Celebrity sightings in churches

(First of Two Parts)

Maybe there were fewer celebrities then — unlike now when it is so easy to have media exposure. Add to that the fact that entertainment personalities in the past were frequently told by their mother studios not to be seen too much in public places.

Today, you spot them in bars (where they get into a lot of trouble), bump into them at the malls, see them eating in restaurants and even exchange “Peace be with you” with them in churches (bless them).

This Holy Week, I thought of writing about churches with celebrity sightings. I hope this two-part piece doesn’t come out sacrilegious and so please, just read on.

Mt. Carmel Church — This place of worship on Broadway Street in New Manila was built in the early ‘60s and was no stranger to show business since some of Sampaguita movies used it as location for some of their films.

A lot of personalities (both in entertainment and politics) also live in the area and it is but natural for them to hear Mass in this church that has a massive structure. One time I spotted Pilita Corrales (who is a long-time resident of the private Rolling Hills Subdivision) who heard the anticipated Saturday early evening Mass with her grandchildren. There were a lot of them in their pew (near the backside) and Ms. Corrales was dressed in jeans and a plaid long-sleeved shirt that tried not to call attention to herself. Much as I’d like to say hello to her (which is what I do when I see the pillars of the industry), the Mass was ongoing and I felt I should respect her privacy since it was a moment of worship for her.

Sta. Maria della Strada — It has been our parish church for the longest time. Our regular church-mates there had always been former Sen. Francisco Tatad, his wife, the former Fenny Cantero, and their kids. Since we were next-door neighbors, there were occasions when Sen. Tatad and I would just walk back from church together.

In our street, we have a statue of St. Peter that we bring out during the Good Friday procession and it is one of the grandest at least in Metro Manila. Every year, St. Peter stays in a different home in that neighborhood that has some 17 houses or so. During the 1992 elections, the Tatad family (they are deeply religious) asked if they could have St. Peter with them that year. It wasn’t their turn yet, but we’ve always been supportive of each other in that neighborhood and we said yes. Tatad won a seat in the Senate and they acknowledged the blessings brought about by the stay of St. Peter in their home. 

Another parishioner of Sta. Maria della Strada is Charo Santos-Concio. She tries to be inconspicuous as much as possible when she hears Mass there — wearing eyeglasses that makes her look like a schoolgirl and plain tops, like a pink Lacoste ladies’ shirt I remember her once wearing (I distinctly recall that because it blended perfectly with her very fair skin).

Then there was Teresa Loyzaga. She would hear the anticipated Mass and would stay at the side of the church often and keep to herself. Most of us opted to do that because it was cooler there — and also because we ran out of seats inside. Teresa had married somebody from La Vista that time, but the last I heard, she’s already very much settled in Australia and most likely have found a new church where she can worship on the Lord’s day.

UP Chapel — I think it’s officially called Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. I hear Mass there when it gets too full in Della Strada (it’s the parish church to a lot of communities — La Vista, Xavierville and barangay Pansol). I recall hearing Mass there with Fides Cuyugan-Asensio and Franz Pumaren. It’s actually easy to spot the churchgoers there because the church is circular and the altar is in the middle. As soon as I walked in, the very first people I would see were movie journalist Mario Bautista, his late wife, the former Dr. Vicky Arcega and their children, Mario Miguel and Hannah (now both married). Week after week, they occupied that front pew. Apparently, they come in early for them to be able to reserve that every week.

Actually, even the celebrant of the Mass was a known figure himself — Fr. Robert Reyes, the running priest (we haven’t heard from him much lately). And, yes, he lived up to his image as the running priest by jogging around the academic oval many times right before saying Mass.

(To be concluded)