Manilyn wants a baby
girl before she turns 40

"I lost 40 pounds," Manilyn beamed.

"Wow!" we exclaimed, "How did you do it?"

"Well, you know that Aljon (Jimenez, her husband) used to be in the food business. Kahit ngayon, ang hilig hilig niyang magbasa, lalo’t tungkol sa pagluluto.

"In any case, he made a diet for me to follow. And I did. At heto nga ang naging resulta," she proudly replied.

Manilyn and Aljon have two kids, both boys. The eldest is Kyle, 11 years old. He will be in high school next year.

"He earned three god medals nang mag-graduate siya from his elementary grades.

"Si Kirk naman, my second son, is five. Magki-kinder na siya. Sa prep school, where Aljon and I enrolled him last year, tumanggap siya ng 15 certificates of excellence."

She’s now 36 years old. Her goal before she turns 40 is to have another child. "A girl naman," she said. "Nang magkaroon ng muse ang dalawang bagets kong lalaki."

Manilyn hosts a talk show on QTV 11, "Moms," with Lani and Sherilyn Reyes. She was also seen in GMA’s "Marimar" playing Marimar’s (Marian Rivera) mayordoma.

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A concert to look forward to is "Side A, Live with The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra," which will be held at the Music Museum on April 18 and 19 at 8 p.m.

Special guests on April 18 are Ai Ai de las Alas and Piolo Pascual. On April 19, Ai Ai and Sam Milby are the guest artists.

Musical directors are Naldy Gonzales and Maestro Rodel Colemenar. Stage director is Mark de Leon.

Producer is BM (Brian Mundray) Garcia.

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No one can argue that as a band, Side A is one of the most successful and the most durable in the land. Their appeal has remained as timeless as their music that it is no wonder their fans include those from the present generation.

Side A has reaped gold and platinum awards. A lot of the current bands were inspired by the Side A, who, to date, keeps reinventing itself.

They have recorded 13 best-selling albums. One of their songs, "Forevermore," was adapted as the title and theme song of a movie starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa.

They remain a most in-demand group for concerts abroad.

Side A today consists of Joey Generoso (lead vocalist and acoustic guitar); Naldy Gonzales (musical director/keyboards); Ned Esguerra (bass guitar and vocals); Ernie Severino (drums /vocals) and Leevon Cailao (lead guitar / vocalist).

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Rodel Colemenar, founder and conductor of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, said that it has always been his dream to have his orchestra play side by side in a concert with the Side A.

He jested: "Pero noon, I could not afford them. Thanks to BM (who, by the way, is the son of showbiz columnist and TV and radio host Cristy Fermin), who conceptualized this concert."

The MPO was founded in 1995. They have collaborated with several outstanding local and foreign classical artists, such as French soprano Corringne Sertillagnes, Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, Korean tenor Greg Yoon, international concert pianist Cecile Licad and conductor and violinist Oscar Yatco, to name a few.