An unexpected blessing for Amy

She’s not seen very often on TV these days, but Amy Perez always manages to make the news. According to the latest stories making the rounds of gossip columns and TV talk shows, she was one of the stars being eyed to join the Celebrity Edition of Pinoy Big Brother – reports which Amy later denied, saying she couldn’t stand to be away from her son too long.

But that’s not the last you’ll be seeing of this multi-talented but often underrated actress-slash-TV host. Amy will be back on ABS-CBN, but not as a housemate. Instead, she will be taking on a guest role in Gulong ng Palad, the modern-day reworking of the old drama serial from the ‘70s. Gulong ng Palad made household names out of Ronald Corveau and Marianne dela Riva who played lovers Carding and Luisa, and a child star out of Romnick Sarmenta, who starred as Luisa’s little brother Peping. This time around, it stars TJ Trinidad and Kristine Hermosa as Carding and Luisa, with Star Circle Kid Quest Grand Questor Nash Aguas taking over the role of Peping.

"It’s only a guest appearance, but mine is a pivotal role," says Amy of her Gulong stint. Without giving away too much of the story, Amy says her character, Lorraine, has a personality that is "parang bakla na parang palengkera." How Amy would essay such a colorful character should be interesting to watch.

The role was offered to Amy several months after her last ABS-CBN show, MRS (Most Requested Show), ended. After the show disappeared from TV screens, Amy accepted two soap operas where she played mother to Oyo Boy Sotto and James Blanco.

Amy, playing mother roles? Isn’t she too young for those? "I don’t see anything wrong with that," says Amy, who’s 36 and a real-life mom to Adi, her son by former South Border lead vocalist Brix Ferraris. "There’s no problem with that because I’m a mom in real life,"she says.

But aside from being a mom to eight-year-old Adi, Amy was called Mamang by the late Rico Yan and his buddies Marvin Agustin and Dominic Ochoa, Amy’s co-hosts on MTB. Others like to call her T’yang Amay, a play on her name and the Tagalog word tiya, or aunt. Amy is also very close to her many nieces and nephews, and she often takes them out to eat or watch a movie. "Sa dami nga namin minsan, isang buong row kami ng upuan sa sinehan!" she laughs.

What people don’t know about Amy is that behind her jolly facade is a very caring, affectionate person. But while she spends her days taking care of so many people, she makes sure that she also takes care of herself. Whenever she has free time, she spends it pampering herself. She visits the nearest salon for a manicure and pedicure or goes to her parents, who live in the same compound just a few houses away from hers. Sometimes, when she doesn’t feel like cooking, she covers the short distance to her parents’ house for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Amy is glad her parents have been so supportive of her and Adi. They and other relatives and friends have filled in the gap caused by Brix’s absence. The last time Brix saw Adi was two years ago. All Amy knows is that Brix is somewhere in China working. After the annulment case she filed last year was dismissed, Amy lost interest in pursuing or re-opening it. Although there have been rumors of her re-filing the case, Amy says that right now, her priorities are different.

"I don’t make it a priority," she says of the re-filing of the case. What she confirms is that she is in constant communication with her lawyer, and that things are being done. But she’d rather not say what these are for fear of jeopardizing them. "Right now, my priority is work," she relates.

Thus, the Gulong ng Palad offer came like an unexpected blessing. However, much as she is enjoying taping the show, Amy says she’d still much prefer TV hosting to drama. Her best moments on TV were those on MTB, MRS and the old game shows she used to host, mostly with good friend Roderick "Kuya Dick" Paulate.

Kuya Dick is one of the people Amy misses working with on TV. "Kuya Dick and I have a special kind of relationship. It’s hard to describe, but maybe the best way of putting it would be to say that we’re like two angels in love," says Amy.

If she were to return to TV as variety or game show host, she’d want to be reunited with Kuya Dick. Besides, a lot of people have been waiting for them to re-team-up on TV. "I’m very comfortable working with him," says Amy.