10 Things You Should Know About Ramon Bautista

Help! Ayaw na ni Ramon Bautista sa syota niya!

Comedian, professor, filmmaker, radio DJ and best-selling author Ramon Bautista: “Oo, naiisip ko din kung nakakainsulto na ba ako. ‘Okay ba ako? Wala ba akong kakwenta kwenta?’ Sobrang yabang mo na kung hindi ka dumadaan sa ganun.”

One of the Millennial generation’s favorite funny men was first an independent filmmaker, then a teacher, then a host and radio DJ, then a best-selling author. His undeniable wit has landed him everywhere from huge endorsements to hot controversies. Here are 10 things you should know about Ramon Bautista.

1. On getting into trouble because of his jokes: “Gusto kong maging matapang na sabihin na walang magbabago, pero syempre, parang hindi na natuto yun. Hindi ko pa rin alam what is next.”

“Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa iniisip kasi medyo mabigat pa siya,” Ramon says about the next steps after his public apology and statement, saying he respects the decision of the city of Davao declaring him persona non grata following a recent event. “There are other people who tell me to just continue what I do. I’m happy that there are people like my manager (director Erik Matti), who are usually the first to tell me if I’m doing something wrong, that still believe in me.”

A favorite host and guest speaker of corporate and school events, Ramon says, “I’m usually told about the topic beforehand and I prepare for it. Minsan yung mga talk parang iniimbento lang nila, parang gusto lang nila ako makita. Hindi sa pagmamayabang, pero parang ganun,” he laughs shyly. “I’m often invited when the topic is about love, and usually for that, I speak more spontaneously.”

2. He wasn’t the class clown at school. “Seryoso lang ako nun. Isa akong wallflower.”

“Napakaboring kong bata noon!” Ramon declares. He admits to being an above-average student (“Out of 30, siguro pang-12 ako”) who just loved drawing doodles in class. “I would read Time, Newsweek, or National Geographic because that’s what I would find at home. I would read pictures and captions ng lahat ng mga kagulugan sa mundo. Yung comics wala masyado,” Ramon reveals. “Nung bata ako, hindi ako masyadong lumalabas, hindi ako masyadong nagsasalita, tahimik ako sobra. I was so shy that whenever I would speak in front of a lot of people, I’d pat myself on the back kasi kinaya ko. I never imagined I would be a teacher because I’m afraid of public speaking. Pero dahil kailangan ng okasyon, gagawin ko.”

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3. On their first YouTube video that mattered: “Dan Michael Master Magician.”

“Fresh out of college, my friend R.A. Rivera and I worked for a show on UHF channel UNTV called Strangebrew. I was the editor for the videos and motion graphics, and I’d also help write the skits for our hosts Tado Jimenez and Angel Rivera. Since the show really didn’t have any budget, whenever they would need an extra to play a doctor, or taong grasa, o sirena, kami yun. Syempre di ka makaangal kasi kung umangal ka, tatagal ang shoot at made-delay ang production. Eh biglang okay ang feedback, so nilagay na nila ako,” Ramon recalls. “When Strangebrew was dissolved, I worked as a producer in TV5, made music videos for Radioactive Sago Project, and when YouTube came out in 2006, isa kami sa mga unang nag-upload. That’s where it really all started.

“We were at that gas station outside UP talking. You know David Blaine? Ano kaya kung sablay siya no? Yung hinuhulaan niya, mali? We kept on laughing about that. So that’s what we did,” Ramon says. “Those videos were commissioned by MTV for an event, and they asked us to do more. After some time, we decided to pitch a new idea, The Ramon Bautista Show. I interviewed Raimund Marasigan, Kean Cipriano when he was starting, and other big rock stars. Tapos dun na dumating yung mga commercials.”

4. On how he started as a filmmaker: “Alam mo yung ‘reverse inspiration’? Yung na-inspire ka sa pangit?”

“When I was in high school, idol ko si Pol Medina, Jr., yung gumagawa ng Pugad Baboy. He was an architect. Gusto ko maging architect para makagawa ako ng comics, hindi bahay. Para makagawa ako ng parang Pugad Baboy,” Ramon shares. “First sem, I slowly realized architecture had nothing to do with comics, pinakasilbi lang nito gumawa ng boxes gamit ang T-Square. At that time, R.A. and I were invited to watch a film festival in UP. Eh ang pangit ng mga pelikulang pinalabas. Sabi namin, kaya namin gumawa ng ganito. So that’s when we shifted to film.”

His thesis film titled Makina made it to international film festivals (“VHS tape pa na ipapadala, wala pang burn burn ng CD noon”) and even won in Gawad CCP. Aside from being a filmmaker, Ramon once applied at Cinema One (“Nung nagpass ako ng résumé, nakipagkwentuhan ako sa ilang batchmates, naisip ko parang di ko kaya ginagawa nila,”) and applied at an ad agency (“Taga-isip ng commercial, eh habang hinihintay ko ang resulta, nag-text na si R.A. tungkol sa UNTV.”)

5. On where he got his funny side: “Hindi ko alam, buong pamilya ko boring, walang nagsasalita sa amin!” he says laughing.

“Yung tatay ko, si Ernesto, clerk, at yung nanay ko, si Leonida, teacher at admin staff, pareho sila dito sa UP. Dito lang ako since birth, anything sa labas ng campus, outer space na yan sa akin,” Ramon says. “We are three siblings, my older sister is in the States, my younger sister is a preschool teacher. Gitna ako. Sabi sa akin, yung middle child syndrome, pang-babae lang daw yan. Pero nafe-feel ko all the time. I always want to be alone, I feel like I have to prove something and I have to work hard to prove it. Pero, sinasabi sa akin ng magulang ko na ako ang paborito nila. Pero, sinasabi naman nila sa lahat, nahuhuli ko eh,” he laughs.

6. Ramon Bautista in numbers:

100,000-plus: Number of Bakit Di Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo books sold nationwide. The movie adaptation starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim earned P124 million.

1.76: Ramon’s college grade point average at U.P. “Konting konti na lang, pasok na ako cum laude! Isang frustrating na point.”

200: Number of pesos he used to charge per hour when he did side projects as an editor for other students in UP, while in college.

7: Number of episodes of Tales From The Friendzone, their hit online show, with a total of over 3.5 million views.

1,130,000: Number of followers on his Twitter account, @ramonbautista

7. On the best lesson he’s learned as a professor: “It’s that feeling that you can be happy with the simplest things. I’m reminded na, eto yun. Eto lang dapat tayo.”

His career as a teacher at the UP Film Institute started as just something he wanted to try.

“The teacher for Animation class left, and there was no one else who specialized in animation at the time. So they asked me to teach. The next sem, they added to my units. So I taught Film Sound. Hanggang ngayon, tuloy pa rin ako.

 I teach the general education course on Philippine Cinema and World Cinema.”

On giving grades: “I think I’m fair. I usually give a 1.75. Pag di pumapasok, 5 talaga yun.”

On getting mad: “Oo naman, pero hindi ako sumisigaw. If they fall asleep in class, I tell them to sleep in the library and I mark them absent. Ganun lang.”

On being taken seriously as a teacher: “First day of class, I lay out the guidelines. Teacher ako, estudyante kayo. Alam naman nila iba yung sa TV.”

On having a female student try to charm him: “Wala! Sana nga may ganun,” he says jokingly. “Hindi, yung mga estudyante ko para silang naglalakad na class card sa mata ko. Sagrado ito. Ayoko mag-screw up sa kahit ano dito sa UP.”

8. He admits that the very first time he cried over a heartbreak was when he was 29 years old.

“Tanda na ako, mga 2007 yun. Dati, wala akong pakialam, hayaan mo sila kung ayaw nila. Eh, eto, gusto ko talaga,” Ramon admits. “That is how the book Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo and the show Tales From The Friendzone came to be. Sabay yun lumabas nung 2012. Oo, yun ang hugot nun, dala ko all that time, ganun katindi yun,” he laughs. Their story: “Naging kami. Brineak niya ako kasi meron na siyang iba. Wala naman kaming problema nun. Diba, maiiyak ka talaga.” He admits he and the girl-who-first-made-him-cry are okay now, and when he told her she was the inspiration for the book, she quipped, “Dapat may cut ako sa kinita mo.”

On how many times he has been in love: “Marami akong mga One True Love. Diba dapat isa lang? It’s a continuous process eh,” he says, laughing.

“Dati napanood ko si Aga Muhlach, ang galing o, nag-sorry tapos wala nang problema. Puppy-dog eyes. Ako, pag-nagsorry at nag-puppy dog eyes, lalo ako masarap i-break eh! Etong problema sa mukha ko, yung charisma ko may problema,” he explains. “Mukha akong walang credibility, mukha akong hindi sincere, pero sincere talaga ako. May problema lang sa mukha ko. Kaya nasa business ako ng katatawanan.”

He admits he does want to settle down in the future. “Oo syempre, masarap din na may bata kang hinihintay lumaki. Parang Tamagochi.”

9. On remembering Tado: “Kaibigan, inspirasyon, mentor, kung ano ako ngayon, ginagaya ko lang siya talaga.”

“Tino-tone down ko, kanya kasi sobrang tapang. Kung baga sa Milo, yung ka-Milo-han niya hanggang dito (points to the middle of a glass), ako lalagyan ko ng tubig hanggang dun (points to the top of the glass), para hindi masyadong wild.

“We were brainstorming for the show Science of Stupid on Nat Geo. I got a text, ‘Totoo ba yung kay Tado?’ I thought, ‘Sino nanaman inaway nito?’ Isa pang text. ‘Ano nangyari kay Tado?’ Tapos 3rd, 4th. Mukhang hindi gumawa si Tado ng trouble para sa sarili niya,” Ramon recalls Arvin “Tado” Jimenez’s untimely death earlier this year. “Nakakatawa na parang joke. Yung tipong si Tado lang makaka-pull off. Tapos yung tipong anytime, o Tado! Pakita ka na, tama na yan.” Ramon says. “Yung energy niya, paano niya tignan ang mga bagay, nakaka-inspire. Yung pagkawala niya isang super sad na bagay.”

10. Ramon is known to give amazing love advice to young Pinoys and Pinays. The most popular of which is: “There is more to life than love.”

The most common questions he is asked, and what advice he gives:

Q: Anong gagawin kapag hindi maka-move on?

A: Wag mag-move on at gamitin ang energy na yun to be a better version of yourself.

Q: Hindi pa raw siya ready for love, anong gagawin ko?

 A: Siguruhin mo kung hindi lang siya ready, o kung hindi lang siya ready sa IYO. Either way, wag mo nang ipilit. There are many fish in the sea, in cans, and at the grocery.

Q: Tama lang ba na umamin ng feelings sa best friend?

 A: Tama lang, kung kaya mo i-risk guluhin ang napakaganda ninyong samahan.

“Based on personal experience, stories of friends, and common sense,” he says about where he gets his knowledge on love. “Oo, naiisip ko din kung nakakainsulto na ba ako o annoying na ba ko para sa tao. Sa lahat ng umaakyat ng stage o nagsasalita sa mga tao, naiisip mo, ‘Okay ba ako? Wala ba akong kakwenta kwenta?’ Sobrang yabang mo na kung hindi ka dumadaan sa ganun.”

* * *

A comedian’s life is tough. You’re expected to make people happy, and people are quick to judge when they don’t see you happy. “Minsan pag mag-isa ako sa bahay naiisip ko, wag na lang kaya? Hindi na lang ako magpo-post, hindi ko na kayo pasasayahin lahat. Pero natutuwa ako na marami pa ring naniniwala sa akin,” Ramon says. However, life does go on, and following his best-selling book, Ramon is soon releasing Help! Ayoko Na Sa Syota Ko. “A lot of people are obsessed with having a love life, this book explores a lot of other angles. Okay lang na walang syota! Relax,” he smiles.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/08/31/1363504/help-ayaw-na-ni-ramon-bautista-sa-syota-niya 

10 Things You Should Know About Roman and Shalani Soledad-Romulo

Roman & Shalani walk 118 kms on their second honeymoon

Roman Romulo and Shalani Romulo: “When we have different beliefs, we discuss. We respect each other’s decisions.”

It was a quiet, rainy evening in their lovely, modest home. Without an ounce of makeup and with her hair tied, his polo tucked in and his hair combed neatly, their eyes sparkled as they looked at each other and posed for the photographer. Hot tea was served and standards were playing in the background. Everything was so low-key, you wouldn’t guess it was a congressman’s home.

Here are 10 things you should know about Rep. Roman and Shalani  Soledad-Romulo.

1. Shalani was 30 years old when she first met her biological father.

“That was the first time I saw him. People were asking me, ‘Wala bang galit?’ At that point, parang tapos na. I was done asking questions like, ‘Sino ang daddy ko?’ or ‘Bakit hindi niya ako hinahanap?” I was just happy to finally see him. At that time I had my own career, I was happy with life, it was a bonus for me. And finally the missing piece,” she shares. “Meron, yes,” she says about lukso ng dugo. “You will just know, there’s something inside you that will tell you.”

When asked if she ever went through a rebellious stage growing up, she says: “I guess the normal phase. When it was a school day I usually had to go home at 7 p.m. but sometimes I’d be out for dinner with my friends and go home at 8 or 9, or I’d ask permission to go out to Alabang but we would go to Star City. Typical lang, wala naman yung tipong naglayas ng bahay,” Shalani says. “Yes, I would get grounded!”

2. Roman, on growing up in a political environment: “They would constantly remind us that if we do something, it would reflect on the family.”

“Weekends we were all together, Sunday Mass together, lunch all together, it really didn’t disrupt the family life,” he says of his dad, former DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo’s job. “Growing up, nakagisnan na namin yung eleksyon. I remember when we were young, when my dad’s uncle Carlos P. Romulo ran, my dad was the campaign manager. We would tag along in the campaign sorties that would go on for weeks. As a kid it was more of fun. Of course, you’d want to win, but being a kid, you didn’t really know what the position was like. Basta natapos yung eleksyon, we’d all go back to our own lives.”

On the pressure to not get into any trouble because of their name: “In my college days, my dad was a senator. Especially in UP there was a lot going on, na-limit talaga ako. I never really went to gimmicks or girly bars, because, of course, you’ll never know what can happen. That’s what I always tell Lans, at least she’s sure that growing up, I never got into that,” he says laughing. Shalani giggles, too.

3. Shalani, on her bashers when she tried her hand at showbiz: “I really didn’t take it personally, I took it positively.”

“It wasn’t a goal, it was something that was just offered to me,” she says of her hosting duties for the game/variety show Willing Willie. “At that time I was intending to turn it down but ended up saying yes, and eventually I really enjoyed the show. You get to meet different kinds of people and learn from the experiences of others. When you are watching TV, you say, ‘Ay, ang dali ng trabaho nila.’ Hindi pala. It entails a lot of hard work and discipline.”

On bashers who criticized her hosting style: “I know naman I’m not the typical host that’s very bubbly. When other people give comments, I really take it as constructive criticism. Because I know there is always room for improvement. When they criticize me, it means they get to watch the show.”

Roman, on if he ever got to watch Shalani host on TV: “Nakapanood ako ng konti. The times I would watch was more for timing, because I would pick her up after work. So more or less I know when I’d have to leave,” he says. “I was courting her at the time so I was more concerned about what to do after picking her up. Dinner ba, or pupunta ba sa bahay nila? Basta kailangan masaya siya.”

4. Roman, prior to meeting Shalani, was already certain he wanted to bring his future girlfriend/wife on a European trip. Sure enough, their honeymoon was in Paris and Rome.

“My contemporaries, most got married at a certain time. Ako na lang yung single. We’d go out, tatlo kami, because they were always a couple and ako lang. Or we’d travel to Singapore or Hong Kong, they would all be couples. But to go to Europe, such a romantic place, ang hirap naman to go with friends or couples, especially. So I told myself that’s one thing I will really do, travel to Europe with my girlfriend or wife,” he shares.

Roman went through the whole bachelor phase of dating, until he met Shalani over three years ago. “We hit it off well after some time, not immediately. I was very interested, obviously she’s very pretty. Then we started going out, and as we got to talk, it was not that difficult to be a match. It was easy to get along with each other,” he says.

The day after their wedding, they flew off for their honeymoon. It was Shalani’s first time to Europe. “Paris is really a magical place, so romantic, everywhere the scenery is so nice, and you’re with your husband pa,” she recalls as she looks at Roman and smiles. “It was winter, ang lamig. And we loved walking around. Every now and then we’d go into a cafe even if we wouldn’t order coffee, just because it was too cold.”

Summer this year, they returned to Europe (convinced by a promo for a good deal on plane fare) but this time, to London and Spain. “We did the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, we walked 118 kilometers for five days,” Roman recalls. “We’d be walking around 10 hours a day, sleep at small inns in different municipalities, until we reached our destination,” he adds. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Shalani says.

When asked if they ever argue when traveling because of hunger or tiredness, they both laugh. “At one point I told Roman, ‘Ang sakit na talaga ng paa ko, mag-taxi na tayo,’ He said sayang naman because we started it already, but if we wanted, me and another friend we were with, could go ahead and take a cab. But, of course, I couldn’t leave him, so kahit umuulan naglalakad na din ako. If it wasn’t for Roman and his stubbornness to finish, baka hindi namin natapos.”

5. Roman and Shalani in numbers:

7: Number of months from the day they met to the day they got married, Jan. 22, 2012.

5: Number of minutes it takes Roman to get ready in the morning.

90: Number of minutes it takes Shalani to get ready in the morning.

13: The age gap between Shalani, 34, and Roman, 47.

9: Number of years Shalani served as councilor of Valenzuela, from 2004 to 2013.

39: Number of bills authored/co-authored by Roman since 2013, including the Unified Financial Assistance Bill and the Voluntary Student Loan Program, both already passed in Congress and waiting for Senate approval

6. They don’t necessarily have the same opinion on political issues.

“Even if we have different beliefs, we discuss. We try to present our sides,” Shalani says. “At the end of the day, we will compromise, okay that’s what you believe in, this is what I believe in. We respect each other’s decisions.”

On the FOI: “We’re both for it. Yun naman, obvious.”

On the DAP: “We both agree that the Supreme Court is the arbiter, the protector of the right thing, they have the final say that is non-political.”

On the RH Law: “I was not for it,” Roman says. “I’m pro-choice,” Shalani says. “I’m pro-life,” Roman rebuts. They both laugh.

On Roman’s move from the Lakas Kampi Party to the LP: “Yes, in a way because Lans was already in LP, but not only that, currently it’s run really well. It’s good to belong to a party whose leader is sincere.”

On the possibility of Shalani running for public office again: “For now, no plans.”

7. On the upload of their wedding photo online with their ninang Janet Napoles, during the height of the Napoles trial with the whistleblowers: “We were just hopeful that people would discerning enough to know the truth.”

“We just wanted the truth to come out. When I was in office and in Roman’s handling of his office, never did we put any money there.  All of the money that was allocated to the office was really used by the office for the people, for his constituents in Pasig, and in my case our constituents in Valenzuela,” Shalani says.

“We were more surprised than anything. We honestly did not have a deep relationship, she was known as a businesswoman and since we never dealt with her on that level, when these things came out, it was more of a surprise,” Roman says.

8. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name...

P-Noy

Roman: Honest person.

Shalani: Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.

Willie Revillame

R: Funny.

S: Willing Willie.

Kris Aquino

R: Cory and Ninoy.

S: Queen of all media.

VP Binay

R: Good leader.

S: Kay Binay, gaganda ang buhay.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile

R: Institution in the Senate.

S: One of the longest-serving public officials.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada

R: One of the Greenhills basketball boys.

S: Son of Erap.

Sen. Grace Poe

R: FPJ.

S: FPJ.

Mayor Erap Estrada

R: Charismatic.

S: Erap para sa mahirap.

Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

R: Strong leader.

S: Strong leader.

US President Barack Obama

R: There’s still so much he can do before his term ends.

S: Broke all records.

9. Early on in their relationship, they established a “No Edit Policy.”

“Whatever you want to say, your feelings on a certain matter,” Shalani says. “Ilabas mo lahat,” Roman finishes her sentence. “Otherwise nagpapatong-patong. Even the smallest things, even if it is so far from the issue, say it,” she adds. “Hindi kami yung tipong nagdadabog, or one would be on this side and the other would be on the other side. We really discuss,” he adds.

On a surprising trait they discovered about each other after marriage: “Lans cooks, which was a pleasant surprise. She can cook anything and hindi namin problema kahit kaming dalawa lang dito sa bahay,” Roman shares. “In terms of his clothes, hindi siya maarte or mapili. He doesn’t mind the brand, he doesn’t mind if luma as long as functional pa. I fold his clothes so I see sometimes may butas na yung shirt but he’ll still use it because it’s his favorite or because it’s comfortable,” Shalani reveals.

On their best advice on marriage: “Always remember your commitment. It isn’t going to be perfect, may times maiinis ka, but always remember why you chose this person para maalala mo that you love this person,” Shalani says. “That it’s normal that you don’t agree on everything, so it’s best to talk and talk and talk,” Roman says. “Sinasabi niya yan pero minsan kapag ako yung may issue, he’ll say, ‘O tapos ka na,” Shalani laughs. “Kailangan kasi mailabas lang,” Roman adds and they both laugh again.

10. On who between them is the better politician. Roman says it’s Shalani, and Shalani says itis Roman.

“To be a politician, dapat mabilis mong makuha yung pulso ng tao, and Lans has that,” Roman says.

“I see his work ethic, at any given time, kapag may kailangan yung constituents niya, even if he is sleeping, even at his most inconvenient time, gagawin niya. Not because he’s my husband, it is really what makes him stand out for me,” Shalani says.

On what life in politics has taught them: “Kailangan talaga humility, especially in dealing with people. Ang daming points of view and kahit sino kausap mo, kailangan makinig ka,” Roman says. “You will not always be in office, so once you are in that position, make sure you maximize it and really do something good,” Shalani says.

* * *

I asked what their plans are in, say, 10 years. “Hopefully with kids,” Shalani answers with a smile. “That’s the one thing we’re really hoping for as soon as possible,” Roman adds. “Sana twins!” Shalani says. “Pinaka masayang times namin are with family when we are all together, even with our pamangkins. Ultimately ‘yun naman ang gusto mo, maging masaya ang buhay,” Roman ends. After our long chat, the couple personally accompanies us out the front door, holding hands, and still with that sparkle in their eyes.

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/08/10/1355688/roman-shalani-walk-118-kms-their-second-honeymoon 

10 Things You Should Know About James Yap

James Yap on his relationship with Kris Aquino: ‘Okay na, sana tuluy-tuloy na’

King James: A celebrity on and off the court

He is called “King James,” “The Man with a Million Moves,” “Big Game” and many other sports monickers. My word count is not enough for the list of achievements and awards he has received. His team is only the second in PBA history to win a grand slam title. On top of that, his personal life has been tabloid fodder for over a decade now. Here are 10 things you should know about James Yap.

1. To earn extra cash growing up, he used to place bets with local trike drivers.

“Kasi dati, mga Grade 2 ako, hindi ako binibigyan ng allowance ng dad ko,” the Escalante, Negros Occidental native shares. “After school, I would go straight to be ball boy for the tennis games. After two games, that’s around one hour, I would have two pesos. That time, malaki na yun,” he laughs recalling. “When I would get that money, I would go straight to the basketball court and we would place bets and go shooting. Malalaki na kalaban ko nun, mga tricycle at padyak drivers. Sometimes I would win P10, basta wag lang three-point shot kasi hindi ko pa abot noon.

“My first sport was actually baseball. My school, Mt. Carmel, had no basketball team for elementary level. So what I did, I played baseball, football, volleyball, sepaktakraw, high jump, long jump, sinalihan ko na lahat. After taking up all the sports in school, I would play basketball on the court near our house. To be honest, while my tutor would teach me, nasa basketball court na yung utak ko. Pero pasado naman ako sa school.”

He got to focus on basketball at Bacolod Tay Tung High School, then Iloilo Central Commercial High School, where he became a four-time MVP and three-time champion at PRISAA.

2. On his famous one-hand style of shooting: “Ganun na galaw ko dati pa, hindi ko rin alam bakit, malaki lang ang kamay ko siguro,” he laughs.

“I was discovered during the MBA. We were competing in the high school finals exhibition game before the main game. Fast break ata nun, nag dunk ako. We eventually became champions. After that, madami nang tumatawag sa amin,” he recalls.

“When I would have breaks in high school, I would fly to Manila and practice in DLSU. Nililigawan na ako ng La Salle noon. Pero, iba yung galing probinsya tapos sasabak ka sa ganun. Na-culture shock ako. I was worried I might fail in my subjects and not be able to play. If I went to La Salle, if there would be class reports, ayoko, mahihiya ako mag-report dun sa gitna,” he admits. “My tito was convincing me to go straight and play in the MBA, but good thing my other tita insisted that I go to college. Since UE was also recruiting me, we decided that I should go to UE instead.”

James never won a UAAP championship title for UE, but he did win an MVP award in 2003. “Na-frustrate talaga kami, almost all the outside leagues we would join, we would win the championship for UE. Pero pag dating sa UAAP, wala talaga.” After four playing years in college, he was drafted as second pick in the first round by the Purefoods (now San Mig Coffee) franchise.

3. James Yap in numbers:

18: His jersey number. “In high school, I wanted number 9 as in Samboy Lim, but someone was using 9 already. Swerte naman sa akin, so tuluy-tuloy ko na.”

3: Number of cans of sardines he won for his first MVP award. “When I was in grade school, sinali ako ng tito ko sa liga nila. I won MVP. My prize? Three cans of 555 Sardines!”

11: Number of times he has been part of the PBA All-Star lineup (which means every single year since he entered the PBA)

194,000-plus: Number of followers on his Instagram account, @jamesyap18

33: Average number of minutes per game in his whole career. He has a career average of 16 points, four rebounds, one assist per game.

4. On the secret to his team’s success: “Kaya siguro kami naging successful kasi walang inggitan.”

“We all know the role we have to play. I think that is the best thing about our team. There is no star player, walang sapawan, pantay pantay lahat,” he shares.

On his relationship with teammates Marc Pingris and PJ Simon, who have been dubbed the “Big 3,” one of the very few lineups that have never had an issue of rivalry: “We are very close even off the court.”

Never nagkapikunan? “Never,” James says.

Not even once? “Never.”

What makes them click and work? “Siguro lahat kami galing sa probinsya, galing sa hirap? Si PJ taga-Makilala, Davao. Si Ping, taga-Poso Rubio, Pangasinan. Hindi ko alam, baka yun yon.”

On how he handles a bad game on a bad day: “Iisipin ko talaga yun. I will think about the things I have to improve and work on. Then I will forget about it. Kalimutan, move on, practice ulit. Ganun lang yun.”

5. On the most valuable advice he has received from any coach he’s been under: “Wag kang makampante.”

“Once nakakuha ka ng championships or awards, ‘wag ka mag-relax. Continue to work hard. Huwag makampante because there are so many other players who want to be in the position you are in. There are so many who can replace you. Yun yung pinaka-tumatak sa isip ko. The person who told me that was my high school coach in Iloilo, Nelson Go. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago.” His parents Carlos and Annie have also been key in keeping him grounded despite all his success. “Mag-pray, always pray,” he says is their most constant reminder to him.

James would not pinpoint any specific false, malicious rumors about him, instead saying, “Ang daming nasusulat na hindi naman totoo. I just don’t mind it, I try not to be affected by it, at tinatawanan ko na lang.” He says he is used to fake stories being spread about him, but has never gone as far as getting into an argument with a reporter or a fan. “Hindi ako Boy Patol,” he says with a laugh.

6. James shares that the biggest lesson he learned from married life is “Don’t rush.”

His default answer now when asked about the possibility of getting married again is, “Hindi ko pa iniisip yan.” After his five-year marriage with Kris Aquino, a relationship that was constantly in the public eye, he shares: “Really get to know each other. Mahirap pumasok sa isang kasalan na hindi niyo talaga alam pa ang lahat sa isa’t isa. Take your time so that you know if kayo talaga ang para sa isa’t isa, if you are really compatible.”

On how his relationship with Kris became better after the legal episodes they dealt with: “Hindi ko alam, basta one time, we were both called to court, and bigla na lang nagbago ihip ng hangin pagpasok ko. ‘Hi, James! How are you?’ she said, smiling. That was the start of things being okay. That was really what I have been praying for, na maging okay na. Sana tuluy-tuloy na.”

7. On the kind of father he wants to be for his son Bimby: “A disciplinarian.”

“Iba kasi yung disiplina ng nanay sa tatay, ‘di ba? Yung father figure talaga. Gusto ko mga larong lalaki, habulan, wrestling, basketball. Si Bimby ngayon, mahilig kasi sa video games,” he shares. “Hindi ako yung tatay na mag-iimpose. Whether Bimby would want to become an actor, or an athlete, or something else, I will support him.” Recently, James and his ex-wife Kris agreed on him being able to see and visit their son every Friday. James has also admitted to the public that he fathered another child before Bimby, but did not reveal if he has a son or daughter, as he chooses to respect their privacy. “Ever since, they have been very private, kaya ayoko na silang idamay sa mga ganito.”

On how he has remained close to Kris’s older son Josh: “Si Josh naman kasi, ang bilis mahalin. The moment I entered their lives, Kris and I had just met, sobrang sweet na niya na bata. Until now, he would say, ‘Tito James, you drive. Holding hands tayo.’ Ganun talaga, malambing.”

8. On Alvin Patrimonio being open to pass the throne as the face of Purefoods to James: “Syempre nakaka-flatter. Pero hindi mo pa rin maco-compare. Alvin Patrimonio pa rin siya.”

Does he still have any fears on the basketball court? “Hindi mo iisipin yung fear sa loob ng court. You remain careful, but of course, wish for no injuries.” He is thankful he hasn’t had any major injury, except for a recurring back pain. “I have been doing therapy with Olympic doctor Filippo Mechelli in Italy.”

On what is he like when showing affection, and when he is mad: “Ako, malambing akong tao, eh. I like throwing little and big surprises for my partner. Medyo matagal naman ako bago magalit. But when I do get mad, grabe rin. I think quiet people are often like that.”

On being under the winningest-coach in the PBA, Tim Cone: “Grabe siya. His style is he really, really speaks well. Magaling mag-motivate, it’s all him. Win or lose, he keeps us motivated.”

9. In over two years that he and girlfriend Michela Cazzola have been seeing each other, they have been to Italy five times.

“The touristy cities are beautiful, but it’s the provinces in Italy that are really, really beautiful; that is why we keep going back,” he says of another upcoming trip together to Italy.

When asked what he likes most about Mic, as he fondly calls her, James says: “Unang una syempre, mabait. Marunong makisama sa lahat. Pwede mong dalhin kahit saan, kaya niya. Yun lang, pag gutom, masungit,” he laughs. The courtship started after they met through a common friend during separate dinners at a hotel. “Sa text talaga nagsimula. Then when we would have common free time, we would meet up. Kwentuhan. I’m not the type to give flowers or gifts kapag nanliligaw, it’s really more on texting and going out together,” he says of how he won the heart of the ADB-stunner. “Baliktad ‘ata ako, when I am courting the girl, I don’t really give any material things. But when I’m in a relationship, I really shower her with gifts and surprises.”

10. On reports that he is the highest paid player in the PBA, he laughs and shakes his head. “Happy na ako kung umabot ako ng 37. I’m 32 now, so maybe five or six more years.”

“Syempre ang basketball hindi naman for life,” he says. “I’m looking at different business ventures now. But for me, if you will get into a business, it really has to be something that you love, and you have to give time for it, yung tutok ka talaga.” He currently is one of the partners of a dealership of Vespa in the Philippines, and of barbershop Razor Sports. “I do have investments in real estate, but they’re more on condominiums. Next year I am hoping to buy a house.”

Everyone who knows James knows he loves cars, shoes and watches, but after winning four consecutive championships, his gift to himself was a Rolex watch. “Ang problema kasi sa akin, kuripot ako. But at the same time, if there is something I really, really want, even if it is pricey, I will get it. Extremes talaga.

“To be honest, I am not yet thinking about what I will do after basketball,” he says. “I will probably travel. I’d want to rest. I can see myself coaching high school, maybe. We’ll see.”

* * *

James is an ironic mix of intense and calm, eager and self-assured, who truly knows how to live in the now. But many other athletes have his same story. What is it that makes him so different? This is what James thinks: “Para sa akin, disiplina lang talaga, hard work, and dedication. I’m the type of person that when I set my mind to something, nothing can distract me.”

http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2014/07/20/1348036/james-yap-his-relationship-kris-aquino-okay-na-sana-tuluy-tuloy-na