Angel Locsin: Flight to stardom and cloudy skies for Dada's girl

n the beginning, she was a very simple and unassuming girl who loved her "Dada." Her life revolved around school and swimming. One time, she cut classes and went to SM North EDSA with her best friend to shop for groceries. A lady approached her and asked if she'd be willing to do a commercial. The young lady said, "Pwede!"

Her life has been constantly changing since then.

ANGEL'S TAKEOFF. As fate would have it, she eventually got acquainted with Becky Aguila, who became her manager and her surrogate mother as well. The world of showbiz officially opened its doors to Angel Locsin in 2000.

When she talked about her family, the public would learn that she was very fond of her dad, Angel Colmenares, who lost his eyesight several years ago; that she had five siblings, four of them from Mr. Colmenares's first family. But hardly anyone would hear a word from her about her mom.

Last July 27, showbiz veteran Lolit Solis dropped a bomb on Ogie Diaz's radio show. She claimed Angel's mom is "dating katulong na nabuntis ng tatay."

Manay Lolit, as the talent manager and host is called, put it this way: "Di ba, usually 'pag ganitong pagkakataon, 'pag may problema ang anak, ang lumalabas nanay? Bakit, 'asan ba 'yung nanay ni Angel? Lalo na 'pag lumabas 'yung isyu tungkol sa pagkaka-abort, kailangan 'yung nanay, 'di ba? Pero nagkahiwalay daw [ang parents ni Angel] kaya si Angel yata lumaki sa tatay, kaya hindi close sa nanay."

This revelation sent the fans of Angel ballistic. On July 27, in PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), they lashed back at Manay Lolit through the "Comments Column" following the article posted on the subject by Roldan Castro.

Ivyca wrote: "hey manay lolit tumigil kana ha.... nagpuputok butse mo kase wala na sa gma s angel the more na sinisiraan mo sya the more na maggogrow ang career nya... ang tanda mo na lolit puro pa rin paninira sa kapwa ang inaatupag mo huh!"

Likewise, Girlyme felt that Lolit's claims about Angel are offensive: "Lolit solis, wala tayong pakialam kung katulong ang nanay ni angel. marangal na trabaho yan walang dinaya na tao."

Good point. However, being a newsmaker, Angel has to face up to any and all information being attached to her, whether to verify or to deny. Meantime, PEP did its own research by talking to Angel's former neighbors in Baesa, Caloocan City.

Ms. Rose Labing-isa, the sister of the barangay captain, said this about Angel's mom: "Maganda ang Nanay niya. Wala akong naririnig na ganyan dito [referring to the maid issue]."

One former neighbor, who refused to be publicly identified, had her theory on the possible reason Angel does not usually mention her mom. In her email, the former neighbor wrote that Angel's mom left to go with another man when Angel was just a budding teen star. Our informant said it was the "usap-usapan" in their small barangay several years ago, but nobody from the Colmenares family confirmed it, and no one in their barangay bothered to verify it. In addition, she seconded Lolit Solis's "maid" allegation.

But even if some of them believed that the tittle-tattle about Angel's mom was true, these former neighbors say they did not think less of Angel. Baesa Adventist Academy's principal, Ms. Luzviminda Saramosing, said about the school's former student Angelica Colmenares:

"She came to Baesa for one school year. She's a good student. The mother would excuse her to join beauty contests in the municipality. She is loved by her classmates. Ang bait-bait na bata."ES! magazine featured her house in its September 2006 issue. The article mentioned that Angel is renting an apartment for her mom. "May boyfriend siya dati, pero ngayon wala—thank God," Angel disclosed. YES! wrote that she was smiling and rolling her eyes while sharing that tidbit about her mom.

Becky Aguila is probably the closest person that Angel can relate to as a "nanay." She calls the lady "Tita." In a PEP article posted on February 5, Becky said: "I love her like my own." Angel also treats the twin daughters of Becky, Katrina and Paula, like her own blood-sisters.

THE NEWCOMER CLICKS. Six years ago, Angel first appeared on GMA-7's Click. She played the twin sister of Richard Gutierrez and the love interest of Bryan Revilla, and later, of Railey Valeroso.

The fans instantly liked Charley, nickname for her Charlotte role. The viewing public found her beauty utterly refreshing and charming. Fans wrote in the Internet forums, "para siyang bagong gising parati."

Her contemporaries, Chynna Ortaleza and Karen delos Reyes, are both products of TV ads (Chynna endorsed a soft drink brand, while Karen appeared on a popular fast-food chain TV commercial). Write-ups would later divulge that Angel's work attitude and versatility put her a cut above the rest.

It was on the set of the youth-oriented show that she met Mico Sotto, the son of Vic Sotto's older brother Maru and radio host Ali Sotto. The two fell in love but their relationship was tragically cut short. Six months after they officially became a couple, Mico accidentally fell from his ninth floor condominium unit, causing the young actor's untimely demise.

Eight months after Mico's death, Angel Locsin rose to stardom.

WINGS FOR ANGEL. In August 2004, Angel spread her wings as Alwina in GMA-7's grand production, Mulawin, in a role that would have been Maxene Magalona's if the latter had not declined it in favor of her studies. Angel was paired with Richard Gutierrez, now the biggest young male star of GMA-7.

Mulawin, together with GMA-7's Extra Challenge, dramatically pulled up the average-to-good ratings of the network's primetime block. The show averaged 35.5%, the highest ratings for a fantaserye at that time.

After Mulawin, Angel became Narda in Darna, another GMA-7 fantasy-adventure. Sans wings, Angel continued to soar to the skies and to capture the hearts of the public. She became every kid's heroine and every man's fantasy. She posed for FHM magazine the same year Darna was aired and became FHM's sexiest Pinay in 2005.

Then she also did Majika and Asian Treasures, both successful primetime shows of GMA-7. From 2004 to 2007, Angel was a staple figure on TV's evening programming. In between, she top-billed blockbuster movies like Let the Love Begin (GMA Films); Sigaw and Text (Regal Entertainment); I Will Always Love You, Mulawin: The Movie, and The Promise (GMA Films and Regal Entertainment).

And then, the biggest prize of them all: the numerous endorsements. GMA-7 senior vice-president for entertainment Wilma Galvante recently announced that GMA Artist Center closed deals with various brands for Angel Locsin amounting to 60-million pesos.

These days, some PEP users wonder how Angel got so lucky. They say "she doesn't really have the talent." Indeed, her acting is not outstanding and there are many young stars who can deliver on those roles better. But the people who have worked with her attest to her dedication and professionalism.

Her manager said in a PEP article dated July 22: "Si Angel matiisin 'yan, e. Remember, she had this laser sa left eye niya? Sobrang matiisin na 'pag nagbabasa siya ng script almost sa mukha na niya."

Redgie Magno, GMA-7 program manager was also heard once, saying: "Si Angel naman, kapag nag-commit na 'yang magtrabaho, kahit 'di na 'yan matulog, okay lang sa kanya."

LOVE MATCH. On February 11, 2005, or fourteen months after Mico's death, another young man caught the love bug. He was Oyo Boy Sotto, Mico's first cousin and son of Box Office King Vic Sotto.

He fell in love with the girl he was calling, "'Tol," which is the Tagalog slang for "brother."

As Oyo narrated in the October 2006 issue of YES! magazine, his first admission was relayed via text. Here's his story: "Hi, Angel'—so, nag-iba na, Angel na ang tawag ko sa kanya, hindi na 'Tol'—'it was nice seeing you. I just want to tell you something, pero you don't have to reply naman. Bahala ka na. Basta gusto ko lang malaman mo ito.'

"Sumagot siya, 'Bakit, ano 'yon?'

"Sabi ko, 'I think I'm falling for you!'"

"Yong reply pa niya sa akin: ''Tol, nagkamali ka yata ng text.' Sabi ko, 'Naku, patay!' Sabi ko, 'Hindi, Angel, para sa 'yo talaga 'yan.'

"'Tapos, hindi nagre-reply. 'Naku, patay,' sabi ko. Feeling ko, nagalit na sa akin. Ewan ko kung ano pinag-iisip niya. Sabi ko, 'Puwede ba tayong mag-usap?'

And they talked, admitting to each other that they were both feeling "something" for each other. At dawn of February 13, Oyo said, "I love you." And they marked that as their anniversary date.

CLOUDY SKIES. Skies darkened for Angel in August 2005. Reports say that in Angel's condo unit, she and her manager Becky Aguila had a heated argument. The young actress accused Becky Aguila of mishandling her money. The story goes that when Angel asked an accountant to audit her finances, she found there discrepancies.

Two months after, Angel confirmed the incident in an interview with Startalk. Becky Aguila aired her side of the story through Cristy Fermin's column. Becky's twins spoke on her behalf. The latter claimed that in the course of the argument, Angel pointed a finger at their mom and cursed her.

The July 2006 issue of YES! magazine picked up this statement of Becky from tatakpilipino.com: "Mas masakit ang mga murang tinanggap ko mula kay Angel. Mas masasakit ang mga salitang lumabas sa alaga ko kaysa sa panduduro at amba na alternately nilang ginawa ni Oyo Boy na kahit hayop, e, hindi makatatanggap."

In another write-up, this time in the tabloid Balita, Becky turned more upfront about the root of the issue. She was quoted as saying, "Hindi ko siya ninakawan! Hindi ako kumukuha sa kanya nang sobra-sobra sa commission ko. Angel knows the truth. And kung sakaling she has doubts and concerns, tinanong at hinarap niya dapat ako. I'm more than willing to show her financial statement. Puwede kong ipakita ang labas at pasok ng pera niya, wala akong kahit magkanong ginalaw sa sarili niyang pera."

For more than a year, the two were not on speaking terms. An article put out by June 2006 issue of Hi! magazine reported that Becky was said to have told her ward that Angel's contract with her was "for life." According to lawyers that PEP consulted, there was "no such thing." Moreover, the actual contract indicated that the young actress was tied to her manager only until December 2006.

The entire hubbub almost reached the courts.

Then came the breakup with Oyo Sotto.

Oyo and Angel called it quits on December 26, 2006, or just two months after they went public with their relationship. In a PEP article dated January 2, "lack of time" was said to be the cause of the breakup. Due to the actress's hectic schedule, boyfriend and girlfriend "barely managed a 'hello' and a 'good night' over the phone at the beginning and end of the day." Fame indeed has its price, and it cost Angel the relationship that seemed perfect at the time.

In the aftermath of Oyo's and Angel's love story, the feuding GMA-7 primetime princess and her controversial manager reconciled.

On February 5, Becky said to PEP: "Angel and I patched up our differences, came up with an agreement, kissed and made up with my twins last Dec. 27 [the day after Angel's breakup with Oyo]. Apparently, the complaint was filed earlier than expected and Angel will formally withdraw the case.

"Past is past, everything is water under the bridge. We've been separated for a year-and-a-half. We're both making up for lost time. I'm spending more time with her and [keeping] closely in touch when I'm not. She also finds time bonding with my twins. We're even closer and sweeter the second time around. I'm glad that all's well that ends well with my twins and Angel. Finally my 'prodigal' daughter is back."

Some said it was out of the kind heart of the young actress that she chose to forget her issues against Becky. Others assumed that Angel had lost Oyo, so she was turning to Becky, or that Becky made the move to get Angel back since Oyo was now out of the picture. Others said that Becky had a "hold"on Angel.

In the same article posted by PEP on February 5, Becky insinuated deceit in those close to Angel. Said she: "Alam kong marami nang nakapagsulsol sa kanya. Alam kong may naglason na sa isip niya."

The controversies did not rock Angel's career. The public saw her as "matiisin" at "mabait" in the midst of tribulations. They loved her even more.

THE NETWORK STORM. Becky's July 22 announcement on "The Buzz" saying Angel was making the transfer from GMA-7 to ABS-CBN came as a shock to everyone.

People thought of the "Angel-transfers-to Kapamilya-network" rumor as a publicity stint for GMA-7's Marimar.

Weeks before GMA-7's Asian Treasures went off the air on April 29, an article posted on PEP squealed on Angel Locsin's attitude problem on the set of her TV series with actor Robin Padilla. The attitude problem reportedly consisted of Angel shouting at elders like her fight instructor and generally being difficult on the set. Her co-stars and even GMA-7 management came to her defense and denied the rumors.

On May 14, PEP contributor Dinno Erece reported that Angel's next project would be the Pinoy version of Marimar. But weeks later, on June 8, he posted two articles: one talked about Angel refusing the role of Marimar; another, that the GMA-7 management never formally offered the role to Angel.

Subsequently, a GMA insider told PEP that the Kapuso network simply did not want to preempt the project by announcing who was going to star in their new primetime investment. In this light, the talk spreading about Angel not doing Marimar was seen as an effort to create buzz for the upcoming teleserye.

Then "talent fee" issues arose, followed by news about Angel's non-renewal of contract with GMA Artist Center. There was also an item saying that Angel was staying with GMA, the network that made her the big star she was today. Then followed stronger ripples of talk that Angel, through her manager, had actually started sending feelers to the Kapamilya network even as she and her manager were sitting at the table with the Kapuso executives.

In the end, the latter rumor would be proven true.

On July 22, Becky Aguila announced to the media that her most-prized talent was 80 percent sure of making the move to ABS-CBN.

Everyone was shocked—and, if GMA-7 management is to be believed, the network most of all.

The Kapuso executives (GMA-7) claimed they were totally clueless about the transfer. Insider information coming from the top levels of the network reveals: "Angel told management that she could not sign the new contract with GMA because she did not know when she would be back from a projected London trip, and that it would be unfair to GMA to make them wait indefinitely. Management was shocked to find out that even as they were sitting at the negotiation table, their prize star was already committing to ABS-CBN."

The Kapamilya executives (ABS-CBN) kept quiet for the most part during the rocky period. Insider information coming from the top levels of that network reveals: "ABS was very interested in Angel. Talagang interested. It has been looking for female stars to partner with its male stars, particularly with Piolo Pascual. Judy Ann [Santos] already had Ryan [Agoncillo] and they were a hit, so there was no reason to break that up. Claudine [Barretto] had just had a baby and was not expected to be in fighting form till after a couple of months. Angel would be perfect! But ABS did not want to be accused of pirating from GMA-7 and it did not want to start a legal network war. Its legal department scrutinized Angel's contract very well and advised Becky to clear everything with GMA before it could make a move on Angel. It was Becky's call."

In the meantime, as far as the public knew, Becky Aguila was renegotiating Angel's contract with GMA-7. When all was said and done, and Angel ended up negotating with ABS-CBN, Becky stated: "It's time to move on."

ANGEL WITH A DARK SIDE? For her part, Angel went to London for a brief study on clothes design. In her absence, the Pandora's Box opened.

Lolit Solis quoted the rumor that Angel had an "abortion" when she was with Mico Sotto; that she currently has a "rich boyfriend" who financed her London trip; and that she has a sex video somewhere.

Since then, others have been sending in their own reports. A web mole sent an email to PEP claiming that Angel cannot defy the wishes of her manager because the latter holds information that may ruin the career of the woman of the hour. A freelance reporter said to PEP: "Pinagtakpan lang siya ng GMA-7 noon, talagang nag-maldita siya sa Asian...Siguro sa pagod na rin niya."

The rumor has been going both ways. A person from Becky's camp claims that Wilma Galvante, GMA-7's senior vice president for entertainment, is making noise about Angel's transfer because she is allegedly "under fire" from Kapuso top gun Atty. Felipe Gozon who is reportedly upset over the way Wilma handled the contract with Angel. Another insider hinted, "May ABS-CBN star na babalik sa GMA dahil lahat ng possible projects for her, mapupunta kay Angel."

All these rumors have elicited either denial or silence from the people concerned.

Is the issue about money?

"Burned out si Angel at pagod na pagod na," Becky said to explain Angel contemplating the move to ABS-CBN. With her death-defying stunts in tapings that usually end before sunrise, Angel is supposed to want to get what she's worth.

Her perennial screen partner, Richard Gutierrez, is reportedly getting a lot more. Becky, reports say, cried foul. But GMA-7 responded to this claim: "Richard has more shows. He has Nuts, SOP, Lupin..."

Rumor has it that Angel's talent fee in ABS-CBN will be thrice the amount GMA-7 is paying her. If it is, then the move is a good business decision.

In showbiz where star power is transitory, "strike while the iron is hot" is no longer the name of the game. "Strike big, while the iron is hot" has become more apt. A star is usually given only a brief period of time to shine, so they make the most of it, grabbing the brightest offers in sight.

Is the issue about integrity?

The Kapuso network is upset that its prized female star made a big career move without proper closure with the people who "gave her the best projects, nurtured her, and helped her become the big star that she is now." All reports are consistent about this: GMA-7 feels betrayed.

As such, Angel and Becky defied showbusiness's universal rule: "Don't burn bridges."

We're not privy to what transpired inside their closed-door meetings. We don't know the extent of their negotiations. But Angel's sudden change of heart towards her former Kapuso family is giving the sweet-faced lady a not-so-pretty profile. Unlike her TV series, the twist in this particular episode in Angel's life is not what the majority expected and wanted.

But the noise that cannot be ignored is coming from the viewing public. Staunch supporters of the young star are happy for their idol's decision. Kapuso fans, on the other hand, call Angel "dark angel," "ingrata," "walang utang na loob," and "traydor."

Will the skies be bright and clear for Angel when she starts working again? Heaven knows. And only the mortals will tell. -