Why Marco migrated to the US

Curtain-raisers:

• This blind item will be as vague as vague can be, with very subtle clues you can read between the lines — if you are perceptive enough. A popular artist (note: I’m not saying if he’s a singer, an actor or a singer-actor) was spotted by a Funfare DPA in Cebu where he bought a chair by famous furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue (from whom Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought a bed worth P300,000). The artist was with a girl who is neither his “past” nor his “present,” but who could be his immediate “future.” He was overheard by the Funfare DPA’s friend telling the girl, “Now you see how special you are to me. I bought you this very expensive piece!” Now, is a chair, to quote a popular song, still a chair even if there’s no one sitting there? Hmmmm.

• The PA (production assistant) of an actor who has just separated from (or was he junked by?) his actress-girlfriend insists that the actor is “not guilty” as accused, that he has never been unfaithful, that he never “double-crossed” the actress by going out with another girl. Quoting the PA, another Funfare DPA said, “The actor is so hurt that he cries to sleep every night. Kawawa naman siya. He really loves his (immediate-ex) girlfriend.”

• An actress may never be able to come home even if she desperately wants to. She has been in the States for years and her green card might be issued anytime now, unless — and that’s the big UNLESS — the authorities concerned don’t uncover her “bad” record. If ever she gets her green card and she dares come home, she might never be able to enter the USA again, ever!

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Like all Filipino singers now based in the US, Marco Sison hopes to record an album and break into the international music scene.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” Marco told Funfare during an exclusive interview in L.A. two weeks ago. “I can always try.”

Marco was accompanied to the interview by immigration lawyer Jemela Agraviador-Nettles who helped process his “extra-ordinary ability” visa, the same one Jemela also got for other Filipino artists, including Miguel Vera (and his family), April Boy Regino (and his family), Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, and (soon) Jolina Magdangal.

“I was able to get Marco’s visa in record time,” Jemela happily told Funfare. “In only three months. That’s because, like my other showbiz clients, he’s highly-qualified.”

Marco recalled that he read about Jemela in this corner.

“Everything happened by accident,” said Marco. “Two years ago, I was on a US tour with the Greatest Hits 5 (Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Nonoy Zuñiga and Rey Valera). Nonoy and I have a friend, Elizabeth, and I mentioned to her that I was looking for this lawyer Jemela Nettles and I’d been calling her but all I was getting was an answering machine. Elizabeth turned out to be a friend of Jemela. She called Jemela and after only a few minutes, Jemela was already joining us for lunch. The next day, nag-apply na ako. That’s how it started.”

To make a long story short, Marco and his family (wife Jojo and their four children) left for L.A. in July last year after the elections where he lost his bid for the vice governor of Laguna (where he served as councilor for three terms).

“We are adjusting,” said Marco who is now on another US concert tour with the Greatest Hits guys (minus Nonoy), “slowly but surely. When not busy, I work out in the gym, that’s why I am fit.”

He has been busy with other shows and with the preparations of an album (consisting of his hits) which he hopes to market both in the US as well as in the Philippines.

“We decided to migrate mainly for our children,” added Marco who could make heads turn with his cool/soothing voice that makes him a Romantic Balladeer. “Maybe it’s also God’s will. There might be something big waiting for me, who knows?”

(Note: Those who want to consult Jemela may call her at +12136751281 or +639108856122.)

Rebecca pitches for Chocolate Hills as a ‘wonder’ bet

While in Bohol for the summer vacation, Rebecca Lusterio (Bikay for short) is busy promoting and campaigning for the inclusion of Bohol’s Chocolate Hills in the list of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

“If you are in Bohol and you don’t visit the Chocolate Hills,” Bikay told Funfare correspondent Leo Udtohan, “your visit is not complete.”

Bikay will be a third-year Masscom student this coming June at the Colegio San Juan de Letran where she is a scholar. As a kid, she helped her poor parents make ends meet by peddling seashells at a beach in Panglao. It was her fellow Boholano Cesar Montano who discovered her for the movies. She has done three movies — Muro-Ami (for which she won a Best Child Actress award), Panaghoy sa Suba and Ligalig.

According to Leo, a good friend of Bikay, “She has remained humble. Last week, she appeared in a musical video prepared by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation headed by SK National President Jane Censoria Cajes. The musical video pays tribute to the young Boholano achievers in the forthcoming Bohol Youth Week on May 26 to 31. Bikay still goes to Alona Beach where her mom Helen sells seashells. Her father, Verano Lusterio, is a fisherman.”

What about her acting career?

“I’d love to do a soap, if there’s any offer,” said Rebecca.

(Paging Wilma Galvante! Paging Charo Santos-Concio!)

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