It seems that Ethel Booba’s showbiz is really on the rise, despite the many controversies rocking her life these days and the recent past. Wasn’t she and live-in partner Alex Crisano reported to have parted ways? And to think that Ethel is still not in good terms with her family, especially her sister.
Anyway, we say that her showbiz career is on the rise because, aside from the fact that her and Paolo Bediones’ reality TV show "Extra Challenge" is still the No. 1 show of its kind in the country, her introductory movie will finally be shown in Metro Manila theaters starting on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
She may have earned a name as a comedienne but Ethel started out as a singer of a band called Mermaids when she was just 14. Coming from humble beginnings, she joined various amateur singing contests and made the rounds of sing–a–long joints and comedy bars as stand-up comedian.
Before she was taken in for "Extra Challenge," Ethel was "Sing-Galing’s" champion for 13 weeks. She slowly made her mark in the realm of comedy and singing and then, she eventually made it to "Extra Challenge" as Paolo Bediones’ co-host.
With her flair for comedy, Ethel became an asset to the show whose high ratings continue to maintain "Extra Challenge’s" No. 1 position among reality-TV programs. By the way, they leave today for Cairo, Egypt to tape among the pyramids and other attractions of the city. Among the participants are Joey Marquez and Richard Gomez.
Her appearance in "Sablay Ka Na, Pasaway Ka Pa!" is a dream-come-true for Ethel whose "pasaway" image in reel and real life definitely spiced up the comic scenes. Ethel admits it wasn’t an easy climb for her in showbiz. But all her efforts and hard work are paying off now and she’s happy about it. Her life has been riddled with controversies but she has been tough enough to handle all of them in good stride. She is misunderstood most of the time, by both her family and Alex and others around her, but as the saying goes, "you cannot put a good person down!
Directed by Willy Milan, "Sablay Ka Na, Pasaway Ka Pa!" is topbilled by Rep. Mikey Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) and produced by Ben "M7" Yalung’s Cine Suerte Productions, which will produce "Zuma," which Ethel’s boyfriend Alex Crisano will star in the title role.
Also in the cast of "Sablay Ka Na, Pasaway Ka Pa!" are Katrina Halili as Mikey’s love interest; Salbakuta, Anna Leah Javier, Renee Summers, John Apacible and actor/director Al Tantay.
Also featured in the movie are Mikey’s fellow legislators: Rep. Gerry Boy Espina (Biliran), Rep. Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte), Rep. Teng (Sultan Kudarat), Rep. Miranda (Isabela), and Rep. Antonino (Nueva Ecija).
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Fanny Serrano joins direct-selling company
Celebrity makeup artist to the stars Fanny Serrano (Felix Fausto, Jr. in real life whose clientele includes Ms. Sharon Cuneta and daughter KC Concepcion, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Lorna Tolentino and Charlene Gonzalez) is also very much pre-occupied these days with a direct-selling company called Rev’lation International Inc. of which he is director.
The company, incorporated last Dec. 30, 2004, is brainchild of Ms. Mary Ann Pagsibigan, who was prompted to establish a business venture to help fellow Filipinos uplift their standard of living through direct-selling of quality products that are affordable to the people. But it was in particular the story of a poor man named Romeo Balonga from San Nicolas lll, Bacoor, Cavite who truly inspired and motivated Mary Ann to think of something to help him and other kababayans suffering from poverty. Mary Ann, who is a resident of the US, saw on The Filipino Channel (TFC) how Romeo’s two of five children died when they ate scavenged food. She cried over that tragic incident as she asked herself: "Ganito na ba kahirap ang mga Filipino?"
During a recent press conference at the Rev’lation office at the Raffles Corporate Center along Emerald Ave. in Ortigas, Romeo appeared (through the resourcefulness of Fanny Serrano who wanted to surprise Mary Ann) and seeing him in person brought tears again to the eyes of the lady entrepreneur.
Initially, they offered Romeo an outlet to operate in Cavite but he was honest enough to say he isn’t qualified for the job and instead, he requested for a tricyle for him to use as a means of livelihood. They gladly gave in to his request.
Mary Ann is chairman of the board of Rev’lation, she is after all a management expert. She is also the only Filipina Human Rights Commissioner in Los Angeles, California.
Edison M. Anilao is president and CEO. He is a graduate of San Beda and has been in the direct-selling business for 42 years, making a name as a top performer in such companies as Avon, the House of Sarah Lee, Triumph International and Herway Cosmetics among others.
Among the products carried by Rev’lation include the Fanny Serrano Cosmetics line (adjudged Most Outstanding Cosmetic Products in 2004), and other products such as soaps, facial and body creams and oil, hair, body and foot care products, bags and apparel; a fragrance line called Mary’s Alabaster, and a food supplement line.
By the way, everyone is invited to be a member of Rev’lation.
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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 17, go to Vina Morales, Bea Alonzo (who turns 18), Mariz Ricketts, Dante Silverio, movie director Olive Lamasan, Maria Montelibano, Bert Nievera, Christine Manalang, Alona Alegre, Ester Barbin, Bienvenido Rodriguez, Rosie Mary Ovejas-Torres,Nary Jane Cabanizas, Josie Fombuena, Jay Carlos, Dr. Andy Reyes, Enrique "Quito" Pili, radioman Rene Pilande of Tacloban City, Florence Cruz, Dante E. Gerella, Norma Constantino, and Bernie Corpus, resident manager of Manila Pavilion Hotel...Happy wedding anniversary to Jun and Pearlie Cabanizas...
