Dahil sa pagdalo kamakailan sa senate hearings ng celebrities tulad nina Maricel Soriano at Sandro Muhlach, binalikan ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang minsang pagdalo ng beauty queen-turned-actress na si Alma Concepcion sa isang senate hearing noong 1995.
Ang naging isyu sa naturang senate hearing ay ang hindi pagpayag ng isang malaking unibersidad na mag-enroll si Alma dahil sa sexy image nito sa showbiz.
Dahil hindi pa uso noon ang social media, naging headline sa lahat ng tabloids at broadsheets noon si Alma dahil sa naging unfair treatment umano sa kanya ng unibersidad.
Read: Alma Concepcion laughs off insulting words used by bashers: “Kelan ko ba sinabi na bata pa ako?”
Sa panayam ng PEP.ph kay Alma, sa pamamagitan ng Facebool Messenger, noong November 9, 2024, nagbalik-tanaw ito sa pangyayaring iyon.
Hindi raw niya inakalang ganoon siya katapang noon na nakaya niyang ipaglaban ang sarili laban sa isang institusyon na ipinagkakait sa kanya umano ang nararapat na edukasyon.
Saad ng Bb. Pilipinas-International 1994 titleholder: "I remember that it was a huge news during that time.
"All talk shows wanted to hear my side of the story. Madaming gusto nag-interview sa akin kaya umabot siya hanggang sa senate.
"I was thankful na pinatawag ako for that hearing kasi I really felt injustice during that time.
"Buong buhay ko, I looked forward to finishing college and feeling ko they placed a dead end for me.
"Kasi to be able to transfer to other schools na pinagtanungan ko, kailangan 30-plus units. Since I only did one semester, kulang ang units ko to transfer.
"So, sa senate, I felt it was a big help for me and for them to help me raise awareness that no one should be discriminated when it comes to education."
Read: Alma Concepcion on LGBTQIA+ members joining beauty pageants: "It’s their time to shine."
SA NGALAN NG PAG-IBIG
Noong humarap na raw si Alma sa senate hearing, doon niya naramdamang naging malaking isyu ang ginawa sa kanya ng unibersidad.
Bumalik nga raw sa kanyang alaala ang mga tinanong sa kanya ng mga senador, pati na ang mga sinabi ng mga kinatawan ng unibersidad.
Pagbabalik-tanaw niya: "They were questioning both sides. Asking UST their basis for not accepting me.
"I shared my story sa senate. I was enrolling and that was during the promotion of the movie I finished, Sa Ngalan ng Pag-Ibig with Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino. That was my second movie after Massacre Files.
"The dean even showed me a tabloid article when she talked to me in the office, implying the movie was the 'most daring/titillating/most revealing movie.'
"Siyempre, what was written on the papers for the promo had the words like 'revealing,' 'titillating,' etc.
"So the dean of the education department, I was taking B.S. Tourism during that time, talked to me and said they cannot take me in because of those written on the newspapers.
"Dahil hindi pa naman showing, I told the dean na hindi pa nila napapanood and I told them na wala akong ipinakita na private parts doon," paliwanag ni Alma sa isang eksena niya with Christopher.
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ALMA AS UNDERWEAR MODEL
Nagkataong pagpasok ni Alma sa showbiz pagkatapos ng kanyang reign as Bb. Pilipinas-International, nauso sa showbiz ang "ST (Sex Trip) Films" na naging "Titillating Films."
Ito ang naging brand ng mga pelikula nina Rosanna Roces, Klaudia Koronel, Priscilla Almeda, at iba pa.
Pagpapatuloy ni Alma, "I also explained that before I landed in the movies, I was a ramp model.
"And several years din ako naging model for Playtex and Sara Lee underwear catalogs. I also did several ramp shows for them.
"So when I got into showbiz, comfortable na ako wearing underwears or swimsuit.
"Which for me, doing pictorials and ramp modelling for Playtex and Sara Lee was also the same in doing movies."
Paliwanag pa ni Alma, "Trabaho ko yun but never ako nag-reveal ng any private parts in my life.
"Since baguhan ako sa showbiz, I followed the production kung ano ipasuot sa akin.
"Sino ba naman ako para mag-attitude, di ba? Just like in ramp modelling, you can’t say 'I don’t wanna wear that.'
"I was trained in modelling to follow instructions and respect production people for their art/items. And I told the dean and the senate that I never revealed my private parts."
Read: Testimonya ni Alma Concepcion, malaki ang papel sa desisyon ng korte sa Forever Summer drug case
"THIS IS A BODY IS TO DIE FOR"
Nang hingan ng senate ang side ng UST, nag-deny daw ang dean na wala raw kinalaman ang movie ni Alma kung bakit siya hindi pinayagang mag-enroll.
Ginawang dahilan nito ang kalendaryo ng isang liquor and cigarette brand kunsaan si Alma ang model.
Ayon kay Alma: "When they started questioning the side of UST, the dean denied the issue about the movie, but instead brought out my liquor and cigarette calendars as their basis.
"Wala ring na-reveal doon sa mga calendars. Sexy calendar talaga siya, but what can I do? Sexy talaga ako noon kahit ano isuot ko. Kahit balot ka pa, sexy ka pa din.
"I remember Senator Blas Ople said na naging headline sa nga broadsheets noon. He said: 'This is a body to die for.'
"In the end, the dean of UST Education said that I was still welcome to enroll. But of course, I did not enroll anymore.
“Paano pa ako aapak dun after all the scandal they started?"
Read: Alma Concepcion, umalma sa pagkalkal ng drug issue niya noon
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
Inamin ni Alma sa sobra siyang na-depress noong mga panahon na iyon at inakala niyang scandalous na ang image niya sa ibang kolehiyo.
Pero hindi raw siya nawalan ng pag-asa dahil sa pag-e-encourage ng kanyang pamilya at mga kaibigan na bumangon at lumaban.
"I felt na dead end for me dahil sa mga napagtanungan kong schools, like University of the Philippines, hindi enough ang units ko to transfer. I tried UP theater, but they said na hindi ko kakayanin ang work load nila.
"But thank God, I was able to do a semester at PSBA [Philippine School of Business Administration] for additional units."
Natupad din ni Alma ang kanyang wish na makakuha ng college degree, hindi lang isa kundi dalawang degrees pa.
Lahad niya: "I went to Southville International School for their London City College diploma course on International business. I graduated after I gave birth in year 2000.
"Then, 2009, I went to UP Diliman for my degree in B.S. Interior Design. I finished in 2014 and passed the board exam the same year."
ALMA'S MESSAGE TO HER YOUNGER SELF
Kung mensahe si Alma sa sarili back in 1995, ano ang puwede niyang sabihin sa kanyang younger self?
Aniya: "Alma, you were only 19 years old that time, and I am proud of you for having the bravery in voicing out and fighting for your right to education.
"I know it was very hard to accept rejection during that time, but you were blessed by the presence and support of your family, and God truly was with you every step of the way.
"Thank you for setting an example for women, especially during that time when a lot of them were not yet that empowered to fight for their rights.
"I'm sure you were able to ignite strength to some ladies. You did the right thing, Alma!"
Aktibo pa rin showbiz si Alma at thankful ito dahil hindi siya nawawalan ng trabaho sa kanyang 30 years na sa showbiz.
"I really think it is God plus the my bloodline. My maternal grandfather was Alfonso Carvajal, he was famous during the black and white movies.
"I am humbled to be able to stay this long in showbiz. I still get surprised when I get calls.
"I get excited and I pray to God and thank my ancestors because I really feel their guidance. And I really think that all the cumulative experiences in this life journey makes an actor only get better. Mas dumadami at lumalalim ang mga baon mong kaalamanan sa pag-arte.
"This talent is truly God’s grace. Up to now, hindi pa din ako makapaniwala nandito pa din ako. Of course, nandoon na tayo sa professionalism, giving your best at work, putting fire and passion to always give the best performance.
"I think kasi na every shoot is still an audition, kaya yung fire and passion hindi nawawala," pahayag ni Alma.
Dalawang teleserye ang nakatakdang gawin ni Alma sa 2025: Lolong: Bayani Ng Bayan for GMA-7 at Saving Grace for Kapamilya Channel.
ALMA CONCEPCION'S SON
Sa personal life naman ni Alma, masaya itong isang achiever din sa school ang kanyang nag-iisang anak na si Cobie Puno.
Naka-graduate si Cobie in 2023 bilang cum laude sa Fordham University in New York with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Primary Concentrations in Social Innovation and Marketing, minor in Economics.
Kasalukuyan namang freshman law student si Cobie sa Ateneo de Manila University.
Read: Alma Concepcion waxes emotional as son Cobie flies to U.S. for college
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Pagbabahagi ni Alma: "Sobrang napapaluhod at napapaiyak ako. Sobrang pasasalamat ko sa Diyos na naging ganun kadisiplinado ang anak ko.
"Never ko na imagine yung achievements niya. He always surprises me.
"Right now, Cobie is taking up law sa Ateneo kaya panibagong chapter ito sa buhay namin at 200% ang support ko sa kanya.
"I always pray for his health—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
"Wala siyang girlfriend as of the moment. He chose that para no distractions sa law school."
Alma chose to be single as well... for now.
"Wala tayong lovelife ngayon. Okay na muna ako sa ganitong buhay. But I am dating naman... paminsan minsan!" sabi niya.