Monday, March 03, 2014

Regine's dad passed away; Tracy Torres discovers Malaysia



•Tessie condoles with Regine over pa’s death
•Tracy Torres discovers Malaysia as ‘truly Asia’

Wake-uppers:
Seen: Spotted in Bohol last Thursday (Feb 6) was actor John Lloyd Cruz. John Lloyd together with Unilab people visited the devastated Maribojoc Central Elem. School for the school rehabilitation program, a campaign being undertaken by the product brand he endorses. John Lloyd has been an endorser of Biogesic for many years. 

John Llyod Cruz Photo: Malou Sombrio
Scene: Mikey Gatal Charity Inc. and OMG Friends in America had a successful outreach program in Canmano Elementary School in Sagbayan town last Jan.26. Schoolkids received apples and slippers.

Scene: Who plays flappy bird? More Boholanos turned into Facebook to express their feelings on the delightful yet crushingly difficult mobile game flappy bird. Flappy bird's premise is simple: you tap the screen anywhere to make a pixelated bird move upwards. Hitting any of the green pipes on your path means game over. The game's only goal is to get the highest score possible. This game almost made me throw my phone into the wall today...Ha! Ha! Ha!

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Gerry Velasquez, the father of singer-actress Regine Velasquez, passed away last Monday. He was 76.

Regine confirmed the news on Instagram: “The leader of the band, Mang Gerry, joined his creator at 1:39 p.m. Thank you for praying for him during all this time that he has been fighting for his life. God bless you all.”

Fellow celebrities, fans and friends turned to social media site Twitter to give their sympathy and express their grief to the Asia’s Song Bird over the death of his father who is also well known in the music industry for supporting her daughter since she started her career in music.

It was Mang Gerry who trained Regine by making her sing while submerged neck-deep in the sea. Unlike other stage parents, he avoided the limelight and stayed in the background throughout Regine’s career.

Mang Gerry’s connection to Bohol was his visit to the province in 2010 together with Regine and Ogie Alcasid for a holiday.

“Ganda pala dito sa Bohol,” Mang Gerry told Tessie Labunog of Loboc Riverwatch Floating Restaurant (+638537-9460/+639173060010) while cruising the Loboc River, the river of life.

Tessie was saddened by the news that Mang Gerry passed away.

“He’s soft spoken,” said Tessie. “I really admired Mang Gerry’s love and dedication for Regine.”

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St. Augustine said, “The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page.” Seeing the world provides a source of education that you can’t get in school. Traveling is so important for the soul because it opens the eyes to new environments, the mind to new cultures and the heart to new experiences.

And that is what Bohol’s popular make-up artist and hairstylist Tracy Remolador-Torres wants to do this summer- to explore other countries.

Tracy Remolador-Torres (at the 88-storey Petronas Towers) feels the “truly Asian experience” in Malaysia.....Courtesy: Tracy Torres


“Life is beautiful and I don’t want to be stuck in the rut so I need to travel,” shares Tracy.

Tracy has visited Malaysia, a fascinating holiday destination in Asia offering something for everyone to enjoy. 


and with Boholano nurse in Malaysia Ferlida Galve Aceron during their food trip in KL.  Courtesy: Tracy Torres

“Selamat datang...welcome to Malaysia!” nurse Ferlida Galve Aceron, Tracy’s friend, warmly welcomed him in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

No, Tracy didn’t say “Malay ko, malay mo, malay nating lahat, Malaysia!” a popular Miss Universe funny introduction in gay beauty pageants, but he was amazed to discover how developed the country is, yet rich and varied in cultural tradition.

In KL, the country’s capital, Tracy visited the earliest grand buildings around Merdeka Square overshadowed by soaring modern landmarks notably the Petronas Towers that wouldn’t be out of place in Hong Kong or New York.

KL is excitingly diverse Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures: the conversations heard on the street, the huge range of food, and the profusion of mosques, Buddhist temples and Hindu shrines.

 “The other essential component of Kuala Lumpur is the soul of its people who give the city its distinctive and truly Asian character, it’s truly Asia,” says Tracy.

For Tracy, Malaysia is bursting with color, pulsating with life.

“I like Malaysia jud, it’s amazing!” admires Tracy.

Tracy wants to revisit Malaysia to explore the interior, the west and east coast, Sabah and Sarawak region. But before that happens, Tracy plans to visit Hongkong and Macau this year for a holiday.


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