The need to help more. This is what prompted actresses Angel Locsin and Anne Curtis to create the website www.shopandshare.ph. After witnessing the devastation brought about by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, the two plunged into whatever help they could give the victims. They donated money, clothes and food. They visited evacuation centers to assist in the distribution of relief goods.
But Angel wanted to go the extra mile by helping rebuild the lives of typhoon survivors. From the website she and Anne created, they forged a partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross and eBay, and launched the project "Shop & Share" last November 14, held at Sining Kamalig Art Gallery, Gateway Mall, in Cubao, Quezon City.
"Hindi lang po siya basta relief, e," Angel said. "Ang habol natin dito, siyempre, ang nangyari sa mga Pilipino ngayon, hindi makatao talaga, kaya ang gusto po natin ibalik 'yon. Yung rehabilitation para mas maipagpatuloy natin yung buhay nila. Yun ang goal namin. Makaipon tayo ng sapat na halaga, maayos na halaga, para mas marami pa tayong matulungan. Kaya nandito tayo ngayon, in partnership with eBay.
"Natutuwa kami, kasi napansin tayo ng eBay. Ini-waive off nila yung portion nila. Meron silang percentage, pero willing silang tanggalin 'yon para lang mas makatulong pa tayo," explained Angel during the launch.
What inspired her to pursue her cause?
"Kung napansin niyo, nung Ondoy pa lang, nasa labas na ako. Parang... ano pa? Ano pa ba yung kaya kong gawin? Ano pa yung puwede kong ma-offer? Nandiyan yung may tulong na pinansiyal, may tulong na manpower. Ano pa ba? So, iniisip ko dahil wala naman akong ginagawa ngayon, inisip ko, ano pa ba ang gagawin ko sa mga gamit ko? Ang mamahal ng mga bili ko pero hindi ko naman alam ang gagawin ko? Parang iniisip ko, bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng auction?
"Tayong mga nasa industriya, meron tayong mga gamit na sobra sa atin, medyo may kamahalan, pero hindi naman natin puwedeng gamitin nang sabay-sabay, di ba? So, ayun, ibinabahagi namin yung mga gamit namin sa ibang tao na mai-enjoy nila yung mga gamit namin, at the same time, makakatulong din sila."
MEETING MARIAN RIVERA. Since its launch barely one month ago, Shop & Share has sold over US$15,000. The project has been largely sustained through campaigns via social media, notably Facebook and Twitter. Among the celebrities who have contributed to this endeavor are Kris Aquino, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Pokwang, Kim Chiu, Maxene Magalona, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Gerald Anderson.
Meeting Marian Rivera somehow settled the professional competition between them. Angel narrated how she met the prized talent of the Kapuso network.
"Tineks ko si Popoy [Carivativo, Marian's manager] kung puwedeng mag-donate si Marian at si Dennis [Trillo]. Pumayag naman siya, and I'm very happy na si Marian sobrang game. Ako pa yung kumuha ng picture niya hawak-hawak niya yung mga item na dinonate niya. Tinanong niya pa ako kung meron pa siyang maitutulong, lumapit lang daw ako," said Angel.
During the launch, Angel and Anne announced that Manny Pacquiao and more celebrities are donating their personal items to Shop & Share.
NO POLITICAL COLOR. How does she divide her time, especially now that she is about to start several projects with ABS-CBN?
Angel said she was already scheduled to begin her new TV series with the network. "Ayusin lang po namin muna itong Shop & Share."
She continued, "Nakakagulat nga, tawa kami nang tawa ni Anne, kasi minsan nag-a-upload kami, tapos hindi na kami nakakapag-usap, kasi iba talaga yung focus namin. Mahirap din, pero siyempre, iba naman yung kaligayahang natatanggap namin, di ba?"
There is a buzz that one of the reasons Angel was very visible with charitable works was that she is preparing to enter politics. Is this true?
"Ay, naku, hindi po! Hindi po! Hindi po!" she said laughing. "Parang katulad lang po natin ngayon na mga Pilipino, dahil nakakita nga tayo ng trahedya, tumutulong lang tayo sa mga naapektuhan. Wala pong halong pulitika ito. Hindi ko po ma-picture ang sarili ko na tatakbo."
Angel also mentioned that aside from celebrities who donated clothes and fashion accessories on their online auction, there are some politicians who have already donated their personal belongings to the project. "Ayoko na lang mag-name ng names," she said.
And if there are politicians who will approach her and Anne to take part on their project, Angel said, "Siguro, mas makakatulong sila kung mag-bid sila, di ba? Kesa yung kami ang magbenta ng product nila."
Why did they choose the Red Cross for this project?
"Sa experience kasi, matagal na sila," Angel replied. "Alam na nila kung papaano idi-distribute yung lahat. Yung mga lugar na kailangang puntahan. Kung sino yung nangangailangan ng tulong talaga. Ang Red Cross, nakita ko na talaga kung paano sila umaksyon. Kaya masasabi ko talaga na I'm very proud na kasama namin sila dito sa Shop & Share. Nakita ko sila kung papaano sila ka-sincere na tumulong sa mga nangangailangan."
LUIS MANZANO. On the showbiz side, Angel admitted that she and ex-boyfriend Luis Manzano had already talked. "Nag-usap kami ni Luis," she said. "Nagkita kami nung ASAP, biglaan. Nagulat ako, as in... 'Hello, ASAP!'"
How is her relationship with the son of Gov. Vilma Santos and vice-presidential candidate Edu Manzano now?
"Okay naman kami. Nakakapag-usap na kami. Okay kami na hindi naman kami magkaaway," she replied.
Would there be a chance of reconciliation?
"Ayoko namang magsalita ng tapos, pero sa ngayon, we respect each other's decision."
EMMY NOMINEE. Any day now, the actress will fly to the U.S. to attend the International Emmys. Angel is vying for the Best Actress trophy for the fantasy series Lobo, her first teleserye with ABS-CBN. But she said she does not expect to win the award.
"Ayoko ring isipin, kasi lalo lang akong mate-tense," said Angel.
Accompanying Angel is her business manager Becky Aguila and some people from ABS-CBN.
"May niyayaya ako, e. Pero hindi ko alam kung magye-yes. Secret pa, baka mapurnada," the actress said.
UPCOMING PROJECTS. What are her new projects in the Kapamilya network?
"May sinasabi sa akin, pero ayoko munang mag-talk muna. Pero itong November, may sinasabi sa akin ang ABS-CBN, pero kahit ano. Tutal hindi pa naman sure na sure nang talaga," Angel said.
Is it true that her project with actor Aga Muhlach was already shelved?
"Tuloy naman siya. Kaya lang sinabi sa akin ni Tita Malou [Santos, managing editor of Star Cinema], re-sked lang siya. And I'm very happy na magkaroon ako ng chance na makatrabaho si Aga. Siyempre, Aga Muhlach 'yon."
Angel confirmed that it will be a movie with the actor which they will start doing this November. "Nag-present na sila ng istorya na sobrang gusto ko," she added.
CONTRACT WITH ABS-CBN. Has she already signed her new contract with ABS-CBN? There are reports that Angel's camp did not agree to what was stipulated on the contract. They backed out.
"May naisyu yata na hindi ko daw sinipot. Kasi, kaya hindi ko 'yon nasipot, kasi inuna muna yung storycon namin. Kasi nag-present muna sila ng story, kasi mas importante nga naman 'yon, di ba? Pero walang nangyari na tinanggihan ko 'yung contract. Hindi po," she clarified.
Angel continued, "I'm very happy sa ABS-CBN, sobrang suporta nila. Yung signing wala pa, kasi ni-re-sked nga, pero 'wag po kayong mag-alala, wala pong lipatan, yung gano'n. May inaayos po na konting details. Pero ABS-CBN pa rin po ako. Masaya pa rin po ako sa ABS-CBN. Inaalagaan po ako nang maayos."
RUMORED LOVER. There was this rumor about Angel's very rich businessman lover. How true was it?
"Sino naman 'yon? Kung totoo nga, di hindi na ako magsa-Shop & Share! Dare ko kayo, hanapin niyo kung sino 'yon. Magbabayad pa ako sa inyo. Pero wala talaga. Kahit lahat ng ari-arian ko, wala talaga kayong mahahanap." Angel was referring to the buzz that some of her properties were allegedly given by this businessman.
Angel was very surprised at the rumor that this guy had also given her a helicopter.
"May helicopter? Bigyan niya ako ng helicopter para pang-rescue!" the actress said in jest. "Wala. Wala akong helicopter."
How do these rumors affect her?
"May mga tao kasing parang naniniwala. Di ko ma-gets, kasi may mga taong naniniwala. Hindi ko naman kailangan, kasi may pera naman ako, e. Minsan kasi, parang 'pag may taong nasalubong ko, parang naniniwala sa isyu-isyu. Hindi ko alam kung mag-e-explain ba ako o tatawanan ko na lang."
The actress also clarified the rumor linking her to tycoon Lucio Tan's son. "Kasi po yung partner ko dati sa business ko, best friend niya po yung anak ni Lucio Tan, pero hindi po siya Tan. Joel Tan po siya, pero hindi siya connected sa mga Tan. At hindi na po kami mag-partner ngayon. Pero walang ganoong isyu. Nakakahiya lang kasi hindi naman siya showbiz."
There are people that still cannot believe Angel's wealth, especially now that, according to some reports, she recently acquired several properties worth millions of pesos.
"Paano ko ba i-explain 'to? Siguro naman kahit ipakita ko pa pag-o-audit ng pera ko, sa mga na-achieve ko naman, nakaipon naman ako. Hindi naman ako maluho. Hindi naman ako mahilig mag-shopping. Wala naman akong bisyo. Nag-iipon lang po talaga ako. 'Saka ilang years na akong nag-aartista, 'saka lang ako nakabili ng bagong sasakyan. Siyempre, nag-i-invest naman ako," she explained.
About the construction of her new 'building', Angel clarified, "Nagpapagawa kasi ako ng bahay, yung building na 'yon, baka mag-expect kayo, hindi naman 'to yung building na makikita niyo sa Makati. Wala, maliit lang siya. Ang habol lang namin do'n, income din siya. Tapos baka maggawa kami ng bar do'n sa taas, kasi yung rooftop niya bakante, kaya baka puwede naming gawan."
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