Anna Maria after Godspell

Yes, there’s life after Godspell.

Ask Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (the granddaughter of Sylvia La Torre, as if you didn’t know) who was starred in the musical that ended its Broadway run recently.

Anna Maria’s first post-Godspell activity was to help inaugurate New York’s newest luxury yacht called Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 in Manhattan last June 27 before embarking on a much-deserved vacation with her family at Martha’s Vineyard in the south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The family is also planning on a European trip this month.

I got this piece of news from Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre who has been closely following Anna Maria’s career.

Reported Edmund, “Fresh from her nearly eight-month stint in Godspell, Anna Maria performed the Star Spangled Banner on board the state-of-the-art ship, with Diana Taylor, chairwoman of the Hudson River Park Trust and girlfriend of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, christening the three-level vessel by smashing a bottle of champagne against its hull. Hornblower Cruises & Events chairman and CEO Terry MacRae, a self-confessed fan of Anna Maria, was on hand to greet guests and well-wishers.”

The 210-ft., 1,000-person fine dining yacht had its maiden voyage the following day attended by Philippine Consul General in New York Mario de Leon Jr. with his wife Eleanor and their daughter Joyce, and Anna Maria’s parents Artie and Evelyn Perez de Tagle, and a host of invited friends.

Added Edmund, “Geraldine ‘Gigi’ Guiang-McKay, a Fil-Am controller at Statue Cruises, a sister company of Hornblower Cruises, gave the consul general and his family a tour of the swanky boat.”

Almost 1,000 guests feasted on buffet-style dinner of roast beef and salmon, while red and white wines and other drinks overflowed.

“Isn’t it fun?” Edmund overheard Anna Maria repeatedly asking friends as she walked around and entertained her guests. “It’s such a beautiful boat and scenery.”

Anna Maria, who also starred in Camp Rock and Hannah Montana, marveled at the breathtaking New York City skyline for the last time as she and her family were leaving the East Coast and heading back to their home in Los Angeles.

As Funfare reported a few issues ago, Anna Maria is gearing up for another project (still undisclosed) following a fruitful stint in Godspell which gave her a Best Featured Actress in a Musical recognition from broadwayworld.com and introduced her to a new world and set of friends.

“It’s bittersweet,” Edmund quoted Anna Maria as saying about the end of her stint in Godspell. “It was a fantastic Broadway debut for me. I learned a lot and I had a wonderful time. Every one of us on stage was actually crying on the very last day of our performance. At the same time, the nightly show was grueling and took a lot of your energy as a performer. But I now have more respect and admiration for all theater actors for their amazing commitment and dedication to their craft.”

Anna Maria said more than anyone else, she’s very thankful to her mom, Evelyn, for staying by her side the whole time; and to her dad, Artie, for keeping in touch while he’s on the other side of the coast and flying over as often as he could to be with the family.

She also credited one of her handlers, the beautiful Korean-American Hanna Lee, for always protecting her interests and making sure all her commitments were fulfilled.

“I have the best parents in the world who always look after my well-being,” Anna Maria said. “I am surrounded by the smartest and nicest people. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Kapuso stars in NJ event; Babushka in NY gay parade

Here are more reports from the US East Coast, this time from Funfare’s Big Apple-based “beauty expert” Felix Manuel:

• Despite sweltering heat, thousands trooped to attend the GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV hour at the 22nd Annual PAFCOM Friendship Parade held last June 24 at the Lincoln Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Kapuso stars led by Jay-R, Kris Lawrence and 2010 Bb. Pilipinas- International Krista Arrieta Kleiner performed during the much-awaited after-parade show. Thousands of certified Kapuso followers patiently waited to see their favorite stars. GMA East Coast marketing consultant Grace Hufano Labaguis hosted the event this year.  

• The 42nd Annual Gay Pride March was held in New York City last June 24, exactly a year after Gov. Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act into law, legalizing gay marriage in the state of New York.

The gay community also celebrated two other milestones in history: 1) Last September, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that forbade openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military was repealed and, 2) just last month, Pres. Barack Obama became the first president to openly say that he believes that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry.

Many Filipinos participated in the five-hour long parade, considered as the most attended of all parades here in the Big Apple. Beauty architect Boots Babushka wowed them again as he traversed 5th Avenue in her gold and yellow ensemble accompanied by equally stunning Filipino transgenders based in New York. Boots attends the yearly event and views it as a celebration with serious political action.

Another Pinoy who made heads turn during the parade was Burnz Fernandez. He was recently elevated as Mr. Gay World-USA 2012. The California-based hunk replaced the winner who was dethroned a few months after winning.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)