Related Celebrities

Angel taking huge risks

Author: Gie Trillana
Column: Entertainment

Angel Locsin is on top of her game. The 22-year-old actress has beauty, wealth and fame and the adulation of thousands of fans. She has just moved in to her 6-bedroom mansion worth P16 million. She drives a P5-million black Hummer. She is considered the prized talent of GMA Network and is a most-in demand endorser, having more than 15 products to her name. At a time when there are so few projects for so many stars, she is nonstop in her work on TV, the latest headlining with Robin Padilla the top-rating "Asian Treasures," and on the big screen, the last as the female lead opposite Richard Gutierrez in "The Promise." Surely, she can?t ask for anything more. Or does she?

This July, after attending the US screening of "Angels," the movie she has produced and stars in, Angel is leaving behind all these ? the fans, the busy work load and the trappings of her success in showbiz ? to take a crash course in fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in central London. The college is "one of the world?s largest providers of art and design short-course training" (Wikipedia.org). Among its most notable graduates are acclaimed fashion designers Stella Mc Cartney, Alexander McQueen and Paul Smith.

Angel is bent on taking this two-month leave from showbiz in spite of advice from well-meaning people that to leave now, albeit for such a short period, might spell disaster for her popularity. After all, show business is a fickle business and new stars are a dime a dozen. Still she seems to have made up her mind about it, even at the expense of the lead role in "Marimar," the latest teleserye which her home network had allegedly earmarked for her.

"Hindi ko naman tinanggihan ang ?Marimar?," she clarifies at the grand presscon for the trilogy "Angels." "Hindi lang nag-match ang schedule.

"Kung sino ang mapili nila for the project, napakaswerte," she says, with just a tinge of regret.

She says that GMA said that "Marimar" needs to be shot soon so even if she would like to do the project, her schedule prevents her from doing so? unless she changes her mind.

"Pero kung sakaling kumuha sila ng iba,ok lang kasi kasalanan ko naman talaga e," she adds.

She denies that she has become a swellhead and maintains that though she does not have an existing contract anymore with GMA?s Artist Center, she remains beholden to the Kapuso network which gave her her big breaks.

"Naiiyak ako kasi mahal na mahal ko angnetwork," she says. "Napakalaki ng utang na loob ko dito."

Her branching out to movie producing is a part of Angel?s spreading her wings, much like her decision to study fashion design because of her plan to put up her own clothing line. Angel and her manager Becky Aguila shared the P20-million price tag to produce "Angels."

"Gusto ko matutong mag-produce," says Angel.

"Nuong una, ang iniisip ko ay ginawa ko ito para kumita ng pera, pero ngayon, may passion na ako. Pagmamahal talaga sa pelikula ang dahilan kung bakit ko ginawa ito."

"Angels" has three episodes: "Angel of Mine," starring Angel and Eunice Lagunsad, directed by Gina Alajar; "Daddy?s Angel" starring Marvin Agustin, Nash Aguas, Paolo Paraiso, Valerie Concepcion and Jaclyn Jose, directed by Dingdong Dantes; and "Angel of Love," starring Jennylyn Mercado and Patrick Garcia, with Boots Anson Roa, Empress Schuck, and Karel Marquez, directed by Mark Reyes. It will open in theaters on June 20.

Source: Malaya