Yes, that was what Ogie Alcasid said during the press conference of his and Judy Ann Santos’ forthcoming movie “OMG (Oh My Girl!)” held last Wednesday night at the Valencia office of Regal Films. “I am a girl six times a week. I’m only a man now on Sundays when I have to do ‘SOP,’” he laughingly said.

This was in answer to a question as to whether Ogie finds it hard to switch off her “girl” role when he goes home after work. This is in relation to Ogie’s roles in “OMG” where he has to make it out as a girl in order to be near his childhood friend (played by Juday), and in another movie, “Whatever, Yaya!” where he reprises his Angelina, the spoiled brat character in “Bubble Gang” and “Hole in the Wall.”

In fairness, Ogie plays his “girl” roles effectively. And during the presscon for “OMG,” he of course came dressed as a girl that prompted a tabloid writer to whisper to us: “Kina-career na talaga ni Ogie ang pagportray ng babae!”

Anyway, “OMG” is a special project for Regal matriarch Mother Lily. She was hands-on in everything – from the preparation of the movie most especially. She chose the movie to star Ogie and Juday, who was one of her original Regal Babies. “OMG” kicks off Regal Films’ anniversary offerings this year.

Said Mother Lily of the project: “This movie is a dream-come – true for me – imagine, combining the best talents of the two giant networks who are friends in real life - Ogie and Judy Ann – plus the megastar (Sharon Cuneta of course) whom I’ve always dreamed of working with. I just felt so blessed!”

She added: “As this is a film on love and friendship, I hope that the audience can easily relate to and experience the fun, friendship and love on and off camera here in ‘OMG!’”

Opening on July 29 in theaters nationwide, “OMG” is directed by Dante Nico Garcia (he is Juday’s best friend who also directed the much-touted “Ploning” which was shown at the Paris International Film Festival last year).

Also in the cast are Roderick Paulate, Carmi Martin, John Prats, Nova Villa, Jon Avila, and others who play cameo roles like Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez.

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‘Brilyante: The Empowered Woman’

A gala dinner and fashion show billed as “Brilyante: The Empowered Woman” was conceived by the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority of the UP College of Medicine not only in “celebration of women’s strength, health and vitality” but also as a fund-raising vehicle for the benefit of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program and the Service Committee of the sorority. Moreover, it is also designed to highlight the Sorority’s 75th (or diamond) anniversary thus the “brilyante” in the title.

The theme was conceived thus to show the Sorority’s continuing influence on the health concerns of Filipino women. While the fashion show is a manifestation of its relentless drive to pursue its commitment towards solidarity, dedicated service, scholastic excellence, and leadership in the field of medicine and health. Some of the country’s top and promising fashion designers, among them Delby Bragais, Parrish Carlos, Tina Daniac, Rhett Eala, Jun Escario, JM Goulbourn, OJ Hofer, Michelle Lim, Richie Ortega-Torres, Randy Ortiz and Philip Rodriguez.

“Brilyante” is being presented in cooperation with the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) and the clothes will be donned by professional models and prominent society personalities including veteran ramp model Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdes, model-actress-TV host Angel Jacob, and Trade Ambassador Mela Bengzon.

The event, which is also campaign for awareness on cervical cancer and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus or HPV, is slated on August 28 at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

UP-PGH OB-Gyne Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Angela Rodriguez-Bandola, Mu Sigma Phi Sorority ’99 and co-chair of “Brilyante,” said, “part of our thrust for women empowerment is our advocacy for cervical cancer awareness. We have always dedicated ourselves to championing worthwhile causes – and one of the most pressing medical concerns right now is the issue of cervical cancer among women.”

Dr. Genara Manuel-Limson, chair of “Brilyante,” revealed that cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women. Every year, an estimated 6,000 Filipino women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than half of them die of the disease.

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Boston coed turns 22

Time can’t just be ignored and taken for granted. Chona Evangelista’s youngest daughter Maria Carmela Evangelista Alvarez (fondly called “Pie” by family and friends) is now a stunning lady who turned 22 on July 16, “The Lady of Carmel’s Feast day.” Having been born weeks ahead of the expected due date must really be her destiny. The fragile child who spent more than a month in an incubator has become the darling of the family for being a clown. Starting as a sickly girl in her youth, her mom slowly made her get into sports in defiance of doctors’ orders and without her dad’s knowledge with the help and support of her two older sisters till asthma and other weakness in lungs became a thing of the past.

She gets along with everyone in school including the simple workers and can easily be Ms. Friendship. By high school, she was into the varsity teams of different sports. She finds happiness in giving, sharing and volunteering too much in all the school projects to the extent that her teachers would call her mother’s attention if she knew of her generosity (“unusual for the typical youth”). Her mom realized then that her gesture was being misinterpreted by some people as corruption? “It’s a family trait and I’m proud that my girls are all the same,” Chona said.

Carmela lives up to the name of her patron saint in giving concern, hope and encouragement to everyone including her mother. If she can only provide shelter to the needy, she wants all the children to be happy. She is now aiming to put up child day care centers to share with the less privileged even just a little bit of knowledge and happiness the youth are entitled to. Carmela has told her mom she can just ask all her friends to donate all their old books/clothes, whatever that just gather dust and hold fund-raising events. So now she’s nagging her mom to build these centers for charity.

Carmela is finishing an International Business course at The Babson College in Wellesley (Boston), MA.,USA, which is supposed to be the top school in Business Entrepreneurship. A constant leader and always in the top honor roll in school since her primary days in Montessori and Brent (during her intermediate years) to being in the Dean’s list now was not through any contribution donated to her schools but through her own perseverance.

Her professor asked the class to suggest ways how to overcome the world economic crisis now. Carmela’s answer was: “By using the recession as a catalyst for growth!”

When asked to explain or to give an example, Carmela said: “In our house, we were taught to appreciate anything thrown in our way irregardless of our expectations. If you asked for an apple and instead got a lemon, say thank you. We might not be able to make an apple pie but we certainly can make a lemon cream pie and lemonade.”

She got an “A+” last week for that. She is now aiming to be in politics even to her mother’s total discouragement because to her she is too young. But Carmen defends her stance and tells her Mom that older (politicians) don’t mean they are better and reminded her of what she has told her in the past that “the youth are the saviors of our future...”

Two days before Carmela’s birthday, Chona flew to New York and drove all the way to Boston. But not before dropping by our house in Queens’ Village to give my apos some pasalubong – their favorite ensaymada, polvoron, boy bawang and other snacks (chichiria).

“You just don’t know how I felt when I saw the excitement in their faces,” Chona texted me. Bless you Chona for being so kind and loving.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, July 19, go to Camel Awardee Aureo Alonzo, author Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, former DoT Sec. Roberto Pagdanganan, Amelia dela Rama Braly, Alessandra de Rossi, Gary Flores, Jovit Moya, Cyril David, Mrs. Paz Lee, Constante Velasco, Ma. Annalyn Tuason, Arlette Ledesma, US-based Joanne Marquez, Mary Jamie Gergen Banez-Pineda, Antonio T. Nardo, Art O. Quebal, Samuel Julius Garcia, Dr. Aurea Carlos, Leono Nepomuceno of DoT, John Paul Celeste, Mercurio Vito Cruz, US-based Gigi Vonggonthong, Christ Baluyot who also celebrates wedding anniversary with wife Anna Liza, and MB’s Charlene Fernandez… Belated b-day greetings to US-based William Vonggonthong (July 13), and Maridel Vonggonthong (July 7)… Condolence to the family of former beauty queen Myrna P. Borromeo who passed away July 16 at the Makati Med where she was supposed to be operated on for kidney stones. Her remains lie at the Santuaryo de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati… In lieu of flowers, donations to the Trisha P. Borromeo’s Legacy Association Inc. would be appreciated...