Sunday, March 25, 2007

Untold Pinoy Story No. 9

Beyond Sibling Rivalry
.
If your siblings are married to huge celebrities and you've just lost your chance of marrying one, would you still strive to surpass their feat?

But how could you beat being married to an award-winning actress whose mother is a beautiful actress and whose father is the original Agent X-44 of Philipine movies?

Or being the wife of Mr. Pure Energy?

Or being Mr. Megastar?

Now, aren’t you glad that you're not one of the Pangilinan siblings?

Former Penthouse Live co-host and newspaper columnist Anthony Pangilinan married Maricel Laxa, an excellent actress who is the lovechild of circa 60s actress Imelda Ilanan and action star Tony Ferrer. She is also the half-sister of 1990 Miss Asia runner-up Mutya Crisostomo Laxa.

Anthony’s brother, Senator Francis Pangilinan, was a campus figure in UP Diliman. He was the chairman of the UP Student Council in 1986. He married no less than the megastar, Sharon Cuneta.

Their sister, Angeli Pangilinan, was a campus beauty and brain while she was a student at the UP School of Economics in Diliman. Angeli married Mr. Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano.

REWIND: In the early 80s, teenager Edgardo José Martín Santiago Valenciano or Gary V. to most of us, fell deeply in love with a teenage girl who eventually became his girlfriend. Gary’s true love, they said. And they really looked perfect together. Their friends said that they were truly meant for each other. They were the picture of pure bliss. But not for long.

Few weeks before Gary’s first major concert in 1984, a female singer became pregnant. And Gary was the alleged father. Gary did not deny it. At 19, Gary joined the growing list of unwed teenage fathers.

Gary’s former girlfriend was shocked upon hearing about Gary’s indiscretion. She felt betrayed by Gary and the female singer. Gary’s former girlfriend was devastated.

The pregnant singer who bore Gary’s child was a former Camay girl who joined the ultra exclusive league of several generations of Camay beauties from the first Camay girl Paquita Roces to her two daughters, Maritess Revilla (Ang lahat ay napapalingon… At muling napapalingon) and Rosie Revilla to actress Rosa Rosal’s daughter Toni Rose Gayda (Kutis porcelana) to concert pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria’s daughter Crispy Santamaria to a few others. The female singer indeed looked devastatingly beautiful in her memorable Camay TV commercial. But there was a teeny weeny objection among his friends: She was too old for the teenage and vibrant Gary whose popularity was just beginning to zoom up.

Everybody knows that the female singer who became pregnant with Gary’s child was María Anna Elizabeth Nepomuceno Pangilinan. In 1985, Gary exchanged vows with the female singer who is more popularly known by her nickname: Angeli.

Angeli retired from her singing group, Music and Magic. Angeli sacrificed her flourishing singing career and left behind her fellow Music and Magic members led by jeepney driver’s daughter-turned-nurse-turned-singer Kuh Ledesma, tenor singer-turned-Music and Magic co-founder-turned-musical director Jet Montelibano and singer-turned-comedian-turned TNT-turned-bogus political asylum seeker-turned-Michael Garfinkel endorser Fe de los Reyes. Angeli decided to become a full-time wife to Gary, baby Paolo’s Mom and Gary’s talent manager.

Meanwhile, the pain of losing Gary has left Gary’s former girlfriend in deep shock. Gary and his new bride tried to comfort her but Gary’s former girlfriend was inconsolable.

PLAY: Gary Valenciano’s most inspired and most popular composition was first heard as the theme song of a Vilma Santos movie before it became the title of an Aga Muhlach-Lea Salonga film and later, the title of a Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson TV soap opera. The haunting melody and melancholy lyrics of this beautiful song make one wonder where Gary drew the passion and longing for lost love which every line of this song clearly evokes. Listen:
.
Sana maulit muli
Ang mga oras nating nakaraan
Bakit nagkaganito
Naglaho na ba ang pag-ibig mo?
Sana'y maulit muli
Sana bigyan pansin ang himig ko
Kahapon, bukas, ngayon
Tanging wala ng ibang mahal
Kung kaya kong iwanan ka
'Di na sana aasa pa
Kung kaya kong umiwas na
'Di na sana lalapit pa
Kung kaya ko sana
Ibalik ang kahapon
Sandaling 'di mapapantayan
Huwag sana nating itapon
Pagmamahal na tapat
Kung ako'y nagkamali minsan
'Di na ba mapagbibigyan
O giliw, dinggin mo ang nais ko, oooh...
Kung kaya kong iwanan ka
'Di na sana aasa pa
Kung kaya kong umiwas na
'Di na sana lalapit pa
Kung kaya ko sana
Ito ang tanging nais ko
Ang ating kahapon sana maulit muli
Kung kaya kong iwanan ka
'Di na sana aasa pa
Mahal pa rin kita
O giliw, o giliw ko, oooh...

This song was originally written by Gary in English. Ironically, the one who translated it to Tagalog was Gary’s wife, Angeli.

FAST FORWARD: Now, Gary has three grown-up children with Angeli. On the other hand, Gary’s former girlfriend is now known as Mrs. Buizon. She occasionally hosts a show on TV.

The pain has eased. Somehow. But the former lovers get to see each other regularly. They meet at her Mom’s house during important occasions: Christmas. New Year. Birthday of Mrs. Buizon’s mother. Mrs. Buizon’s birthday. Gary’s birthday. Holidays. Easter Sunday. Every Sunday, in fact.

Gary’s equally famous in-laws were witnesses to the former lovers’ meetings. But they do not mind at all.

Gary’s wife, Angeli, does not make a fuss over it.

Even the family matriarch, retired public school teacher Mommy Emma, is not bothered by it.

But the truth is, they could not prevent the former lovers from seeing each other.

Because Gary’s former girlfriend has to join her mother, siblings and in-laws during important family occasions.

And because Gary’s former girlfriend was Felichi Buizon.

And because, before she got married, Gary’s former girlfriend was known as Felichi Pangilinan.

And yes, because Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon is the younger sister of Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano.

And none of us would probably ever know the rest of this story.

OFF

Original images from yahoo.com, digitalbits.com

51 comments:

SandalMan said...

speechless

Nick said...

Hey Lee.
Thanks for dropping by.
I hope that you're speechless in a positive sense.

Anonymous said...

hi nick,
how did you know all theseuntold stories? i'm so amazed.

-cherise

Nick said...

Hey Cherise.
Thanks for dropping by.

haaynaku said...

In reference to the comment youleft at my blog, yes I saw the "cryptic message'. "Rod and Danding" ala da Vinci Code.

By the way, I have always been intrigued with the Gary-Angeli story. The story you posted is common kowledge in the showbiz circle. But you wrote it so beautifully that it sounded like an entirely fresh version. If ever, I would love to retell your version instead if the usual, "Gary used to date Felichi, his wife's sis..."

Anonymous said...

OH WOW!!! Another mind-blowing revelation! It\'s like going into someone\'s repressed memory but here it is - for all the world to read!

You never fail to amaze us, Nick!

- Dylan of SUPERPASYAL

exskindiver said...

hey nick,

the amazing part of this story is Felichi's character.
i had gone to the same grade school, high school and university that Felichi attended. i had always observed her to be beautiful, talented and intelligent.
this experience in her life shows that she is also incredibly strong.
as Mahatma Gandhi always said:
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

Best,
chesca

Leah said...

Like Jo, I also knew that Gary used to date his wife's sister. Your story's link to the song is definitely intriguing.

Anonymous said...

bf and sister's ultimate betrayal? but as they say...true love find its way.

Anonymous said...

isa lang napansin ko, nick doesnt reveal his sources hahaha i've asked him this a number of times already :P

that's ok, as long as you'll always post your stories, we'll be gladly waiting for them.

thanks for writing about me :D

Anonymous said...

mesmerized by your way of writing, nick.. thank God i always read Pao's blog or I wouldnt know all these..

I could just sigh and say, " WOW.. "..

-ashie-

Anonymous said...

o ha, o ha, another happy reader hehehe

may piso ako for every person na madadala ko dito ha :P

Ate Sienna said...

i enjoyed reading your blog. i will link to you, hope you don't mind. :)

SandalMan said...

nick owes pao a piso in my behalf. Stumbled upon untold pinoy stories while reading pao's wholesome stories in his enlightening blog.

Mec said...

you do write beautifully... I especially loved that connection between Nida Blanca and Ninoy Aquino... if only they were fated to be together, then we might not have a Kris Aquino :D

but anyway...

Anonymous said...

You astound me. Really. Seriously.

fionski said...

This story spread in UP. I'm waiting for your next post though. What’s Wrong with Two Famous UP Students Becoming Very Close To Each Other? (Hey, They’re Both Guys!)
Hehehe.

Nick said...

Hey Jo.
Thanks for your kind words. Watch out for my next story (although I have a feeling that you might not like it.)

----------------------------------
Hey Dylan.
I like the way you described my story.
Thanks for the encouraging words.
-----------------------------------
Hey Chesca.
I bet you know a lot about her. Won't you share them with us?

-----------------------------------
Hey Leah.
Try asking Gary about his inspiration for the song and, I bet my bottom dollar, he would say that he wrote that song as a reaction to the sudden death of Julie Vega, the child star of the 70s who starred in the TV soap opera, Anna Liza, which was GMA 7's answer to RPN 9's highly successful Flor de Luna, starring the young Janice de Belen and Herbert Bautista in the role of Flor de Luna and Rene Boy, respectively. Does it sound like a funeral song to you?

----------------------------------
Hey Anonymous.
Thanks for dropping by. Please reveal your name next time. I would be greatly pleased if you do.

----------------------------------
Hey Gary V. (Is that you, Pao?)
My sources? I'll answer that only if Larry King or Diane Sawyer would pose that question.(Just kidding!)

-----------------------------------
Hey Ashie.
Thanks for dropping by.
Yes, I owe it to Pao. (Thanks, again and again, Pao.)

-----------------------------------
Hey Pao.
Okay, it's a deal. Send me the bill later.
It's true. If not for you and your highly popular blog, I wouldn't have any reader at all. You really hyped it up in your blog. You raised their expectations too much though. They're probably disappointed when they finally got to my blog.
Anyway, thanks Pao.
(But you know what? I'm having second thoughts about posting my next story. If ever I do post it, I might eventually pull it out.)

-----------------------------------
Hey Ate Sienna.
Thanks for dropping by.
I'm glad that you liked reading my blog.
Yes, please link me up.

-----------------------------------
Hey Lee.
Looks like testimonies like this would drain my pocket.
I also owe you the same thing, Lee. You also brought readers here.
Thanks, Lee.

-----------------------------------
Hey Mec.
Thanks for dropping by. Thanks also for the kind words.

----------------------------------
Hey Anna.
Thanks for dropping by. Readers like you inspire me to write.

-----------------------------------
Hey Desco.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
I'm glad that you liked the story/ies that you've read.

----------------------------------
Hey Fionski.
Thanks for dropping by.
Yes, watch out for my next story. (Some people might not like it though.)

haaynaku said...

Hi Nick, this is your blog and you can write whatever you want. If people can't take it, they can always press EXIT. So DO write about those 2 UP guys. I am just wondering why you said I might not like it. Hmmmm, very intriguing.

Write already! :)

Nick said...

Hey Jo.
Thanks for the encouragement.
But procrastination is tough to beat these days.

Rae said...

simply wonderful. mind if i link you up, nick? uhmm.. i am checking everyday.. please update..:(

::blacklace::

Nick said...

Hey Blacklace.
Thanks for dropping by.
Yes, you may link me up.
Watch out for my next story.

quelly said...

i love your blog! and your stories! is it ok if i link you up? your blog is sooooo neat!!!!

Nick said...

Hey Quelly.
I'm glad that you like my stories.
Yes, you may link me up.
Thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

Yup, everybody knew about their story back then.

Its so sad that a sister could do this to her younger sister. Tsk, tsk...

Nick said...

Hey Math.
Thanks for dropping by.
Watch out for my next story.

Anonymous said...

wow kung ako c felichi ang sakit nun grabe.

Nick said...

Hey Anonymous.
I would appreciate if you could leave your name next time.
Thanks for dropping by.

ishang said...

yeah I love your blog!

I've seen your cool about linking your blog. Nevertheless I still want to ask you.. can I link your blog?

Thanks.

lovingsue said...

ang galing!!!! bigla ko tuloy naalala yung novel ni Laura esquivel...

Anonymous said...

I think i've heard this before and never really paid attention to it; but when I read this, I was really taken aback! The actual story of course made a big impact plus the way it was told...suspenseful...climactic!

Thank you for sharing your stories!

-argri

Anonymous said...

I hope you can somehow post the lyrics of the original song "Why Did You Close Your Eyes" so that we can conclude if it really sounds like a tribute to a dead person. Until then, I will take your 'true story behind Sana Maulit Muli' with a grain of salt.

Anonymous said...

Here's the link to the original song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqy2_3n0n0

Now, tell me that that's not a sad song for a dead person. Ang galing mo talagang maghabi ng kwento!!!

Anonymous said...

hi there! can i re-post some of your links at my blog? i will be acknowledging that it's your work of course. And i'll be posting your link too, if that's okay. just really want to share this with my friends. I'll be waiting for your reply! Thanks. =)

-Isabel (www.7sebenleben11.multiply.com)

Anonymous said...

Interesting!!! Taka lang ako kung pa'no mo nakukuha ang mga information na 'to? But you have a knack at writing. I'm hooked!!!

Nick said...

Hey Ishang.
Sorry for this late response.
Yes, please link me up.
I'm really glad that you like my blog.
Thanks for dropping by.

-----------------------------------
Hey Lovingsue.
Do you mean "Like Water for Chocolate"? I don't want to venture into that.
Thanks for your kind words.
Watch out for my next story. I hope you like it, too.
Thanks for dropping by.

----------------------------------
Hey Argri (Anonymous #1).
I'm glad that you like the way I told the story.
I have many more stories to share. Watch out for them.
Thanks for dropping by.

----------------------------------
Hey Anonymous #2 & 3.
Thanks for dropping by.
I'll appreciate if you would leave your name next time.
Again, thanks.

----------------------------------
Hey Isabel (Anonymous #4).
Sorry for this late response.
Yes, you may post my link in your blog.
Thanks for dropping by.

----------------------------------
Hey Dea.
I'm glad that you enjoyed my stories.
Thanks for your inspiring feedback.
Watch out for more stories.
Thanks for dropping by.

-----------------------------------
Hey JDM.
Thanks for your kind words.
Watch out for my next story.
Thanks for dropping by.

tRyx said...

hello! thanks for the posts... it makes me understand pinoy showbiz and clannish history!

Nick said...

Hey Tryx.
Thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

I've been searching for a good blog to visit and finally found one.

Your entries are very, very interesting especially for me who craves on chismis. Hehehe!

Hope you don't mind that I link your site to mine. =)

victoris said...

WOW!!!!

you are so great nick! I even searched in the internet the former gf of gary v during 80's and wala akong nakita...

i was really up in my toes to reach the end ng post mo...

the story can be a dead-end if you already introduce felichi as part of the pangilinan in the start pero ang galing....

I hope you write this kind of stories PARA SA PELIKULANG PINOY...

Share it to all the Pinoys Nick!

victoris said...

by the way guys have you tried to read the lyrics of the song i think nick purposely define some lines in a gray color....

try to read all the lines in the black font color...

galing... :D

Anonymous said...

yung black and gray fonts sa song eh, i think it represents the overlapping of the lyrics during the song. i mean, nagsasabay na kinakanta ni gary yung sets ng lyrics. ewan ko basta ganun hehehe - sirjune

Anonymous said...

*gasps*
OMG!! Totally speechless!! OMG!! HEARTBREAKING!!---OMG again!!

Your Girl said...

ay, na-shock ako. hehe. speechless din. anyway, u really have the knack in writing, no, telling stories. all of ur readers feeling ko parang can't get to the ending kasi super thrilling ang mga details. hehe.

anyway, would just like to ask if i can link you up?

thanks and keep telling us those untold stories ;)

Nick said...

Hey maan.
Thanks for the kind words.
No, I don't mind the link-up. I'm elated, in fact.
Thanks for dropping by.

----------------------------------
Hey Sanhel.
Thanks for the kind words.
What kind of Filipino films would you like to see? Please let me know.
Thanks for dropping by.

-----------------------------------
Hey sirjune.
Thanks for dropping by.

-----------------------------------
Hey les80.
I hope those words were said in a positive sense.
Thanks for dropping by.

-----------------------------------
Hey kaith.
Thanks for the kind words.
Yes, you may link me up. I'm elated.
I hope that you enjoy my other stories.
Thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

hi nick,
i happen to encounter this article and i think this is the continuation of the gary v-angeli story:

-----------------------------
Life with a Pop Superstar
by: Angeli Valenciano

"You're so lucky!". I hear it all the time. When fans of my husband see me and comment about how "lucky" I am to be married to Gary, I just smile and nod my head. It's not about luck, you know. Having been exposed to Gary ever since I met him in 1983, I have always known that God has a special mission for him and I knew that He just put us together for some special purpose. I count myself blessed to have been chosen by the Lord to be the helpmate of Gary, and when I pray and speak to my heavenly Father, who is unseen, I never stop asking Him for strength and wisdom. You see, I am not only married to this popular Asian performer, I am also the mother of his three children, Paolo, 15, Gabriel, 11, and Kiana, 7, as well as president of Manila Genesis, his management and production company that is the home of over 35 celebrities.
----------------------------------
the whole story can be read @
www.garyv.com

Anonymous said...

Fascinating stories from a writer of extraordinary talent. Work of genius! Galing!

Anonymous said...

hi! i read this before & just had to come back...


last february 14, gary v., angeli, paolo and gab were here in cebu for "His Love" a valentine inspirational concert

when he sang this, pictures of him and angeli were shown on the projector and before singing the song, he said this song was written by his wife angeli.


hmmm?


= malou

Anonymous said...

great articles nick! cant wait to read m0re of your stuff! keep it up!

fredrick said...

hI nICK,

can't stop reading.. must stop.. arghh hehehe.. I wanted to comment on every entry but as i say.. i can't stop.. :)

im having problems opening the 10th "episode", that is why i had to stop and say something :D..

is it bawal or too controversial or just weblink problems.. thanks!

peace!

Anonymous said...

it is so painful. being betrayed by your own sister!