Happily single

One of the most-loved female hosts in showbiz, Amy Perez possesses the talent to communicate with people from all walks of life. Remember her MTB’s Pera o Bayong with her distinct brand of hosting, even coining funny words like esep-esep. Amy is an effective host because she is the girl who lives on the same street, who has strong opinions about life and who laughs in sweet abandon.

Nowadays, Amy is busy acting in theater in Sophocles Oedipus The King where she plays Jocasta. It is Amy’s first time to work in theater. Although she literally grew up in showbiz, Amy has never had a chance to work on stage.

In preparation for her role of Jocasta, Queen of Thebes in Oedipus The King , Amy, among others, had to do some stretching and mouth exercises. "Exercising help remove the tension. I was nervous. I was afraid I would forget my lines. I was scared my voice would not come out," she relates. She has also learned acting for theater requires a certain kind of discipline totally different from the discipline in radio or TV.

"Edwin Decenteceo helped me," she says, referring to one of her co-actors in the play. Edwin is a veteran in the field, and is a Psychology professor in UP Diliman. "I learned a lot from him."

The play Oedipus The King tells the tragic story of Oedipus, who was destined to suffer in guilt because of a curse he was born with. It was prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Thus, upon his birth, his mother Jocasta (wife of Lauis, king of Thebes) had him sent away to be killed. But the servant tasked with the job brought Oedipus instead to a childless couple, the King of Corinth where Oedipus grew up. But by some turn of events, Oedipus would slay his father and then marry his mother. He would later know that the woman he was sharing his bed with was his mother and the man he killed was his father. To punish himself, Oedipus blinded his eyes.

As director Mel Magno said "The dilemma of Oedipus is unthinkable. It is incest to the highest degree, murder beyond reproach. He was the son-husband of his own mother, the father-brother to his beloved children. Indeed, Oedipus did all the shameful things known to man."

Amy says the play is good material for college students taking up Psychology. Schools who wish to view this production may catch it during its National tour from September to December. It has an ongoing show at the Manila Film Center, CCP Complex.

Amy has high regard for her director Mel Magno. "He was so patient with us. I’ve learned so much from him. He also made it easy for me, knowing that I am a greenhorn on stage," she says.

Aside from Edwin, Amy co-stars with another Backroom artist AJ Dee. "We’ve worked together in M.R.S.," she says. AJ plays Oedipus, the son who fell in love with his mother Jocasta. "I am amazed at AJ’s dedication. He is new, yet he is very professional. He comes to the set prepared. He has fully internalized his role when he comes to the set."

Amy could not compare the fulfillment she gets acting on stage. "The fulfillment you get working on radio or TV is different from what you get on stage."

Aside from the play, Amy is hosting a program aptly dubbed About Me and You on DZMM. Aside from the radio show, Amy is hosting Kabuhayang Swak na Swak in ABS-CBN daily at 8:30 a.m. with Chase Tinio.

Recently, the Supreme Court gave its final decision about her annulment to estranged husband Brix Ferraris. Amy could not believe why the court did not grant her petition for annulment. And yet, she is not giving up. She still sports that positive outlook by counting God’s blessings.

"I pray to God for everything. He’ll take care of me," she says. Despite her marriage ending on a sour note, Amy is happy she has r nine-year-old son Adi, who is now studying at De La Salle University in Greenhills.

How did she feel that the court did not grant her the annulment? "Nothing. I just accepted it casually. Some people say I‘m still in denial. No, it’s just that it’s not my priority at this point. I have no plans of getting married. I don’t have a boyfriend. I just broke up with him".