The trophies Sylvia is most proud of

Curtain-raisers:

• Congratulations to Joyce Jimenez who gave birth to her and husband Ely Egbalic’s third child, a boy named Julian Ellyson, last Jan. 25 at the Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in California. “Finally, we have a boy!” said Joyce (pictured with JE, top). The couple’s two daughters are Jorja Ely, four years old; and Jaysen Elise, two years old. Joyce is happy being wife and mother.

•It’s also a boy for Jolina Magdangal and husband Mark Escueta (photo, above) who texted to Funfare that they have already chosen a name (Pelé Iñigo) for the baby due Feb. 18, “or even earlier, maybe Feb. 14,” said Mark. The couple is hoping for a normal delivery but the doctor said that there’s no assurance until the day itself. Pelé is the Hebrew word for “miracle” and Iñigo means “fiery or shining.” Pelé is also the name of the legendary Brazilian football player.

•Fernan de Guzman is the newly-elected president of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). The other officers are: Mel Navarro, vice president; Mildred Bacud, secretary; Rodel Fernando, treasurer; Lourdes Fabian, auditor; and Sandy Mariano.

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In her more than 25 years in showbiz, Sylvia Sanchez (two for Best Actress and the rest for Best Supporting Actress, both for TV and movies) has won eight acting awards and she’s proud of each one of them.

Praise her for raising her five children well and Sylvia will give you a tight hug and thank you profusely, “That’s what I love to hear; ang gandang pakinggan.”

Her children are the “trophies” Sylvia is most proud of. The eldest, Pia, 24 (an HRM graduate), is from a past relationship and the four are by her husband Art Atayde: Arjo, 23; Ria, 21 (graduating from college in July); Gela, 11 (a student at Poveda); and Xavi, 4.

Like Sylvia, who’s a hit as the mother of Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria’s character) in the Kapamilya soap Be Careful With My Heart for which she got a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the recent PMPC Star Awards For TV, her son Arjo is making a name of his own as an actor. Arjo, who has set aside school for the time being, has won two awards so far, the first was last year for Best New Male TV Personality (for his performance as a gay in Bangka, an episode on Maalaala Mo Kaya) and Best Supporting Actor (for the Kapamilya action-series Dugong Buhay) at the same PMPC event.

An adjustable actress, Sylvia is credible in any role, be it bida or kontrabida.

“My acting comes from the heart,” Sylvia told her friend writers whom she invited for a free-wheeling chat over lunch at her home at a Quezon City subdivision last Saturday. “I prepared the food today,” she added good-humoredly, “kaya may personal touch.” The buffet consisted of Skyflakes crackers (appetizer) with a special spread created by Sylvia, beef, sarsiadong isda and veggies, and (for desserts) leche flan and a heavenly-tasting cake baked by Sylvia.

Whether in front of the camera or in the kitchen, Sylvia is at her “performance level.” She used to own and manage two restaurants (one in Greenhills and the other at the Morato area in Quezon City) with her good friend Bobby Casuela, a retired PAL purser.

“It was hard keeping a balance between my family, my career and the business,” said Sylvia, “so we decided to close the restaurant. Hindi na kaya ng schedule ko. I was doing the marketing and the cooking kasi, eh.”

Sylvia reserves Sundays for the family.

“Kaya I told my manager (Angge Lee) not to schedule any shoot or taping on Sundays,” volunteered Sylvia (who hails from Barangay Nasipit, 30 minutes away from Butuan City). “My priority is my family.”

As a mother, Sylvia is a reasonable disciplinarian (“Daddy nila ang spoiler,” said Sylvia), but not the “spare the rod and spoil the child” type. In fact, she admitted, she once spanked Ria and mildly pulled her hair (Ria’s offense not mentioned) and it worked. “I learned from that incident,” admitted Ria. “It never happened again.”

Sylvia treats her daughters as barkada.

“My only advice to them now that they are grown up is to be careful,” disclosed Sylvia. “Sabi ko, kapag may lumigaw sa inyo, kami muna ng Daddy n’yo ang ligawan nila.”

And to Arjo, only this: “Be professional, be punctual. Love your job, respect your colleagues including the crew. And don’t let showbiz go to your head.”

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