He used to be “just” a prolific komiks writer (before that he was “just” a komiks illustrator who as a teenager used their yard as his first illustration board) but Carlo Caparas was so talented and gifted that he was able to make a super successful cross-over from komiks to movies and television, too.

And in the process, he earned many prestigious awards, the latest of which was a Presidential Medal of Merit. This was given him in recognition of his indefatigable efforts to revive comics-writing that has resulted in giving back jobs to displaced comics and short story writers and workers. It is recalled that in the last two years or so, Carlo and his beauteous and ever-supportive wife Donna Villa went all over the country to launch the revival of komiks-writing, with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). It was indeed a commendable endeavor for Carlo, giving his heart to fellow comics-writers who found themselves inactive or out of jobs when the Komiks culture went out of fashion.

For excellence in various fields, especially in writing and directing (it is recalled that Carlo has helmed more than 100 movies, including several of the massacre genre which were all box-office smash hits), he received awards from almost all of the award-winning bodies in the industry (showbiz) as well as civil society groups like the teachers group whose honorees and awardees included some of the countries most prominent politicians like the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Blas Ople and Raul Roco to name just a few.

Multi-awarded as he is now, Carlo continues to work for the greater good of his colleagues in the komiks industry. And he’s happy and proud that so far, there are about 800 writers benefited from his and Donna’s efforts.

His komiks novels are sought after as teleserye materials. He has two currently shown on GMA-7: “Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang,” starring the bankable tandem of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, and “Totoy Bato,” featuring Robin Padilla, Regine Velasquez and Ara Mina among others (this is reportedly the highest rated action-drama on the Kapuso Network at the moment).
Carlo Caparas’ komiks novels remain to be sought-after materials for teleseryes. His first two komiks creations made into teleseryes and shown on ABS-CBN were “Panday” and “Pieta.” On the other hand, his creations already shown on GMA-7 are “Bakekang,” “Kamandag,” “Gagambino,” “Tasya Pantasya,” and now “Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang” and “Totoy Bato.”

Next to be serialized on the Kapuso Network are “Somewhere” and “Andres de Saya,” and on the Kapamilya Network, “Gabriel at Elias,” “Paniki” and “Balora.”

So what else can Carlo aspire for? “Actually, marami pa dyan. Habang nabubuhay ang tao, at kahit na successful na, marami pa rin dapat gawin at pagtrabahuan. Ang sa akin, pinaka importante makatulong ako sa mga tao, especially my fellow writers and industry workers,” he said.

By the way, Carlo also has a daily show called “Pangarap Kong Jackpot,” aired on NBN 4, and based on inspiring stories of lotto winners.

Dra. Pie to seek treatment in US

Last Sunday, Dr. Manny Calayan left with his wife and their children for the US, and rumors say it’s for Dra. Pie to undergo more treatment for her “condition.” It is recalled that Dra. Pie was not able to attend her daughter Hanna’s debut because she was confined in a hospital. Doc Manny said his wife was suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome with Cushings Syndrome and hyperthyroidism resulting from low immunity and pneumonia that’s why she wasn’t at Hanna’s debut. This was also secondary to stress and dieting (Dra. Pie only ate salads, according to Doc Manny) “so bumaba ang protein niya.”

“Hindi totoo na nagpa-facelift siya, that I used a new machine na nagmalfunction as rumored,” Doc Manny laughed. “My wife is better now but she needs to be checked again in LA.”

Her daughter Hanna will also submit requirements needed for her to be accepted in a school in LA where she will study medicine. Bernice, the second daughter of the Calayans will also enroll in a high school in Beverly Hills.

From LA, Doc Manny will proceed to Orlando, Florida where he will attend an international convention on wellness because “Dra. Pie and I intend to expand our services to include wellness through the use of new machines for the treatment of all kinds of illnesses,” he said. After Florida, Doc Manny will go to San Francisco for TFC guestings.

By the way, Doc Manny’s CD will be launched in May and he’s excited about it. “Akala ko kasi nun, when I was in the US and they e-mailed me a message saying they want me to record an album, they were just joking. That was after my stint with GMA -7’s ‘Celebrity Duets.’ It turned out they (Jack and Jeff Tan who established their own record label and entertainment company after Bella Tan died) were serious, so I accepted. So we are launching the CD by the second week of May,” Doc Manny said.

The duet CD contains songs about love and friendship and Doc Manny had the rare chance to do duets with some of the country’s top singers like Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera, and Jed Madela among others.

YWCA of Manila to host National YWCA meeting

YWCA of Manila, will host the 32nd Mid-Biennium Meeting of the YWCA of the Philippines on April 24-25. The event will be held at the Bayview Park Hotel along Roxas Blvd., Manila. The theme of this year’s meeting is “In Your Image is My Shadow.”

Keynote speaker is International Social Service (ISS) Hong Kong Director for Development Ms. Adrielle M. Panares. Other personalities who will share their knowledge and expertise in the two-day activities are Susan R. Locsin of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines who will speak on the Plenary Session topic “Awaken The Leadership,” and Rev. Dr. Mina N. Palomo, founder of Life Growth Ministries who will speak on the topic “Unity in Faith.”

Highlights of the meeting is the launching of the National Youth Coordinating Council-YWCA advocacy campaign entitled “Words Cut Like a Knife… Think about the Word” – a call to eliminate verbal abuse to children. The campaign is spearheaded by the National Youth Coordinating Council of the YWCA headed by Tracy S. Isagunde, Youth president. YWCA of Manila President, Governor Leonida Bayani Ortiz, Josefina Dineros Pineda and Villa Granada de Guia, MBM/NBC chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, and National Pres. Florida Z. Jose enjoin the active participation of all YWCA leaders in the country in this event.

Party for the children of Apayao

Peacepipe, Sando, FMD and Fancycakes perform today, April 23 at Watering Hole, Shangri-La Plaza for the benefit of Trails to Empower Kids (TREK).

TREK will conduct an outreach program on May 1 in Pudtol, Apayao. The group will deliver much-needed textbooks and scholastic enhancement materials from Diwa Learning Systems and Bato Balani Foundation, plus school supplies, backpacks and raincoats to elementary school students who live in select far-flung areas.

Identified beneficiaries are the students of Malibang Elementary School, Malibang Pre-school, Cacalaggan Primary School, Aurora Primary School, Flora Primary School and Lydia Primary School.

TREK, composed of mountaineers from different organizations, delivers aid to schools located in very remote areas. The group was organized after the members realized the deprivation that isolation brings to children who live in mountainous areas.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 23, go to Angel Locsin, Bert Lina, Angelita Bernardo, Cecille Cuartero, Gloria Gomez, Boy C. de Guia, Sandra Jane Graham, Joan Lim, Mrs. Mary Carbonell and Mrs. Nida Rame of Asingan, Pangasinan; George Bernabe, Norlando Cabang, Camilo Vergara, Anie Samson, New York-based April Eva Betila, Clair Alinio, and Eddie Katindig…