An inspiring reunion with Rio

It was long overdue — my reunion with good friend Rio Diaz Cojuangco.

I first met Rio in 1991 (she was then co-hosting Eat Bulaga) when Ricky Lo asked me to interview her for this paper. We hit it off as friends on the first meeting and it was cards on the table for the both of us at that instant.

Those were actually the peak days of the Easy Call and Pocketbell and Rio had one and I didn’t because, well, I didn’t like such gadgets. I told her I was a technological idiot (and I still am) and she respected me for that.

Every time I would have a tiff with anyone from show business, she would call me up, take my side and give me moral support and rally behind me especially during the dark hours. Although we didn’t see each other that often, we knew deep in our hearts that we were friends.

Then she got married (to Charlie Cojuangco) — after which I left for the States and we lost touch.

When I returned from the US, I learned that she had gotten sick and had left for America for treatment. I tried to communicate with her through the Christian communities — but quite unsuccessfully.

I knew that she had an E-mail address, but I didn’t — technological idiot nga kasi!

While on vacation in the US one time — I called up her house in San Francisco (I was in L.A.), but she was in the hospital and I didn’t want to bother her there.

Last Christmas, she flew back to Manila for the holiday season and I immediately called up her sister, Gloria Diaz, and promptly got Rio’s contact number. Oh, how happy we were to have finally been able to talk even just on the phone. We couldn’t see each other personally then because that was the Christmas season and her schedule was full — and so was mine (and I guess everyone else’s).

A few weeks ago, however, I had the pleasant surprise of being told by Startalk’s casting director, Josie Manago, that I had a scheduled interview with Rio and husband Charlie Cojuangco. The notice came at around 2 in the afternoon and the interview was set at 5 p.m. of the same day. Although I already had plans for the day, I dropped everything — no, not necessarily because I wanted to be professional (as Startalk host), but because I wouldn’t want to miss that opportunity to see Rio.

And so, after six years, I came face-to-face with Rio once again and it was a most wonderful feeling. I thought she would look pale and wan and fragile. But I was wrong — so happy to be wrong. For Rio looks even a lot more beautiful this time. Far more beautiful than the last time I saw her — and probably even during the Mutya/Miss Asia beauty queen days.

The glow in her face must stem from the fact that she’s very happy — with her life, with her kids and especially with husband Charlie. It was genuine happiness that I saw in her. (Rio is so transparent and doesn’t know how to fake anything.)

I guess Charlie must really be taking good care of her — and I thank him a million for that. He’s a good man, no doubt, and a good husband and father to Rio and their kids.

Although I didn’t want to take up the issues of her ailment anymore (I wanted our meeting to be totally pleasant), I had to squeeze in some questions about her condition because I guess the public is curious to know how she is doing.

Well, she’s obviously doing great right now — by the grace of God — but is scheduled again for check-up this month (she should be back in San Francisco around this time).

Strangely enough, it was I who didn’t feel comfortable talking about her illness (I didn’t want to sound like I was trying to rub it in for the ratings), but Rio — from her end — pleasantly discussed it and became a living testimony that there is hope for everyone in this world, especially if you put everything in God’s loving hands.

Even from the early days of our friendship, Rio and I had always talked about religion, but never argued about it even if she was a born-again Christian and I, a Catholic. She never put down the Catholic Church during our talks and didn’t attempt to convert me into embracing hers. But she (along with Toni Rose Gayda, Coney Reyes, Chat Silayan and her husband Mike Baylon) taught me all about the power of prayers.

And with Rio’s no-hard sell stance, I — all the more — was drawn to prayers that time... at least around that time.

In the past few years, I have to admit that I had been backsliding a bit. (I guess that’s the Christians’ kinder term for Fallen Angels.) But each time I am thrown into a state of hopelessness, I always remember what Rio taught me nine years ago and this was how to storm and pound on the gates of heaven with prayers.

During our last meeting, it was unfortunate that we didn’t have time to talk about spiritual matters.

But I suppose it was no longer necessary.

Just talking to her, looking at her and seeing how happy and content she is in spite of all that she has been through has renewed my faith in the Lord once more. I still have a long way to go on the road to deep spirituality. But thanks to Rio, a true instrument of the Lord, the seed of faith had been planted in my heart once again in that brief reunion.

(On Tuesday, my interview with Rio Diaz and Charlie Cojuangco.)