A band named after the Sampaguita star

What is it about Paraluman, the retired dreamy-eyed Sampaguita actress, that makes her a name-drop favorite among musicians? Is it the name which literally means “sweetheart” in Filipino? Or the haunting, enduring beauty?

Both, I guess.

First immortalized in the ’90s song Ang Huling El Bimbo by Eraserheads (as Rio Locsin is in the Hotdog song Langit Na Naman — you know: Di ipagpapalit kahit kay Rio Locsin...), Paraluman has inspired a new band enough for the five members to name it after her.

“We have to live up to the great actress’ prestige,” said Madeline Ramboyong, the band’s vocalist and the only female member of the quintet, whose voice is described as “smooth, rounded and quite enigmatic enough to mesmerize listeners.”

The four other members are Arjay Romero (lead guitar), Jimbo Cuenco (drums), Jay Macalincag (rhythm guitar) and Vince Romero (bass). They have just released their album, Paraluman Inlab (under Soupstar Music and Universal Records).

Although Paraluman (which writes songs about the young’s experiences in love, “be it confusion, joy or frustration”) is considered a rookie in the industry, its members are hardly neophyte, having come from other bands. Included in Paraluman’s first album, a compilation called Bagong Banda: Awit ni Sampaguita (under Ballyhoo Records), is its cover of the Sampaguita song Ikaw Pa Rin.

The band has been performing in gigs around Metro Manila, including the SMB Oktoberfest Party, the MYX Slam Jam, the UP Fair and The Philippine STAR’s Job Fair. When the band’s single Emily  hit the airwaves, it got numerous requests for replays from listeners, propelling the song to radio countdowns. The Emily music video was released last May, pushing it further into the front ranks of Campus FM’s daily countdown and the RX daily survey.

Indeed, the band is proving worthy of its name.

I wonder, though, how Paraluman feels about the band’s songs.

Briefly noted

• From Funfare reader “Sandra,” this report:

Jane McLean (formerly known as Jane Gregorio), an actress born in the Philippines and raised in Toronto, is playing a supporting role (as Charisse) in the Hollywood movie The Time Traveler’s Wife, based on the 2003 best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger, with Eric Bana (The Hulk, The Other Boleyn Girl) and Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Wedding Crashers) in the lead roles. The shoot was done middle of last year and showing will be end of this year.

The novel is about a Chicago librarian, Henry de Tamble (Bana), who suffers from chrono-displacement, a disorder that propels him involuntarily anywhere between his past, present and future. He is married to an artist, Clare Abshire (McAdams), who has known him since she was little (because of the time traveling). In the film version, Clare is best friends with Gomez (Ron Livingston, Adaptation) whose girlfriend is Charisse.

 Imelda Papin, still the Sentimental Songstress, successfully launched her latest CD, Voices of the Heart, last month at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A week earlier, Imelda held a benefit concert in the same venue with no less than Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao as guest performer. Fresh from winning a title bout with David Diaz, Pacman sang a duet of Isang Linggong Pagibig with Imelda. Funfare learned that Imelda’s show was so successful that the Orleans management (which came out with huge billboards along The Strip) has agreed to mount a repeat later this year.

•  From Tony Joaquin who describes himself as “a Frank Sinatra wannabe”:

Pardon this rather belated message about my dear friend and colleague, Eddie Mercado, but I wish to contribute some more data that may find its way into the Wikipedia about him.

I am also asking other friends who knew Eddie to contribute by means of copies of this message sent to them.

My spotty data, if you please, are as follows:

• Eddie Mercado was educated at the Ateneo de Manila (circa?) where I too studied.

• When Joey Lardizabal was terminally ill with throat cancer Eddie took his place as host of the show Two For the Road, produced by Francisco Buddy Joaquin. Joey died soon after Eddie assumed the hosting of the show.

• Eddie, Chito Ponce Enrile, Ferdie Trinidad and I were among the Filipino males enthralled by Frank Sinatra. Yes, I still do try to sing some of Frank’s songs today at my age, 78.

I am asking his cousin Pilar Mercado to kindly submit more info about Eddie that may be of interest and value to his biography as it stands today.

What’s up?

•  Condolence to Raoul, Hilda, Cora, Nenette and the rest of the Tidalgos on the death of their mother, Eufemia Calo Tidalgo, last Friday, Aug. 8. She was 94. Her remains lie at the Tidalgo residence in Butuan City. Interment will be on Friday, Aug. 15 at the Butuan City Cemetery after a Mass.

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