was in a stage of confusion when he came into my life," says Mickey Ferriols, referring to her live-in partner Archie Alemania. Archie and Mickey are proud parents of a baby boy named Brent. Mickey was recovering from a failed relationship when Archie entered the picture. She is also a bit older than Archie but the age difference is hardly noticeable. Their relationship is going strong with Archie even admitting "I want to be with her forever."

The two met on the set of the defunct noontime show MTB. But sparks did not fly. "Torpe kasi ako. Puro tingin. Walang lumalabas sa bibig," says Archie. "But when I saw her personally, I really felt different."

Archie had a big crush on Mickey. "Even before I entered MTB, Mickey was my all-time crush. But I could not look at her. I don't look at her when she's looking at me. I would greet her, ‘Hello, ma'am' but she doesn't like it when I call her ma'am," explains Archie.

How did he make the first move? "I invited Mickey to Wazzup Wazzup. I asked Jenny (Hernandez) to invite her. Magsasayaw kami noon ni Joross (Gamboa). Binati ko siya. Hello ma'am. Mikey got angry!", Archie says in jest.

Then at a party in Ya Chang's where Mickey was present, Archie purposely drank "pampalakas ng loob." He also managed to bring her home. And since both of them were a little tipsy, Archie stole a kiss. "We were inside a car," recalls Archie. "After that, I started texting her." He also brought her roses which Archie was to learn later were not Mickey's favorites. "Gerbera pala ang gusto niya."

When did the I love you's happen? "Two days after I kissed her," quips Archie.

According to Mickey, Archie's concept of love is profound. "But for me, it is finding the real one. And you don't look for it because you will just be disappointed. You have to let the feeling go through you."

Archie is the type who pampers his girl. "I cook for Mickey. Sometimes, eating out can be tiring. I cook adobo for her," says Archie.

Quarrels for them are mostly selos.

Mickey says, "I used to imagine, what if Archie is super friendly with someone, or who is he talking to right now? These were the thoughts that often came to mind. Pero hindi na masyado ngayon," she says. "Dati ayaw niyang pahawak ang cell phone niya sa akin," confesses Archie. "Me, I don't hide anything. You can hold on to my cellphone the whole day. There's nothing to see."

Archie is the kind of guy who is quiet when he is mad. "He is the type of person who needs space. But me, I have to talk. Like if we are arguing about something, I feel the need to discuss it right at that moment. Archie will just keep quiet," says Mickey.

"For me kasi, pag galit yong isa, wag sabayan. It's a matter of patience and perseverance, Archie adds.

Mickey and Archie admit to being ‘touchy'. "Pareho kami malambing. Archie can't sleep without lying on my chest. He would say, kahit five minutes lang," Mickey says.

How do they keep the passion burning? "I dance and it makes her laugh," says Archie. "And we make sure that we remain interested with each other."

* * *

The Rat Pack and more rolled into one? The Rat Pack was group composed of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis and Dean Martin. But while the Rat Pack was heavy on the excesses of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood , with some members even accused of heavy drinking, ties to the mob, womanizing, and pushing bad behavior to the limit, singer Arthur Manuntag has none of these except that he can sing the trio's music with equal ease. And not only that, he also does a Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennet, Andy Williams even a Bing Crosby. Some critics even say that he is the Tony Bennet of the Philippines except that he sings better than the original.

Thus, whenever Arthur Manuntag sings, audiences are transported to that era of big bands, romance, and wine and roses. It would be easy to fall in love come Valentine as you listen to the six feet tall, pony-tailed Arthur serenade you with love songs of the ‘40s to the ‘70s at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati on Feb. 14. Arthur will do a sampling of what he is known for in a concert billed Music of the Heart: A Celebration of Love

Included in his repertoire are Chances Are, Cheek to Cheek, Days of Wine and Roses, An Affair to Remember, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Come Fly With Me, All the Way, Night and Day, Fly Me to the Moon, Someone To Watch Over Me, among others.

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