Connected to each other forever
Showbiz is an industry of families. Beauty and talent – not to say high visibility – are second skin to these glamorous people, whom we adore from generation to generation. Let’s take a look at the ties that bind them – after the camera lights are off and the screen credits have long faded away.
Lorna Tolentino, Amy Perez and Zsa Zsa Padilla are first cousins. Amy’s father, Abet Perez, is the brother of Lorna’s mother, Eloisa. Zsa Zsa’s mother, Esperanza, on the other hand, is the sister of Lorna and Amy’s mom and dad, respectively. This makes newly-married Karylle, Zsa Zsa’s daughter and Rap and Renz Fernandez, Lorna’s sons by her late husband Rudy Fernandez, second degree cousins.
Lorna's late husband Rudy Fernandez is the first cousin of Robin Padilla and his brothers BB Gandanghari and Rommel Padilla. This makes Daniel Padilla, Rommel's son by Karla Estrada, Robin's nephew. Kylie Padilla, Robin's daughter who is into showbiz, is Daniel's cousin.
Half sisters
Lovi Poe is
the stepdaughter of Susan Roces, whose husband, the King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), is the young actress’ father (her mom is former actress Rowena Moran). Sen. Grace Poe happens to be FPJ’s daughter as well. This makes the newbie senator and Lovi half sisters.
Andi Eigenmann, Sid Lucero (real name: Timothy Mark Pimentel Eigenmann) and Gabby Eigenmann are siblings.
Andi’s parents, Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil (real name: Raphael Joseph Eigenmann), have long separated. Jaclyn was not Mark’s first girlfriend. Before her came former model Bing Pimentel (Sid Lucero’s mom) and Irene Celebre (Gabby’s mother). Mark has since broken up with Bing and Irene and is now happily married to Maricar Jacinto-Eigenmann.
Meanwhile, Mark’s older brother, Michael de Mesa, is the father of another young star, Geoff Eigenmann,
who is the spitting image of his mom, actress-director Gina Alajar. Mark and Michael have an only sister, award-winning actress Cherie Gil. The three respected actors are the children of veteran artists Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil.
Striking similarities
Notice the striking similarities in Elmo, Maxene and Saab Magalona’s good looks? That’s because these young stars have the same parents -- the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona and his wife Pia. Francis himself comes from showbiz royalty. His parents are respected on screen-offscreen couple Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.
Do you know that Geneva Cruz, Sheryl Cruz, Donna Cruz, Sunshine Cruz, Rayver Cruz and Rodjun are
cousins? They belong to the Cruz musical clan in showbiz. Geneva's dad, Boyet, is the sister of Donna's mom, Yolly. Sunshine's dad Danny Cruz, is the first cousin of Boyet and Yolly. Rayver and Rodjun are the sons of Beth Cruz, the sister of Ricky Belmonte, Sheryl Cruz's father. Ricky Belmonte and Tirso Cruz Jr., the dad of veteran actor Tirso Cruz III, are brothers.
Eddie Gutierrez, matinee idol of the ‘60s and wife Annabelle Rama have produced some of Philippine showbiz’s most beautiful faces: Miss World second runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez and twins Richard and Raymond Gutierrez.
Fully loaded
Ever wonder where Julia Barretto got her good looks? Estranged couple Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla's daughter is fully loaded with beauty genes. Her aunts (Marjorie’s sisters) are Gretchen Barretto and Claudine Barretto. Julia’s younger sister, Claudia, has also joined showbiz.
Comedy King Dolphy may have been gone., But he left a lot of heirs in showbiz. They include actor-director Eric Quizon, comedians Epi and Vandolph Quizon and singer Zia Quizon.
Comediennes Tia Pusit (Meng Villanueva in real life) and Nova Villa have something else between them than the talent for making people laugh
. They’re half sisters. They have the same mom -- Consuelo Villanueva.
The list is by no means final. We'll never know if Karylle's future child by her husband, Yael Yuzon, will also join showbiz. We don't know if Andi's cute daughter will also enter showbiz the way her mom and ancestors did. So let's keep our eyes and ears open. The fun is by no means over!
