Showbiz farming and other etchings

Apologies to National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, also known as Quijano de Manila who came out with a series of books on celebrity profiles and reportage, one of them “Amalia Fuentes and Other Etchings.”

Sir Nick, may-I-borrow your phrase “other etchings.”

​In gay lingo, “etching” as a colloquial term means “a casual teasing” or “a bluff” or “someone is taken for a ride” while the English word as a verb (“etch”) or as a plural noun (“etchings”) is defined as something created of an image or a pattern.

​Although showbiz farming isn’t only a sort of oxymoron, it is indeed a new venture or an option for show people and other media professionals who have opted for an early retirement or a shift to a new field but not necessarily leaving the journalism or creative enterprise.

​Retired ABS-CBN TV executive, news reporter and on-cam talent Charie Villa has acquired a property in Lipa City, Batangas and converted and developed her land into a farm.

​When we had our ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Department (NCAD)) reunion at the soon-to-demolished Lopez building last year, she came all the way from Lipa, in a farmer’s outfit (jeans and polo short), somewhat soiled in some parts of the dress.

Her farm is a sanctuary, a place where she could be on her own, where she could move and breathe freely.

“I have finally found a peace of mind there in the idyllic region,” said Charie.

One of NCAD retirees is Joey Gaburnida who bought a piece of land in Indang, Cavite where he transformed the lot into farming.

Like Charie, Joey has been enjoying his provincial life in CALABARZON.

​”Magandang peace of mind ang (Beautiful search of a peace of mind) farming,” assured the former print news reporter before he was employed by ABS-CBN as a desk man for the news programs of the network.

Sharon Cuneta and husband Kiko Pangilinan have acquired and developed a farm in Alfonso, Cavite.

They are truly happy about their farm which is paradise for the couple.

Personal visits are indeed required for a farm.so the senator and the Megastar would go and pay their paradise a visit, at least, monthly, even if they have a hectic schedule.

Zsa Zsa Padilla and her boyfriend Conrad Onglao are always in Lucban, Quezon to guard and guide their Villa Esperanza.

At the moment, I am with controversial Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel (“Moma,” “EC2Luv,” “Mona Singapore Escort,” “When A Gay Man Loves,” “Latak,” “HiStory,” “”Strictly Confidential,” “Leona Calderon,” “The Making of Quezon City,” among others) in Alfonso Cavite to look for seedlings of black pepper.

Ka (a term of endearment to a man of common aspirations) Efren is the black pepper grower who gave Jowee the seedlings of many fruits and vegetables.

Morel is determined to be a farmer all his life.

As a matter of fact, Jowee has been tending his small farm in Pagsanjan, Laguna where he also built a house.

He started planting ampalaya (bitter melon), talong (eggplant), sili(chile/pepper), papaya in the adjacent part of his house for more than a decade.

At the time, he was still working for Viva Films as the Creative Division Head of the film company.

At the moment, he has leased a lot in a separate barangay in Pagsanjan where he planted various types of fruits and veggies.

​He has also bought a one thousand square meters from my three-plus-hectare where he planned to grow black pepper, coffee, dragon fruits etc.

​”I wanna concentrate on farming. This is my way of life now. I can also do films but my main focus is the soil,” opined Morel.

Being a Fil-Briton, he goes back and forth in the United Kingdom but when he is in nature, he wants to forego UK and see the best of the countryside and the hinterlands.

​”Showbiz is a very unstable field. I think my background as a Fil-British is not reconciling with the Filipino culture,” quipped Morel.

So, what future holds show people in farming?

This is definitely not the swardspeak “etching” but the real thing as “etchings.”