No ‘take home’ for Onemig

Although he has been living independently for more than a year now in his own condo somewhere in San Juan, Metro Manila (it’s a gift to him by his rich parents), Onemig Bondoc hasn’t totally weaned himself (especially) from his mom, the pretty Milo Rivera-Bondoc (younger sister of one-time actress Monette Rivera).

"My Mom checks on me everyday," said Onemig, 24, "but just to find out how I am doing."

He could do anything, just anything, that he wants but Onemig has his own self-imposed do’s and don’t’s, such as he doesn’t take home any girl because, he explained, "I respect my house." Besides, he added, "Ayokong maka-disgrasya."

Since he broke off with China Cojuangco with whom he went steady for three years (the relationship was his most serious so far), Onemig has kept distance from another serious involvement, afraid that he might get hurt again. Or was he perhaps traumatized by a fleeting "romance" with a girl who made a national issue out of it when he decided to split from her? A panandaliang aliw, you know?

"I admit that I’m weak when confronted with a problem," admitted Onemig who has just finished hist first movie for Star Cinema, Trip, an all-star-cast youth-oriented flick directed by Gilbert Perez (Kahit Isang Saglit) from a screenplay by Enrico Santos. "Kaya iniiwasan ko ang pambababae. What I’m looking for in a girl is not just, you know, quick thrills. I’m through with that. I’m looking for something deeper and more lasting."

When things are not going well, according to Onemig, he doesn’t mind initiating the break-up (like what happened between him and China).

"I tell her straight," said Onemig. "I don’t want to keep on pretending and making her believe that things are still all right when in fact they are not. One big blow is better than slowly killing a person, di ba?"

For the time being, love is taking a backseat to his career (shows both here and abroad, commercials some of which – for Oishi – shot in Vietnam and China, etc.). He’s also preoccupied with his Business Management studies (through CAP Home Study) and with helping run the school, Benedictine International, he put up with his parents (the school so far holds classes only from kindergarten to high school levels, with more than 300 students).

In Trip, Onemig plays Louie, son of the congressman, one who’s weak-willed and shrinks from even the mildest problem.

"I’m like Louie in some ways," confessed Onemig. "Takot din ako sa problema."

If ever he’ll go steady again (preferably with a girl not from showbiz, he hopes), Onemig wants the girl to be "simple, lives a normal life, someone who’ll grow up with me and who will be supportive to me."

He’s careful about getting involved with any girl who belongs to the same company or station ("Ayoko nang galing sa sariling bakod" is how he put it) or the relationship might only cramp his style.

"It’s fun to be free," he said, "for the time being. You can be alone, but not lonely."

Suportahan ta ka, iho!

Maybe you haven’t noticed that the guy in the PLDT "suportahan ta ka" commercial is now an actor. He’s none other than true-blue Ilongo Christian Vasquez who’s in two ABS-CBN shows, Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (as an NBI agent) and Atta Girl as – you never guessed it – an Ilongo playboy.

In a tete-a-tete with the movie press, Christian said that he never expected to land in showbiz, but thanks to the PLDT commercial he did without going through the usual grind most (less lucky) aspirants are subjected to.

A Props image model, Christian is 22 and, knowing that honesty is the best policy, he confessed to having two children (two boys, one aged 4 and the other, 2) with his wife from whom he’s separated (and who’s now in the States).

"We were both young so our marriage didn’t work," said Christian who, in person, does speak with an Ilonggo accent.

Christian is an Enterprise Economics graduate from La Salle (where his ex-wife also studied) in Bacolod City where he hails from.

"From the start," he said, "I never intended to hide anything about myself. I lay my cards on the table and it’s up to the public to take me – or leave me – for what I am."

Don’t worry Christian. Whether you’re married or separated, a legitimate father of an unwed father, suportahan ka namin.