By Robbie Pangilinan
From the smooth voice over Radio Romance, to the sweet-image Palibhasa
Lalake mainstay, to the bubbly Pera o Bayong game master, to the
spirited Face to Face host … Amy Perez has gone a long, long way.
She has become a wife, a mother, a friend, an enemy, a lover, a
fighter – but has remained gorgeous and gracious through the years.
“I have been in this business since I was 17 years old, practically
half of my life. Ito na yung buhay ko,” says Amy, who actually wanted
to be a preschool teacher or a flight attendant when she was younger.
Showbusiness has changed Amy’s life in so many ways, and she admits
that the most obvious and most practical is that it has enabled her to
pay for all her needs and buy many of her wants.
Quite visible on TV nowadays after TV5 offered her another break, Amy
hosts three Kapatid Network programs – Good Morning Club, the landmark
and only talakserye Face to Face and a follow-up show, the docu-drama
Untold Stories Mula sa Face to Face. Amy’s seemingly very busy
schedule is actually not that hectic, and is family-friendly, too.
“Everyday I try to sleep at 9:30 pm then wake up around 3:45 am. I say
a prayer, shower and get ready for work. I have Good Morning Club at 5
to 7:30 am. I’m back home by 8:30 and that’s the time I do my mother
duties – cooking, doing my grocery, paying the bills, among others.
Wednesdays and Thursdays I tape for Face to Face and Untold Stories,”
shares Amy, who has starred in many shows of different genres.
Amy’s favorite role right now is being a mother to a teenager and a
toddler. Adi, her son with former husband Brix Ferraris, is now 14
years old and Sean Kyle, her son with current partner and radio
reporter Carlo Castillo, is 3. Whenever she is home, Amy cooks for her
boys, a hobby she would like to develop by taking culinary arts
courses when she gets the chance. Amy goes on “jogging, running or
biking” dates with Adi at the UP Oval and spends lots of play time
with Kyle at home, putting puzzles together or reading books. The
whole family loves watching movies.
Between the two, Daddy Carlo is the disciplinarian, while Mommy Amy
tries to strike a balance between being strict and being a spoiler.
“Adi knows when I’m mad, then he knows he will have to do something
para hindi ako magalit,” Amy says, “I’m lucky kasi magalang at
mababait naman ang mga anak ko,” continues the proud mom.
More than anything, Amy learned to become a fighter in this business.
A fighter “in a good sense, meaning you have to be hard working and
dedicated in your craft,” she clarifies.
Amy admits she is happier now and that she has no regrets in her 40
plus years of existence.
“Except lang now that I’m old, I realized na sana when I was younger,
I had more patience in life. I could have avoided the suffering,” Amy
says, referring to her failed marriage with Brix, “Minadali ko kasi
ang pagpapakasal,” she continues. Amy filed for annulment from Brix
but was denied by the Supreme Court.
If Amy could be in Face to Face herself, she would want to face her
ex-husband “so I can finally tell him straight that I forgave him a
long time ago and that I wish him well,” she sighs.
Behind the spotlight, Amy is a simple girl who does her grocery by
herself. She tries to be as normal as she can when she is off from
work. If not in showbiz, Amy would probably be flying all over the
world as a flight attendant because she loves to travel. And
travelling to Europe with the love of her life Carlo is definitely at
the top of her bucket list. When she can no longer host or act, Amy
would want to work behind the camera as an executive.
With all these roles, activities, and dreams, Amy is careful to
maintain her health, and her sanity for that matter.
“I try to workout at least once a week. I sometimes follow the South
Beach diet or refrain from eating rice. I do yoga,” shares Amy, who
does not smoke and drink. To de-stress, Amy reads a book, goes to the
spa, or watches a movie.
To stay beautiful, Amy washes her face everyday and removes make-up
right after taping, she does not shampoo everyday, gets a
manicure/pedicure every week, sleeps 8 hours each night, drinks lots
of water and has her facial once a month.
For her skin care, Amy only trusts Calayan Surgicentre. She wants
beauty doctor to the stars, Doctors Manny and Pie Calayan, to take
care of her skin.
“I have seen how dedicated Doc Manny is and the care he gives to his
clients,” says Amy.
For Amy, to be able to give inspiration to ladies her age that they
can still feel young and fresh by having a happy and positive outlook
in life and by choosing the right persons to help them with their skin
and body care, is a jackpot combination.
“Beauty comes from within and it requires good health condition. Dapat
laging happy and positive kasi hindi kaya ng kahit anong technology na
pagandahin ka if you’re always miserable and ill-mannered,” Amy says.
With all she has undergone and all that she has become now, Amy is
thankful. And this is what makes her beautiful. #
