Jun P.: Goodbye, Las Vegas!

After performing for more than two decades (almost straight) in Las Vegas first with the SOS (Society of Seven) and then with another tandem, Jun Polistico said that he’s saying goodbye for the meantime to that city that, like New York, never (seems to) sleep.

“When you perform in Vegas, it’s on the same stage every night for, depending on your contract, six months or one year,” said Jun. “And, in the process, although your audience changes every night, you see almost the same faces day in and day out — the same crew members and the same staff. After a while, things start to get boring because you do the same thing every night kaya nawawala na ang challenge.”

Jun left the Philippines in the ’70s while his career was at its peak to join SOS as the replacement of Bert Nievera who was one of the group’s original members. In the late ’80s, Jun left SOS (replaced by Gary Bautista who died onstage while the group was performing at a wedding reception two years ago) and formed his own showband called Valentino with another “JP” (Jonathan Potenciano) as one of his co-members. The band, so called because”lahat ng members pogi,” also performed in hotels and casinos.

 In-between their US gigs, Jun would accept shows back home where his songs have thankfully remained familiar even to the younger generation because they are constantly played on the radio like those of the other singers, enduring love songs like Mahiwaga, Buhat, Dahil Sa’yo, Diyos Lamang ang Nakakaalam, Rosemarie, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig and a few others compiled in an album.

“I recorded the album for Villar Records in the early ’70s. I still remember when I asked Don Manolo Villar, the company boss, and asked for a car. I told him, ‘Don Manolo, I go to colleges to promote the album carrying the name of the company, pagkatapos naka-taksi lang ako.’ I asked for a car. You know what he gave me? A Lincoln Continental! During a tour in Cebu, nabarkada ako doon and I stayed over. I left the car at home in Pateros where it was destroyed in the flood. Kinalawang! Don Manolo was nice enough to replace it with another one, a second-hand Toyota.”

What Jun wants now (paging Boss Vic del Rosario of Viva Records!) is to do the same album, maintaining the traditional way he did the songs although with a “now” sound and new arrangements.

“Rod Stewart did that with his songs and he was successful,” said Jun. “I can say that my voice today is much better. It’s stronger, more mature, more in-depth and the articulation is much clearer. Experience is the best teacher, they say.”

Jun is divorced from his first wife (a Filipina with whom he has a son) and married an American (with whom he also has one son) from whom he’s also divorced. He has been married for 17 years to his third wife, a Filipina. They are childless.

When Jun guests on Carmen Soriano’s Romancing show at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Makati City) this Friday, Feb. 20 (with Anthony Castelo as Carmen’s guest on March 7, a Saturday), expect him to sing those immortal Filipino love songs — and more — in the same caressing style that made women (especially matrons) swoon.

(Note: Romancing is produced by Viva Concerts & Events, directed by Roxanne Lapus. Tickets are priced at P3,500, P3,000, P2,500, and P2,000. Call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or VCE at 687-6181 locals 620 and 745.)

Close encounter with 2008 Miss U

Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s “beauty experts” now working (as a nurse) in New York, had a close encounter with 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza. Here’s his breathless account:

I met her and two other beauties two weeks ago at the NBC Experience Store in Manhattan. She was so nice. Interviews with them were not allowed due to time constraints. I was just so happy to see her in person. 2008 Miss USA Crystle Stewart and 2008 Miss Teen USA Stevi Perry were also there as well; an added bonus for a pageant aficionado like me.

I showed Dayana my collection of newspaper/magazine stories about her and she was impressed.

Incidentally, the Miss Universe Organization has not decided where this year’s Miss Universe pageant would be held; several countries are bidding to host the pageant. By the way, a new crown will be used this year.

Dayana, 22, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in July last year. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She speaks three languages — Spanish, English and Italian. She was discovered at the age of 13 at a local bus stop. Since then, she has gained vast experience in catalogue modeling and has worked with prestigious companies like Max Mara and Costume Nacional. Modeling has allowed Dayana to travel the world, visiting places like New York, Italy, Germany, France, Athens and Spain. One of her most unforgettable experiences was when she was kidnapped, and incident which she said made her stronger.

She has proven to be a great champion for the official causes of Miss Universe, which include increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women’s health and reproductive issues, and forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education including the Latino Commission on AIDS Global Health Council and God’s Love We Deliver.

Crystle (of Texas), 26, was crowned Miss USA 2008 after competing five times in the Miss Texas pageant. A B.S. Consumer Science & Merchandising graduate from the University of Houston, she is a fourth-generation educator and teacher. Crystle is not just a pretty face, she is also an entrepreneur with her own company, Inside/Out, which she uses as a platform for public speaking appearances, character development lessons and event planning. She will always be remembered for her tumble during the evening gown competition of last year’s Miss Universe pageant.

Stevi (from Hamburg, Arkansas), 18, was crowned Miss Teen USA 2008 on Aug. 16, 2008 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. Already established as a successful model, Stevi has modeled for a top national dance-apparel company and was chosen as a finalist in Cosmo Girl’s So You Want to be a Model contest, beating thousands of other entrants. She plans to attend the New York Film Academy to learn more about the entertainment industry and hone her acting skills.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])