Why Rodel & Daniella are going Down Under

If case you haven’t noticed, there seems to be an exodus (well, the number is not that big – yet – but it’s getting there) of showbiz denizens to greener pastures (that is, out of the country).

After lawyer Jemela Agraviador-Nettles has obtained for them their extraordinary-ability visas (and greencards), Miguel Vera and his family have decided to settle down in California, and so did Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, and April Boy Regino and family. Jemela is now following up the application of half a dozen other stars (whose identities will have to be kept under wraps in the meantime). Muñoz brothers Leandro, Carlo and Angelo are now based also in California.

Ronnie Ricketts and Mariz (and daughters) are just biding their time before they join Ronnie’s parents, Max and Edith Naldo-Ricketts, in California where the couple runs a thriving real-estate business.

Add Rodel Velayo and Daniella (real name: Sheryl Sy-Changco) to the fast-growing list of star immigrants. Married on Aug. 25 last year under the glare of TV cameras (the affair was sponsored by GMA 7 which dramatized the couple’s love story in Mel Tiangco’s Magpakailanman), the couple has put on hold having a child because they want to start a family abroad – yes, in Sydney. They’re leaving on Monday.

Asked why they decided to migrate, Rodel said, "Offers are few. Daniella and I don’t see a bright future for us here."

Last seen in Seiko Films’ I Wanna Be Happy, Rodel’s last assignment was the indie digital film Siquijor (Mystic Island), produced and directed by Brillante "Dante" Mendoza and shown at a recent festival of independent films.

Launched by Viva Films in the sexy film Nene, Daniella decided to quit showbiz and concentrated on her studies at St. Paul’s College where she finished Business Management as dean’s lister. She worked for a while as manager of a Tokyo Tokyo restaurant (first at its Greenhills branch and then at SM Fairview).

A Computer Science graduate, Rodel financed Daniella’s schooling, never mind if he had to, well, tighten his belt along the way and, up to now, sell longganisa as "sideline."

"We’ve been through hard times, but we survived," said Daniella, recalling how the shy Rodel won her heart through text-messaging and bringing her food while she was taking exams. "One time, he knocked on our classroom door with a bag of pansit and ice cream, much to the annoyance and amusement of the nuns."

In Sydney, Rodel and Daniella will initially live with Rodel’s lola. Also there are his aunt and two brothers. His mom, married to a German and based in Germany, will support the couple while they’re starting a new life Down Under (where also live some Pinoy showbiz stars, including Robin Padilla’s wife Liezl Sicangco and their four children, Ogie Alcasid’s wife Michelle van Eimeren and their two daughters, Teresa Loyzaga and several other Loyzagas).

"Daniella will take a post-graduate business course," said Rodel who plans to continue selling longganisa in Sydney on the side. "My mom promised to finance her studies."

Miss Earth back to relinquish crown

If Lorraine Schuck and company’s plans are pushed through, this year’s Miss Earth pageant will go really "environmental," with the grand coronation night to be staged at that open space across from the National Museum (near the Manila City Hall). The affair is scheduled end of November yet and let’s keep our fingers crossed that it won’t rain on the Miss Earth parade. (Lorraine and company should offer dozens and dozens of eggs at the Santa Clara Shrine in Marikina City.)

Meanwhile, here’s a report by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Miss Earth 2005 Alexandra Braun Waldeck of Venezuela arrived the other day to officially herald the start of the 2006 Miss Earth pageant to be held here in Manila on Nov. 26 at the historic National Museum. ABS-CBN will telecast the "open air" pageant live. Ninety countries have confirmed their participation in the world’s third largest beauty pageant.

The pageant was supposed to be held in Chile but due to unforseen circumstances, it had to be transferred here.

After establishing a track record in mounting world-class beauty pageants over the last decade, Carousel Productions Inc. decided to reinvent and improve the concept of beauty competitions for the new millennium.

In an interview, Alexandra expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Filipino people who have welcomed her. "I always feel at home whenever I am here in the Philippines. People are so warm and genuinely friendly. I have been to many countries all over the world, but the Filipinos are definitely the best when it comes to making people feel like family."

The statuesque 23-year-old Venezuelan made her country men proud last year when she won the only major beauty title that has eluded Venezuela. "Venezuelans celebrated my victory because we have practically captured all the world crowns at stake!"

Her year was spent promoting environmental awareness wherever she went. "I realized that as a beauty queen, I can make a difference to save this world!" She continued with her environmental mission even when she returned to her homeland after her stay in the Philippines. With the full support of the Sambil Group, the Franchise Organizer of Miss Venezuela-Earth, and helped launched the group’s ecological activities by having a reforestation program in Valencia, Caracas and Maracaibo, which is ongoing up to now. Alexandra and Sambil also began the SAMI Tree program, a fund-raising activity to educate the children in protecting the trees and saving the environment.

Alexandra already had a taste of Philippine showbiz when rumors started spreading last year that she and actor Carlos Morales were already a couple. "I think I can handle those kinds of rumors because I know my self more than anyone else. As long as the rumors being thrown my way are not below the belt, I can manage it!" she enthused.

Alexandra was born and raised in Venezuela, although her family is of German descent. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Advertising. She joined the Miss Venezuela 2005 competition and was selected by Sambil Model Caracas to represent Venezuela in the Miss Earth 2005 beauty pageant.

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