The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Parents would naturally be the first ones to come to the rescue of their children during times of trouble.
In the case of Andi Eigenmann, who has been orphaned when her dad Mark Gil died in 2014 and her mom Jaclyn Jose passed on last year, the immediate responses to her quandary came from her grandparents, actors Rosemarie Gil and Eddie Mesa.
It was such a kindred spirit of grandma Rosemarie and grandpa Eddie who travelled all the way from Manila to the far-off island of Siargao in the Visayas just to make sure the situation of their granddaughter was safe and secure.
Immediately after Gil and Mesa learned that Andi was embroiled in marital woes, her old folks never squandered a single moment to see and comfort her.
It wasn’t purportedly messing around with family problems of couples but to talk and to inspire them with caring gestures and words of wisdom.
Even if Andi isn’t married yet to her fiancé, her kin were ready to share pieces of advice without being intrusive to both parties.
As much as possible, an objective view of the whole scenario was brought to light.
One thing led to another, Rosemarie and Eddie took the first flight to Siargao knowing that their apo must be consoled.
At the time, Eigenmann was already frantic online when she found out that a woman friend was trying to interfere in her relationship with professional surfer and sea sports mentor Philmar Alipayo.
This was palpable in her digital posts that she felt betrayed by a friend who wanted to ruin her union with Philmar.
According to Andi, the woman tried to ignite and fan disharmony between her and Alipayo by advising him to split with her.
Eigenmann, without mentioning a name, couldn’t make sense of her friend.
The woman-friend turned out to be Pernilla Sjoo, a Swedish national who has been in Siargao for quite some time.
Because of Andi’s online accusations, Pernilla spoke her mind about the issue even if her name wasn’t dropped but insinuations got the better of her.
“I just don’t understand why some people have so much hate in their minds and bodies. I hope that if you ever make a hurtful comment, you can still sleep peacefully at night and smile knowing you’ve caused someone pain. I’m still human din naman. I still feel hurt, and when it’s too much, it cuts deep.
“I hope you never become the reason someone cries themselves to sleep or question their worth—asking why they weren’t good enough,” defended Pernilla.
To compound her suspicion and conclusion, Eigenmann saw in a post about the matching identical tattoo designs on both arms sitting side-by-side of Pernilla and Philmar.
Was there indeed an illicit affair between the surfer and the Swedish tourist because of photos and reels—digitally manipulated by AI or for real—that showed their intimacy?
When the sailings got rough, though, Alipayo took to social media and announced to all and sundry that he and Andi had reconciled.
“Ok na kami sanan. Ok ra kami (We’re all okay. We’re already okay,” wrote Alipayo in a reel posted on his Facebook wall.
His only regret? The online feud with Andi was made public.
“It went all way too far and should have been handled in private,” he lamented.
What could the next episode of this saga be?
Would Philmar get involved again in a womanizing stunt as a content creator named Crissa Liaging spit fire and invectives against the Andi-Philmar drama.
Liaging said she was bashed unfairly when she was caught talking sweetly with the man one romantic night in a Siargao bar compared to mild bashings against Sjoo.
Meanwhile, Andi’s family is protective of her from external aggressions however in issues as trivial as messy romance because they are expected to safeguard their kin.
Rosemarie and Eddie are apparently spiritual advisers to their granddaughter and her lover although the veteran showbiz couple weren’t quoted of anything.
The Gil-Mesa family was once felled by broken marriage but it is saved as they already kissed and made up against all odds.
As Christians who introspect, the husband and wife have learned a lot from their past dalliances.
Parental pieces of advice is the best cure for children who are in distress.
Obviously, what was publicly known about Rose and Ed’s filial visit to their progeny was their rare and tender moments with their great grandkids Ellie, Andi’s daughter with actor Jake Ejercito and Lilo and Koa, the young mom’s offsprings with the Siargao native.
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There will be a gathering of celebs when the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters Class ’75 holds its Golden Jubilee celebration on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Heritage Hotel.
These are all Artlets ’75—former Miss Teen Princess and actress-model Geena Zablan, ex-fashion models Beth Comines and Mahleen Chanco-Paguia, erstwhile Justice of Sandiganbayan Oscar Herrera, among other celebrities, attending the reunion which runs the theme “Singkuwenta, may kuwenta.”
Who knows Miss RP 1972 Onelia Jose and former actress Nanette Lizares (“Lipad, Darna, Lipad,” “7 Crazy Dragons,” “Tag-Ulan sa Tag-araw” would appear online.
One hundred plus alumni—all celebs in their own right—are expected to attend the rare event.