Lola Lorna

Lorna Tolentino will gladly let her granddaughter join showbiz.

She sings, dances and plays make-believe games. She puts up her own show, complete with make-up and costumes.

At four, Lyla Victoria or Tori is the apple of her grandma Lorna Tolentino (LT)’s eyes. And this early, the proud lola can see that showbiz is something the precocious girl will feel at home someday.

Weekends are more exciting, as Lorna and her pretty apo pretend they’re in a singing contest and Tori is the eager contestant.

They also have the time of their lives playing salon regulars, and take turns applying nail polish and makeup on themselves and fixing each other’s hair.

They hold make-believe photo shoots where Tori acts as director, and the award-winning actress, a willing student.

“She actually taught me to do different faces — happy, surprised, angry, sad, etc.,” reveals LT.

It’s sheer bliss for the well-loved actress, who doesn’t have a daughter of her own (she and her late husband, Rudy Fernandez have two sons — Rap and Renz) and treats Tori like the daughter she never had.

“It’s really different having a girl around. She’s like my doll. I can dress her up in girly clothes. Her choice of games is also very different from the boys,” observes LT.

LT and Rap’s daughter have that striking similarity that endears the little girl even more to LT.

“If you see my photos when I was a little girl, I really look like her,” LT beams.

The award-winning actress is transported back to her childhood every time she and Tori play make-believe or their usual card and board games like Snakes and Ladders and Uno.

“Her reaction to things teaches me to see things from her perspective and just appreciate life’s simple things,” explains LT.

She’s more inspired to stay healthy so she can shop, watch movies and play more games with Tori.

Guiding Tori’s first-time parents when the girl gets sick, or just being there to help them is a source of joy.

“The lola is always there to support and give advice. What they’re going through as parents is something I’ve already experienced, so I’m always there if they need me,” says LT.

Of course, she’ll always be there for her granddaughter, who alternately calls LT lola, “Lucky Charm” and granny.

“My dreams are her dreams. If she finally realizes what she wants to be, then I’m all there to support her. I just want her, of course, to be happy, successful, healthy, and have God always by her side,” the proud lola points out.

Needless to say, talented Tori — without her knowing it — is making dear Lola look and feel great, inside and out.

— With reports from Almed Garcia and Julian Mauricio