Cheloy’s Quickmelt goes stateside

Curtain-raisers:

• Rita Avila is happily going steady with Erick Reyes, director of the ABS-CBN soap Recuerdo de Amor. Rita is helping invite her media friends to the choral conducting recital of Erick’s brother Christopher Medina Reyes, a UP College of Music student, on Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. at the Gumersindo Garcia Hall of the Church of the Risen Lord, Diliman, Q.C. The recital is entitled A Sacred World.

• Sharing in the City, one of the longest-running (now into its 23rd year), religious-socio TV talk shows, is now telecast Saturdays at 6 a.m. The host panel includes Fr. Sonny Ramirez, OP; Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, OP; Fr. Larry Faraon, OP; Dr. Luz Espiritu and Fr. Jun Lingad, SDB on the This is the Word segment.

• The MCA-Universal pre-Christmas ukay-ukay sale has been extended until end of this month, held every Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Universal Tower (at 1487 Quezon Avenue, near the corner of Examiner St., Quezon City). For inquiries, call 373-9091, 372-9959, 372-9914 or 7274011 up to 22.

* * *

Cherie "Cheloy" Ignacio (ex-Muhlach), former wife of Alex Muhlach (now happy with his own new love), looks very expensive these days – and, may I add, all aglow not so much with an early Christmas spirit but with inner peace, contentment, happiness and love. There’s not even a slight trace of bitterness at all in her smooth, pretty face, and when she talks, she exudes sweetness and light. Cheloy has unloaded a big emotional burden and she’s now, so to speak, traveling light through life.

When she sat with Tempo’s Nestor Cuartero and me for some snacks at Citrio (at the ground floor of the Imperial Palace Suites, Timog-Morato Rotonda, Quezon City), Cheloy didn’t talk about her failed marriage or anything unpleasant. Instead, she told us the good news that her ensaymada business, Quickmelt, is soon going "stateside" with the opening of its first US outlet third week of November in Nevada. More US outlets are slated to open next year.

"We closed the deal during my recent trip to the US," said Cheloy, still as lovely as she was when, in the early ’80s, she was chosen one of the then popular Ginebra Super Angels, her career cut short by her marriage to Alex by whom she has three fast-growing children. "My partners in the US are now accepting dealership and franchise buyers. Those interested may get in touch with Louie Alejandro in San Francisco (at tel. nos. 510-483-4349 and 510-272-8437)."

While in Las Vegas, Cheloy bought one table during a gathering for Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon’s Wow Philippines Tour which entices Pinoys in the US to come home for a visit, if not to stay for good and/or invest some of their earnings here. It was in the same event where Cheloy met Martin Nievera (fresh from his concerts in Toronto and Winnipeg, and a recording with Brian McKnight in Las Vegas) and his girlfriend, Katrina Ojeda.

Behind Cheloy’s Quickmelt is a sweet-tasting success story.

"I love to cook and to bake," recalled Cheloy. "I was staying home and I loved to experiment in the kitchen. I started making different flavors of ensaymada which I gave away to my friends during our prayer meetings. Very soon, mayroon nang umu-order. Before I knew it, naging business na."

She started with one small outlet at the ground floor of the El Niño Apartelle on N. Domingo St., Quezon City, where she used to live with Alex. She conceptualized the formula, the logo and even the packaging. In three months, Cheloy put up 10 outlets at SM stores ("thanks to Harley and Herbert Sy who helped me a lot," said Cheloy). The rest is history. Today, Quickmelt has 41 outlets in Metro Manila and supplies 14 commercial airlines.

"Quickmelt has become a favorite pasalubong of our kababayan going abroad," said Cheloy. I should know. Everytime I go abroad, I bring with me boxes of Quickmelt for my friends out there and they consume the goodies faster than a wink, asking for more! "Anytime now," added Cheloy, "we’re opening branches at the domestic airport and at the old NAIA. Quickmelt offers more than just ensaymada. We also sell mamon, empanada, pulvoron, pastillas, etc."

Cheloy Ignacio (ex-Muhlach) is a good role model for women.

"If I didn’t have my business after my marriage crumbled," said Cheloy, "e, di kawawa sana ako ngayon."

Red Hot Chili Peppers coming soon

Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the world’s hottest (Chili nga, e!) rock bands, is coming for a concert at the PSC (formerly ULTRA) Football Field on Dec. 8.

This piece of good news was relayed to Funfare by Charlemagne Lim of Little Asia. "The band is doing only one show," Charlemagne said.

Called By The Way 2002 Live in Manila, the concert is part of the band’s extensive world tour which consists of 54 shows that will take them to South America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Europe.

"It will be one of the biggest concerts to be held in the Philippines," added Charlemagne. "The band began its US tour in 1984. It took them 18 years to finally come to the Philippines. The long wait is worth it."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers is behind such hits as Under the Bridge, Otherside, Scar Tissue, Give It Away, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, Around the World and By The Way, their latest hit.

Tickets are now available at all SM ticketnets. For inquiries, call 911-5555.