We are totally immersed into this summer! Enjoying a deep dive into simultaneous set of events this July and August of 2022, I can only thank my vibrant friends (the authentic power women) like Rosary Escano whose network spells fun, Janet Lim’s brand of involvement that doesn’t stop in her kitchen’s perfect creations of empanadas and sans rival bombs, Jannie Luz-Benico’s contagious rhythm at Republica’s Bar n Grill (and the beat goes on!), Tere Torralba’s Fun Philippines that takes us back home through the streets of Bathurst and Wilson, my current org – PIDC who’s lording it big and strong at Nathan’s Square (take a bow, Prexy Agnes Miranda!) and of course my lovely publisher Tess C whose terpsichorean prowess has branched out to her being a “warrior”, her very definition of protecting her community…Special mention to Rose Ami’s kindness, Jean Pardo’s thoughtfulness and other cherished pals (you know who you are).
Behind all this glorious scenario, I still lament that JULY makes my heart ache with more pain, celebrating the 81st birthday of my dearest friend JESUSA SONORA POE (the MOVIE QUEEN Susan Roces) on the 28th. Indeed, part of my DNA are the perfect showbiz symbols of Comedy and Tragedy, or Laughter and Tears.
ATE SUE
I love to reminisce some sweet moments spent with my dear SR (SUSAN ROCES, I fondly call her Ate Sue) especially at her rest house in Pinagtung-Ulan, San Jose, Batangas where you see all her memorabilia.
“Almost complete, I have a few more boxes to do – when we revisit here, you have to check the details, the dates, mas alam mo kaysa akin,” she then said in 2006 when we were there. “Eh yung soundtracks nga ng films ko, saulado mo!”
Yes, we had planned this – and sana nga last year, we prepared a surprise party for her 80th but the virus happened. The young Susanians led by Teena, James and Simon thought we could do it this year, 2022…..SAYANG! It makes us feel so very sad. Her nephew Direk Jeffrey Sonora told us that he’s digitizing everything and I can’t wait to be at FPJ studios to see all this. A real treasure.
The last time I was with Ate Sue in 2018, we spent some time talking about FPJ’s files.
“Sana, you can help in completing din your Kuya Ronnie’s. Di ba, one important factor – and you’re the one who noticed it first and mentioned it in a conference, that while his Dad Fernando Poe, Sr starred in LVN’s first film Giliw Ko in 1939 (with Mila del Sol), it was Ronnie’s Sandata at Pangako in 1961 that served as the bookend, the last movie kasi ng LVN.”
I made a vow, promised her that I will attend to all her memorabilia.
She just smiled and said, “Thanks so much.” And I will.
When I hear this song, Ate Sue comes into full view, James Taylor’s Fire and Rain.
Just yesterday mornin’, they let me know you were gone
Suzanne (SUSAN), the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can’t remember who to send it to
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again….
LOVE and MISS you Ate Sue…
YAM!
At the Fiesta Extravaganza at Vaughan, Yam Concepcion treated her devotees to a few songs and dances but what delighted everyone was her playng the drums. Did you know that long before her first acting break, she played drums for an underground grunge-alternative rock band called Ursa Minor, which was fronted by her brother Ced. They got to play in underground rock bars such as Saguijo and Route 196. Look at her now, she’s so popular with her portrayals of fierce characters like in Halik, Love Thy Woman, Probinsyano and Init sa Magdamag. Recently married to longtime boyfriend New Yorker Miguel CuUnjieng (July of last year), Yam has been a resident ogf NY. (Di ba she was spotted on New York’s Times Square digital billboard, modeling for Philippine fashion brand Ia’s Threads?) Sikat!
I went out of my way to meet Yam in person at the Dufferin Community Center after her performance. I introduced myself reminding YAM that in 2018, during the height of her teleserye HALIK, I was among the first to interview her (sent a questionnaire then through ABS-CBN’s COO Cory Vidanes).
“Ikaw ba iyon? I remember you very well, I enjoyed your questions! Thanks very much!” she said and we went on talking, trading jokes. She is so likeable! Let me post here a part of that Halik Q and A. Below is what had appeared in our Balita broadsheet almost 4 years ago na pala.
“YOU HATERS, GO TO H!” — YAM CONCEPCION
Ready to fight, one on one or all against one, Pambansang “Kabit” Yam of HALIK fame is ready to defend herself on and off the boob tube. The Kapamilya series ‘Halik’ has definitely become a chartbuster – it has consistently ranked among the top five shows nationwide. What else could top a tale of failed relationships, broken marriages and cheating spouses? As JADE, Yam is the bad bitch/witch stealing a married guy and fighting, opposing the tight clannish family of her husband.
So we threw some questions to YAM – we did not edit, here is one.
Are you happy your character is hated in HALIK?
Happy in a way na nagagawa ko yung role na kainisan mismo, I get a lot of hate comments and messages especially sa Instagram kasi hindi naman ako ma-twitter. Minsan nung nag mallshow kami, sinabihan ako ng staff na mag-ingat ako sa mga kakamayan ko at lalapitan ko na tao while singing kasi they heard na mayroong daw gustong manabunot sa akin…
Is YAM willing to do the same role now or in the near future, “Aba, why not?” If plans jell, we might see Yam back here in Toronto for an August gig.
LECCE
Stephen Lecce looks younger in person and guapo – the first thing I noticed upon meeting him at the same Vaughan fiesta. I noticed he’s very approachable and is loved by Pinoys which made me ask him, “Are you fond of Fil-Canadioans?” To which he quickly retorted with humor, “I will say yes as I am here with you now – but really and seriously, the Pinoys are resilient and they’re always fun to be with.”
Stephen Lecce is the Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King-Vaughan. As Minister, it is Stephen’s mission to ensure that students are given every opportunity to develop the transferable skills needed to lead productive lives and secure good jobs. Standing up for Ontario families at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers’ meeting on child care, Lecce wants to ensure that parents save on average 50% this year & benefit from $10/day by 2025.
Ivy, Ray-An and Janno
Let’s talk about these top three singing icons: Ivy Violan, Ray-An Fuentes and Janno Gibbs.
Based in the U.S., IVY has won awards from various international singing tilts, among them the Third Asean Popular Song Festival, Asia-Pacific Song Contest and the Fourth International Midnight Sun Song Festival. She’s identified with various musical groups like the Sangkatutak Band and The Royal Flush Music Society before forming her own band called 8th of September. We all know of course that Ivy was one of the more popular and acclaimed OPM singers in the 80’s and 90’s.
RAY-AN is a former member of the New Minstrels, the Circus Band, and the Fourth Congregation. Based in Vancouver, the Filipino singer-songwriter is best remembered as Tille Moreno’s singing partner, “Umagang Kay Ganda” being the two’s landmark collaboration. He has also written for artists like Gary V, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Janno Gibbs, and Martin Nievera. Fuentes, who now refers to himself an “evangelist,” said he set up a Christian ministry abroad to offer hope for Filipino communities: “OFWs work so hard and some of them are abused … I go where the Lord takes me to minister to Pinoys. But every year I visit the Philippines because there are churches here that invite me.”
JANNO was a Filipino household name in the 90s with the many characters he has portrayed and songs he has sung and written. He’s a popular comedian, remember his character as Pedro Penduko? His album Novela contains songs that he has written for GMA telenovelas. It also holds a song he composed for the wedding of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Yes, he’s the son of multi-awarded actor Ronald Valdez.
Let us listen to this Q and A, an encounter we had in social media.
1. What has been the best performance of your career so far?
Ivy: Upcoming Christian Album to be released this year as a producer and composer with a working title album “All For You” to be sung by myself with other various Filipino artists based in the USA.
Ray An: Best performance, I can name 2. First is during the 75th anniversary of Manila hotel. In the musical with an all star cast, I played the role of the narrator. During my number, someone tripped over the speaker cables and the sound went off for about a minute. But the tape reel was still playing. I continued to sing acapella while everyone backstage was nervous. When they were able to put back the cables, I was in tune and on time. Second was December 22, 2019 in a gospel concert in Vallejo. Two days before, I lost my voice due to bronchitis. But in the say itself, I got a miracle. My voice came back and I sang the best I have ever sung in my life. And that’s the last time I have sung on stage.
Janno: I’ve had a few singing moments i am proud of. One was a duet w my idol Michael Buble. Another was a trio w Martin and Gary. But significantly, when i serenaded VP Leni recently.
Describe your worst performance. What did you learn from this experience?
Ivy: I don’t exactly remember
Ray An: To be honest, I don’t think I ever had one. I am such a “perfectionist” . I can’t afford to step on stage not prepared.
Janno: My worst performance was faking the lyrics of a foreign song coz i couldnt read the prompter.
Name 3 of your favorite songs and why
Ivy: Easy to love you – The most challenging song up to this date that I have sung and performed in 2 Song Festivals. It required vocal technique and emotion; Yakapin Mo AKo – my very first composition which showed one of the highlights of my career; and Hanap-Hanap, another composition I wrote for my Mother and to all the mothers in the universe.
Ray An: Umagang kay ganda, Love always finds a way, You are always on my mind
Janno: 3 of my fave songs of mine are Ipagpatawad Mo, Pinakamagandang Lalaki and Fallin. These songs made me.
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Ivy: My dedication and passion to continue to learn and improve
Ray An: My “strength” as a musician is always being prepared; always knowing what I am supposed to do; everything on my mind from blocking, choreo, spiels, lyrics and every nuance in my performance. Another is improvisation.
Janno: I believe passion would be my stregth as an artist.
What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Ivy: Keep pressing forward and never stop learning. There is no right or wrong in writing a song.
Ray An: I don’t have an answer to that because I never sought advice from anyone.
Janno: Everyone tells me “You should sing more often!”
What would you do if your audience looked tired or bored during your performance?
Ivy: I would go down and talk to them and immediately a quick change of how to get their attention. Sing a song that’s close to their heart and make them feel you are here for them.
Ray An: I always get my audience engaged. One time, someone told me after my show, “You are the only Filipino performer I know that can get white people to dance”.
Janno: When i see my audience is bored, i would shift gears. Being a comedian as well helps.
Name some singers you look up to…. What qualities do they have that you admire?
Ivy: Our filam artists – Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo, H.E.R. They have originalities that makes them to be on top of the game. They bare their soul everytime they step on stage.
Ray An: Local – Gary V. He is such a total performer. International – Stevie Wonder and Prince. They are just amazing musicians
Janno: My music idols are Tom Jones and James Ingram. I think they have the best voices and sing their hearts out.
See you soon after two weeks.