Because he has been given another lease on life, ABS-CBN Star Magic artist Diether Ocampo said his birth anniversary last July 19 was the most meaningful so far. It is recalled that recently Diet collapsed during a rehearsal for a show in Los Angeles, California. He was hospitalized and because of his physical condition he was not able to join the shows in LA.

Asked about his current health status during a belated birthday celebration with the entertainment press last Thursday night (at the Pizza Hut across St. Luke’s Medical Center), Diet said he has been given a clean bill of health by his doctor. “I’m fit, my doctor attested to that,” Diet said, smiling big.

What happened to him in the US made Diet realize how short life could be, he said, so we should make the most of it, but not to the extent of working so hard that we lose the important details of life. It’s always work for him for a long time and now he realized the need to slow down. “Nung bata kasi ako, grabe na ang pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, hindi buo ang pamilya ko, kung saan-saan ako tumira, walang permanenteng tirahan,” he recalled. He had his own share of failures, problems and bad decisions. “But I was given a talent by God so pagbubitihin ko ito.”

“Looking back, I asked myself what I’ve contributed to this life. What happened to me was very traumatic and emotional and I’m just so happy to have been given another chance to live. So most meaningful itong recent birthday ko.”

Last year, on his birth anniversary, Diether (with the support of Pizza Hut of which he is endorser for the last nine years already!) fed about 2,000 kids in Pampanga. Actually, Diet doesn’t need to ask himself what he contributed to this life. Because of his KIDS (Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan) Foundation, he has done a lot to affect change is the life of some kids. The actor is also a staunch advocate of animal’s rights, being an endorser of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

About Kristine Hermosa

When he got sick in the US, it was former wife Kristine Hermosa who took care of him at the hospital and for this, Diet was very grateful. “Kasi naman, may pinagsamahan naman kami at siya ang nandun na malapit kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa care and concern niya.” Both of them have moved on, and Diet said he’s happy for her.

But if she had her way, Diet’s current girlfriend, Rima Ostwani, would have flown to his side at that moment because she was so worried of him. But Diet said he was okay already and that calmed her feelings.

If there is a woman Diet would like to spend the rest of his life with, it would be Rima, he said. She still young, only 23, but she’s so responsible and intelligent and she could hold her own in the presence of illustrious people, even ambassadors. By the way, Rima is taking International Relations at De La Salle University.

Diet, a successful actor

For more than a decade now, Diether has proven his acting mettle with the films he has done with Star Cinema (like “Nasaan Ka Man” with Claudine Barretto, Jericho Rosales, Hilda Koronel and Gloria Diaz; “Jologs” with John Prats and Vhong Navarro; and his biggest break “Soltera” with the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano and Claudine Barretto) and teleseryes under ABS-CBN (“Iisa Pa Lamang,” “Maligno,” “Lobo,” “Princess Sarah” and “Margarita” among others).

Diet is currently in the well-loved series “Only You,” with Angel Locsin and Sam Milby. “Only You” is aired after “May Bukas Pa” on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

He is happy that the series is well-followed as it dominates the primetime slot. “Kakaiba talaga ang pakiramdam kapag naa-appreciate ng tao ‘yung craft mo. Sarap ng feeling, parang nasa Cloud 8,” Diether enthused.

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A different kind of feast, enjoyment in Bangkok
 
Thanks to my good friend Ms. Chona Evangelista, and Ms. Suree Jirattikankul and Malou Santos of the Thai Trade Center, who invited me to the Thai merchandise extravaganza “Made in Thailand 2009,” I spent a short but much fulfilled and memorable day in Bangkok recently.

The merchandise fair, said to be the grandest ever that exhibited the best products of Thailand for the year 2009 was sponsored by the Department of Export Promotion Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government. It was a 10-day event held at the IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.

On exhibit and on sale were a variety of Thai quality products and services that included clothes, fashion accessories, textiles, leather goods, jewelry, food and beverage, even furniture and home decors, automotive parts and tools, electrical appliances, health and beauty products, tourism and hotel services. There were approximately 5,000 booths from Thai exhibitors and several hundreds of thousands of buyers and visitors flocked to the venue. Outside of the exhibit area, there was a stage where Thai performers showcased their talents. There was a group of young children who impressed us with their terpsichorean prowess. A guy distributing some pamphlets about them said they just won a dance competition in Hong Kong.
 
A market like no other
 
Chona knows where to bring us in Bangkok (she certainly was an excellent Guide Master) having been there a lot of times (she is even very popular among hotel reps at the airport and in the hotels). Chona loves Thailand if only for its agricultural bounty – and to think that their agriculturists are Filipinos or Thais who studied in the Philippines’ International Rice Research Institute.

What proved to be a most enjoyable experience for me in Bangkok was a visit to the market. It was a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. The vegetables and the fruits – durian, mangoes, tamarind, longkong/lansones, pink macopa, atis and santol (wow, you should see their sizes, one piece could weigh a kilo!), lychees, and many others – gave us a different kind of enjoyment. I was awed by a special variety of rice in different colors – yellow, gold, green and blue! 

We had lunch at the market and had a fill of a steamed large fish, grilled gurami (which I haven’t seen and tasted for a long time ever since my teenage years in my hometown in Asingan), a mushroom dish, and a vegetable dish cooked in coconut milk. They were spicy of course which enhanced even more our appetite.

After a long and tiring day, what would be the most ideal thing to pamper the body with but a Thai massage? Chona brought us to a Thai herbal massage center for an hour of foot and back massage. After that, at the Landmark Hotel where we were billeted, we feasted even more on lansones/longkong, rambutan and mangosteen.

I always find it hard to classify Chona into one identity. I knew her as a former model, statuesque and pretty and charming as she was in her younger years. But she evolved into a multi-faceted personality as she matured. Having a natural knack for cooking, Chona put up her own restaurant but this business didn’t last long for reasons not her own making. Then she established a travel agency, and a flower shop because Chona loves plants and flowers.

In fact, she really has an eye for the unique and exotic flora and fauna. In Bangkok, her eyes couldn’t miss the unusual orchids or plants especially in the airport, and along the streets. She would always point out to a tree or vine that catches her fancy. At her resort in San Vicente, Palawan she has in her care exciting genres of plants and trees.

Helping her out in this passion for plants is landscape artist from Calamba, Laguna Lolit Navasero Magpantay (who incidentally celebrated her birth anniversary last July 4 in Bangkok, with Chona, Elsa de Jesus, another friend of hers, and Johnny Hernandez and son Edward and wife Cindy and me as well-wishers). Lolit studied orchid culture and horticulture and worked at the Agronomy in UP Los Baños. Interestingly, Lolit first enrolled in Nursing but on her second year she quit. It was her passion for plants that she pursued.

Aside from having her own garden store, Lolit teaches orchids culture to rich people including Doña Marta Revilla, Mrs. Purita Ponce Enrile, Irma Potenciano and Ms. Flora Yap who all helped her out in her one-woman garden shows. But it was Mrs. Alice Javier who sponsored her very first one-woman garden show for which Lolit was very grateful.

In her frequent trips to Bangkok, Chona almost always tag along Lolit. Because both share an intense passion for plants.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 28 go to erstwhile movie queen Susan Roces, Baby Araneta-Fores, Comm. Myrna Yao, Jacqui Magno, Alice Dixson, Mrs. Vina Mercado, Cocoy Cordoba, Gloria Desiderio, Gen. Rudy Tolentino, Boy del Rosario, Arvie Dyan N. Belarmino, Pinky Sabinosa-Nelson, Juliet Vela, Mrs. Lita Forteza, Aileen Lustre, Juliet V. Danaytan, Mrs. Susan Valenciano, Jorge Maniquis and son JM, Celso Santiago, Evelyn V. Lagud, Regina B. Antonio, Charlie V. Estrada of UK, US-based Carol Dimaano, and Rosevida Anne Sayo.