Dominic ‘victorious’ in love and career

Curtain-raisers:

* Could it be true that a 31-year-old businessman (bachelor, according to the Funfare DPA) is trying to court the pretty wife of an actor-politician but the wife, a semi-retired actress, is only laughing at him (but I’m sure that, at her age – late ’30s – she’s flattered that younger men could still be attracted to her). Of course, the actress won’t – to use President GMA’s favorite word – "make patol" to the guy but her husband is said to be getting "jealous."

* In tonight’s episode (entitled Chicken Feet) of Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN, 9:30), Paolo Contis plays a gay helplessly in love with Rodel Velayo who is in turn in love with Jaclyn Jose (as Paolo’s baklang-baklang mom). Rodel is Paolo and Jaclyn’s boarder and he usually drives mother and son to the dimsum restaurant to buy chicken feet (thus the episode’s title). Paolo is a riot in his MKK performance. Watch it!

* Girl ka na ba? If the answer is "yes," then join Musicbox’s weekly search, Girl KNB?, and get the chance to win the P50,000 grand prize. Girl KNB? is open to all gays ages 16-23 with beauty, wit, intelligence and talent. Starting mid-January and held every Wednesday thereafter, the search pick winners to compete in the grand finals to be announced later. For registratioin, contact 415-4397 or cell 0919-8843460 (look for Joshua or Danny). Or visit the Musicbox at Timog Ave. cor Quezon Ave.

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There’s a very good reason why Dominic Ochoa has been grinning from ear to ear throughout 2001 and, I’m sure, in the next 12 months and far beyond.

You see, Dominic is a winner on two counts – in his career and in his love life. Next month, Dominic and his two buddies, Rico Yan and Marvin Agustin, are celebrating their first anniversary as MTB co-hosts. The trio is also topbilled on the ABS-CBN Wednesday night show Whattamen (derived from the name of their singing group which seems to be "on vacation" these days).

This month, Dominic and Janna Victoria are marking their seventh month as steadies and they hope to spend several more (not only months but) years together and, who knows, they might even end up at the altar.

Recalling their days immediately before they were signed up as MTB co-hosts (prompted by the expulsion of Willie Revillame from the show), Dominic said that he, Rico and Marvin were shooting the breeze over drinks one night when they agreed that they needed something exciting to perk up their careers, wondering aloud how wonderful it would be if they were taken in as regular MTB co-hosts and not just on a "guesting" basis.

"True enough," said Dominic, "several days later, the ABS-CBN bigwigs called the three of us to a meeting. The contract-signing followed soon after. That’s why our co-hosting MTB is a dream come true for the three of us."

Inevitably, Dominic’s lifestyle changed to fit his MTB schedule. In short, Dominic has to cut down on his night life. He usually wakes up at 9 a.m. (he still lives with his parents and his sister at the family residence in Merville, Parañaque City) and leaves the house at around 10:30 so he can be at ABS-CBN in time for the show’s opening at 12 noon. He and his two buddies tape for Whattamen once a week, from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight, putting to can two episodes.

"It’s all a matter of time management," according to Dominic who still finds time for his sidelines. "I usually schedule my other activities after MTB or, in some cases, before MTB." (Dominic, together with Rico and Marvin, are endorsing Talk ’N Text; Dominic also promotes Procter & Gamble products.) "What I have to give up is racing which I used to do with my Dad and friends every other day either in Carmona, Cavite, or in Rosario, Batangas. I stopped last year."

Sundays are reserved strictly for his family – unless a pressing project prevents him from having that "day-off." The Ochoas hear Mass together in Magallanes Village and then dine out. Since seven months ago, Janna Victoria has been a part of this Sunday family outing, treated as she is by Dominic’s family as its own daughter. "In the church," revealed Dominic, "Janna and I usually pray together."

Asked what qualities of Janna have endeared him to her, Dominic pointed out Janna’s being "totoong-totoo," Janna’s very real and down-to-earth. "Masyado ngang mabait, sobrang bait, to the point that she doesn’t know how to say ‘no’."

Dominic added that Janna knows about "my past" and his previous relationships, the longest having been one year and four months with a non-showbiz girl. "We are honest with each other," said Dominic. "Wala akong itinatago sa kanya, wala rin siyang itinatago sa akin."

Their paths first crossed sometime in 1999 when they did a show together for former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada. They hardly talked to each other due to time constraints. They met again last year at an Armani/Exchange outlet in Shangri-La Plaza where he and Rico bumped into Janna. Dominic saw Rico talking to a "Japanese-looking girl" and was Dominic surprised to see that it was Janna! "You gained a little weight," he told her, a "tactless" comment for which Dominic was reprimanded by Rico on their way home. "Rico told me, ‘You don’t say that to a woman; you should apologize to her’."

Dominic did just that – apologize to Janna by phone. It was after they did an episode for the ABS-CBN show Flames (which showed them being wed in the ending) that they became close, calling up each other when they wanted somebody to talk to. Soon, they were going steady.

Doesn’t Janna’s bold image bother Dominic’s family?

"Not at all. Janna is a decent girl even if she’s playing sexy roles. But if I had my way, I’d rather that she play dramatic roles without bold scenes. But it’s her career, so it’s up to her to decide. Hindi ko pinakikialaman ang career niya – and vice-versa."

Reader’s reaction

Here’s a reaction letter from reader Erick San Juan to a recent Funfare item:

Col. Armando Gatmaitan in a letter to The STAR was right in asserting that the award-winning film Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure contains "false representations" and that its producers "should have at least done a little research to make the movie believable."

In my book, Marcos Legacy: Raiders of the Lost Gold (1998), I stated that the result of an official probe to determine once and for all whether Lt. Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army had indeed left behind billions of dollars worth of treasure, yielded only a few old coins. The 1953 inquiry ordered by President Elpidio Quirino was headed by a Japanese-American investigator of the Allied War Crime Tribual, Minor Fukumitsu, who attested that no evidence was found to show that the treasure existed.

Interest in the fabled Yamashita treasure was triggered by the discovery of a golden Buddha in 1970 by Rogelio Roxas in the mountains surrounding Baguio City. According to this local locksmith, a Japanese named Fushugami gave him a treasure map. However, aside from this rare discovery by Roxas, no other evidence indicating that the treasure of Yamashita really existed was ever found.

– ERICK SAN JUAN

Suite 1402, 1st e-Bank Tower

Paseo de Roxas, Makati City

Tel. 817-0706