Starry ‘walk’

Amidst the threat of super Typhoon Reming’s fury, the third batch of local movie icons were honored with his/her "star" on Walk of Fame at Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, Thursday night, Nov. 30. They were Manuel Conde, Mona Lisa, Lea Salonga, Jaime dela Rosa, Alicia Vergel, Cesar Ramirez, Paraluman (represented by daughter Baby O’Brien), Tessie Quintana, Edna Luna, Zaldy Zshornack (represented by his wife-actress who’s still fashionable, Shirley Gorospe), Chiquito, Marlene Dauden (represented by Dinky Ross of Wing Duo), Romeo Vasquez, Eddie Gutierrez, Vic Vargas, Maricel Soriano, Lorna Tolentino, Gloria Diaz, Phillip Salvador, Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Ruffa Gutierrez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rudy Fernandez, Cesar Montano, Richard Gomez, Aga Muhlach, Robin Padilla, Judy Ann Santos and Manny Pacquiao.

Other movie personalities whose respective "stars" were unveiled late last year and early this year were: Atang dela Rama, Fernando Poe Sr., Carmen Rosales, Rogelio dela Rosa, Leopoldo Salcedo, Rosa del Rosario, Anita Linda, Jose Padilla Jr., Efren Reyes Sr., Katy dela Cruz, Oscar Moreno, Tony Santos Sr., Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona, Rosa Rosal, Delia Razon, Armando Goyena, Lilia Dizon, Tessie Agana, Boy Alano, Mario Montenegro, Fred Montilla, Ramon Revilla Sr., Charito Solis, Fernando Poe Jr., Joseph Estrada, Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Eddie Garcia, Dolphy Quizon, Susan Roces, Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Rodriguez, Barbara Perez, Jose Mari Gonzales, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Pilita Corrales, Sharon Cuneta, Christopher de Leon, Amalia Fuentes, Boots Anson Roa and Hilda Koronel.

The rain teasingly fell as the show started but by Divine intervention, it didn’t rain on Kuya Germs’ parade. Kuya Germs later revealed to the audience "na naglagay siya ng isang basong tubig" under a table. The open-to-public affair was punctuated with production numbers rendered by Pilita Corrales, Wing Duo, Dulce (who belted three songs in spite of her interesting stage), Ruben Laurente, Walang Tulugan Teen Stars and Joaquin. Walk of Fame Philippines presented singer-composer Tots Faustino a plaque of appreciation for writing the theme song, Walk of Fame. Jacqui Lou Blanco and John Nite were the masters of ceremonies. Celebrities spotted that night were Ricky Davao, Annabelle Rama, Francis Magalona, lovey-dovey Karylle and Dingdong Dantes and Iwa Moto.

This contributor would love to see more prominent stars on the Walk of Fame in the recent future. Among on my "wish list" are: Mary Walter (the only actor whose career spanned six decades), actress-director Rosa Mia, Corazon Noble, Angel Esmeralda, Rosario Moreno, Arsenia Francisco, Norma Blancaflor, Linda Estrella, Vic Silayan, Pugo, Togo, Mila del Sol, Miss Rita Gomez, Juancho Gutierrez, Luis Gonzales, Sylvia La Torre, Panchito Alba, durable kontrabida Bella Flores, award-winning actresses Gloria Sevilla and Caridad Sanchez who both started in Visayan movies and are still very active in both movies and TV, Gina Pareño – the only active among Stars ’66 and is now reaping international acting awards, former child stars of the ’60s and both multi-awarded – Gina Alajar and Roderick Paulate; and of course, the men and women behind Sampaguita, LVN and Premiere Pictures, who after all were the very reason of the birth of showbiz stars whom we admire and look up to these days.