MY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY ANECDOTES

MY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY ANECDOTES 

What exactly does it mean to be a celebrity? Different dictionaries define a celebrity as a well-known individual, a star, a luminary, someone famous or infamous, popular, a personality, an idol, a success story, someone with a name, someone prominent, someone with prestige, someone with distinction, notable, publicly acclaimed, or glorified.

Why do people celebrate celebrities and hold them in such high esteem? Is it because they have qualities or characteristics that endear them to their fans? Or is it because people look for popular figures to serve as their role models? Regardless, there must be certain traits or qualities that people admire and love about these celebrities.

 

Aspiring to become a celebrity, I developed a certain image by exploring my passions. I pursued a degree in Theater Arts in college because I loved acting, which led to me landing bit roles in movies like "Moises Arcanghel" with Eddie Garcia and a telenovela called "Valiente" where I played the role of a mayor.

I also had a desire to sing and ended up joining a band called WADAB, where we performed our hit song "Pagtumatagal Lalong Tumitibay." Starting my collection of celebrity stories, I'll begin with my own personal experience.

 

I once went to a magazine stand to purchase a song hit magazine featuring our group on the cover. As I was about to pay for some copies, the sales girl didn't recognize me and mentioned that she had a crush on one of the members of WADAB. Suspecting that she was referring to me, I asked her to point out which member she had a crush on. She pointed to my picture, and I excitedly revealed that I was that guy. However, she looked at me skeptically and glanced back at the picture, stating that I only looked handsome in photos and not in person. Despite her unflattering comment, I was still happy.

 

LEA SALONGA

One day, Lea Salonga's mother requested that I join them at a television station. While we were waiting for her turn, Lea, her uncle Gerard, and I sat together and shared stories on a small circular stage. Unexpectedly, a Fresnel light hanging from the stage's batten fell and landed close to where Lea was seated. It was a potentially fatal accident, and it always comes to mind whenever I see Lea now.

RICO J. PUNO

Before Rico J. Puno achieved stardom, I had already met him. After his TV appearances, he would typically ask me to accompany him to the station's gate to catch a cab. Months later, after receiving several gold record awards and attending a party hosted by then-President Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos in Malacañang, he asked me once again to accompany him. This time, not to hail a cab, but to his newly acquired Mercedes Benz.

FREDDIE AGUILAR 

While promoting Freddie's "Anak" album under Vicor, we received an invitation for Freddie Aguilar to perform in Bataan. I expressed my concern about driving there, but Freddie rented a black limousine and we rode in the back, enjoying the luxurious ride like rock stars.

ASIN

During an interview with Asin, a folk group from Mindanao, I noticed their discomfort. I later asked them about it since I knew they were skilled in Tagalog, evident from their beautiful Tagalog lyrics. They revealed that their secret was frequently consulting an English-Tagalog dictionary to select the appropriate words.

 

MAE RIVERA

It's not fair to judge someone as outdated or unsuccessful. Mae Rivera, who had been rejected by multiple record companies, approached me to audition her album. Many people criticized her singing style, calling it baduy or only suitable for the masses, among other negative things. But when I signed her up, her song "Aray" became a hit and sold double platinum, and everyone's perception of her changed overnight.

COOKY CHUA

Cooky Chua used to be a timid student of Butch Albarracin. One night, while singing at a piano bar, she abruptly stopped and left. When we asked her what happened and why she was crying, she revealed that her parents disapproved of her singing, and she had seen her mother enter the bar. We apologized to her mother and promised not to let her continue singing. To our surprise, her mother gave her blessings after learning that Cooky was actually a very talented singer.

 

JAMIE TIVERA

During a UST singing contest that Jamie Rivera participated in, she missed her cue on the first line of her song. She stopped and requested another chance from the judges, which included me, Jose Mari Chan, and others. We agreed, and she ultimately won the contest. Although I wanted to sign her up, we already had too many talents. Instead, I recommended her to OctoArts Records, and she was immediately signed up. Later, she joined the cast of Miss Saigon as Kim.

SHARON CUNETA

 

When Sharon Cuneta was only 12 years old and not yet famous, I met her. She was scheduled to appear on a TV show but couldn't leave her house because she lacked transportation to the station. Her uncle, Tito Sotto, instructed her nanny to take a cab to Vicor. When they arrived, I borrowed a makeup kit from a coworker so we could apply makeup to her as I drove her to the station. She used to affectionately call me her yayo.

REY VALERA

At the time, Sharon and Rey Valera, the composer of "Mr. DJ," were not a priority for our record company. Some people thought Sharon was too young, and Rey lacked star quality. However, I believed in their potential and carried out underground promotions for them. Within two weeks, their songs became huge hits. I was reprimanded for promoting them without the department's knowledge, and as a result, I was fired and my car was repossessed.

MARC VELASCO

 When singer-composer Marc Velasco submitted his audition tape for the hit song "Ordinary Song" to Sony Music, he neglected to leave a phone number or address. I fell in love with the songs and kept playing them, hoping that the singer would contact me. After more than a year, Perf de Castro, a renowned guitar virtuoso, sent me a tape to audition. It turned out to be the same album I had been listening to. I hurried to the Hobbit House, where I discovered that Marc was performing.

ANDREW E.

No one expected Andrew E to make a comeback after ten years, and he was rejected by several record companies when he brought his latest album to them. When he came to me, he didn't let me listen to his album, but instead rapped some of the songs live. Despite this unconventional approach, I decided to sign him up, much to his surprise. Andrew E's albums under Sony Music went on to become multi-platinum sellers, with one of the hit songs being "Banyo Queen."

MARY MCGREGOR 

I had to shuttle Mary McGregor back and forth between the airport and hotel several times because she was a standby passenger, which was quite frustrating after waiting for a long time only to be told that she couldn't board the plane.

BEYONCÉ

During my time in Phuket, Thailand, I had the opportunity to meet Destiny's Child members Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. However, they were unable to perform due to Beyoncé's throat problems.

CELINE DION

In 1996, I had the privilege of watching Celine Dion's amazing performance in Brisbane, Australia. After the show, as a moderator of the event, I helped other guests get their CDs signed and was even invited to her backstage birthday celebration and mini press conference as a Sony Music executive.

JOHN MCVIE

 

One morning, a man who identified himself as John McVie from Fleetwood Mac contacted me after seeing my name and picture in the newspaper. After confirming his identity, I promptly booked him for a noontime TV show. Later, we returned to Los Baños where he was vacationing with his brother-in-law, and to our surprise, many fans wanted to meet him after seeing him on the TV show.

STEPHEN BISHOP

When Stephen Bishop first visited Manila, he had no concert or album to promote and was there for personal reasons that I am unable to disclose. As a representative of my record company, I spent a week with him, accompanying him to bars and video arcades. People were often surprised when I mentioned his name, asking if he was the real Stephen Bishop.

 

MANHATTAN TRANSFER 

 During my time at WEA Records, my boss asked me to accompany the international jazz group Manhattan Transfer to buy souvenirs. I happily agreed and took them to Ils de Tuls, which is located under a bridge in Quiapo. The smiles on their faces showed that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

RUPERT HOLMES

Working in the advertising and promotions department of a record company is a great opportunity to meet international stars like Rupert Holmes. When he visited Manila and appeared on TV shows, I had the pleasure of showing him around the city. We dined together and conversed like old friends. After learning that I also compose music, he inscribed in his album, "To Tato, the greatest composer in the world." Signed, Rupert Holmes.

.MAUREEN MCGOVERN 

Following Maureen McGovern's concert, we took her to Pagsanjan Falls and rode a banca through the rapids. Afterwards, we rented a speedboat and toured Lake Caliraya. It was a lavish and luxurious experience, fit for the rich and famous.

 

ISAAC HAYES

On the way to the Folk Arts Theater, Isaac Hayes rode with me in my car because his entourage had gone ahead. However, when we reached the artists' entrance, a guard stopped us because I did not have a car pass. In frustration, I threatened the guard that he should perform himself if he would not let us in. But when the guard realized that my companion was the real Isaac Hayes, he apologized, saluted shakily, and allowed us to enter.

SANDPIPERS 

I also recall the time when the Sandpipers traveled with me in my car after a TV guesting on the way back to their hotel. Unfortunately, we experienced a flat tire in the middle of a busy street in Sampaloc, Manila, under the scorching afternoon sun. It was quite a sight to see an internationally popular group fixing a flat tire themselves.