The cruise that refreshes

Three weeks after the May 10 elections in which they both emerged winners (she reelected Batangas governor and he elected senator), Vilma Santos and husband Ralph Recto hied off to the States for a well-deserved R&R.

“The past elections were the hardest I’ve been through,” admitted Vilma who first completed three terms as Lipa City mayor before she ran for governor (now on her second term). “Three parties merged against me and I fought a good fight. But as I’ve been saying, now that the elections are over, dapat magkaisa na kaming mga taga-Batangas para sa probinsya namin, at para sa bayan.”

The couple left last June 1 with son Ryan Christian and Vilma’s Girl Friday Aida Fandialan, together with Ralph’s best friend Neil Martinez and wife Maricar Magalona with sister Sweety-Pie Magalona (the two are daughters of Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran). Vilma’s mom, Milagros Santos, stayed behind at the Rectos’ new home in Ayala Alabang. Vilma’s son Luis Manzano couldn’t make it because he was busy shooting two movies, Hating Kapatid (with Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo) and Petrang Kabayo (remake of the Roderick Paulate starrer Regal comedy) with Vice Ganda in the title role.

Three days later, Vilma’s brother Joel Santos and sister Emelyn with daughter Carla followed.

They stayed for one week at Chino Hills where Vilma’s sisters Tess and Winnie are living. Tess is married to Jun Lopez and Winnie to Willie Herber by whom she has a son, Andrew. It’s Winnie’s second marriage, the first having been to loveteam-mate Bong Morales from whom Winnie is divorced. Bong is now married to Alma Moreno’s relative.

After taking it easy in Chino Hills, they took a week-long (June 6 to 13) cruise on the Carnival Splendor that lifted anchor in Long Beach and made stops in several places in Mexico including Puerta Vallarta, Mazaplan and Cabo San Lucas.

“We felt so very at-home on the cruise ship because almost the whole staff was composed of Filipinos,” Vilma told Funfare, “at mga taga-Batangas pa mandin! They really took good care of us.”

 According to Aida, “Maasikaso sila. They had pictures taken with Vi at nilagay kaagad nila sa kanilang Facebook account para daw makita kaagad ng mga nanay nila na mga Vilmanians pala.”

They came back last June 19. Vilma had to beg off from attending the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards (in which her Star Cinema movie In My Life was among the awardees) because she had to check the situation around Taal Lake where the volcano was showing signs of activity. Duty before showbiz.

Friday night, Vilma won Best Actress (also for In My Life) at the first (and perhaps only) MTRCB Awards but she also missed that since she was busy preparing for her oath-taking this morning.

Guess what: After the 8 o’clock Mass, Vilma will take her oath of office before Judge Florencio Arellano of Batangas City at the Batangas Capitol in Batangas City and then immediately after, Ralph will take his oath of office before Gov. Vilma.

Back to the salt mines, so to speak.

After that refreshing cruise to Mexico, the governor is ready for the tough task ahead.

Briefly Noted

• Congratulations to Backroom’s vice president and special events manager Bong Quintana on his apppointment last June 7 as the newest member of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) board of trustees. A former PAL flight attendant before he started working for Backroom, Bong obtained his EARIST seat after he was elected president of the EARIST alumni association. At EARIST, Bong is also taking his M.A. in Hospitality & Tourism Management/Executive Program which is open to academicians, industry practitioners and others who would like to be a part of the hospitality/tourism industry. (For inquiries, call Dr. Noel B. Cabrera, vice president for academic affairs, at 716-1105 or text at 0928-5004157.)

•  Clarification: Aya Siguion-Reyna, sister of Rafa Siguion-Reyna (featured in Funfare last Friday), is not studying at Ateneo, according to the mom, Bibeth Orteza. Aya is an incoming junior (English major and minor in Art History) at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts but she’s now taking private summer courses with Danton Remoto who teaches at the Ateneo. “For the summer,” added Mom Bibeth, “Aya is an intern at the National Museum here.”

• Three of the most respected and acclaimed Filipino performing groups in Los Angeles — Kultura Dance Company, Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra and Philippine Chamber Singers — are set to perform on July 2-3 (Friday and Saturday), 8:30 p.m., at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood in a world premiere event billed as Dance, Rhythm, Harmony: MABUHAY! Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), which is hailed as the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines, will mark its debut at the Ford while Philippine Chamber Singers (PCS) returns to the famed amphitheater after gracing venues such as the LA Music Center and performing at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. KULTURA is an LA-based Philippine cultural dance group formed 18 years ago by former Bayanihan members. Today, children of the original KULTURA members are carrying the torch and keeping Philippine culture a part of mainstream American life. (Tickets are available at the Ford Theatre Box Office [323] 461-3673 and at www.FordTheatres.org.)

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