The Cruz Family, from left: Karl Santos, Avic Cruz, Mrs. Milagros Cruz, Joel, Letty Aquino, Vanessa. Seated are Mike, Kyla, Mark and Maridol Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — He wasn’t a singer but he joined GMA-7’s “Celebrity Duets Season 3” because of the P1 million cash prize he intended to give to charity.

“Actually, it wasn’t much considering that I have about 19 charitable organizations plus individuals I’ve been helping out through the years,” said Joel Cruz.

He did everything to win, including spending to get the job done. It was however worth every peso because the stint helped popularize his perfume and beauty products business called Aficionado Perfumes of Germany and Joel Cruz Signatures. Joel now has about 400 franchises nationwide.

Every time he celebrates his birth anniversary and the founding of Aficionado, he visits the intended charitable organizations to share his blessings. Among them are Hospicio de San Jose, Asilo de San Vicente de Paul, Tahanang Walang Hangdanan, K.I.D.S. Foundation, PGH Pediatric Awards, Missionaries of Charity, Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation. Bantay Bata, GMA Kapuso Foundation.

In return, Joel has been recognized through awards and citations. Last month, he flew to America to receive a Gawad America award for “Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year.”

But did you know that it wasn’t all the way smooth-sailing for Joel when he established his business? It wasn’t his idea at first to go into business (his mother wanted him to be a doctor and that is why he was taking up a pre-med course, B.S. Psychology, at UST.

The full-blooded Thomasian used to have a business partner but things didn’t work out between them, and so he went solo after a few years.

Just recently, Joel spearheaded the blessing of his newly renovated manufacturing plant and warehouse in Meycauyan, Bulacan and the groundbreaking of a new and bigger  manufacturing facility also in Bulacan. In attendance were dignitaries from various embassies, his family and company executives.

Train live in Manila

American rock band Train is set to perform at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today, Dec. 7. The band is behind the hits “Meet Virginia,” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” “Hey, Soul Sister,” etc.

Train was formed in San Francisco, California in 1994 whose current members are Patrick Monahan (vocals), Jimmy Stafford (guitar) and Scott Underwood (drums). Touring with the band are Jerry Becker (keyboards, guitar) and Hector Maldonado (bass, vocals, percussion).

The band shot to fame in 1998 with the release of their first album which had the hit single “Meet Virginia.” “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” from their second album won two Grammy awards in 2002 for Best Rock Song and Best Arrangement.

The band took a three-year hiatus after release of their fourth album, “For Me, It’s You.” They returned with their highly-successful fifth studio album “Save Me, San Francisco” in October 2009. Upon its release, the single “Hey, Soul Sister” reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the most downloaded song on iTunes in 2010.

The band is working on their sixth studio album, scheduled for release in 2012. While Train is keeping busy in the studio, fans can listen to their new songs “To Be Loved,” featured on the soundtrack album of the movie, “Adbuction” starring Taylor Lautner and “Brand New Book,” theme of “The Biggest Loser.”

Tickets to the Train concert are now available at all Ticketnet outlets and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Box Office. For more ticket information and reservations, please log on to http://www.ticketnet.com.ph.

Train Live in Manila is presented by DAYLY Entertainment, Rockstar Touring and LAMC Productions in partnership with Smart, Mossimo Music, ABS-CBN, Star World, Fox and Myx.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Dec. 7, go to former Sta. Maria Vice Mayor Ada C. Mauricio, Joricel Carlynd S. Espiritu, Concepcion “Nene” Brosas, Fe Sermona Vilar, Mimi Viernes, Andrea Sazzi, Jayson Tuazon, and Joelle Trisha M. Galigaro…