Once upon an evening with Ronnie Poe

Then: April 17, 1991, 19 years ago.

The King is out on the road and word reaches out to friends in places he loves to be in. The night Ronnie dropped by at Spindle was the night when showbiz photographers put up a benefit show with Rico J. and Cristina Gonzales as star performers. The very popular AMO Band, stars in their own right, provided the music and soon Ronnie himself went on stage to sing with them.

Ronnie is the patron of the showbiz photographers group under Jimmy Sayo, a splinter group of MOPA. Ronnie did not like the idea of having two groups when there should only be one. The leader in the man showed his feel for the situation at first glance and the power to say what he wants. But after the sermon, it was fun time once again.

It was male talk between Ronnie and Rico J. with some beautiful women in the audience providing some diversion. But that was all. It was mainly an evening for men. Even the gay reporters in the group maintained their distance. The Amo Band kept playing as Ronnie requested. It was now 7 in the morning of the next day. But they kept on playing and Ronnie made up for it by giving them a very substantial cash bonus.

One of the decorative girls of the night was trying to get close to the King. She turned out to be the girl of one of the boys in the band. When Ronnie was apprised of this he had a good laugh with the rest of the boys. That was a tacky situation well handled. The saga of Ronnie Poe continues. He is one man who drives other men to do his bidding without really trying. On an evening like this, his group is with him for security and to see to his comfort. At 11 the next morning he was still going strong. An aide gave him a towel and a toothbrush. After a few minutes he was looking fresh again. An insider told us that Ronnie runs in Mariveles to keep fit. He goes up mountain trails for his regular exercise.

Ronnie is Lord of Mindanao. An idol of the masses. Ricky Davao told us that when they played basketball in Mindanao a Muslim warrior made a scene because some were not drinking the drink that Ronnie is endorsing. “Magalit si Ronnie Poe dyan,” and the others have to switch bottles right there and then.

They watched Ronnie’s movie religiously. They even participated in what’s happening on the screen. “Idol, nasa likod mo! Look out!” Some fans would even shoot his enemies on the screen. Ronnie should never die in a movie or there might be a revolution in Mindanao.

This is a demonstration of Ronnie’s potent power with the masses. Just consider how it would be if he campaigns with Joseph Estrada in Mindanao. Or if he runs for Mayor of Quezon City. Perhaps we will have less corruption in the police department. Less drug problems. And yes, finally, Quezon City will be the entertainment capital of the Philippines.

NOW: Aug. 8, 2010

And so it came to pass that when Joseph Estrada was under detention, Ronnie was convinced to run for president of the Philippines. He campaigned far and wide and he reportedly won the elections. But Garci controversy happened and he lost in Mindanao. In Ampatuan country where he was revered and love, he got a zero vote. The ignominy of it all. The irony of it all.

Ronnie took it like a gentleman. But when he passed away suddenly a few years after the loss, everyone agreed he died of a broken heart.