Ayen Laurel as Mama

Looking at Ayen Munji-Laurel now, you wouldn’t believe that she had gone through a very difficult pregnancy for her and husband Franco Laurel’s first child, forcing her to stay in bed almost immobile for nearly four months. On her sixth month, she dared mount a concert at the Music Museum where she nearly collapsed onstage. The show had to go on, so Ayen finished her song as if nothing was happening, smiling while she sang, with nobody in the audience suspecting that she was having a terrible, terrible dizzy spell.

"You see," recalled Ayen with a smile, "I was taking this medicine prescribed by the doctor para kumapit ng mahigpit ’yung baby. I took it for eight months. I didn’t know that it could cause such dizziness; it was only after that incident at the Music Museum, where I took the medicine two hours before the show, did I read the fine prints."

Two months into her pregnancy, Ayen was confined in the hospital for three days due to bleeding which could have led to a miscarriage. So the doctor advised her to stay in bed.

First things Ayen and Franco checked when she gave birth in October last year were the baby’s body parts, heaving a sigh of relief only when they saw the baby whole and well – "complete," that is. Now four months old, Maria Elena Angia, was delivered the normal way. She’s a lively baby, always alert, playing up to the camera when she sees somebody taking pictures.

In short, according to Ayen, showbiz na showbiz.

"I breastfed Angia for only one month because she’s lactose intolerant," said Ayan who has another child from a previous marriage (yes, to the Prince).

Being a first-time father, Franco gets a lot of guidance from Ayen.

"Nakakatuwa ’yan," revealed Ayen. "Franco bought a copy of a book called Now Father’ Book. He’s doing well – as far. Of course, I’m the one super-involved; I’m the one who stays up late for the baby, ako ang nagpupuyat. Angia’s crib is on my side of the bed, so halos katabi ko siyang matulog. But Franco does help in changing the diapers and bathing the baby."

Angia is a cross between her parents, but looks mostly like Franco.

"But people said that Angia’s nose is like mine, pati ang kilay daw niya kahawig ng sa akin."

Back to her ideal weight (and shape), Ayen still works out three times a week, trying to shed more poundage.

The rehearsals for her show, simply titled Ayen (March 7 and 14 at Tavern on the Square, 8:30 p.m.), fit into Ayen’s workout schedule.

"I’m basically an active person; I can’t stay put. So you can just imagine how I felt during those four months when I was practically motionless in bed. It was such a torture!"

Directed by Marlon Rivera and produced by ML Entertainment, Ayen will have as guest performer Agot Isidro. Sponsors include Absolute Distilled Water, Pacific Sun Iced Tea, Country Waffles, Shiseido, Joey 92.3, 103.5 K-Lite and Uva Restaurant. Tickets at P800 each includes one drink and appetizer (call 638-77776 or 638-7778 for reservations).

"I enjoy doing this show because its repertoire includes popular songs of the ’80s and the ’90s, like I miss You Like Crazy, Bashia songs (Promises, etc.), Swing Out Sister songs and a Maureen McGovern medley."

Rehearsals extend right to their home when she has to put Angia to sleep.

"She’s funny. When we play music or sing to her, she sleeps. When we stop, she wakes up, so we keep on playing music or singing to her. She really loves music. I’m sure she’ll be a singer when she grows up. Even when she was still inside my tummy, I would play Christian music for her, or classical music. Inilalapit ko ’yung tummy ko sa CD player so Angia could listen to the music."

As soon as she grows up, Angia should start singing With You and Someone Like You (from the musical Jekyll and Hyde) which are her parents’ theme somgs.

Ayen and Franco are celebrating their second wedding anniversary on March 18.

So how is their marriage so far?

"It’s so good, especially now that we have a baby. Our focus is more on the family. Masaya."

Ayen and Franco are living happily ever after despite the rumors which they have learned to simply shrug off, such as the one about Franco marrying Ayen for her money. ("I married her for love," said Franco during an interview with Kris Aquino and Korina Sanchez on Morning Girls the other day. "And I promise to love her until the day I die.")

"We started as friends," added Ayen, "but we continue to adjust to each other. Marriage is a never-ending adjustment naman, di ba? Franco is easy to live with; he’s such a nice person. Easy to talk to at walang hang-up sa tao."

From my e-mail

• From Nanny Camara-Gumban of Sto. Niño Village, Banilad, Cebu City:

Although I may not be very keen regarding showbiz, I just happened to come across your article about model, Christian Vasquez, to quote a portion "...Christian, an Ilonggo (from Bacolod)..." is a misnomer because Mr. Vasquez, being from Bacolod, Negros Occidental, is a NEGRENSE. An Ilonggo is one who comes from the province of Iloilo, which is across Panay Island. I saw his pictures in the Cosmopolitan calendar and, indeed, you are right. He has a body to die for!

• From Dr. Henry Yu, also of Cebu City:

The Class of 1978 of the Cebu Institute of Medicine will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee come July 24 to 26 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel with the theme "Coming Home To A Place We Call Home." For particulars, contact (032)253-3376 or cellphone 0917-3560629 or e-mail the Secretariat at [email protected].

• From Lita T. Cruz, Grand Prairie, Texas, USA:

Some years back, you kept on mentioning about movie stars who have come and gone. Would you know where these stars now are? Liza Moreno, Rebecca, Vilma Valera, Stella Suarez, Merle Fernandez, Fred Galang, Ricky Rogers, Blanca Gomes, Loretta Marquez, Sarah Calvin, Edgar Salcedo, Shirley Moreno, Elissa, Elizabeth Bankhead, Eddie Miller, Jose Yap, Yolanda Guevarra, Maritess Revilla, Ed Finlan, Zerna Manahan, Beth Manlongat, Efren Montes, Boy Mondragon, Joe alvarez, Esperanza Fabon, Elizabeth Ledesma and Eva Vivar, to name a few. Thanks for your time. (Dear Lita, The sad news is that Liza Moreno, Loretta Marquez and Edgar Salcedo are dead. Rebecca, Yolanda Guevarra, Vilma Valera and Blanca Gomez are living in the States with their respective families. Shirley Moreno is married to fellow Sampaguita star Henry Stevens who used to be a PAL flight attendant. Joe Alvarez is also in the States and he continues to sing for Filipino communities there. Maritess Revilla is in Manila, separated from her husband, Enrique Araneta. Eddie Miller, Jose Yap, Eva Vivar, Boy Mondragon and Efren Montes have retired from showbiz. Ed Finlan is a Born-again Christian preacher. Esperanza Fabon is now a judge; her husband, a policeman, was killed several years ago.)

(E-mail your reactions at [email protected])