Divina Valencia celebrates her 65th birthday

WE JOINED THE press visit to the set of “Sinner or Saint” last Thursday at Tierra Pura and it turned out it’s the birthday of Divina Valencia who plays the role of Bianca King and Alessandra de Rossi’s grandma. “I’m 65 and I don’t hide it,” says the top goddess of the 60s who rocked local cinema with her daring scenes in “Kardong Kidlat” with the late Jess Lapid. “I’m so thankful to the Lord I’m still here. Mga nakasama ko noon, wala na, like Jess, Jun Aristorenas, Alberto Alonzo, Vic Vargas and Bernard Belleza, even FPJ and Chiquito. Ang mga buhay na lang si Erap at si Dolphy with whom I did four pictures.”

She now has six grandchildren. “The eldest is 17, Mae, daughter ng anak kong si Maricis. She’s in the States and sings very well, but I told her to join showbiz after her studies na.”

How about Dranreb? “He was here earlier and brought me a bilao of pancit. He’s okay. He just got married to a nonshowbiz girl on August 15. He still paints at gusto ring magbalik sa acting.”

She lived in the States for 22 years and had a thriving bakeshop in San Diego. “I sold it, tamang-tama, bumagsak ang economy doon, nakabalik na ko rito. I first did ‘Little Star’ sa GMA na lagi akong pinaiiyak. Dito naman sa ‘Sinner or Saint’, lagi akong sigaw ng sigaw. Pag ginawa kong mahinahon, they tell me kailangan stressed ako lagi. But now, bumait na yung character kong matapobre. I finally recognize Bianca as my real grandchild at si Alex, ampon lang.”