Jerome & Mabel: What’s the real score?

Mabel Bacusmo is 16 years old. She was part of the Champions League of Five in the last Search for Star in a Million where Jerome Sala, the boy from Bohol, emerged as the grand prize winner. Jerome used to have a non-showbiz girlfriend from Bohol. He made an emotional declaration of love for his girl on national TV. But that was before the punishing schedule came into his life; before the tapings, recordings, live gigs, the guestings, out-of town/country shows, the out-of-this-world waiting game amidst all these activities. That was before he was smitten by Mabel Bacusmo.

Now, he is vocal about his love and admiration for young Mabel, who says she’s too young for love but she does like Jerome. The two sing a love song in Jerome’s self-titled album. It was while taping his music video for this album that he realized he was falling in love with Mabel. Right now, the two are embroiled in separate controversies. Jerome’s father is complaining that his son doesn’t send money and the little fame that has come his way has gone straight to his head. Jerome says he has fixed his misunderstanding with his parents and he denies that he doesn’t give financial support to his family. He claims that "hindi ko po talaga alam na ganito po pala ka busy at kagulo ang schedule ko."

Mabel’s alleged biological father, Bong Macapaar on the other hand, claims that first, Mabel is his daughter; second, he did not consent to the adoption of Mabel. The story, according to Bong, is that when Mabel was born, he was with the Philippine Constabulary. One time, he brought Mabel and his mother home to Borongan, Eastern Samar (also my hometown), to stay with his father who was then based in Borongan. Then, he went back to Manila to work. Months later, he learned that his wife left Borongan with his child and went to Japan and had their daughter adopted. He has papers, documents and photos to prove his claim. He says he just wants to talk to his daughter. Mabel says she’s happy now and has no reason to look for her parents as she has been taken cared of and loved by her parents. "Sana wala ng manggulo at wala ng sumingit," she adds. Just a couple of days ago, I got a text message from Bong Macapaar that went, "Handa akong mag-tiis, alang-alang sa anak ko."

Meanwhile, Jerome on Homeboy assured Mabel, "Kung kailangan mo ako, I will always be here." And Mabel gave him the sweetest smile I have ever seen in the last seven days.

Together With The Tilt Down Men

Alpha Music reissues the album of one of the most successful bands in the music scene in the ’60s called the Tilt Down Men. Together With The Tilt Down Men, the album contains 12 original tracks plus eight previously unreleased recordings of the group.

The Tilt Down Men is fronted by lead singer Tito Sotto who wrote some of the original compositions in the album like Never Ever Lose, Stay, Magic of Our Love, and Girl I’d Love to Hold You; Val Sotto who contributed the song, And Then I Fell In Love with You; drummer Bing Dizon, sometimes called the Rhythm and Blues Man and Dell Pascual.

The album also includes the hit Together which was originally recorded by the American group The Intruders. Other cuts are Dynamite, Baby Say No, Don‘t You Care, No One Can Break a Heart Like You, I’ll Think of Summer, I Will, Honey Come On Down to My Boat, I Dig Rock and Roll Music, In The Country, Bus Stop, Massachusetts, Holiday and Years May Come, Years May Go.

Together With The Tilt Down Men is available in CDs in all Alpha outlets nationwide.