The invitation came from proud parents Carlo Muñoz and his wife Meg (Enid) Reyes barely 30 minutes after I checked into the Travelodge, located right across Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where I stayed overnight before moving to the Westin Century Plaza Hotel & Spa in Century City, official residence of the 50 or so international journalists during the two-day press junket for Disney Pictures’ Herbie Fully Loaded (starring Lindsay Lohan, Matt Dillon and Michael Keaton, released locally by Buena Vista International).
Still jet-lagged (from the flight from Manila to San Francisco to New York and then to L.A.), I told Carlo and Enid, "By all means," aware as I was of the Filipino belief that turning down an invitation to be a ninong (especially to a baptism) would bring you bad luck.
Joshua Andrew was born on April 20, a day before I was decades ago, so that makes him still an Aries. Carlo and Enid were married on Valentine’s Day last year, along with a few other couples, with the event covered "live" by an L.A. TV station.
When I saw Carlo and Enid at the St. Bernardine Church at the outskirts of L.A., I complimented both of them for being, well, so healthy. Having given birth barely five weeks earlier, Enid still carried post-natal extra poundage. "Would you believe," said Carlo, "that I used to weigh more than 200 lbs." He has slimmed down to 194.
Also present at the Sunday (June 5) affair were Carlo’s brother Leandro and his wife Chie Cuyong, and the Muñozes’ mother, my friend Patricia Garcia-Muñoz who was widowed more than two years ago with the death of her husband Louie Muñoz (younger brother of Tita Muñoz) on March 25, 2003, which happened to be Leandro’s birthday.
Asked when he and Chie were going to have their own baby, Leandro said, "In due time."
The Muñoz brothers quit showbiz when they were ahead of the (rat)race. But out there, they still find time to join shows featuring homegrown artists (such as the first Night of the Champions show in October last year in which Carlo and Leandro acted as hosts). Once actors, always actors. True to form, the Muñoz brothers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping to bump into somebody with the right Hollywood connection and, why not, landing (even only) bit roles in Hollywood films.
"That’s our own American Dream," agreed Carlo and Leandro.
Over a late dinner of Filipino food (yummy...after a "forced" diet of burgers, hotdogs and salads), Al Chu clarified the misconception that he timed the Champions repeat concert in L.A. (last June 11) with that of Sharon Cuneta"s concert (also held in various parts of the US).
"Actually," said Al Chu, "the Champions concert was scheduled ahead of the Sharon concert. Early this year, I checked out the Shrine Auditorium where I wanted to have the Champions concert on May 21 but I was told that that date was reserved for Sharon’s concert. So I re-scheduled the Champions concert to June 11 in another venue. It’s very clear na hindi kami ang sumabay sa concert ni Sharon."
Anyway, Al Chu has become so addicted to concert-producing that he has again scheduled another one on Oct. 7 in L.A. (Live in Los Angeles) and Oct. 8 in San Diego (Live in San Diego). Called Stars in a Million, the concert stars Christian Bautista, Sheryn Regis, Erik Santos, Frenchie Dy and Jerome Sala, with Marissa Sanchez and Divo Bayer as guest performers, produced by Marissa Entertainment and ABC Entertainment, Inc.
(Note: Pinoys in L.A. and San Diego and neighboring places interested in buying tickets may call Tito Al at 714-402-5476, Marissa at 818-219-2009 or Mommy Lucing at 213-413-4804.)
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)