Pres. Cory’s niece stars in US TV show

“I finally feel complete.”

That’s how Ivory Aquino is quoted in the title of a feature story in a recent issue of People magazine which notes that “former President Corazon Aquino is her aunt.”

The star When We Rise, the ABC new series about LGBT rights, reveals to People that she’s transgender, just like real-life transgender activist Cecilia Chung whom Ivory portrays in the TV series.

The quotation that opens this story refers to how Ivory felt following a surgery that turned her into the woman that she had always felt she is. She was 26 at the time.

According to the People story written by Patrick Gomez, “Ivory was ready to face death for the chance to become the woman she knew she was inside,” back in 2005 when Ivory went under the knife in Thailand. She recalled, “I walked out on the balcony, looked out at the ocean and was at peace that I might not wake up…If it was my time to go, at least I’d go as a woman,” only to wake up six hours later holding her mom’s hand, assuring herself that “I can handle whatever life throws at me now because I’m a woman. I finally feel complete.”

As a woman (and while keeping her transition private), Ivory auditioned for acting roles in the US, only to come out after she bagged a role in When We Rise.

“I didn’t think there’d ever be roles for me because I was transgender,” Ivory told People, admitting that she began hormone therapy at 16 and started to dress as a woman when she was a college freshman at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

An earlier shorter feature, People noted that as a child, Ivory dreamed of being an actor but she never imagined that there were roles for a transgender girl like her, thus she decided to be a singer. She was quoted by People as saying, “With androgynous figures like David Bowie, I thought I could do music without thinking about gender.” Then, after the reconstructive surgery, Ivory said, “My first thought was ‘I can act.’”

Born in the Philippines, Ivory didn’t mention anything about her family background in the People story.

Before When We Rise, Ivory played Juliet, her dream role, in the stage play Romeo and Juliet in New York in 2005.

“I want to show trans kids that it’s possible for them to have full, meaningful lives doing what they love,” Ivory told People. “I’m proof.”

Ryan is also Reader’s Digest’s ‘Most Trusted’

For the nth time, Kapuso’s treasured TV hosts Jessica Soho and Mike Enriquez are named “Most Trusted TV Presenters” in the latest issue of Reader’s Digest (RD) which should elevate them to the Hall Of Fame.

The big (welcome) surprise is the selection of Ryan Agoncillo in the “Most Trusted” honor roll, touted as (Most) “Trusted Dabarkad.” Congrats, Ryan!!!

 The accompanying story noted how Ryan began his career at age 15 as a commercial model (remember his Sprite “Are you in heat?” commercial with Patricia Javier shot inside an elevator?), appearing on billboards and magazine covers and TV commercials before venturing into television and movies, in the process winning awards?

“Hosting is my job,” Ryan told RD. “The running, photography and motor sports are my hobbies, but my life will always be my kids.”

Ryan should also get “An Ideal Family Man” award, as his wife, Judy Ann Santos and their kids (Johanna Louis, nicknamed Yohan; Juana Luisa, nicknamed Luna; and Juan Luis, nicknamed Lucho) would attest.

For the full story about Ryan (as well as Jessica and Mike), check out the March issue of RD.

Ai-Ai, direk Louie nominated in Queens World Filmfest

Ai-Ai delas Alas and director Louie Ignacio are nominated for Best Female Actor and Best Director, respectively, for Area in the Narrative Feature Section of the 7th Queens World Film Festival in Astoria, New York, USA.  

The festival, which is “an annual celebration of boundary-pushing international filmmakers and their daring works,” runs from March 14 to 19.

Ai-Ai is competing against Karin Hanczewsk for Lotte (Germany), Amy Redford for Hate Crime (USA) and Dorothea Hagena for Mann im Spagat — Pace, Cowboy, Pace (Germany).  

Ignacio’s co-nominees are Joseph Matarrese, Searching for Fortune (USA); Julius Schultheiß, Lotte (Germany); Pedro Oswald Padilha, Tarde en el Abismo (Afternoon at the Abyss) (Argentina); Adam Green, Adam Green’s Alladin (USA); and Mars Roberge, Scumbag (Canada).

Area will be screened on March 17 at 10:16 p.m. at the Zukor Screening Room of Kaufman Asturia Studios.  

This year’s board of jurors is composed of multi-News and Documentary Emmy winner Cynthia Lopez; American producer and director Josh Green; American film producer, story editor, screenplay writer Michael Lieber; award-winning American film director, cinematographer, writer Christine Burrill; Ecuadorian-born, New York-raised filmmaker Sebastian Rea; Syrian-American animator and filmmaker Jamil Lahham; and American composer and jazz vocalist Jennifer Griffith.

Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, Area won the Special Jury Prize at the 12th Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan in Sept. 2016. –– Reported by Celso de Guzman Caparas

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