Impersonator Rene Boy Facunla, popularly known as Ate Glow, married his Briton boyfriend at the Chelsea Registry Office in London last Saturday.
Ate Glow, 35, is best known for impersonating former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The comedian was last seen in the film “Moron 5 and the Crying Lady” in 2012.
He never identified his “husband” in interviews but he said that the foreigner is a consultant in his 30s.
In an interview on “Startalk” on GMA 7 in 2014, Ate Glow mentioned about breast augmentation in preparation for his wedding to the Briton.
Ate Glow said that the breast operation was to be performed by doctor Vicky Belo.
“I’m doing it for myself, definitely for myself. But of course, I’m also doing it for my partner. Kasi gusto ko rin siya na mapaligaya. You need to spice up your life, you need to spice up your relationship, alam mo ‘yon. Isa na ‘to sa mga paraan,” Ate Glow said then.
“Alam ko na bading ako at masaya na ako. Masaya ako sa kung ano ang meron ako noon. Hindi ko nakita na meron akong kakulangan bilang isang nilalang, bilang isang tao,” he added.
Love life
In February 2014, Ate Glow’s love life was featured in “Tunay Na Buhay” on GMA News TV where he first revealed his Briton boyfriend.
Ate Glow told Rhea Santos, host of the show, said that a foreigner was making him happy, very happy. He refused to identify the man and simply called him “British Guy.”
“I met him in London last year when I visited my bestfriend. Nakita niya ako sa Facebook ng friend ko kaya nako, thank you kay Mark Zuckerberg at nang dahil sa Facebook, nagkaroon ako ng love life,” he said.
“Minessage [message] niya ako, nakita raw niya ako sa mga photos ng common friend namin. Pictureless nga siya, wala siyang profile pic[ture]. Parang sabi niyang ganon, ‘taga-dito ka ba o bumibisita ka lang ba dito sa London?” Ate Glow recalled.
“You’re so beautiful in all your pictures,’ ganyan, ganyan, ‘and I just can’t wait to meet you in person,’ parang sabi niyang ganon na ‘if you don’t mind I would like to invite you out for dinner.’ Tapos nag-dinner kami,” he said.
Ate Glow said that his being a transsexual was never a problem to the Briton because he already had an idea about it.
“He had an idea kasi ‘yong common friend namin is also a transsexual pero tinignan niya raw kasi ‘yong mga pictures ko,” he added.
Ate Glow started impersonating Mrs. Arroyo for the Live Aids program of the mass communication department of the University of the Philippines in 2003.
Later, he then signed up as a street segment host of the defunct comedic-news show “Wazzup, Wazzup” on Studio 23.
In 2004, Ate Glow debuted in the movie “My First Romance” with Heart Evangelista and John Prats.
Late bloomer
When it comes to love, Ate Glow admitted being a late bloomer.
“Alam mo may pagka-late bloomer ako when it comes to relationship, e. Pero may mga crush na ako, mahilig ako sa mga chinito noon, may crush akong mga chinito na mga classmates ko,” he said.
Ate Glow had three serious relationships – two Filipinos and a Caucasian – before he decided to settle down with the Briton.
“Pero nung time na ‘yon, neneng nene pa ako no’n, e. Mas marami pang play time lang ‘yon, parang ganon ganon lang ‘yon. When I had my first Caucasian boyfriend na Irish, na-meet ko ‘to sa Dublin – that was like five years ago,” he said.
On his Briton guy, Ate Glow said: “He always touches my hand and gustong-gusto ko sa kaniya ‘yong pag naglalakad kami, tapos sa kalagitnaan ng naglalakad kami, bigla na lang kami titigil tapos bigla niyang sasabihin sa’kin na ‘thank you for loving me. I just want to be with you, I just want to spend my life with you.”
“Kung mahal niya talaga ang anak ko, huwag niyang pababayaan kasi mahal ko ang mga anak ko,” said Lorena Facunla, mother of Ate Glow.
Picture-taking
Ate Glow recalled one incident when he and his British boyfriend argued because he never told him he was a celebrity in the Philippines.
“Hindi nga niya alam, e. Minsan nga napag-awayan pa namin ‘yon kasi sabi niya I lied to him daw. Lumabas kami isang beses tapos may mga nagpa-picture sa’kin na mga Filipino. Sabi niyang ganon, ‘that’s mental. Why would they ask for a picture from you?'” he said.
“Kasi para sa’kin, I presented myself to him as Rene and not as a celebrity, as a Filipino woman lang. [Pero] alam na niya ngayon,” Ate Glow said.
