WONDER why where the hell is the controversial talent manager Jojo Veloso?
The Jojo Veloso who was the one responsible for the rise to stardom of actresses Ina Raymundo, Ana Capri, Aya Medel, Via Veloso, Allen Dizon, among others.
The Jojo Veloso who was too sensational when he was charged with sexploitation by his former wards like Hans Montenegro et al. through the exposes of movie reporter and radio man Jobert Sucaldito.
The case had even reached the Philippine Senate in the early nineties when it was investigated by the august body.
After the public shame he collected, Jojo, Guido Raagas Ponferrada, Jr. went back to Biliran province, his birthplace and hometown. He momentarily forgot show business.
Veloso ran for public office in Biliran. Eventually, he won his provincial board membership bid conveniently, despite the shaming experiences.
At the same time that the famed star builder was a public figure in his province, he was suffering from diabetes and a heart ailment which took him years to endure. Later, when his health had suffered enough, he quit politics.
“Nagka-heart attack ako at lumala ang diabetes ko kaya nagpagaling muna ako (I had a heart attack and my diabetes became worst so I had to be hospitalized. I waited to cure myself completely),” recalled Jojo.
He lost weight, and his walking was sluggish.
Still, he persisted.
Showbiz has always been in Jojo’s blood, so he packed his things up and flew to Manila.
He jumpstarted what he had left off in talent management.
This time, he approached and talked with Vic del Rosario, the honcho of Viva Entertainment and presented a group of young ladies gunning for the glitz and glam roles in the movies who included AJ Raval, the daughter of Jojo’s erstwhile talent Alyssa Alvarez.
After AJ’s climb to the ladder of popularity, Veloso took in other sexy and pretty faces to the Viva office.
This time around as well, Jojo had regained his physical strength. “Nag-diet talaga ako para gumaling (I followed a rigid diet to heal myself),” he shared.
Now, Veloso is back to his form. He now can move and walk faster. He also has remained optimistic about his health condition by doing and following lifestyles.
Jojo is again in the thick of things of honing talents in newbies like Rash Flores, Cara Gonzales, Jela Cuenca etc. These three upstarts are featured in the 2009 Palme d’Or Best Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Palitan” for Viva Films which has been streaming in Vivamax since December 15, 2021.