Pops Fernandez and I have been friends since her Day One in the biz. Our friendship spans four decades with zero expiration date. So, as Pipay (as she’s fondly called) celebrates 40 glorious years in showbiz via her concert, “Pops,” on Nov. 26, 8 p.m. at Newport Performing Arts Theater, it makes me senti that our ‘80s bond has remained intact.
How heartwarming it is that Pipay’s showbiz anniversary coincides with our “friendversary.” Even if we have many other friends, there’s a permanent space for each other in our hearts.
Fame and fortune have not changed Pipay a bit. Even if she was not the Concert Queen, she has and will always be a winner just being herself. Pipay ought to take a bow for all she has achieved on and off stage. I am more than proud to be her friend and fan as well.
Here’s to our friendship through thick and thin and everything in between:
Here’s Pops’ pre-anniversary musings:
“It has been a lot of experiences and learnings for my 40-plus years in the business. Grateful that I met a lot of wonderful and talented people along the way. It wasnt a smooth journey. Lots of frustrations and challenges, but all in all, it’s a huge amount of great blessings.
“I have fallen in love with this industry, fell in love, got my heart broken several times not just because of the people but also because sometimes you expect things to go one way and they don’t.
“But then again, there’s also a huge amount of wins and unexpected rewards that came. I will always be grateful for all who have helped me in my journey, especially to my fans who have remained so loyal. Even the detractors and bashers, they count, too, because they kept me strong and gave me room to better myself.”
Pinoy version of ‘Fight For My Way’
Since South Korean star Park Seo Joon is my imaginary boyfriend, I never get tired of binge-watching his hit K-drama “Fight For My Way.” That’s why I can hardly wait for its Pinoy adaptation on Viva One, premiering on Nov. 20.
David Licauco plays Park Seo Joon’s role. He is paired off for the first time with Ashtine Olviga. She takes on Kim Ji Won’s character. Also in the series are Mccoy de Leon and Aubrey Caraan. The story tackles the chaos of adulting while being torn between friendship and love.
The theme song of the series, Tropang Oppa (performed by Ashtine), adds Pinoy flavor to the adaptation. It is certified LSS material. Another plus factor is the cast’s natural camaraderie, which gives off bestie energy. Their genuine off-screen rapport translates into great onscreen chemistry.
Here are quotes from Ashtine, David, Mccoy and Aubrey:
Ashtine: “My pairing with David is totally unexpected but it’s a welcome surprise. We are both grateful for the positive feedback our new team-up is getting. It serves as our adrenaline shot.”
David: “I’m thankful to Ashtine for reminding to smile more so people won’t mistake me for a snob.”
Mccoy: “After bagging my first Best Actor trophy, I still won’t be choosy with my roles. As long as it’s work, I’m game. Anything for my family.”
Aubrey: “The character I portray taught me that we should be whole as a person so that we will not need a partner to complete us.”
Ashtine: “I’m flattered when people say I’m blooming these days. But it doesn’t mean I’m in love. Girls glow not just because of a guy. It could also be due to self-love and being fulfilled, career-wise.”
David: “At first, I wanted to imitate Park Seo Joon’s mannerisms and way of talking but I felt uncomfy doing so. It’s good that direk Cris (Crisanto Aquino) gave me the go-signal just to be myself.”
Mccoy: “My character taught me that love is not always a yes. We can also say no to protect our partner.”
Aubrey: “I saw for myself why Mccoy deserves his Best Actor award. We portray a couple who have been together for many years so we must be touchy-feely. But Mccoy is such a gentleman. He always asks me my limitations.”
Ashtine: “I try to understand bashers. Maybe they are just going through a tough time so as an outlet, they resort to bashing. I don’t let them get the better of me. We have to be kind to our mind.”
David: “My taekwondo and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) lessons came in handy in our series. But in real life, I have never punched anyone and I hope that I won’t have to. I’m for non-violence, just self-defense.”