Golden divas gain
wider following

"No, we get along fine," she says. "Ewan ko nga kung bakit may tsismis pang hiwalay na raw kami ni KC, which is also not true. Sobrang bait ng parents ni KC and they also love my son, Heaven, and treat him as their own grandchild. We live in Washington state."

Her ex-husband Paco Arespa-cochaga also lives in the US and she says his new wife is now pregnant. "Wala kaming problema at all doon," she stresses.

What can she say now that two of her cousins, Sunshine and Sheryl, are having problems with their marriages? "I don’t want to comment on that kasi, buhay nila yan. I’ve been there when my first marriage also crumbled and it’s really sobrang nakaka-drain. I just wish both of them peace of mind. They can always call me if they need my help. But si Shine, she’s a strong woman, kaya niya ang anumang problemang pinagdaanan niya. How I wish na lahat kami is like our cousin, Donna, na very successful ang married life. Kapapanganak lang niya with her third child at ang payat-payat agad niya."

What happened to the demo tape that she recorded to try having a singing career in the US? "We met some producers at maraming conflicts. Some require me to pay them $30,000 just so ma-present sa recording companies, but there’s no guarantee na makukuha. Some naman, parang they resent it that I’m married na at naiilang sila kay KC. One producer, kahit kasama ko si KC, was even trying to ask me out on a date and take me to a party, so nag-react si KC sa kanya. Sabi ko nga, kung ganun din lang, happy na ako being a soccer mom, alalay ng anak ko when he plays soccer."

Her "Back in Time" concert features her singing songs from the ‘40s down to the ‘70s, complete with period costumes and choreography. "They’re going to see a more mature side of me. I’ve started singing professionally at 13 with Smokey Mountain and this time, I’ll be singing songs of Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis, Dean Martin, and other classics."

Geneva is one performer who really sizzles on stage. Her show is produced by drama actor James Blanco. For tickets, call ALV Events at 6-33-9825 to 27.

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Three teen housemates have been evicted from PBB Teens Plus: Jieriel of Davao, Linda of Iriga, and Kevin of Spain. We got to interview them and they all say that they will treasure the experience of living in Kuya’s house for the rest of their lives.

Jieriel was born on August 30, 1991. She just finished high school and wants to take up dentistry in college. "But I’ll stay here muna in Manila to see kung may offers ako sa showbiz," she says.

She has a boyfriend named Gelo waiting for her in Davao. What can she say to the observation that she’s a "reklamadora"?

"Well, I can’t do anything it if that’s their opinion. Pero ganun talaga ako. What I feel, I say it. Kasi if I’d hide my feelings mas mape-pressure ako. Ayoko namang magpaka-plastic."

Who does she think will win? "There will be four winners and my bets are Robi, Jolas, Beauty and Josef. Sina Robi at Jolas, stand out sila sa pagiging kuya sa amin."

Robi, Jolas and Josef have been nominated for eviction this Saturday, along with Rona. Who does she think will be ousted? "I think it’s Rona. Kasi since I came out, ang daming nagsasabi sa’kin, ayaw nila kay Rona."

Linda is the bunso or youngest among the housemates, having been born on November 21, 1991. "Pero hindi halata kasi ang laki ko kahit mas matanda silang lahat sa akin," she says. "I stand 5’7" at pati build ko, malaki rin."

Her mom is Bicolana and her dad is Swedish whose family name is Backlun. They met in Boracay where her mom used to work in a restaurant. "We lived in Boracay and also in Bantayan Island kasi mahilig ang father ko sa beach. Nine years ago, he went to Norway to work as a painter and had an accident. He fell from an oil rig and damaged his spine. Since then, wala na siyang trabaho and lives on welfare kaya hindi na siya nakakauwi rito. But on his birthday last month, PBB gave him plane fare para makauwi rito and be with me. Kaya nga I chose to exit voluntarily as Kuya gave us a free vacation in a beach in Batangas. It’s a nice place and my parents, my brother and I enjoyed it very much. It’s worth it nang paglabas ko dahil nagkabati uli ang parents ko, but ‘yun nga lang, my dad had to leave again for Norway."

Linda will be a high school senior this June and she wants to continue her studies here in Manila while pursuing a career in showbiz. "I’m now the breadwinner in our family at gusto kong kumita for them."

Kevin was born in Madrid on February 21, 1990. His dad, John, is a Filipino whose family name is Garcia. His mom is Irish whose family name is Flood. They met in Spain where they both worked as English teachers. Kevin is the second of three boys. His parents separated and his dad has remarried and he has a stepsister with his dad’s second wife. He’s been riding horses in Madrid since he was a child and later joined equestrian competitions. "I join about 50 competitions in one year," he says.

It was their friends in the Philippine Embassy in Spain who informed them that an audition for "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition" will be conducted in Madrid and urged him to take it. He passed the audition and was sent to Manila last March. Now, he’s ready to try a showbiz career here. He refused to undergo circumcision while in Kuya’s house. Is he aware that people might tease him for being "supot" or uncut?

"I don’t care. I wouldn’t mind being circumcised if it was done when I was born. But after 18 years, it’s too late. I don’t want to change myself anymore. I’ll just try working here for a while and if I don’t make it, I live a comfortable life in Spain and I can always go back there and be with my horses."

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Carmen Soriano was a top diva in the mid-‘60s with her own hit musical show on ABC-5, "Carmen on Camera." She also made several hit movies with the late actor-director Eddie Rodriguez, the best of which was "Malayo Man Malapit Din" and "Somewhere My Love." They lived together for eight years, eventually breaking up because Eddie was a ladies’ man. We remember interviewing her then with her son, Lloyd Samartino, when they still lived in a condo in Makati. She went to the US and found happiness in Dr. Robert Davao, brother of actor Charlie Davao.

"But he passed away 16 years ago and since then, I’ve been alone," she told us at the presscon of "Golden Divas" at Pilita Corrales’ restaurant in Greenhills. "I dated a businessman for a while but I felt I couldn’t trust him for the rest of my life. I’m not as lucky as Pilita who has found someone to be with. For a long time, I withdrew into my own shell, then I had a traumatic experience with some friends who betrayed me. I don’t want to go into details anymore. But this incident in my life helped me to turn around and I looked into myself after being down in the dumps for a long time. I’ve been working as a singer since I was 16 and friends told me, why don’t you sing again? So I dieted to lose weight and took medicine to lower my cholesterol. Then Pagcor gave me the chance to sing again in Casino Filipino. For a while, I wasn’t sure if I still had it in me to sing before a crowd. At first, I felt so nervous but when people started coming to me, very appreciative even if my voice was faltering, I discovered kaya ko pa pala. I soon got more singing engagements, then this offer nga to do ‘Golden Divas’ in Music Museum with Pilita and Carmen Patena came. I was scared kasi they’re both belters and I don’t know where to put myself beside them. We’re not even sure if people would watch us. So we were surprised nang mapuno namin ang venue for two nights. The crowd was so kind. They kept on asking for more, so for our finale, we did ‘Granada,’ as suggested by Carmen Patena, without any rehearsal and it turned out so well it became a very great finale for the concert. Honestly, I’ve never experienced the admiration I received after the show, with people hugging and kissing me. During my heyday, papalakpak lang sila, ganun lang. Ngayon, feeling ko parang Nora Aunor o Vilma Santos ako.

"A lot of people failed to see it kaya ngayon, may repeat ang ‘Golden Divas’ on May 30 at SMX Theater sa Mall of Asia. Mas friendly daw to senior citizens na fans namin ang SMX kaysa sa Music Museum na maraming hagdanan. This time, may escalator and elevator sila."