A night of music... and surprises!

PASADENA, California — Like several Filipino oldtimers in California, Rogel Aragon has his own sad encounter with a Filipino singer-actress but it’s useless to tell the (same old) story here because it seems to have grown boring (ho-hum!) in the retelling, but nevertheless unflattering to the unrepentant and incorrigible “culprit.”

The night he invited my friends Raoul Tidalgo and immigration lawyer Jemela Agraviador-Nettles and I to his cozy unit at an old hotel converted into a condominium building in Pasadena, Rogel was in a buoyant mood, refusing to elaborate on that “sad encounter” and his abortive business partnership with yet another Filipino singer.

The visit came a day after we finished with the round of interviews with the stars (Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron and their “classmates”) of High School Musical 3: Senior Year in Beverly Hills, which was what we came to the States for (and, after a three-day off, more interviews, this time with Daniel Craig and his Quantum of Solace leading lady Olga Kurylenko.)

Who’s Rogel Aragon? Well, he’s the man behind the Aragon Entertainment Productions whom Funfare wrote about several issues back when he had his “baptism of fire” as a producer with a TV show hosted by Miguel Vera. After a few episodes, Rogel decided to discontinue the airing. He wouldn’t say why.

Rogel said that he used to own a flower shop where Anthony Castelo, when newly arrived in the US, used to pass his free time. He owns and manages a restaurant in Glendale frequented by Hollywood folks (scriptwriters, producers, etc.) who have inspired him to venture into show business by helping Filipino talents waiting for a break “out there.”

“We have so many Filipino talents here in America waiting for an opportunity and somebody who could give them a little push,” said the soft-spoken Rogel. “If I can be of help, why not?”

He shares the tastefully-done condo unit with his partner who is an eye specialist. From the bedroom, dominated by a king-size bed and highlighted with a Rogel’s portrait by an “Arellano” (related to Gabby Concepcion, whose mom is an Arellano, we surmised), we could see through the open window (no grills, no screens) the Pasadena Capitol all lighted up. Awesome! 

As soon as Raoul, Jemela and I entered the unit, Rogel’s staff served as champagne.

“I have a little surprise for you,” Rogel announced.

And out came Ella May Saison who, we never knew, has been in the States for a few years now.

“I plan to make her somebody like Lani Misalucha, maybe also in Las Vegas,” said Rogel. To which Ella May good-humoredly replied, “Not another Lani Misalucha, huh, but just Ella May Saison. There can only be one Lani Misalucha.”

And then, with Tating Katindig (Eddie K.’s son) on the piano, Ella launched into a pre-dinner mini-concert consisting of well-loved romantic songs perfect for that little night of music, small talk and, yes, little surprises.

That served as a preview of the concert called A Night of Music & Love which Rogel is producing on Nov. 8 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.A. (red carpet at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m., with the concert following immediately with the VIP tickets going at $300 apiece). Ella May topbills the concert, together with (at random now) Dingdong Avanzado, Karlyn Bay, Anthony Castelo, Tirso Cruz III, Mon David, Patricia Javier, Michael Laygo, Leandro Muñoz, Louie Reyes, Marco Sison and Jessa Zaragoza, all of whom (except Tirso) are now based in the US.

And over dinner (Chinese food, delicious!), Rogel told us more about his plans which, we hope, will all come true — for the sake of “Filipino talent.”

As we left, we could only wish Rogel all the luck and best wishes. Generous people like him deserve it.

* * *

ANAHEIM, California — On Oct. 16, during the three-day off, Raoul (who flew to L.A. from Texas where he’s vacationing with his sister Cora) and I dropped by at the house of concert-producer Alfonso “Tito Al” Chu a few minutes away from Disneyland. Tito Al celebrated his nth birthday on Oct. 12. Guess who we saw at his house — yes, Sarah Geronimo who was, along with her mom Divina and a small entourage, with us on the Oct. 12 PAL flight from Manila.

Obviously suffering from jetlag, Sarah hardly touched her plateful of Filipino food. Tito Al, who has produced some of Sarah (and company’s) concerts in L.A. and Anaheim, was having an extended birthday celebration.

Sarah made a personal appearance at several Jollibee outlets in the West Coast, she being a Jollibee endorser, and she sang for fans at the newly-opened branches in Puente Hills Mall, Specturm Town Center and Southbay Pavilion. It was in line with Jollibee’s Get Jolly in L.A. promo. Fifty lucky winners were selected to enjoy a guaranteed seating in Sarah’s store visits as welll as a special photo-op with Sarah.

I heard that Tito Al is soon putting up his own Jollibee outlet.

Two days later, Sarah flew back to Manila to prepare for her The Next One concert (with guests John Lloyd Cruz, Billy Crawford and Jed Madela) at the Big Dome on Nov. 8, at 8 p.m.

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