Chance encounter with Bocelli

If I were somebody else, I would write this story this way:

While I was having tea Thursday, June 8, at the bar ("The best in Beverly Hills," according to Ruffa Gutierrez) of the Four Seasons Hotel with my good friend, lawyer Francis Padua Papica ("The Pride of Camarines Sur," ehem!), somebody called me from across the room, saying, "Hi, Ricky! How are you? When did you arrive?" Lo and behold, it was none other than the great tenor Andrea Bocelli who almost tripped on the carpet as he rushed to embrace me, asking, "Did you get the Christmas and Valentine cards I sent you?" I was dumb-founded, of course! All I could mumble was a faint "Hi, Andrea! Long time no see!" (Take note: I was addressing him on a first-name basis.)

But I’m not somebody else, so I would write this story this way:

While having tea Thursday, June 8, at the bar ("The best in Beverly Hills," according to Ruffa Gutierrez) of the Four Seasons Hotel with my good friend, lawyer Francis Padua Papica ("The Pride of Camarines Sur," ehem!), Francis’ eyes widened behind his thick-rimmed glasses as he said, pointing to somebody at the other end of the room, "Look, it’s Bocelli!" Lo and behold, it was indeed Andrea Bocelli, holding a glass (of brandy? whatever!), talking to a man in black blazer who, I presumed, was his bodyguard.

I told Francis that I had interviewed Bocelli two years ago when he was in Manila for a concert, produced by philanthropist Rosemarie "Baby" Arenas, and Francis dared me, "Why don’t you say ‘Hi!’ to him?"

I did.

I sat on a tall chair at the bar beside Bocelli and very politely told the man in black blazer who I presumed to be Bocelli’s bodyguard and said, handing him my calling card, "I’m a journalist from Manila. I interviewed Mr. Bocelli when he was there for a concert in February 2004." The man got my card, smiled at me and said something (in Italian? whatever!) to Bocelli who promptly smiled (at me, I presumed) and said, "Hello! How are you?"

Celebrities (especially the Hollywood type) feel at home at the Four Seasons (where Hollywood press junkets are often held) because they are treated casually (read: people around don’t bother with them, respecting their space and privacy). The unwritten rule is that you are not supposed to make chica-chica with them or even as much as say "Hi!" because that would be interpreted as intrusion into their privacy. I did that to Hustler publisher Larry Flint and his bodyguard, the one pushing Flint’s gold-plated wheelchair, glared at me although Flint did flash a friendly smile at me.

Encouraged by Bocelli’s warmth and friendliness, I started to make small talk with him, asking what he was in America for.

"For a concert," he said.

Name-dropping Baby Arenas’ name, I told Bocelli that after his hit SRO concert at the Araneta Coliseum in February 2004, his Filipino fans are eager to watch a repeat.

"I’d love to go back to Manila," he smiled, taking a sip from the glass he was holding. "Say ‘Hi!’ to Baby for me."

Not wanting to take much of his time (remember, I was "intruding" into his space/privacy), I asked Bocelli if I could have a photo taken with him.

"Yes, of course!" he said.

As I sidled up to him, fumbling with my cell phone, the man in black blazer volunteered to do the "clicking" and that’s how I got into the picture with Bocelli.

I said, "Goodbye!" and Bocelli smiled again.

When I rejoined Francis at the other end of the bar, he couldn’t believe that the Bocelli would entertain an "intruder" Bocelli didn’t know from Adam.

That same night, I turned the TV set on in my room at the nearby Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel and guess who I saw in a replay, wowing a big crowd at an open-air show in Las Vegas – yes, Andrea Bocelli. I would learn from Baby K. Jimenez the next day that the concert was a fund-raiser called Bocelli, Amore Under the Desert Sky. "I have a CD of that concert," said BKJ who, I understand, is giving copies to her bosom friend Susan Roces and Armida "Tita Midz" Siguion-Reyna who should have a grand time listening to it.

What a chance encounter with Bocelli that was! As I wrote before, the Four Seasons is one of the best places in L.A. for star-gazing. You linger at the lobby or the driveway for an hour and you are sure to bump into or, if you’re lucky enough, rub elbows (by "accident," of course!) with celebrities. Reminder: Just look, don’t talk (to them). One time, I rode in the elevator with Enrique Iglesias, dressed in casual summer wear, whom I would see again much later at the driveway with his girlfriend, Anna Kournikova, at the driveway waiting for the valet to get their car.

Before Francis and I finished our cups of tea, guess who passed by, being pushed by in his gold-plated wheelchair by a burly bodyguard – Larry Flint! This time, I simply looked, I didn’t dare run to him and say "Hi!" (That would be "double jeopardy," remember?)

While waiting at the driveway for the valet to bring in Francis’ BMW (ehem!), a black Benz arrived and a very familiar figure got off it – yes, none other than Al Gore who’s busy promoting his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, which warns mankind about the great danger of global warming.

If I were somebody else, I would end this story this way:

Before we parted, Andrea Bocelli asked me again if I received the card he sent me last Christmas, I, being one of the "elite" he sends greeting cards to. He wanted me to linger with him but, sorry, I had a screening (of Superman Returns) to attend that same night.

But I’m not somebody else, so I will end this story this way:

Before we parted, I thanked Andrea Bocelli profusely for the few precious minutes (two? three? does it matter?) he allowed me to "intrude" into his space, saying, "See you in Manila soon!" Bocelli waved me goodbye and resumed his rudely-interrupted conversation with the man in black blazer.

P.S. And what good news was my friend Francis going to tell me? Well, it’s about the Mga Kuwentong Pambata ng Papica, a national short-story writing contest being sponsored by The Francis Padua Papica Foundation, Inc. (FPPFI) among kids ages six to 12, covering all regions of the Philippines. One winner will be selected from each region, with a P10,000 cash prize at stake, plus a certificate of the book containing the winner’s published story and a box-ful of reading material. (The FPPFI has been donating books to schools in different parts of the country.) Deadline of submission of entries is Aug. 15. Entries must be addressed to: Mga Kuwentong Pambata ng Papica, c/o Backroom Inc., Unit 207, 116 CRM Bldg., Kamias Road cor. Kasing-Kasing St., Quezon City, Philippines. No faxed or e-mailed entries will be accepted. For more information, call (632)435-1098, (632)435-1120, (632)435-1108 or(632)928-0717.

* * *

E-mail reactions at [email protected]