Curtain-raisers:
• Could it be true Gabby Lopez (photo) plans to retire next year and Vice Pres. Noli “Kabayan” de Castro (photo) will replace him as chairman and CEO of ABS-CBN? The company’s incumbent president is Charo Santos-Concio. Like Ted Failon, another ABS-CBN talent who quit politics after serving one term as representative of the first district of Leyte, Kabayan is not running for any position in 2010 and is returning to his first and true love — broadcasting.
• Viva Entertainment has announced the cancellation of the concert of Melissa Manchester and Imelda Papin slated for Saturday, Dec. 19, at the PICC. Manchester and her back-up musicians have expressed their apprehension over the spate of killings in the country. She and Imelda did a successful three-day concert at the Orleans Hotel & Casino Showroom in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Imelda is running for senator in 2010.
• I agree with Quezon City Councilor Winnie Castelo (with wife Precious Hipolito) that Del Monte Avenue should be renamed Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue. Castelo filed a city council resolution in time for the fifth death anniversary of FPJ last Monday, Dec. 14. “FPJ lived an exemplary life,” said Castelo, obviously an FPJ admirer. Del Monte Avenue is where the FPJ Studio is, a landmark in that place. The old Poe residence is located along Roosevelt Avenue nearby.
* * *
It’s nine days before Christmas. Too busy with work to do last-minute shopping? Or simply too lazy to squeeze yourself in and out of malls and stores clogged with customers?
Recycle. Oftentimes, the gifts you recycle are even better and more expensive than the items that you want to give away as gifts. But be very careful or you might end up red-faced with embarrassment especially if you give the “recycled” item to somebody who has given it to you two Christmases ago.
It happened to an actress I know. She wrapped a book and topped the box with a bright ribbon and sent it to her reporter-friend who promptly called the actress to thank her. “It’s the book that you borrowed from me last year,” the reporter said in jest. “Mabuti naman naalaala mong isoli — at gift-wrapped pa!”
A friend tried for years to patch things up between his two friends who became mortal enemies — in vain. The friends-turned-enemies as usual gave my friend gifts. What my friend did was simply replace the cards on the boxes and write the names of her warring friends and sent the gift from one to the other, and vice-versa. Very neat! The warring friends exchanged gifts without their knowing it — up to now! (Postscript: Friends na sila ngayon at nag-i-exchange gifts directly every Christmas.)
Another friend decided to give his boss a pair of expensive cufflinks given to him the previous Christmas by a TV executive. When the boss opened the little box, he phoned my friend posthaste and asked, “Are you sure you don’t need these cufflinks? Your initials are on them.” That same day, my friend rushed to buy a pair of equally expensive cufflinks from Rustan’s and was profuse with apologies when he gave them to his boss who very kindly returned the “recycled” pair.
More reminders:
• Check expiration dates on calendars (especially!), diaries, bottled food and other “perishable” items before giving them away. The actor-son of a high-government official once gifted movie writers with “organizers” dated one year back!
• Don’t give chocolates, candies, ice-cream or some such “sugary” items to your diabetic friends who would prefer sugar-free drinks or snacks (like preserved ampalaya, etc.).
• Make sure that the size of the shirt or pants you are giving fits the receiver. Don’t give an “XL” to somebody who is a “five-footer” or a size “XS” to a giant.
There. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Happy recycling!
All praise for Armand
They say that if you hear Armand Tajanlangit sing, his voice will echo in your mind for days on end.
Here’s what Donita Rose has to say:
I had the privilege of meeting Armand while shooting a travel documentary in Boracay in 2007. He gave my companions and I a complimentary tour of the island a couple of days before leaving and what struck me most about him was his passion for his craft. He was constantly toying around with new ideas for the next song, album cover, promotional material or concepts for his next performance on the beachfront of his family’s resort, all the while playing host and tour guide. We almost wore out our knees taking a million photos of us doing jump shots on the beach during the day and another million right before the sun set behind us into the night. (Then we got really creative and borrowed an underwater camera from a friend and took another two million photos.) It was truly a memorable experience for the books!
What sets Armand apart from other upcoming musicians is his unique sound. Each song is a little bit different from the next with strong influences of reggae and alternative. Catchy, fresh and interesting, this combination best accentuates the beauty that surrounds the island. Watching any one of his videos makes me want to pack my bags and head back there!
On the whole, it really is a little bit of everything. This raw talent still has a long way to go but I believe that he has the determination and talent needed to make it to the top as one of the Philippines’ best. To me, he’s one of Boracay’s best-kept secrets!!!
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)