2011 is indeed special for some of our well-loved entertainment personalities. Thespians Rio Locsin and Mark Gil recently turned 50 and so will Lorna Tolentino, Amy Austria and supermodel Issa Gonzales-Agana.
Mark turned 50 quietly in September with his loved ones and a few close friends. He was busy working on the last few episodes of the daily drama Guns and Roses at the time so he opted for a simple celebration.
The good actor that he is, Mark remains very busy with television and film assignments that he had to miss the wedding of his brother Michael de Mesa in the United States recently. Michael finally tied the knot with his longtime companion, former Hotlegs dancer Julie Reyes. At the wedding, Mark was represented by his daughter Ira, who now resides in the United States.
With six children from four women, and expecting his fifth grandchild next month when daughter Andi gives birth to her first baby, Mark’s passion for acting is still high.
“Acting is my life. My romance with acting continues to help me discover things about myself and about life in general. I am also happy that some of my children have taken the same path, and I give them the freedom to be the individuals that they chose to be,” he told us once.
A grateful heart
Much-loved and well-respected, actress Rio Locsin chose to celebrate her 50th birthday with her lovely daughters and her husband, former basketball player-turned-pastor Padim Israel in the posh Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa early this month.
“I am not fond of big parties and I’m glad that the family celebrated my birthday in Boracay. It was very special, very simple. Turning 50 is a milestone for every person, and I must say that I embrace being 50 with a grateful heart,” she shared.
After her quiet celebration, Rio flew to Japan to work on a very special episode for ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya, under the direction of Nuel Naval. She is now considering a few offers for her next drama series.
“I feel blessed that I am still very much active in the business, and I can choose the projects that I work on. I guess that no matter how difficult it is to be real in this business, I just have to remain sincere and straightforward. Respect begets respect, and I’m glad that I have people who believe in me and who continue to support my decisions,” she intoned.
On the home front, Rio is very much a happy wife and mother. “Learning to prioritize is so important. One should know who and what truly matter in life. Love, happiness, fulfillment—everything is a decision.”
Golden girls soon
BEST buddies Amy Austria and Lorna Tolentino were born 10 days apart and will both turn 50 in December. “Golden girls na kami!” declared Amy when we saw her recently.
Local soap opera followers got the chance to see both of them in the daily ABS-CBN soap Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, which ended its run two months ago. While working on the show, Amy had a medical emergency and had to take a long leave of absence to undergo an abdominal hysterectomy. She experienced excruciating pain and doctors discovered a cyst that had to be removed immediately. Luckily, Amy recovered fast enough to be able to return to work for the show’s last few weeks.
Throughout her ordeal, Amy drew strength from her husband Duke Ventura, who remains her anchor. Both continue to help each other to strengthen their faith in God and their love for each other.
Amy shared that she will most probably take a long leave of absence from acting but she is not closing her doors completely. “Let’s see, but for now I’ll just be a simple housewife and a mother. I’ll live each day at a time. I’m turning 50 very soon and I want to be able to do the things I want, like travel to places where I’ve never been to and simply enjoy life.”
Meanwhile, Amy’s good friend Lorna has been lured to sign a contract with the aggressive TV5 and has started work on the soap opera Glamorosa.
“Trabaho lang,” was her quick reply when asked why she chose to transfer to TV5, adding, “Para masaya ang Pasko.” Lorna was born two days before Christmas and this year, she will also turn 50.
“Nakaka-tense pero nakakatuwa,” she said about becoming a golden girl. “At least mauuna si Esmeng [Amy Austria’s nickname] sa akin!”
Lorna is not sure how she will celebrate her 50th birthday but she’s sure that it will be special. Widowed but still beautiful, Lorna says that she has no illusions about experiencing romance again, especially now that she will be a grandmother soon.
Golden señora
Izza Gonzales-Agana is touted as one of the few “señoras” of the local modeling industry and she will also turn 50 in early November. Originally from Isabela province, Maria Luisa de Asis Gonzales came to Manila to study, was discovered and later trained to become one of Manila’s most sought-after models.
She also became a beauty queen, and wore the Binibining Pilipinas Maja crown in 1984 with so much pride. She emerged second runner-up at the Miss Maja International that year and when she came back, she modeled for the most prominent fashion designers.
Izza married Yaki Agana and the couple continues to travel together, something they both enjoy and make time for regularly. Even at 50, Izza continues to strut her stuff on the runway, especially in very special shows.
“I love the idea of turning 50! I feel good about myself when people ask how old I am and I say, ‘I’m turning 50,’ and they react surprised and answer, ‘Really?’”
We asked what’s her secret to staying fabulous at 50 and she replied quickly, “I guess there’s no secret. I just continue to be realistic about life, keep a positive attitude, pray and be thankful for the blessings—and feel beautiful!”
In Photo: Amy Austria and Lorna Tolentino
