It's Elvis time again

The reports of “sightings” have stopped. His admirers have probably accepted the fact that Elvis Presley did die on Aug. 15, 33 years ago. We also do not get word of psychic “encounters” anymore. Maybe The Pelvis in afterlife is not as cooperative a conduit from here as other departed souls.

This does not mean though that Elvis is now forgotten. Given the way he changed the course of pop music and his star appeal, the King of Rock and Roll still has plenty of admirers around. And I am sure there will be more in the future whenever somebody comes across what he accomplished.

Hereabouts, the Elvis Presley Friendship Club of the Philippines headed by Chito Bertol, is once more at the forefront of the commemoration activities. Bertol himself is one of the best-known among Filipino Elvis Presleys. He is the founding chairman of the EPFC, the only Filipino Club accredited by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Memphis USA.

The EPFC is also a member of the Elvis Presley Alliance of Asia which has Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand as member countries. It has a weekly Elvis Presley Sunday Special radio program hosted by Bertol at DZSR 918khz AM every Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m., which is still going strong after 12 years.

This year, the EPFC has scheduled a three-part show titled Elvis 75 Good Rockin’ Tonite, a 33rd Anniversary Tribute. The 75 denotes what would have been Presley’s age this year. This will be held on Aug. 15, the eve of Presley’s death date, at 5 p.m. at the Blue Wave Resto’s Covered Tent on EDSA Extension cor. Macapagal Ave. in Pasay City.

For the entrance fee of only P250 per person, Elvis fans will get to watch The Elvis Sing-A-Like and Look-A-Like Contest 2010; Elvis models including kids in those Elvis jumpsuits; and The Best Filipino Elvis Tribute Artists accompanied by the internationally- famed Pinoy Elvis Band.

Performing in the Pinoy Elvis Tribute Artists section will be Nonie Yambao, The New Elvis Presley of the Philippines; Alex Torres, winner of the EPFC Elvis Contest 2007; Edgar Opida, Elvis of Asia; lawyer Homer Mendoza, ’50s Best Elvis Sound Alike; Douglas Masuda, The Elvis from Japan; and Eric Alvarez, Grand Champion of the Enchanted Kingdom Elvis Presley Contest 2009.

The winners of the Elvis Sing-A-Like and Look-A-Like Contest will vie for the following prizes: Grand Champion, the EPFC trophy plus P20,000 donated by Gladys Ibañez; first runner-up, P5,000 plus EPFC trophy; second runner-up, P3,000 plus EPFC trophy. The contest is open to both male and female Elvises 14 years old and above. Points in judging will be based on the original scoring sheet used by Elvis Graceland.

Interested parties can get in touch with Bobby Torres the project director of La Memoire Bar and Restaurant, Gallery Bldg. Amorsolo St. Makati City until today at 8 in the evening and through Bertol at the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation at 924-0166 and 924-7001-02. Deadline for registration is tomorrow, Aug. 12.

Host of the event is Chito Bertol and the proceeds will benefit the Manila Seedling Band Environmental Center’s various projects. Thanks to the EPFC, Elvis is now also working to improve the environment here in the Philippines.

Elvis Presley is one of the most idolized and most influential figures in the history of popular music. The guy brought rock and roll to the world. Take note that he also influenced The Beatles. He remains a formidable force and is in death one of the top-earning celebrities of all time.

Many years ago, I was one of, I later found out, the few, who wondered what was all the fuss about Elvis. I don’t anymore. And it is now time for those who still do, to surrender to the reality that Elvis was one of the great ones. Anybody who still commands an audience three decades after his death cannot be anything but that.

And so, it is rocking time again. Hound Dog, Treat Me Nice, That’s All Right, Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear, Mystery Train, All Shook Up, Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel, One Night with You, Blue Christmas, It’s Now Or Never, Wooden Heart, Can’t Help Falling In Love, Surrender, Suspicious Minds, I Just Can’t Help Believing and so on and so forth.