WE WERE half a foot away mula kina Lolit Solis at Ricky Lo (nitong nakaraang episode ng Startalk) nang tawagan ng huli ang dating Pangulong Erap Estrada to ask if the latter saw his son Jake Ejercito’s two-part interview.
Hindi namin alam ang eksaktong tugon ng dating lider ng bansa, but Tito Ricky earnestly egged him on for a follow-up story na ipalalabas din sa Startalk.
If we eavesdropped it right, nangako naman si Erap na pauunlakan niya ang nasabing programa, with Jake’s guesting as soon as he comes home during the coming holidays.
Samantala, sari-saring reaksiyon ang aming natanggap pagkatapos ng dalawang bahaging panayam na ‘yon kay Jake, thanks to colleague Allan Diones who took advantage of Eat Bulaga’s trip to London, kung saan nanood pa si Jake ng pagtatanghal sa Excel.
Initially, bantulot si Jake na magpainterbyu. But finally, he acceded to the voice interview, kung saan maraming pasabog ang kanyang mga pinakawalan.
Jake had to speak up to defend his parents against the insinuations of Jaclyn Jose, mother of Andi Eigenmann, na nagsabing “Baka ayaw ng parents” patungkol sa kanilang relasyon.
In fairness to both Erap and Laarni Enriquez, they don’t remember having objected to Jake and Andi’s romantic liaison dahil dalagang ina ang aktres. All that they wish is for Jake to finish his studies in London where he’s taking up political science and business management.
One of the biggest revelations of Jake was during Andi’s pregnancy. Bago roon, Jake had to return to London dahil magsisimula na ang klase. Tiyempong he and Andi got into a lovers’ quarrel, but they were still steady.
Months later, pumutok ang balitang buntis si Andi. Laarni, who was then out of the country, immediately called up Jake. Buong akala raw kasi ni Laarni, her son and Andi had broken up, so paaanong mabubuntis ni Jake ang dalaga?
In no time was the news about who really got Andi pregnant exposed. Si Albie Casiño pala ang itinuturong ama ng noo’y ipinagbubuntis ni Andi.
Jake categorically maintained that, yes, pinagsabay ni Andi silang dalawa ni Albie. Jake although was not aware if Albie knew that all was over between them (Jake and Andi).
Under these circumstances, it would have been understandable on Jake’s part to give up the relationship. Pero tinanggap pa rin niya ang kalagayan ni Andi, his first love. “Martir, eh,” was Jake’s self-assertion.
Bigla kaming naawa kay Jake, may ganito pa palang klase ng mga lalaki these days? But more than that, Jake has earned our admiration, ditto with his parents for raising him well.
Here’s hoping Jake finds Ms. Right for him.
AT A recent event, Monique Wilson — the other Kim in the Broadway musicale Miss Saigon — was honest enough to have confessed about her sexuality: that she is a lesbian.
Kung tutuusin, this piece of gossip has been circulating for ages. Pero nito lang inamin ni Monique nang buong tapang ang kanyang sexual orientation. Aniya, disiotso anyos siya noon when she realized she was a lesbian. Alam din daw ‘yon ng kanyang kaibigan ding world-class singer na si Lea Salonga.
In the world of theatre though, hindi big deal ang mga ganu’ng isipin.
Sa ngayon, Monique is proudly in a relationship. Labing-apat na taon na raw sila bilang domestic partners, and she’s happy about it.
If we cannot argue with success, maging ang kaligayahang nadarama ng puso is just as inarguable. Magsilbi sanang inspirasyon ang kuwento ng 42 year-old singer who, like anyone of us, deserves bliss with her significant other.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
