These past few weeks, Morissette Amon’s father Amay Amon has been posting on his Twitter account about his daughter who, he said, has left the family to “elope” with her boyfriend whom he didn’t identify but is believed to be Morissette’s alleged boyfriend, singer Dave Lamar.
On July 24, 2019, the father posted the following:
“Question: What’s the Tagalog term for elope?” and answered it himself in another tweet the next day, “Google translated as lumayo,” adding, “What if hindi lumayo? Live-in ba tawag dun?” “Or what if like 2 nights lang? Sleepover? Vacation?”
In sum, the father accused the daughter of choosing love over family and the unnamed boyfriend of being “disrespectful,” and that he wouldn’t allow the unnamed boyfriend to destroy his relationship with his daughter.
In fact, for weeks now, Amay Amon (with his supporters) and Dave have been hurling loaded words at each other on social media but Dave denied that the account was not his own, that it was “fake,” prompting Amay Amon to tweet, “Why don’t you use your real account? Not man enough? And you call yourself having good intentions with my daughter?”
On Aug. 16, Dave posted (believed to be in his real account), this cryptic message: “Yah happy???” at 8:54 a.m., followed an hour later by this: “Jumping to conclusions is not actually exercise.”
If you are a keen showbiz-observer, you will notice that this kind of incident…a parent publicly showing disapproval of and displeasure against a daughter’s suitor/boyfriend…has been happening since time immemorial. Name some? No need. You know which actress or singer is in the same dilemma, made to choose between family and (unwanted?) boyfriend.
Through it all, Morissette has kept mum, aware that if she says something about or anything against her father she could be accused of being disrespectful.
Morissette and Dave met as contestants in 2013 in the ABS-CBN talent search The Voice Philippines in which Mitoy Yonting emerged as winner. It’s not known when and how Morissette and Dave became an “item” although you must agree that they make a handsome pair, bagay na bagay sila. They belong to different managements, Morissette is with Stages and Dave is with Cornerstone (which released Dave’s songs Feel My Love, Something Only We Know and Hi, Kumusta?).
A star in her own right, Morissette has had her own hit records and her claim to fame includes having been chosen to sing (along with Darren Espanto) the local version of A Whole New World for the live-action version of the movie Aladdin. Walt Disney Studios Philippines flew Morissette to Japan to grant one of her wishes — to meet Will Smith (who plays the genie in the movie) and share a duet with the legendary Oscar-winner Disney composer Alan Menken.
Anyway, now that we have heard her father’s side, let’s listen to somebody very close to Morissette (who refused to speak up until this column was being written) in her defense:
“The whole issue started last February. We respect and understand the feelings of Morissette’s father but some things have to be clarified. It’s not true that Morissette has ‘eloped’ or is ‘living-in’ with Dave Lamar. The truth is that she is taken care of by Stages head Audie Gemora. She’s staying with Audie in his home at a Makati subdivision.
“Morissette loves her family and she has been working hard to support them (parents and a sibling). She has been saving her earnings for a house the family is building and has entrusted a big amount to her father for that. Morissette is 23 and she’s old enough, and legally of age, to make her own decisions whether professional or personal.”
There. Both sides now.
Julianna will celebrate 19th birthday in Greenland
Turning 19 on Sept. 8, Juliana Gomez is shown during her recent high school graduation with parents Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.
“No, I’m not pregnant.”
That was Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez’s text to The STAR to clear speculation that she and husband, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, are expecting their second child…after Juliana who is turning 19 on Sept. 8, the birth/feast day of Mama Mary. Lucy is a Marian devotee.
Netizens suspected that Lucy was expecting when Richard posted on social media that he and Lucy were into “something important” and it turned out to be their endorsement for Ulthera (a non-invasive non-surgical skin-tightening procedure).
“Wala pa nga, eh,” added Lucy who denied that they are into family planning. “Gusto na talaga namin.”
The family is going to Greenland where Juliana will celebrate her birthday.
By coincidence, Greenland has been in the news these days after US Pres. Donald Trump was reported to have asked his advisers if it is possible for the US to buy Greenland, which is mostly covered in ice. According to a Wall Street Journal report, “The president has been curious about the area’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance.” The Danish Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond but sources in Greenland said that the place is not for sale.
The family will go on vacation in Greenland early next month to celebrate Juliana’s birthday. — Photo from Richard’s Instagram account
For the information of Richard and Lucy, Greenland is a self-governing region of Denmark which colonized the two-million-square-kilometer island in the 18th century. It is home to 57,000 people, most of whom belong to the indigenous Inuit community. According to the same report, Thule Air Base, the US northern-most military base, has been located on Greenland for decades.
The Gomezes are advised to bring thick (thermal) clothes because Greenland is very cold.
Asked why Greenland, Lucy said, “Because we have never been there. We will be in a group. It’s always nice to go on a cruise it it’s with friends.”
Incidentally, Funfare asked Richard if he and Lucy will allow Juliana to entertain suitors now that she’s turning 19.
“May mga umaali-aligid pero wala pa,” said Richard.
(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)