Isabel Granada on life as a mom

Now that she has settled as Mrs. Jeric Genasky (newly elected councilor of Angeles City), Isabel Granada, 27, can thank heavens that all’s well that ends well. She has ironed out her difference with her mom, fondly known in showbiz circles as Mama Guapa (a Spaniard); she’s enjoying to the hilt her real-life role as wife to Jeric (the singer grandson of Rudy Genasky; full name is Jericho Genasky Aguas) and mom to their first-born, Hubert Thomas Jericho Granada Aguas, one-year-and-two-months old; and she’s looking forward to resuming her rudely interrupted career ("No regrets," said Isabel).

"I’ve never imagined motherhood to be this great," Isabel told Funfare. "Masaya; nakakatanggal ng pagod. No matter how tired or sleepy I am, the moment I see Hubert smile, I feel recharged."

The Aguases are staying in Angeles City where they own and manage an Internet cafe called Counter-side and an ink-refilling business. The businesses are located just a scream away from their house so, while Jeric, 24, is preoccupied with his council duties, Isabel combines looking after them and after Hubert who is in the stage when, as Isabel put it, "malikot na malikot, so he needs to be looked after every minute on the minute," except when he’s fast asleep.

During the campaign last May, Isabel tagged along with Jeric who conceded that, yes, she did help get votes for him.

"Jeric is exactly how I envisioned him to be," said Isabel who, before Jeric came into her life, was linked to a foreigner who turned out to be a two-timing heel (once caught with another woman by Isabel). "He’s hardworking, responsible, understanding and supportive. A very ideal husband."

They have long made peace with Mama Guapa who vehemently disapproved of Isabel and Jeric’s romance. It was understandable, according to Isabel who used to resent Mama Guapa’s over-protectiveness and possessiveness. "I’m an only child. After my father died and we settled in the Philippines, kaming dalawa lang ni Mama ang magkasama. We’re used to the lifestyle abroad, so we didn’t have maids. Kaming dalawa lang talaga."

Mama Guapa stays by her lonesome at the same house she shared with her unica hija. She and Isabel/Jeric kissed and made up before the birth of Hubert on whom Lola Mama dotes like any grandmother. She visits Isabel’s family regularly – and vice-versa.

Asked if she and Jeric are bringing up Hubert and one more kid they plan to have the way she was raised, Isabel said, "Yes but we won’t be as strict as Mama," recalling that when she had her first boyfriend (Reuben Manahan, now happily married to somebody else) at age 14, her mom was not as strict. "But when I reached my 20s and Mama felt that I was ready to get married, she became talagang strict. I had to be home early and I could talk to Jeric on the phone only until 10 p.m. As I’ve said, I understood my mom’s attitude now that I’m a mom myself."

The one value that she got from Mama Guapa is being God-fearing and that’s how Isabel and Jeric want their child to be.

"When you’re God-fearing," said Isabel, "everything else follows, everything else comes okay."

Last seen in 2001 as the title role in Halik ng Sirena, Isabel continues to accept singing engagements, with Jeric’s blessings.

"I miss the movies," Isabel admitted. "When I saw Marina (the ABS-CBN fantaserye starring Claudine Barretto as a mermaid), I felt nostalgic. We shot Halik ng Sirena also in Pangasinan, the same place where they’re shooting Marina. That teleserye brought back a lot of memories to me."

Isabel has cut ties with Dondon Monteverde who used to manage her and is now "being helped, not really managed" by Angge Lee.

"I kept texting to Kuya Dondon but he never texted back," said Isabel. "Galit yata siya sa akin. I don’t know."

Court-Crossing Romances

Reacting to a Funfare item not so long ago about romances between showbiz stars and hardcourt heroes, a reader who identifies herself only as "Zeihawi" sent a list of more pairs (past and present), to wit:

• Erik Menk (Ginebra, forward) first with Mickey Ferriols, followed by Sarah Meier, Mylene Dizon and Jen Rosendahl
• Mark Caguioa (Ginebra, guard) and Juliana Palermo
• Rommel Adducul (Ginebra, center) and Assunta de Rossi (now Mrs. Jules Ledesma) and Kris Aquino
• Jimmy Alapag (Talk n’ Text, guard) with April Tolentino and then LJ Moreno
• Rudy Hatfield (Coca-Cola, forward) and Rufa Mae Quinto
• Rob Wainwright (Coca-Cola, forward) and LJ Moreno
• Don Allado (Alaska, center) and Maricar de Mesa
• Danny Seigle (SMB, forward) and Maricar de Mesa
• Chris Tan (Sta. Lucia, guard) and Sherilyn Reyes (married)
• Rob Duat (Alaska, guard) and Daisy Reyes
• Paul Artadi (Purefoods, guard) and Angel Locsin
• Wesley Gonzales (Fed-Ex, guard) and Angelica Panganiban
• Benjie Paras (Shell, center) with Sara Jane Paez and later Jackie Forster (married but separated)
• Paul Alvarez (guard) with Vivian Velez, then Almira Muhlach (married)
• Dudut Jaworski (Ginebra, forward, Pasig City congressman) with Charlene Gonzalez (now Mrs. Aga Muhlach) and then Mikee Cojuangco (married)
• Aries Dimaubahan (Ginebra, guard) and Jane (from Ang TV kids)
• Alvin Patrimonio (Ginebra, forward) and Kris Aquino
• Alex Crisano (Ginebra, center) and Ethel Booba
• Joey Loyzaga (Ginebra, guard) and Gretchen Barretto (now happy with her beloved Tonyboy Cojuangco)
• Hector Calma (SMB, guard) and Christine Jacob (now Mrs. Paco Sandejas)
• Joey Marquez (Gilbeys Gin, guard) with, among others, Alma Moreno (marriage annulled) and Kris Aquino
• Jayvee Gayoso (Ginebra, guard) and Ruffa Gutierrez (now Mrs. Yilmaz Bektas)
• Bernie Fabiosa (Crispa, guard) and Malu Barry
• Manny Paner and Daisy Romualdez (married)
• Lowell Briones (guard) and Rita Magdalena
• Atoy Co (Crispa) and Alona Alegre
• Tony Harris (Swift, guard) and Illonah Jean (now happily married to a non-showbiz guy)

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