Luke splits from South Border, is going solo!

And it came to pass that after five years with the band which he idolized as an aspiring singer from the Land of Chocolate Hills (where he was tagged as "the Boholano Gary Valenciano"), macho man Luke Mejares has decided to split from the South Border with which he’s performing only until the 31st of this month.

Parting is such sweet sorrow? Maybe not in the case of Luke versus the five other South Border members.

"He’s leaving the South Border with a heavy heart," said the Funfare DPA. "It’s not at all an amicable parting. But definitely, it’s goodbye for Luke, and good for him, and not at all good riddance."

It’s actually history repeating itself. Six years ago, the group’s soloist/vocalist Brix Ferraris also parted with the group under bitter circumstances and tried to go solo (with not much success). Luke took Brix’s place a few months after and because Luke doesn’t just sound good (that’s the Black blood in his veins) but also look very good, he became popular in no time at all, eclipsing in the process the rest of the South Border without his meaning nor intending to.

Soon, the South Border didn’t seem complete without Luke who has, in fact, became the group’s "flag carrier" again without his wanting to be. Goodlooking nga, e!

According to the DPA, the kinks began showing last year when Luke was recruited as one of the image models for Hartmann (underwear). Naturally, since Luke signed a two-year contract with Hartmann, he had to go on a tour to promote the product – "And the other South Border members knew about it," said the DPA. "In fact, the five other guys have also been properly ‘compensated’ for. In short, naki-share din sila sa suwerte ni Luke."

Inevitably, Luke’s schedule with Hartmann sometimes came into conflict with that of the South Border concerts. But always, with Hartmann’s permission, Luke would put the South Border as top priority – "And Luke is forever thankful to Hartmann for being considerate and understanding," added the DPA.

A few months ago when Luke and his girlfriend, accompanied by a fellow Boholano priest (who is, like Luke, "colored"), went to the US to seek out his father (who, sob and sigh, drove Luke away as soon as they met, even if it was their first meeting in their lives), Luke asked for a one-month leave but the South Border gave him only two weeks at most.

"Still and all," continued the DPA, "Luke kept silent."

The DPA said that Luke even had to politely turn down an offer to be a FuBu image model because, said the DPA, "he didn’t want the ‘other guys’ to feel bad. It was a very good offer and Luke let it pass."

Last August, Luke was told bluntly (by who, the DPA didn’t specify), "Why don’t you just quit the group?" Ouch, masakit, Kuya Eddie, di ba?

To make a long story short(er), Luke did decide to quit South Border and to embark on a solo career effective next year. Already, several recording companies are "eyeing" Luke who has just recorded a song for the BMG Pilipinas’ album of (12) Close-Up songs. Could it be true that Viva Records is also interested in signing up Luke? Even some movie companies are thinking of launching Luke as a "bold-drama" actor (paging Seiko’s Robbie Tan!).

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the cookie sometimes crumbles.

Oh my, just when things are turning up roses for South Border (which suffered a "slump" when member Jay Durias got into some "legal fix" that landed him for a while behind bars).

Now, will the South Border still be the same without Luke Mejares? Let’s wait and see.

(P.S. Another DPA told Funfare that South Border is now grooming a waiter as Luke’s replacement. Will he be better – sound- and looks-wise – than Luke? Stay tuned.)

Readers’ reactions

And now, for a more sober note...

More than a month after my "love letter to Nanay" was published, I still get reactions from all over. I’m putting out the letters hoping that other readers might learn a lesson or two about loving their moms even more. One such letter came from "Spunky Dudette" (no address given). Excerpt: "That All Saints’ Day issue where you wrote about your mom made me teary-eyed. It inspired me to treat my 95-year-old lola (not my Mom, she’s not here anyway) a bit nicer than I used to. I brought her to a beauty parlor and had her hair dyed and curled; her toes and nails painted and polished. She was enraged but secretly enthralled."

The other very reassuring and comforting letter came from Marichu "Manay Ichu" Maceda, which I’m sharing not only with Funfare readers but especially with friends who have also recently lost their moms, among them Mario Bautista, Miguel Vera, Joe Barrameda, Shirley Pizarro and Shirley Kuan. Here it is:

Dear Ricky,

I just arrived from Frisco yesterday. June Torrejon told me about your mother. I am so very sorry.

No words can express and no one can truly understand the pain you are going through. Neither can anyone say how long the pain will last. All I know is that it becomes harder on special times like Christmas and New Year.

When I lost Papa, no one really knew what I went through. It took about three years before things started to look right again. The pain and bouts of crying would hit at odd times of the day. It could be a line in a song over the radio, a misplaced piece of furniture in the house, an ulam, the sound of running water, anything which reminded me of my Papa, a corner in the house,... I guess it’s the same with every person who loses a loved one.

I can only offer my prayers. Should you feel the need for some company, to talk about your mom, to have a good cry... I’m just a phone call or a text away.

Take care, dear Ricky.

– Love,
Manay