How Andrew E. nixed Japan stardom for love

Four or so years ago, Andrew E. went to Japan to record an album (for a Japanese company) and stardom was offered to him on a silver platter. His Japanese producer had Andrew E.’s career in Japan all mapped out. He was provided with a cozy condo unit, introduced to bigwigs in that country’s recording industry, visited TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) to promote the CD and he was given VIP treatment. He was to have been promoted as a Japanese artist by the name of Andoro (actually, it’s Andrew pronounced the Japanese way).

But then, a hitch cropped up: His producers asked Andrew/Andoro to drop his Filipino citizenship and apply for a Japanese citizenship and it threw Andrew into a quandary: If and when he turned Japanese, would he end up having, naturally, a Japanese wife? Andrew weighed the pros and cons and realized that he couldn’t stand making such a gamble with his private life, so he sacrificed Japanese stardom and came back home – to the arms of his Filipino girlfriend, Mylene Yap, who eventually ended up as his wife (now six months pregnant).

"Actually," recalled Andrew, now starring in FLT Films’ spoof comedy Burles King (Daw, O!), "Mylene and I were not yet going steady at that time, pero malapit na malapit na."

When Andrew left for Japan, he had just broken up with Audra due to career differences, after going steady with her for four years, and Andrew promised himself that he’d never fall in love with a Filipino girl again – or so he thought. Audra became a rapper like Andrew and she dropped the name Audra in favor of the not-so-hot name Chill (which turned out to be apt for her career which soon degenerated into a big chill).

Well, to make a long story short, Andrew requested his Japanese producers to give him time to think about the juicy offer during a vacation in the Philippines. Andrew never went back to Japan. Yes, not long after he came back, he fell in love with Mylene (whom Andrew met while Mylene was having a package sent through Andrew’s Fedex outlet at Robinsons Place; Mylene’s family owns resorts, one of them located in Boracay). As Andrew and Mylene exhanged marriage vows, he ate back his words never to fall in love with a Filipina again (he has had more than enough Filipino girlfriends, he claimed).

It was also during his "soul-searching" homecoming when Andrew got an offer from Sony to finally record the demo songs – yes, the naughty ones, including his hit novelty number Banyo Queen which inspired Andrew’s Viva movie – he had left with Sony before he set off for Japan.

"I asked for signs," said Andrew, "and the Lord gave me not just one but several of them, in three sets pa."

Andrew E. today is the picture of fulfillment not only personally but also professionally, expecting his and Mylene’s first baby sometime in April.

"My (unborn) baby is my lucky charm," said Andrew, also jokingly referring to rumors that his two leading ladies, Janette McBride (who has fled to her native Australia) and Geneva Cruz, the Crying Lady of National Television, are also in that "interesting" stage (tearfully, though not so convincingly, denied by Geneva).

In Burles King (Daw, O!), Andrew is made to wear a pair of bikinis similar to what Ina Raymundo wore when she played the title role in Burlesk Queen (Ngayon), also produced by FLT Films, in a scene which, I’m sure, Andrew and Mylene won’t let their future child watch (I’m sure of that, knowing Andrew’s mother-in-law Mila Yap).

Alfred’s pangako to himself

Several weeks ago, ABS-CBN’s Talent Center launched 24 discoveries, one of them Alfred Vargas, an AB Management (major in Economics) senior at Ateneo, who plays Dino the probinsyano in the top-rated ABS-CBN teleserye Pangako Sa’yo.

With 24 new aspirants (in addition to the more than a hundred already launched by Talent Center these past years) competing for that precious slice of stardom, how does Alfred feel about his chances?

"I promised myself that I’d put my best foot forward," said Alfred, the third in a brood of four children (of Alfred Vargas, Jr. who’s from Bulacan and Ching Dumlao who’s from Surigao). "Initially, I planned to take up Law after finishing my AB degree. But now, my focus is on showbiz," added Alfred who is an Atenean through and through, having studied there since prep school.

It was also at Ateneo where Alfred had his first taste of acting as a member of the Tanghalang Ateneo for which he has done about a dozen plays so far, casting him in varied roles ranging from a devil to a macho to a prisoner to a gay. He’s also the front man of his own band, Privado.

At 5’10" (165 pounds), Alfred could also be a model, like his buddy Robby Mananquil who’s a Bench image model and also a member of Star Circle Batch 10.

"Robby and I have been close friends," said Alfred. "It was, in fact, Robby who encouraged me to audition for Talent Center."

He’s thankful to have been included in the cast of Pangako Sa’yo (topbilled by Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales).

"I think this is an opportunity to showcase my talent. But I know I still need to learn more in terms of my acting. I hope I can contribute to Pangako Sa ’Yo."