with Sharon Cuneta and might start on another Viva flick with Regine Velasquez (their second team-up, after Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw) before end of the year.

Mandy a dad soon

Another "flash" report: Mandy Ochoa and brand-new wife Gretchen Varela are expecting their first child middle of next year. They were married last June 22 at the Queen of Peace Church in Bacolod City, capping a romance that started in February, 1998 when they first met at a mission work for Singles for Christ (SFC) where Gretchen was a full-time worker and Mandy a mission volunteer. It was in the presence of their friends at SFC that Mandy proposed to Gretchen.

The couple first set their wedding on Feb. 2 last year but, sigh, they broke up before 1999 ended but reconciled on Feb. 3 the following year.

"I must admit that our separation taught me a very valuable lesson," said Mandy (now with Manila Genesis Entertainment & Management, Inc.). "Don’t prioritize work over God and family. I was then busy producing events, shooting movies and guesting in TV shows, so I was putting my mission and my relationship with Gretchen as second priority."

Away from Gretchen, Mandy was miserable and his friends noticed it. His loneliness was adversely affecting his work (he’s also an endorser of Kolin products), so he mustered enough guts to reconnect with Gretchen.

The marriage proposal came soon after.

"It happened during the SFC meeting on June 20 last year," recalled Mandy. "My proposal came in the form of a prayer because I was leading the group prayer. Suddenly, I prayed aloud for my and Gretchen’s union and I was proposing to her aloud! I lifted Gretchen to the Lord and asked her hand in marriage. While I was praying, the ladies in our group were crying and the guys were overjoyed. After the prayer, I approached Gretchen and presented her with a ring. She accepted with all her heart."

Some showbiz friends were part of the couple’s entourage. Among them were Christopher de Leon and Phillip Salvador, who were there as principal sponsors. Other sponsors were lawyer Leon de Villa, Antonio Varela, Dave Mercado, Nonito Limchua, Antonio Meloto, Manolo Lopez, Gloria Sicangco, Conchita Sicangco, Josefina Castillo, Gerry Padilla, Juanita Trofeo, Evangeline del Mundo, Estellita Ocampo, Agnes Alvendia and Elenita Abello.

Mandy’s parents, Dr. Glenn and Amelia Bulmer, flew in from the US to join him in this special moment. So did his sisters, Yves Ochoa-Jones and Emilie Ochoa-Petrocelli, from San Diego, California, and Fort Lauredale, Florida, respectively.

The couple just came back from their "fruitful" honeymoon with the good news that Gretchen is infanticipating.