Why live-in arrangement the biggest challenge in ‘KimJe’s’ relationship

by MArinel cruz Inquirer.net

REAL - and reel-life couple

Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles admitted that the biggest challenge they experienced when they decided to share a home and cohabitate in 2020 was convincing Kim’s parents that it was the right thing to do.

“It was a struggle to explain the arrangement to my family. My parents (who are based in Saudi Arabia) are very conservative and traditional. I’m more open to my mom, but my dad didn’t take it lightly … the idea that Je (Jerald’s nickname) and I would become live-in partners,” Kim, 31, told Inquirer Entertainment.

“I grew up with them in Saudi and only came back to the Philippines when I was 16. They got used to me being so dependent on them for my needs. When the pandemic came, I had to explain to my dad that Je and I needed to move in together. This happened shortly after I finally admitted to them that I had a boyfriend, and that this boyfriend was also an actor like me,” she recalled. “It was funny because, since this was at the height of the pandemic lockdowns, we had to set up a Zoom family meeting.”

He doesn’t know how to swim, but he bravely dove into the water because it’s something he really had to do.”

“Also, we share the same life goals,” she added. “I’m turning 32 this year and have specific targets. He respects me and my decisions as a woman. I appreciate the fact that he is willing to wait for me.”

Unique partnership

Wurtzbach, Mimiyuuuh, Ayn Bernos, Karen Davila, Dimples Romana, Darren Espanto, Lovi Poe, Hannah Pangilinan, Shaina Magdayao, and Charlene Gonzales were in awe of Gonzales’ beauty, as seen in the comments of her post.

The photographer said, “Truly beautiful inside and out!!!!”

“This is a great idea and @ bjpascual captures the real you! Such a natural beauty B,” Davila wrote.

Bernos said, “I see your daughters in you, we love you our morena queen!!!!”

Days before her 40th birthday, Gonzalez revealed that she had the names of her daughters Carmen and Lucia tattooed on her arms – which, she described, is a “magical” experience.

The host tied the knot with former professional basketball player JC Intal in December 2014. She gave birth to Lucia in October of the following year, and their second child Carmen in 2018.

Kim and Jerald eventually convinced her parents that the setup was ideal. “We just had to build trust. In the end, it became a decision by the family. I’m grateful that my parents have gotten close to Je. When I got sick, Je took care of me. I guess that’s how he won their hearts,” the actress said. Jerald, 40, added: “I simply explained to her parents what was happening in the Philippines at the time. I was very straightforward. I told them what Kim needed, and what I was willing to do for her. I guess that was enough for them.”

Click Inquirer Entertainment then asked what they thought made them click in spite of the nine-year age gap. Jerald said: “It’s because I’m more childish than Kim. Seriously, it’s hard to find someone like her. She is everything, plus she’s someone with a good sense of humor. Everything I’m looking for in a girl, I found in her.”

Kim, on the other hand, said: “Not only do I appreciate that he is a very wise and intelligent man, I also like his ‘laban’ attitude. For example, he was given a project recently that required him to swim.

When asked to react to the idea that he has put on hold some of his personal plans, particularly of finally settling down, for the sake of Kim, Jerald said: “I can’t say that’s accurate. I also believe there’s a right timing for everything. For example, we both got affected financially by the pandemic. It came right after the release of ‘Jowable.’ We’re lucky because we did ‘Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam,’ which also became a hit. If not for those successful projects and our viral YouTube videos, we’re not sure if we’d be offered ‘Team A’ today. It’s all about life’s right timing.”

Jerald was referring to the sitcom “Team A: Happy Fam, Happy Life,” which will premiere on March 18 on TV5. In the series directed by Mervyn Brondial, the real-life couple plays Ian and Janet, parents to their daughter Yeye (Gianna Iguiron). The series, said Brondial, is inspired by the 1970s sitcom “John en Marsha,” which aired on TV for a record 17 years.

“That’s the goal,” said Jerald. “I hope we would be given the same opportunity. It would be interesting to see Yeye eventually becoming a teenager. I watched ‘John en Marsha’ the series as I was growing up, and even got to watch the movie version. When I saw our script, I also noticed the same formula. For me, to do a project like this—something that has the potential to become iconic—with my girlfriend is really a dream come true.”

As for Kim, she admitted feeling overwhelmed and grateful. “This applies to everything I do as an artist. Je and I are grateful for the trust. Whenever we are given a project, we try to give it the best flavor we can. This proved to be effective in our past projects. Of course, we’re very grateful for the comments comparing our teamup with those we consider our idols.” Their partnership is quite unique. Not only are they workmates and lovers, they are also business partners. “We started as workmates in ‘Rak of Aegis,’ which was where we first fell in love. When we formed our startup business, it felt like a lot of things were happening all at the same time. I’m lucky that Je is such a wise man. He guided me on what to focus on. To cope, we would also talk about the Top 3 things we are hopeful for in a day. This energizes and inspires us to plan for the next day,” Kim explained.

Jerald said they would also make sure to detach themselves from the KimJe love team when they’re not at work. “This is so that we would not bring in stuff we don’t need as partners, or stuff we don’t need as workmates.

“When we start getting too affected by the frenzy around us, we would distance ourselves from each other. She’d say, ‘Je, umalis ka nga muna!’ That was actually one of the problems we had to resolve during the lockdowns. Whenever I would get banished from the house, I also couldn’t leave and would just stay by the gate,” Jerald said laughing.

“Team A,” which also features Yayo Aguila and Anjo Yllana, airs on TV5 every Saturday starting March 18, at 9:30 p.m., as well as on Sari Sari every Sunday, at 9 p.m.

It is a coproduction of TV5, Cignal and Viva.

Health @Heart

WHAT is depression?

Depression is a state of emotion where the individual has some or all of the following senses, feelings or moods: downhearted, unhappy, anxious, irritable, unable to concentrate, socially withdrawn, empty inside, has inordinate fatigue and reduced interest in activities which used to be fun, hopelessness, indecision, impaired sleep, misery, helplessness, confusion, monosyllabic speech or abnormally quiet.

What is morbid mood?

The morbid mood in depression may be so severe that the patient is unable to cry (tears dry up) or to feel the usual emotions like pleasure, grief or joy. The whole world appears lifeless and colorless to the patient, who could be pre-occupied with a sense of guilt and self-denigrating and destructive ideas.

What is melancholia?

It used to be called endogenous depression. Its features include marked slowness in thinking and activity, agitation, worthlessness, weight loss, restlessness, wringing of the hands, inability to experience pleasure or wellbeing, difficulty falling asleep and has insomnia following arousal from sleep, and diminished or loss of sexual desire. The patient usually has the feeling of guilt that he/she has committed a grave crime, with hallucinations (voices of people accusing the patient of bad deeds, or condemning him/ her to death; others believe that they have incurable diseases like cancer or AIDs). Very rarely, the patient with this psychotic depression kills family members (“to save them from future misfortunes in life”) and kills himself/herself.

How rampant is depression?

In the United States, depression affects about 17 million Americans. In the Philippines, about ten percent of young adults have moderate to severe depression in 2022, about 3.6 million of the population. More than two-thirds to 75% of them do not benefit from proper therapy because of the patient’s inability to seek counseling, misunderstanding of the condition, or misdiagnosis. Most people do not seek professional help because the condition is very common and many of them are mild or subclinical (with no obvious symptoms). Sometimes, even physicians miss making the correct diagnosis in earnest, thinking the patient’s complaints could be due to some medication interaction.

Are there screening tests for depression?

Yes, there are. Mental health specialists can administer preliminary tests such as the BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), or the HRS (Hamilton Rating Scale), which is composed of 20 questions to screen the patient.

Today, computerized phone interviews are gaining effectivity as a screening tool. These tests are only a small part of the evaluation process because the specialists have the symptoms of the patient and other criteria to aid them make the correct diagnosis.

Don’t we all get depressed sometimes?

To some degree, when the situations demand it, normal people develop a mild form of depression, which is transient, self-terminating, and not a disease. As long as the resultant symptoms are trivial and temporary, and do not debilitate the person, the condition does not need any medical treatment.

What foods relieve depression?

Foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid involve in serotonin production, provide relief to some people with depression. Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential in the production of tryptophan, can be found in dried peas, beans, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, and especially in oily fishes like salmon and mackerel. It is reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may actually reduce depression. PMS Escape, a high carbohydrate drink, claims to increase tryptophan level and may control the depression related to pre-menopausal syndrome for about 3 hours. However, there are impurities in the L-tryptophan diet supplements that are associated with EMS (eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome), which increases white blood cells and causes muscle pain.

Does calcium help alleviate depression?

Calcium supplements and Vitamin B-12 have been reported to reduce pre-menstrual depression. Also, some studies showed that among depressed people who drink caffeinated beverages have a lower incidence of suicide, which seems to suggest that coffee or tea reduces depression.

What are the therapy guidelines?

Among adults who suffer from major or chronic depression, a trial of antidepressant drugs is used, together with psychotherapy that is designed for the patient. For those who do not improve with this strategy, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) has been found to be effective and safe. If this fails, psychosurgery might be indicated.

How about exercises?

Believe it or not, physical exercises may be as effective as psychotherapy in the management of mild to moderate depression. Prolonged aerobic workouts lead to higher levels of serotonin, adrenalin, endorphins and dopamine in the brain (producing the popular term “runner’s high”). Physical exercises, brisk walking, ballroom dancing, yoga, tai-bo, etc. lead to better emotional health. As an extra bonus from physical exercises, weight loss and improved muscle tone lead to a better sense of well-being and higher self-esteem. Those individuals with strong spiritual faith have a relatively lower predisposition to depression. These people might benefit from meditation, yoga, and other techniques for obtaining spiritual security, inner peace, and happiness.

How about for children?

Children and adolescents with major depression have been found in clinical studies to respond as well to both placebos (sugar pills) and tricyclic antidepressants, especially newer ones like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). For these group of young patients, a trial of psychotherapy (cognitivebehavioral or supportive therapy) is preferred before they are placed on antidepressant drugs.

Do you have depression?

If you suspect you do, do not medicate yourself. It is most prudent to seek medical help. The first thing to do is to consult your primary physician who can help guide you. With early proper medication and/ or advice, depression in most cases can be managed effectively and eliminated faster than one can imagine. Physicians today have invaluable tools in their armamentarium for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Many individuals with depression, who have sought medical care, are “cured” with simple oral medications – they look, behave, function, and live as normally and happily as anybody else, lost in the sea of anonymity.

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday. com, and philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

Bela Padilla is living Lorna Tolentino’s dream

by Ronnie CaRRasCo iii ManilaTimes.net

NOT as much preoccupied with taping for a TV series, expect a busier Lorna Tolentino as she takes on more film assignments this year.

LT is set to shoot "White Noise" in Switzerland helmed by her favorite director Bela Padilla who also wrote the script. But mind you, it's going to be just one day of shoot which Lorna doesn't mind at all.

"Okey lang, at least, nakarating ako sa Switzerland," the actress gushed as she heaped praises on Bela and her directorial style.

In fact, this is primarily the reason why LT readily said yes to the project as did she the first time she was handled by the younger actress. Lorna and Bela first worked together in the film "If" which was shot in South Korea in November last year.

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The said movie was — shall we say — essentially a Bela Padilla oeuvre with her as one of the cast members, its writer and director rolled into one.

For this, Lorna couldn't help but laud Bela who, despite her multifaceted role, knew exactly what she was doing without getting distracted or mixed up.

"Ang napansin ko kay Bela, she had full control of what was happening on the set," Lorna shared.

In White Noise, however, Bela is not in the cast allowing her to focus more on directing.

If my memory serves me right, it's also Lorna's cherished dream to be able to direct. For some reason though, that pursuit fizzled out. LT must be seeing herself in Bela who's lucky to have a partner in Viva Entertainment (her home studio) that trusts her.

Film enthusiasts have yet to see what may be considered as Bela's cinematic masterpiece, one which will put her alongside young yet prolific women directors like Olive Lamasan, Cathy Garcia-Molina, Antoinette Jadaone, to name a few.

Based in London where her family resides, Bela comes home if she gets offers to do movies here.

It was during the onslaught of the pandemic when the multihyphenate actress felt she was more at home in the English capital, thus enabling her to extract creative diesel to get her mind running for ideas she could use for her materials.

* * *

IT'S a good thing that Pops Fernandez rethought her decision to slip into retirement, this after her "3 Divas" show in the US in November last year was no doubt — and to her surprise — a success.

The country's Concert Queen shared the stage with Kuh Ledesma and now-US-based Jaya. Thanks to the show and its audience because had it become a flop, Pops would have pursued bidding her singing career goodbye.

This year, its producer has lined up a couple of shows with the them three again from East Coast to West Coast. Meanwhile, Pops' 90s arch rival Sharon Cuneta is likewise planning to take a bow.

But the Megastar immediately took back her words in less than 72 hours after she posted on social media her decision, citing "too many obligations" she needs to fulfill.

This wasn't the first time that Sharon announced she'd be taking semi-or complete break. She had sounded this off in 2019, 2020, 2021 and November last year.

And what is the netizens' collective take on this, mine included?

Enough. It's feeding us all up!

by HannaH Mallorca Inquirer.net

KYLIE Versoza has revealed she had dated her “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” leading man Marco Gumabao even before getting into a relationship with exboyfriend, actor Jake Cuenca.

The beauty queen-turned-actress made the confession during her interview with TV host Boy Abunda in the March 15 episode of the show “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,” where she was asked about her past romance with Gumabao.

“Siguro, a long time before Jake [Cuenca], long way before Jake, mga two years [before getting into a relationship with Jake Cuenca]. We tried. We tried it out, but bata pa kami n’un eh,” she said.

(Perhaps, it was a long time before Jake Cuenca, long way before Jake, about two years. We tried. We tried it out, but we were so young back then.)

During the interview, Abunda noted the “spark” between Versoza and Gumabao although the actress noted that they remain “very good friends.”

“Happy ako sa lahat ng mga pinagdaanan [ni Marco Gumabao] sa buhay niya. I’ve seen him grow as an actor, as a person, nagca-catch up pa rin kami (I’m very happy for Marco Gumabao’s milestones in his life. I’ve seen him grow as an actor and person, and we still catch up). So yeah, we remain very good friends,” she added.

The host also noted that the “Just a Stranger” star is one of the “most good looking young actors in the country today,” “smart,” and “family-oriented” to which Versoza agreed.

“He’s smart, and very siguro humble din. Hindi ko masasabi na humble (I can’t say he’s humble),” she said in jest before laughing. “Very level-headed.”

On ex-boyfriend Jake Cuenca

The Miss International 2016 titleholder was also asked if she ever remained in contact with Cuenca after their breakup. Versoza said she hasn’t spoken with him in a while.

“No, I know it’s been a long time pero siguro, only in time. Time will tell kung we’re able to already see each other in a [friendly] setting. Ayoko siyang pilitin pero darating ang panahon where we’ll meet each other and maybe, who knows? Time will only tell,” she replied.

(No, I know it’s been a long time but maybe, only in time. Time will tell if we would be able to already see each other in a friendly setting. I don’t want to force things to happen but time will come where we’ll meet each other again. And maybe, who knows? Time will only tell.)

Versoza was in a relationship with Cuenca for three years. They called it quits in April 2022. The ex-partners, however, did not state the reason for their break-up.

A month after their separation, the actress revealed in an interview that she did not foresee her romance with the “Los Bastardos” star to turn out the way it did, saying they really loved each other.

OPM artist Zack Tabudlo found himself trending online because BTS' Jungkook played his hit song "Give Me Your Forever" during the latter's surprise livestream in Weverse on Tuesday night, March 14.

WeVerse is a social media platform dedicated for fans of BTS and other K-pop bands.

As with most celebrity lives, Jungkook interacted with his fans and one of them asked him if he could give Tabudlo's track a listen. The gracious artist agreed and even introduced the song, which other live viewers could also hear.

"Next song is 'Give Me Your Forever' by Zack Tabudlo," he mentioned.

After giving it a listen, he commented in Korean that he liked Tabudlo's voice and that he's adding the song to his playlist.

A surprised and elated Tabudlo tweeted the same night, "So I jwu [just woke up] and apparently I was blowing up on social media because...The Jungkook The Golden Maknae. Just listened to Give Me Your Forever," Tabudlo wrote on his Twitter post.

"I can now die in peace holy sh*t. He even said he added my song to his playlist," he exclaimed.

Tabudlo — who started his career via the reality singing competition "The Voice Kids" — is best known for his OPM hits "Binibini," "Pano" and "Habang Buhay." (ManilaTimes.net)