The real dad of Jobelle’s child

Two Sundays ago in a Conversations with Robin Padilla, I mentioned that, besides his four children with his wife Liezl Sicangco (now based in Queensland, Australia), Robin has two other love children, one with Leah Orosa (now happily settled in the US with her husband and the child) and another with Jobelle Salvador, daughter of the late director-producer Leroy Salvador, who’s currently working in Japan.

In reaction to that Conversations, somebody sent me a copy of the decision on a child custody case filed by Erik Espina (of PTV Channel 4), being, as he claimed, the real father of Jobelle’s child, handed down on Nov. 17, 1999 by Judge Salvador Abad Santos of the Makati City Regional Trial Court.

According to the one who sent a copy of the court decision, publication of "the whole truth and nothing but" is for the enlightenment not only of Robin but for everybody.

Funfare is printing pertinent excerpts from that court decision:

Before the court is a petition for custody, with a prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary prohibitory injunction, filed by the petitioner Erik Miguel Espina against the respondent Jobelle Salvador, for the custody of the minor, Jeremiah Joseph Leroy Salvador.

Petitioner alleged that he and respondent Salvador met sometime in 1986, after which a romance developed. In August or September of 1988, Salvador conceived and declared petitioner to be the father. Initially, petitioner had doubts about being the father; Salvador having exhibited promiscuity during the latter stage of their relationship. Nonetheless, petitioner did not deny paternity.

By January or February of 1989, the parties’ romance completely ended. On 7 June 1989, Jeremiah Joseph Leroy Salvador was born.

In September 1991, in attending the wake of Salvador’s father, Salvador presented to petitioner the subject minor as his child, and introduced petitioner to said minor as his father. This commenced occasional outings between petitioner and the child; all with the knowledge and consent of Salvador and her relatives who from the beginning acknowledged petitioner to be the child’s father.

On 13 August 1992, for the purpose of laying to rest any doubts as to his paternity, and with Salvador’s consent, petitioner and child underwent an LCA test at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. The results indicated a 99.9 percent probability of paternity…

… After careful consideration of the evidence and the law, the court is of the opinion and so holds that it is in the welfare and best interests of the minor Jeremiah Joseph Leroy Salvador that his custody be awarded to the father, petitioner herein.

To begin with, overwhelming evidence showed beyond doubt, that petitioner is the father of the child subject of herein actions not merely through evidence of the intimate and loving relationship between said child, petitioner, and petitioner’s relatives, but more importantly, through undisputed medical evidence.

A personal card given by Salvador to petitioner was adduced containing the following words: "Thank you!!! What you did made my day, my week, my years, my life." To this Salvador inscribed the words "My (our) Baby!!!" Two (2) photo albums were shown containing photographs of the child: one when he was three (3) years old, and another during the child’s 1995 Christmas celebration with petitioner and his family…

…On the other hand, evidence likewise showed that the child had integrated with petitioner’s family, finding in their midst, a healthy family environment. The acceptance and warmth received and felt by the child from petitioner and his family has in fact led the former to prefer their company over Salvador’s. In one of his letters to petitioner, the child even wrote down this sentiment. Whenever he has to leave petitioner’s house to return to Salvador, petitioner’s mother testified that the boy would be reduced to tears, would become nauseated and start vomiting; not out of sickness but out of fear of Salvador.

Another HBO quiz promo

Once again, Funfare is tying up with HBO in a "quiz promo" for HBO’s hit series Sex and the City which is soon entering its fourth season, aired on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. and replayed the following Saturday also at 10 p.m.

Starting today and in the next 10 Tuesdays, Funfare will publish five questions whose answers can be found – seen and/or heard – on the episode telecast during the week. Answer the questions and send your entries (don’t forget to indicate what episode are those for, stating the title) to SATC-Funfare Promo, c/o Virtusio PR, P.O. Box 512, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila (or e-mail to [email protected].)

Here are the questions for episodes The Agony and the ‘Ex-tasy’ and The Real Me, airing tonight at 10 on HBO, with a replay on Saturday, May 18, same time:

For episode The Agony

1. Who guest-stars as the Friar?

2. Which actor do Carrie and Miranda have fantasies about?

3. Who is Charlotte’s fantasy?

4. What drink does Carrie order at her birthday party (the one her friends are late for)?

5. What does Big give Carrie for her birthday?

= For episode Real Me

1. Miranda is flattered when a guy at the gym asks her out because he thinks she’s…(a) toned, (b) pretty, (c), sexy, and (d) a babe

2. Which gym is Miranda working out in when she trains for a marathon?

3. Carrie agrees to modeling and she ends up wearing a piece by… (a) Gucci, (b) Versace, (c) Vera Wang, and (d) D&G

4. Which of Ricky Martin’s songs is Miranda listening to at the gym while working out?

5. What’s the first name of the photographer that Carrie meets at the fitting?

(Note: Senders of the first 10 sets of correct answers will get SATC notebooks and posters.)