The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Friday, June 18, 2010 

S trong faith in God and a firm commitment to family are now the new mantra for this Philippine-born actress-singer, the erstwhile Patricia Javier, who now reclaims her birth name Genesis Canlapan, or simply Genesis, to spread a new gospel in her community in San Diego, California. After 10 years in show business -- years that have fortified and bettered her -- Genesis embarks on a new beginning, setting aside glamor for service to a higher being and thence to the community. "As we grow old, we have more priorities and responsibilities in life. It's hard if we don't have faith. But if we have God in our life, everything is possible".

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FROM PATRICIA JAVIER TO GENESIS: A NEW BEGINNING

Popular Actress-Singer Recasts Her Life's Priorities; Now It's God, Family, Community

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

T ORONTO – Singer-actress Patricia Javier is dropping her popular screen name and has said goodbye to her Asian Dolls entertainment group because of family commitments and a desire to devote more time to her church, the famous thespian said from San Diego, California.

"Now, my goal is to be remembered as a 'soul winner' and a woman of God," she explained, stressing she now likes to be known by her birth name Genesis Canlapan, or simply Genesis. 

In show business in the last 10 years in the Philippines and in the United States, Genesis has a loyal following since she appeared in movies, combining her sultry looks with a good singing voice. Her participation in the Binibing Pilipinas contest even more widened her public exposure.

She has married a prominent San Diego chiropractor, Dr. Robert Walcher, and has a three-year-old son with him. They have made San Diego their home since four-and-a-half years ago.

Genesis said she wasn't entirely turning her back on show business and would still perform and make movies so long as they won't eat up her time with her family and her community outreach through her church.

"Now my priority is my God, my husband and my son," she told the Philippine Village Voice in an email from San Diego.

She wants to reach out through her singing and is in fact following up her first album ("GENESIS Songs From My Heart") released three years ago.

"I still like to continue my music to touch other people's lives," she stressed. "I like to be a 'soul winner'.  I'm working on my second album – a Phrise (sic) and worship. I like to be part of our community helping others through the Medical Mission and Gawad Kalinga by building homes for people in need".

Her second coming as Genesis has been memorialized in San Diego by her friend, the popular creative baker Wilma Fernandez Ventura, who invented a muffin-like bread and named it after her, thus Genesis Loaf.

For more news in San Diego and Toronto, visit:  http://currentsbreakingnews.blogspot.com/ for current stories, and at: http://gotchajournalist.blogspot.com/  for historical accounts of the author's experience in San Diego, California.

The bread was a big hit in the Filipino community as soon as it came out and is now staple fare at The Original Richard's Bakery (at 3400 E. 8th St., National City, CA. 91950) which Ventura owns and manages. (A video is available at YouTube at this link: &feature=channel" mce_href="/&feature=channel">&feature=channel)

G enesis had been on and off with her name change -- a fact she attributed to her producers at Asian Dolls whom she said preferred the old name Patricia Javier to promote their shows.

Her official announcement had been long anticipated as Genesis settled for a life of domestic bliss. As she slowly shies away from the glitz and glitter of entertainment, Genesis has readied himself for another chapter in her life.

"I feel God is giving me a sign and leading me to the right path," she said. "I just finish my school last April and passed my State Board Exam. I took the course esthetician (skin care specialist) at Marinello School of Beauty. I love to make other people feel good and look good," she added.

Genesis said her 10 years in show business have given new dimensions to her life. "All those experiences made me a better and stronger person," she explained.

"As we grow old, we have more priorities and responsibilities in life. It's hard if we don't have faith. But if we have God in our life, everything is possible".

"I know this is not easy but I'll just give everything to Him because I believe He will lead me to the right path," Genesis concluded.