From now on, we will be seeing more and more of PSInsp Sofia Loren Deliu-Abdurajak beside Pres. DU30 who introduced her as the replacement of former Special Assistant to the President Sec. Bong Go (who’s running for senator in the 2019 elections) at an event last Wednesday at Malacañang.
This paper’s front-page headline called her as a “beauty queen cop” and it’s right.
As a re-introduction, Funfare is reprinting an exclusive story (Philippine STAR, April 11, 2018 issue) about Sofia when she and Police Inspector Abdul Bassar Abdurajak got married. The story described it as “not your ordinary police story, so unlike the ones we read in newspapers and see on television, not about cops caught in casinos or mulcting people or committing every crime in the book.”
It was a romantic police story fed to Funfare by Eton Concepcion, a writer for PNP Journal.
The wedding was held last March 10, with no less than Pres. DU30 as principal sponsor, at the Spanish Moorish-designed Madrid Ballroom of the Palacio del Sur in Zamboanga City.
The bride: PSInsp Sofia Loren Pang-ot Deliu (Junior Presidential Security Aide-de-Camp) and Police Inspector Abdul Bassar Abdurajak. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because in 2015, Sofia, 28, a Filipino-Romanian, finished among the Top 15 semi-finalists in the Miss Philippines Earth pageant. Her wedding gown was designed by Edwin Uy.
Sofia and Abdul were classmates at the PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) and best friends for two years before they became sweethearts.
Here again was how Sofia recalled her first meeting with Abdul in 2010 at the hallway of PNPA Academics Building.
Sofia as a beauty queen…and as a police officer.
Abdul: Hi, squad!
Sofia: Ha? Ako ba?
Abdul: Oo. Squadmate tayo nung breaking period.
(Long pause. She looked at his nameplate but couldn’t remember if she had met him. When she looked hard at the “ABDURAJAK” nameplate, Sofia was stunned.)
Sofia: Talaga? Oo nga pala.
Abdul: Sayo na ito, squad. (Handing her a bar of Snickers chocolate).
Sofia: Thank you! (Sabay walkout).
That was the start of a beautiful friendship that led to a beautiful eight-year romance that ended at the altar. Oops, it didn’t end at the altar, rather their living-happily-ever-after began at the altar.
Sofia described Abdul as “a very loving man toward his family; he is very respectful to everyone and he loves my family as much as I do.”
In his message to the newly-weds, Pres. Du30 reminded them, “Marriage is not only about exchanging sacred vows; it is also about committing a life filled with eternal love and happiness despite all hardships and difficulties. Respect and understand your differences and shortcomings and show the same kind of passion and determination at work as a peace officer in keeping your relationship stronger. Continue to grow as a couple and nurture each other as you bring out the best in each other. Best wishes on this wonderful journey as you start building your new life together.”
Sofia was among the first women police officers detailed as security officers of the President soon after he assumed office in 2016. According to the STAR report, while Sofia serves as the President’s aide, she will not have a Cabinet rank and will not be called Special Assistant to the President, a title created for Go.
Mike E. will soon be back on air
Mike Enriquez (file photo): As good as new.
The good news is that Mike Enriquez, sorely missed on 24 Oras for quite a while, is fast recovering from a heart bypass performed by the same doctor who also operated on Gary Valenciano who is as good as new even after another surgery on his kidney.
“Just a little bit more rest for full recovery,” Mike texted a reply to a Funfare inquiry. “The target for my return on air is mid-November. God is good!” He echoed Gary’s and his wife Angeli Pangilinan’s belief that prayer helped him recover in record time.
Mike was recognized as one of the Outstanding Quezon City residents during the city’s recent foundation day celebration.
Meanwhile, dzBB followers have been wondering whatever happened to Ali Sotto, Mike’s co-host with Arnold Clavio and Joey Reyes Zobel on the program Radyo Na, TV Pa. Asked about it, Arnold said, “She’s vacationing in the US.”
A little mystery also surrounds the “disappearance” of two TV hosts on the rival network — Ted Failon from the dzMM program Failon Ngayon; and Karen Davila from the dzMM program Pasada 6:30. A Funfare Bohol Avenue DPA said that that there are “certain kinks” to be ironed out in Ted’s renewal contract (“Something to do with talent fee,” the DPA added). Karen remains as co-anchor of the late-night newscast Bandila with Julius Babao while Pat-P Daza and Peter Musngi have taken over hosting the 4:30-5:30 dzMM program Pasada 6:30 which Karen used to handle with Vic de Leon Lima.
(E-mail reactions at rickylophilstar@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)