LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Last Friday, February 7, L.A.-based couple former actress Krista Ranillo and businessman Nino Jefferson Lim (CEO of 21 branches of Island Pacific Supermarket in California and Las Vegas) treated us (with my best friend Immigration lawyer Jemela Nettles) to a sumptuous unlimited Wagyu shabu-shabu at Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House in Temple City, California. It was my first time to meet Nino in person but Krista and her dad, actor Mat Ranillo III, Mat’s younger siblings are our longtime friends together with their late mother, veteran actress Gloria Sevilla.

Slim at napakaganda pa rin ni Krista hanggang ngayon na animo’y dalaga pa rin at walang limang anak and we gave credit to her husband na si Nino dahil kitang-kita sa dating Kapuso actress ang pagiging masaya , contented and at peace sa kanyang buhay may asawa ngayon.

Kahit first time namin nakaharap si Nino, animo’y matagal na namin itong kakilala. He’s a welcoming, warm, friendly and a simple person kaya madali naming nakagaanan ng loob.

Animo’y bibitayin kami ni Atty. Jemela Nettles sa sobrang dami ng pagkain na in-order ni Nino including fresh sea foods.

It was in 2009 when Krista decided to relocate in Los Angeles, California. The following year, she got engaged sa successful businessman na si Nino and two months later ay ikinasal sila sa isang civil wedding nung July 19, 2010 sa Long Beach, California na sinundan ng kanilang Jewish-interfaith wedding ceremony. Twelve years later, muling nagpakasal ang couple, this time sa church at St. Kateri Tekakwitha catholic church in Santa Clarita, California. They are blessed with five beautiful children – four boys and one girl na sina Nate (14), Nolan (12), Natalia (10), Nash (8) at Nyle (5).

Despite his busy schedule as CEO of his 21 branches of Island Pacific Supermarket, Nino spends quality time with his family. He makes time na may oras silang mag-travel as a family at mamasyal sa iba’t ibang lugar including theme parks. Since iisa lang ang babae among his five children, prinsesa ang trato niya kay Natalia but not to a point na spoiled ito.

Nang lumabas kami ng restaurant, nakita namin na ang mamahaling Tesla Cybertruck ang sasakyan na gamit ng mag-asawang Nino at Krista.

Last Saturday ay inimbitahan kami ng mag-asawang Nino at Krista sa kanilang L.A. branch para dumalo sa “Fish Ball Eating Contest” na ginagawa nila taun-taon in time for the Super Bowl celebration in America pero hindi na namin ito napuntahan.

Samantala, si Donita Rose ay nagtrabaho dati in one of the branches ng Island Pacific Supermarket habang connected pa rin hanggang ngayon sa kanilang L.A. branch ang actress-host na si G Toengi. Napag-alaman namin na kaya nag-resign si Donita ay dahil nagkaroon sila nang hindi pagkakaunawaan ni G Toengi.

Princess, Tootsie dumating sa aming despedida party

DUMATING ang L.A-based actress at nurse na si Princess Punzalan (Bernadette Vela Punzalan-Field in real life) at ang isa pang L.A-based singer at marketing executive ng isang healthcare company na si Tootsie Gueverra sa aming despedida party hosted by businessman Geoffrey Jimenez. Parehong may regular job sina Princess at Tootsie sa Amerika kaya on the side lamang ang kanilang profession bilang actress at singer. Whenever Princess or Bernadette has shoots for a (Hollywood) movie, a reliever takes over her job. Ang maganda sa trabaho ni Princess, she has flexy time sa kanyang trabaho bilang nurse sa isang hospice. Since executive naman si Tootsie sa kumpanyang kanyang pinagta-trabahuhan, nabibigyan din niya ng time ang kanyang singing career.

Masayang-masaya ang aming despedida party na dinaluhan ng aming BFF, ang Immigration lawyer na si Atty. Jemela Nettles, her BFF in L.A. na si Dra. Rona Rivera, her niece (who bakes for Hollywood events) na si Marivic Agraviador-Ayunan, the late Ricky Lo’s nephew na si Raymond Lo, Oliver Carnay, Bradford Adkins, Des Baker, Ricky Flores, Edwin Mojica, movie producer Benjie Cabrera, my inaanak sa kasal na sina Rhy Deles at David Deles, Angel Bonilla, Princess Punzalan, Tootsie Guevarra at iba pa. Bukod sa businessman na si Geoffrey Jimenez, nag-enjoy din si Mommy Aurea Jimenez, ang butihing ina ni Geoffrey (who is turning 90 on August 24) and Geoffrey’s younger sister na si Edith Jimenez na aligaga rin sa preparasyon. Hindi naman nakarating ang ilan pa naming mga kaibigan in L.A. tulad ni Tim Evans na naka-duty maging ang businesswoman friend naming si Flordeliz Aqui. Actress Bunny Paras confirmed her attendance pero hindi rin ito nakarating. Hanggang sa umalis kami ng L.A. ay nawalan na kami ng oras na makipagkita kina Anjanette Abayari and her husband na si Gary Pangan, Paco Arespacochaga maging sa actor na si Edgar Mande. In Las Vegas ay na-miss namin sina Jobelle Salvador at Leni Santos at iba pa. Jobelle was in San Diego when we were in Las Vegas habang si Leni naman ay late na ang uwi from work.

Isang pasasalamat

GUSTO naming pasalamatan ang aming mga kaibigan in L.A. and Las Vegas who made our two-week vacation memorable and fun. My special thanks to Geoffrey Jimenez, Nanay Aurea Jimenez, Edith Jimenez, her husband Manny and son Carlo for the warm accommodation, Atty. Jemela Nettles, Dra. Rona Rivera and Marivic, Des Baker and Cym Mindo for the enjoyable Las Vegas and Valley of Fire trip, Flordeliz Aque for the Long Beach and Universal Studios treat, couple Rhy and David Deles for the gifts, Raymond Lo, Oliver Carnay, Edwin Mojica for the vits and other meds, Tim Evans for seeing me off at the Tom Bradley International Airport and the pasalubongs, Dr. Daniel `Alvin’ Cadalin for driving me to St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California, Michael and Alma Laygo for the Thai dinner in Las Vegas, Marilou `Malou’ Isorena-Tingley for the Vietnamese lunch treat in Vegas and to couple Nino and Krista Ranillo-Lim for the sumptuous Japanese Wagyu shabu-shabu. Everyone contributed to make our two-week vacation unforgettable and enjoyable. Please know that I appreciate you all. Until the next time my friends!

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Aster Amoyo