Big stars 'run' after Zaijian

Author: Aster Amoyo
Column: If I Know

ABS-CBN stumbled on a goldmine when they discovered Zaijian Jaranillo, a totally unknown young boy until he was tapped to play the lead role of the network's highest-rating daily primetime drama series, "May Bukas Pa". Whoever discovered him and gave him a break on TV must be given a tap on the shoulder.

Zaijian plays the role of Santino, an orphaned (?) boy who is under the care and loved by the fathers (priests) in a seminary headed by Jaime Fabregas. The innocent and well-loved boy has extraordinary healing powers. He also has direct communication with his Bro (Jesus Christ).

"May Bukas Pa" instills positive values to the televiewers, especially for the kids and the young audience. To others, Santino is a living saint who touches the lives of people.

There is a certain magic in Zaijian's innocence and the character he's playing which endears him to his fans and to televiewers in general. Even major and established stars are all looking forward to work with Zaijian in "May Bukas Pa".

How about a movie version of "May Bukas Pa"? This will surely be a big hit.

MAR-KORINA SAGA CONTINUES

LONG-TIME sweethearts Sen. Mar Roxas and popular radio and TV anchor Korina Sanchez are soon to be the next celebrity couple to wed within the year after the much-talked-about very private and exclusive wedding of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo. While people are all waiting for the `day' when Sen. Mar and Korina will exchange `I do's', and Kris Aquino wasn't too happy when she was preempted by "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame for an exclusive interview of Sen. Mar and Korina, details of the wedding are now out. As we all know now, Sen. Mar and Korina has sent Kris a beautiful flower arrangement with a card of apology. Sen. Mar had also asked his Senate colleague and friend, Kris' elder brother, Sen. Noynoy Aquino to bridge the gap among them.

Well, that's part and parcel of showbiz, but we all know that as a politician, Sen. Mar's popularity is taken seriously by his opponents. It can't be helped that his detractors will look for even the smallest taint on his polo shirt to destroy him. But with Korina around, it would be another story.

GUAM'S GODFATHER TO THE STARS

WHENEVER we have an opportunity, we make it a point to visit Guam, which is just three hours away from Manila. For one, we have a lot of Filipino friends in the island like former singer and recording artist Rosalie Robles, former actor Bojo Molina, former sexy actress Aila Marie, businessmen Jay Santos, Heidi Reyes, Marie Centeno, businessman-philanthropist Emelio Uy, among others. In Guam, we feel we did not leave home because the weather is the same as the Philippines and you see Filipinos all over. Do you know that there is a SM mall in Guam although not as big as what we have in the Philippines? The only difference is that they have the perks and amenities of America, Guam being a U. S. territory.

One of the most well-known Filipinos in Guam is businessman and concert producer Emelio Uy, dubbed as the "Godfather to the Stars. " He produced the sold-out concert of Sarah Geronimo at the University of Guam Fieldhouse with special guests Billy Crawford, Mark Bautista and Charlie Green.

The second of seven siblings, Emelio was born and raised in the Philippines to Filipino-naturalized Chinese parents, Lino Uy and So Ching-Uy (deceased). He finished his college degree, BSC, major in Accounting at the University of Santo Tomas.

In January 1981, the Uy family bought the National Office Supply in Guam and Emelio was sent by his parents to run the business. A couple of years later, he transformed the small business into one of the largest retail stores in the island. It also survived a major fire in 1991 and weathered the economic downturn in the late 1990's.

Despite his busy schedule as a businessman, Emelio has been involved in socio-activities and humanitarian work. He's a former board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundatiion, American Red Cross, Sanctuary and Goodwill Industries. An active past District Governor and PMJF of Lions Club International. He has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Guam International Airport Authority (2005-2008), Guam Visitors Bureau (2003-2004) and the Guam Museum Foundation, Inc. (2007 - present). He has been the president for two terms and continues to be the chairperson of Ways and Means of the Filipino Community of Guam while serving other civic organizations in the island.

Emelio has received accolades from various institutions, among them is the 1990 Most Distinguished Voluneer Award from Guam's First Lady, 1994 Twenty Outstanding Filipino-American in the US and Canada as Outstanding Businessman and Community Service, the 1994 and 1995 Governor of Guam Maga-lahen Award for the Arts, Outstanding Achievement Award in 1992 and 1995 from the Consulate General of the Philippines, 1996 Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Individual Overseas presented by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, 2006 Golden Latte Award for Excellence by the Guam Visitors Bureau and 2008 Distinguished Service Award from Lions Club International District 204 and Progressive Melvin Jones Fellowship and more. The most recent of which is the 2009 Small Business Person of the Year which was awarded to him at the Small Business Award ceremony held at the University of Guam last April 10.

Emelio has brought to Guam groups of basketball players from the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan for international invitation friendship tournaments to raise funds for scholarship for deserving athletes in the University of Guam. He was also responsible for bringing to Guam many outstanding visitors from the Philippines including Pres. Corazon Aquino and Pres. Fidel Ramos, Former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, Sen. Richard Gordon, Marcelo Fernan, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Senators Gringo Honasan, Loren Legarda, Edgardo Angara, former Vice-Pres. Teofisto Guingona, Justice Josue Bellosilio, former QC Mayor Mel Mathay and many more. He also helped in bringing there popular stars and performers from the Philippines like German Moreno, Gary Valenciano, Dessa, Joey Albert, Ivy Violan, Martin Nievera, Apo Hiking Society, Rennie Raymundo, Dulce, Nonoy Zuniga, Arnel Ignacio, Gabby Concepcion, Robin Padilla, Jessa Zaragoza, Dingdong Avanzado, Giselle Sanchez, Jean Garcia, Piolo Pascual, Judy Ann Santos, Marvin Agustin, Jericho Rosales, the late Rico Yan, Agot Isidro, Amy Perez, Dominic Ochoa, Jolina Magdangal, Mylene Dizon, Willie Revillame, Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Billy Crawford, Charlie Green, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Manny Pacquiao and many more, the reason why he became known as "Godfather to the Stars. "

<a_amoyo@pimsi. net>

Source: People's Journal