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The Asian Jour nal S F M A G A Z I N E - O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 1 0
Piolo Pascual:
Surrendering his
life to God
by
Cynthia De Castro
AJPress
T
here are those
who would go the
extra mile for a selfless act or purpose.
On September 11, heartthrob
and multi-awarded actor-singer
Piolo Pascual went an extra
7,000 miles to help Charisma
Life Church spread the Gospel
and raise funds for an outreach
center in Pomona.
Cherry Ordonez (owner of
Cherry’s Salon in West Covina)
and Queenie Paris, who are
both good friends of Piolo and
his family, produced the concert. Their company, ACTS Production, has been the official
event organizer of ABS-CBN
in California. Major sponsors
of the concert were Carol Yam
of Unistar and Total Resources
International (TRI).
In an exclusive interview
AJPress photos by Bert Jaurigue
with Asian Journal right before
the concert, Piolo shared that it
was his first Christian concert.
“I am passionate about
God. I have surrendered my
life to Him and I go wherever
He takes me, do whatever
He wants.“I have shared my
personal testimony before in a
church in the Philippines. But
this is the first time I will be
doing a concert in a church,
with almost half of the songs,
Christian songs,” Piolo said.
Like in all his concerts,
women shrieked and screamed
and shouted, “I love you
Piolo!” Several times, Piolo
wanted to go around the auditorium but was prevented from
doing so by throngs of ladies
who all wanted to hug, kiss and
take pictures with him. “Ladies,
we are in a church. Please behave!” he said jokingly several
times during the show.
Indeed, Piolo has an irresistible, indescribable charm—
a fact which may be the secret
to his continuing success. Yet,
the devout born-again believer
remains humble in giving due
glory to his Maker and to the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Starting the concert with
the Christian song, Indescribable, Piolo shared his testimony which inspired the audience
even more.
“I was at the top of my career when I surrendered my life
to God. So many things were
happening to me at that time.
I had just finished Dekada 70
where we won 10 awards. At
the young age of 25, I was
winning awards and earning
Vice Ganda:
The price
of success
“He’s been so good to
me,” he says. “Honestly, I don’t
feel I deserve all these blessings. But I savor each one of
them and I treat it as a gift.
Now I want to be a living example of God’s goodness.”
During the concert, the audience kept asking Piolo about
KC, his rumored girlfriend.
Piolo laughed as questions like
“Asan si KC?,” and Kailan ang
kasal?,” kept popping up.
“Busy si KC eh. But, we’re
good. Our friendship is growing. I like being around her.
She’s one person I like sharing
my life with.”
To questions about marriage, Piolo just said, “Hopefully, before I get to be 40, I
will have a family.”
Speaking about his son,
Iñigo, during the interview, Piolo admitted, “I am protective
of my son, Iñigo. I don’t want
him to enter showbiz. But, he is
musically-inclined. I bring him
to my sets during taping so he
will see my life—like I have to
be in the set at 6 am and work
till past midnight. Then I asked
him, do you want this kind of
life? Yes, daw. But we have a
deal—I told him to graduate
first, get a college degree. If he
wants to be an actor after he
graduates, I can’t stop him.”
Asked by Asian Journal
how he handles his finances,
Piolo shared. “When I earn
money, I put it straight to the
bank. I want to be liquid and I
save for rainy days. I also have
insurance policies for the future. I invest in real estate—in
the Philippines and in the US.”
Because he is so busy with
showbiz, Piolo said he really
doesn’t have time for another
full-time business. “If you
have a business, you have to
be hands on. Because of my
career, I can’t be busy doing
another business. But I have
started producing. My first venture was an independent film
entitled Manila, which enabled
me to attend Cannes Festival.
I have also produced a second
film, Kimidora,” revealed the
actor/singer.
“I got into producing to
expand my knowledge in my
craft. I am exploring the producing side. I want to find the
right concept. I want films that
give a lesson,” he stressed.
Piolo shared that two
major Bible verses influence
him in his life: Matthew 6:3
- “Seek first His Kingdom
and His righteousness and all
these things will be given to
you as well,” and Proverbs
3:5-7 - “Trust in the Lord with
all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge
Him and He will make your
paths straight.”
“Life is not complete
without any challenges,” Piolo
acknowledged. “With God’s
help, I know I can meet all the
challenges. The soundtrack of
my life is the song, I Will Rise
by Chris Tomlin.”
The former Hunks idol has
been called by God to meet a
challenge, and by His grace,
Piolo has risen excellently to
show the grace and goodness
of God.
F
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark
Philstar.com
D
etractors say success has
gone to his head. Vice Ganda admits that yes, he has always been
proud of himself. In fact, the star
of Petrang Kabayo crows that he has mellowed.
“Mayabang na ako noon pa. Mas mabait na
nga ako ngayon. I’m more cautious with how I
act and talk these days.”
He knows fame has a price. And one of
them is living in a fishbowl.
“My world has become smaller,” he
states. “I was free to do what I wanted
to do before. Today, one small mistake is
magnified. Many people are looking at you.”
So he has learned to be careful.
The come-backing host of Showtime has
left his crying days behind him. Vice Ganda
is now in danger of overexposure. He has
Showtime every day. He endorses Globe. Viva
Films will release his launching movie, Petrang
Kabayo, starting Oct. 13. He has mall shows
for Petrang Kabayo on Oct. 3, at Glorietta 5
Atrium.
The movie’s premiere night is set on Oct. 10
at SM Megamall Cinema 10.
Vice Ganda has no time to rest after this. He
leaves for the US for a concert series on Oct 15
to 17. Viva’s recording arm just signed him up
for an album.
“Yes, I’m afraid of overexposure,” Vice
Ganda admits.
The pressure of living up to expectations is
overwhelming.
“It’s the same kind of pressure I felt when I
had a concert in Araneta Coliseum,” he relates.
His director Wenn Deramas and manager
Ogie Diaz’s faith in him erases all of Vice’s selfdoubts. If they think he’s ready to step into the
shoes Roderick Paulate first wore as Petrang
Kabayo in the ‘80s, then he can.
“When I was confirmed for the role,” recalls
Vice Ganda, “ I asked myself if I’m making the
right decision. Mas mauna ang takot. Up to
now, the reality of (having a launching movie)
has not sunk in.”
As far as direk Wenn is concerned, Vice has
nothing to fear. After all, the director of Ang
Tanging Ina himself came up with the idea of
casting Vice as Petrang Kabayo.
“I saw him in Showtime. Panay ang bira niya
at sobra siyang nakakatawa,” says the director.
“Tinatawag siyang kabayo. I texted Boss Vic
(del Rosario of Viva Films) and asked him to turn
on his TV set and watch Showtime. He agreed
that Vice would be great as Petrang Kabayo.”
millions already. I was working
then with Donita Rose and she
gave me a Bible. Donita told
me to read the Bible and it will
change my life.”
“I thought how can a book
change my life? I was then, so
full of myself. I can act. I can
sing. I’m talented. I thought
I didn’t need anything. But,
I’d go home and look at my
trophies and feel there is a big
void in my life. I appreciated
the recognition from my peers
in the industry but there was
still something lacking; something missing in my life. I cried
out to God-I don’t know what
to do.”
“He then made me realize
that I was living a very worldly
life, apart from Him. Yet, God
blessed me so much. It was
then that I realized my need
for God—not when I was at
the bottom needing help—but
when I was on top and had
everything but God. I surrendered my life to God. And my
life has never been the same.
God has become my reason for
living. I live to share my faith.
There is an overflowing grace
of God in me. I told our pastor
I wanted to just be a pastor but
he challenged me to remain
in the entertainment industry.
He said that God put me in the
field of entertainment and I can
reach more people where I am.
My purpose is to be someone
in showbiz who can spread the
Truth of God’s Word. God has
placed me here and I will shine
for him,” said Piolo who now
holds a bible study in his home
every Sunday.
Vice Ganda Philstar.com photo
So direk Wenn wasted no time calling Pablo
S. Gomez, who holds the rights to the story.
Gomez also felt happy about the new movie.
Vice Ganda’s version is a complete departure from the original Petrang Kabayo. Direk
Wenn asked Mel Mendoza-del Rosario, who
wrote the screenplay, to come up with a totally
different plot.
“ Let’s give Vice a chance to show his talent, his own style,” direk Wenn urges.
If that means seeing Vice covering his
naked body with a big snake, or carrying the
weight of three people astride a calesa, so be
it.
Vice will do everything—and anything—for
this one big shot at stardom.
“Let it not be said that I faded out of the
scene because I was lazy at work. Kaya kong
paghirapan ang trabaho ko kaya alam ko ring
alagaan ito.”
Vice has no illusions that he will stay in the
business forever. That’s why he’s making hay
while the sun shines. His US-based mother’s
four-door apartment near Visayas Avenue in
Quezon City will soon become one big house
her dutiful son built just for her.
“She’s getting older and I want her to stay
here for good,” Vice explains. “I don’t want her
to work anymore.”
Say what you want to say about him. At the
end of the day, Vice will only smile and tell himself it’s all worth it. Especially if he has made
the love of his life—his mom—happy along the
way. or the whole month of October, Isla Kulinarya
will bring you to a scenic region that is blessed
with open highways and cobblestoned roads, old
fashioned towns, and grand Spanish style architecture-the Ilocos Region.
Region 1 or Ilocos Region, which is wedged between
the wild china sea and rugged Cordillera mountain
range demonstrates a visually stimulating scene that
boasts its splendor and magnificence. It consists of
several provinces including: Abra, Benguet, Ilocos
Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, and
Pangasinan.
In addition, Ilocos is home to hardworking people
who have cultivated the land to provide themselves
with nourishment for thousands of years. The natives
of Ilocos Region are called Ilokanos.
They say they’ll know you’re Ilokano if :
t you’re a spendthrift or a frugal person
t you address your fellows as lakay.
t you say “aysos” over 10 times a day
t your family gathering includes an inevitable game of
Pepito/Pusoy
t your favorite expression is mangan tayon (let’s eat!)
and
t your favorite dish is pinakbet.
Pinakbet or pakbet is a popular Ilocano dish, from
the northern regions of the Philippines, although it has
become popular throughout the archipelago. The word
is the contracted form of the Ilocano word pinakebbet,
meaning “shrunk” or “shriveled”.
The original Ilocano pinakbet uses bagoong, of
fermented monamon or other fish, while further south,
bagoong alamang is used. The basic vegetables used in
this dish include native bitter melon, eggplant, tomato,
ginger, okra, string beans, lima beans, chili peppers,
parda and winged beans. A Tagalog version usually
includes squash or kalabasa. Most of these vegetables
are easily accessible, and are grown in backyards and
gardens of most Ilocano households.
As its name suggests, pinakbet is usually cooked
until almost dry and shriveled and the flavors of the
vegetables are emphasized and accentuated by bagoong
(shrimp paste). In some cases, lechon, chicharon, or
other meats (most commonly pork), or shrimp are
added.
Because pinakbet is a vegetable dish, it is considered
a healthy dish. Here for the enjoyment of Filipino
Americans is a great recipe for this beloved Ilokano
dish- brought to you by Island Pacific’s Isla Kulinarya.
Catch us again next week as we feature another Ilocano
recipe, you’ll surely love. Don’t miss it! Mangan tayon!
Isla Kulinarya lets you explore the islands, taste the food,
relive the memories -- all made possible by Island Pacific
Supermarket. Go and visit an Island Pacifc near you with
branches in Southern California located at Cerritos, Canoga
Park, North and South Vermont in Los Angeles, Panorama
City and West Covina; Union City and Vallejo in Northern
California.Check out our website at www.islandpacificmarket.com. Stay connected with us-- like us on Facebook (island pacific market), follow us on Twitter (islandpacificUS)
and Blogger (island pacific market). For your comments,
suggestions and request for recipes that you want us to feature, please email [email protected]. Presyong
Sulit... sa Island Pacific.”
ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Pinakbet
(Filipino Pork/Shrimp Vegetable Stew)
Prep Time: 1 hour 49 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
s 2 tbsp Olive Oil, Extra Virgin
s 1 lb Pork, trimmed of fat, diced 1”
s 2 cloves Garlic, crushed and chopped
s 1 inch Ginger, chopped
s 1 pc Onion, julienne (sliced thin)
s 2 pcs Tomatoes, chopped
s 2 tbsp Shrimp, Salted Paste (Bagoong)
s 1 lb Shrimp, 16/20, peeled & deveined,
butterflied, save shell to be pounded or
liquefied
s 2 cups Water
s ½ each Kabocha Squash (Calabasa), diced 1 ½ ”,
unpeeled
s 2 pcs Eggplant, cut 1 ½ ”
s 2 cups String beans (Sitao), cut 2”, strung
s 8 pcs Okra, stem removed
s 2 tbsp Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin
s 2 pcs Melon, bitter (Ampalaya), seeded, sliced
1/8” thick, pre-cooked in a microwave oven for
5 minutes.
1. In a mortar and pestle, pound shrimp shell, then
add water, Strain. (Blender may be used with the
same result). Set aside.
2. In a wok, brown pork. Set aside.
3. Add garlic and ginger. Sauté for 3 minutes. Add
onion and sauté another 3 minutes. Add tomatoes
and continue sautéing for another 3 minutes.
4. Return pork and add shrimp paste. Cook for 2
minutes and pour the shrimp-peel liquid. Keep
stirring to prevent lumping. Simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Add squash, egg plant, string beans and okra. Cook
for 15 minutes.
6. Add shrimp. Mix. Cook for 2 minutes.
7. Add coconut oil. Stir.
8. Add bitter melon, do not stir or mix. Cover and
simmer in a low heat for 15 minutes.
To Serve: Warm platter.
Place sauce on a platter.
Lay meats and glaze over
with a small portion of
sauce on one side of the
meats. Serve with hot
steamed rice.
Houcsraetes
of So
recipe created by
asian fusion cuisine
SOCRATES ZALDIVAR INONOG, AAC, CCE
Dean and Director Emeritus, Culinary Arts College and Development
International Students Departments, Johnson & Wales University Providence, R.I.
The First Certified Culinary Educator by the American Culinary Federation (ACF)