Love takes a back seat

Despite the high price tags attached to them, Judy Ann Santos and Jolina Magdangal continue to get the juiciest offers for entertainment-related projects, advertising and product endorsements, even for very brief personal appearances.

Their magic hasn’t waned a bit, despite the efforts of some scheming industry people who continue to move heaven and earth to dethrone them from their current pedestal status. Santos and Magdangal have both undergone so much pruning and polishing to allow themselves to be toppled by any outside force.

But there’s one area in life where the two admit to still be fragile – the love department. Not so much because they are vague on knowledge about the subject, but simply because they haven’t stocked up enough experience to master the game.

Despite their respective successes, true love remains elusive. But at this point in time, both of them feel there’s no need to hurry, reasoning that since they’re kept busy by their work assignments, they might not have enough time to invest on emotions.

The two also do not feel even the slightest pressure with the fact that they are still loveless this love month of February, even if the celebration of Valentine’s remain a big deal to most Filipinos.

"Patawa," is Magdangal’s one-word reaction when asked if she feels lonely that she has no one special to spend the love day with. "Love is patient, so it means it can wait. I’d like to point out though that I’d welcome it anytime it comes. Syempre masarap din yung may ka-share ka sa lahat, di ba?"

"Don’t get me wrong," says Santos, "I’m ready if he comes along, it’s just that wala pa talaga eh!" Santos was last rumored to have fallen for the mystical charms of matinee idol Piolo Pascual, but the talks died a natural death after the promotions of their movies ended.

Santos adds, "I just focus all my energies on my work, kasi yun lang naman talaga ang medyo progressive na aspect ng life ko," she says, without sounding like she’s complaining.

Young as she is, Santos has channeled most of her monetary savings in business. She recently opened Kaffe Carabana, a bar-restaurant along the Timog strip and guess what, she’s bent on getting herself an education.

"I think education is very important, and no one is too young or too old to learn new things. Specially now that I’m hands-on with the bar operations, I’ve realized that computers are an indispensable business tool."

Because Santos was recently signed up as celebrity endorser of AMA Computer-Learning Center, she has decided to enlist herself in the school’s Computer-based Accountancy course under the Mind Your Own Business program.

Magdangal, on the other hand, is as busy as ever. Since she moved camp, GMA 7 is making sure that Magdangal gets more than the five-star treatment she used to get with her former mother studio. Her entry into the weekend series Kahit Kailan has allowed the show’s ratings to shoot up, and she continues to perform in the Sunday musical program S.O.P.

On the business front, her chain of boutique stores are creating waves not only in key cities of the Philippines but also in the US.

But what excites Magdangal these days is her forthcoming solo concert scheduled on March 1 at the Araneta Coliseum. Billed as Jolina Mania, the Big Dome is expected to be transformed into a big party arena, this according to her producers from Maxi Media International.

With schedules as hectic as these for both Santos and Magdangal, it’s just right that they do not hurry love. For both genuinely-gifted and level-headed stars, there’s more to life than just being romantically-fulfilled.