No more sad songs for Luke

Luke Mejares has a story to tell. Although it has been written and talked about over and again, it is a tale that moved me to the brink of tears when I heard it straight from him. Growing up in Bohol, Luke was always teased for looking different from his parents. His classmates, oblivious of political correctness, called him “Negro” or “Igorot.” When he would ask about this, his mother would say that “pinaglihi ka kasi kay Michael Jackson.” This he tried to believe at first, as indeed he could sing and dance like the great performer. Yet, although his parents, grandmother and an aunt were very loving, in the outside world, Luke just could not fit in as he absolutely looked different from everyone else. In high school, he started courting girls but they shunned him because he looked like an Afro-American. His frustrations had a good effect, though, as he directed all his energies to excelling in everything he was into.

Academically, he would always be at the Top 10 of his batch. Luke excelled in various sports, even becoming the table tennis champion for the whole of Bohol. He danced like a pro and represented the province in singing competitions in the Visayas.

He remembers with a smile how he would always be second place to Ana Fegi who always emerged champion, representing Cebu. When Ryan Cayabyab went to the South to look for a new member for Smokey Mountain, Luke was seriously considered, but again, it was Ana Fegi who got the slot. By then, Luke had evolved to become the Gary Valenciano of the South, singing and dancing like Gary V. Mr. C advised Luke to have his own identity and move to Cebu where he would have better chances of making it in showbiz.

Thus, Luke went to Cebu to study college and stayed with his kind aunt’s family. Slowly, he carved a name in Cebu as a serious entertainer, fronting for big name artists from Manila and even becoming a host for an ABS-CBN lunchtime show.

Luke’s growing popularity made the rumor that he was merely adopted spread around. When this reached Luke and nobody could provide the proper answer, he packed his bags and rebelled against all his relatives.

 At last when he was 18, Luke learned the truth. The mother and father he knew were his adoptive parents. His real mother was his kind aunt who then had her own family in Cebu and who accepted him with open arms while he was there. His biological father was supposed to be with the US Navy. He was stationed in the Philippines and was never heard of again. The truth shocked him, yet he was thankful to finally know the reason why he looked so different. Then came the quest to search for his real father which coincided at almost the same time he decided to try his luck in Manila.

It was not easy. Although he first came to Manila with a manager and had offers from Star Records and Polycosmic Records, Luke had no recording deal and he had to fend for himself. He went to different joints at night and would request to jam with bands for a chance to be discovered. He shared a can of corned beef with a roommate for three meals in a day and offered to be a reliever for several bands. Of course, he never relayed his difficulties to his family back in Bohol, not wanting to worry them. Finally, his efforts paid off when Luke was handpicked to replace Brix Ferraris in South Border. He loved this group, did beautiful music and shared plenty of awards with them. Then he realized it was time to go solo.

All the while, the desire to meet his American biological father remained. Luke tried so hard to look for him but his father had a common American name. It just seemed impossible. It was good friend Sarah Meier, tinkering with her computer, who put the puzzle together, telling Luke, “I think I found your Dad!” with tears in her eyes. With extreme excitement, Luke searched the Internet and found out that his father was a retired US Navy guy, a respected inventor and even active in church. Luke was so proud of him.

From then on, the urge to get to know his Dad and vice-versa became a burning passion for Luke. He tried to get in touch with his Dad but could not seem to get through. He asked an American black priest friend to hand-carry a package for his father containing his letters, albums and pictures, to let him know that he has a son in the Philippines who is doing well, is quite popular and eager to meet him. His American friend came back with nothing. It seems that his father did not share Luke’s interest in them getting together at all. But this did not stop Luke.

He wanted to get to know his father so badly he saved to be able to afford a trip to the US just to meet his dad. Accompanied by a very supportive girlfriend, they went to the US school where his father worked. The Registrar personnel tried calling the man in his office but since the latter was not answering his phone, Luke and his girlfriend were allowed to proceed. Luke remained outside his dad’s office while his girlfriend went inside to make the introduction. To his surprise, a man barged out of the office. He looked exactly like Luke, but an older version. The man screamed at Luke to get out of his office for he did not want to have anything to do with him, ever! Embarrassed and dejected by such a public humiliation, Luke and his girlfriend turned to leave.

As if this were not enough, the man followed them at the hallway shouting at the security officer to make sure they got out of the school premises. The officer took pity on Luke, and suggested that before they go, he write his dad a letter explaining that he only wanted to meet him and spend a little time with him. Luke wrote the letter but to this day, has never heard from his dad.

As he was sharing this story to me, Luke wiped a tear and I had to look away or we would both end up crying at this sad turnout of a very hopeful search. Still, I did not stop him as everyone needs to cry once in a while.

Luke is now under Sony-BMG and has three beautiful albums with them, the latest of which is the very promising Pangako. Happily married and still the simple provinciano from Bohol with his cute Boholano accent, I interviewed Luke at Tropezz where bands were to be auditioned at the time.

“I went through that. I went through all that hardship,” he said. When Tropezz owners Jiji and Isa and me asked him to sing with one of the bands he used to jam with, Luke politely said no, even if he wanted to, as he did not want to hurt the feelings of the other auditioning groups.

“It would not be fair to the other bands,” he said. I saw Luke in a new light. Here is a young man who was brought up well by his adoptive parents and knows what was decent and right. At that point, I closed my eyes and prayed hard to God to give Luke Mejares all the success he richly deserves.

(E-mail me at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833)