Breaking up is harder than being together

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

It seems 2008 could be a very challenging year for Dennis Trillo. For one, his soured relationship with ex-beauty queen Carlene Aguilar who has borne him a son, Calyx, is turning into a bitter verbal tussle that now involves not only the uncoupled couple but their respective families as well.

I got a call from Dennis a couple of days after the New Year. He sounded a bit apprehensive on the phone. The actor was, to be precise, rather uneasy talking about situations concerning his private life.

Yet, he said, he had to talk to someone, because things are getting out of hand. He said (in the vernacular), "I thought that after Carlene and Cristine settled their differences everything would be okay. I realized just now that it's not."

The star of Zaido and the recent Metro Manila Filmfest entry Shake, Rattle & Roll 9 said that he woke up that day to read something from a gossip columnist in another paper, an interview with Carlene.

"I was with the impression that she would stop talking to the press and settle whatever it is there to settle in privacy," Dennis told me, obviously very disappointed at how things have become ugly since the day Carlene's pregnancy was made public by a nosy gossip hound.

Dennis, with Carlene's recent cavorting with the media, feels embattled on all fronts by a barrage of unfavorable articles that if unabated could totally demolish his already tarnished reputation.

What's left of Dennis is his good sense not to join the fray. It would be an ungentlemanly act if he would. Yet, there's a limit to a man's patience. Even the kindest of men can explode when pushed to the wall.

Then again, Dennis needed to ventilate his bad feelings of being portrayed as an irresponsible father. "I have never planned to turn my back on my obligations as a father to Calyx," he said. "I don't want to go into details, because that's like putting a price on my son. To my best knowledge I try to provide for my son's needs in the best way I can and within my capability."

What seemed to have irked the young man was a text message from Carlene, asking for a monthly child support from P50,000 to as much as P60,000. "It's ridiculous," he said, referring to the amount. "And is that the price I have to pay to see my son, to be with him?"

The text message detailed the expenses--food (including milk, water, and vitamins)--P10,000; home/lodging--P10,000; clothing--P10,000; utilities--P5,000; travel--P5,000; laundry woman--P4,000; yaya (nursing maid)--P6,000; doctors and vaccinations--from P5,000 to P10,000 ("kc paibaiba ung price ng mga vaccines, so it rly depends...")

Carlene is definitely smarter than what Dennis thinks she is. That amount can keep a household of modest needs, and not just a baby! Well, for those whose paychecks run into hundreds of thousands every month that's actually nothing much.

There's something not right about Carlene's demand for child support. The amount is exorbitant enough to emasculate any man of modest means. Perhaps Carlene thinks Dennis earns big bucks he could very well afford to part with P60,000 a month. Did she do her homework before she came up with that amount? Is the father of her baby oozing with cash that she can just throw off hand that amount and expect the checks or cash to come in every month?

In any case, the amount of child support notwithstanding, Dennis is peeved at how Carlene's family has been trying to keep Calyx away from him. They even returned his gifts to his son.

This is getting to be more like a soap opera on television. And as this rift between the Hos and the Aguilars getting to be wider, expect things to get even more ugly than what we can imagine.

Now, how can Dennis solve a problem like Carlene? That's what is going to be his bane for this year. And all we can hope is for Calyx to learn to love, understand, and forgive. After all, he didn't come to this world on his own. It was a mutually agreed decision, so Carlene should also realize that Calyx wouldn't be here if she didn't like to be a mother, in the first place. It would be safe to say that Dennis didn't force him to be a mother, right?

And is Carlene aware that no child is born without a woman's consent, unless she was raped?

Love Spell redone

The weekend drama series Love Spell Presents gets a face life with "The Face," the first episode of the revamped program.

From a weekly series, Love Spell has been retooled to become a weekend drama anthology, with a story every Sunday afternoon.

The first episode premiering on Sunday stars three of the most talented and hottest young stars in the Kapamilya stable--Anne Curtis, Valerie Concepcion, and Geoff Eigenmann.

The episode goes this way. Valerie is a very vain woman. Already pretty in the eyes of everyone around her, she longs to be even prettier, so she buys a face (there's a shop that sells faces, mind you) and later becomes that face, which is Anne.

While the premise is implausible, it is told in an allegorical fashion that speaks about vanity and pride.

We chanced upon the two stars at The President Tea House on Ongpin in Manila's Chinatown, minutes before they were called to the set just below the second landing of the popular Chinese restaurant.

The two said they were very excited about the episode. It was their first time to work in a show after a long time. They were both teeners when they started working at GMA-7 until circumstances had led them to ABS-CBN.

They said there's no regrets moving to the Kapamilya network, as there were no regrets working at GMA when they were just starting.

The two agreed that time tells you where you can find your happiness.

Cesar wins

I am very glad that Cesar Apolinario was voted Best Director for his work in Banal. He also won Best Story for the same movie.

After the brouhaha last year with Enteng Kabisote winning the Best Picture Award, I have totally given up on this annual exercise in futility. With the jurors giving the award to Apolinario, it somehow gives me a reason to have hope again.

I have seen the movie and even thought it was worth giving the Best Picture trophy too, if only the commercial aspect of the judging is totally scrapped by the Metro Manila Development Authority and with artistic merit given the biggest percentage in the judging criteria.

Let's support newer talents, especially those who don't have to compromise their integrity to get a project.

Congratulations, Cesar, and may your next film be the affirmation of your gift as a filmmaker.

Another Cesar on a trip

Last Sunday, Cesar Montano left for Hong Kong (or another destination perhaps with the former Crown Colony as a stop over) with brother Rommel.

He left the country amid an ongoing rift with wife Sunshine Cruz who left their home during the holidays.

Cesar, by the way, will star in the upcoming adventure series, Palos on ABS-CBN. He plays the older Palos (originally played on the big screen in the '60s by Bernard Bonnin, biological father of Charlene Gonzales).

The actor is also talking to possible financiers of an indie movie that he wants to direct immediately.

Source: Manila Standard Today