Imagine a world without Lennon

MANILA, Philippines - John Lennon would have probably celebrated his 70th birthday last Oct. 9 with a free concert at Central Park New York which we die-hard Beatlemaniacs would have attended. But because some stupid fanatic named Mark Chapman murdered him, instead of singing along with his hits in the concert, we will be silently praying and commemorating his 30th death anniversary on Dec. 8.

With my collection of John Lennon albums

Imagine, one of Lennon’s more popular songs recognized the world over, turned 39 years old last Nov. 1 and is still gaining popularity. In fact, so popular is the song that Hard Rock Café management partnered with Yoko Ono to utilize Imagine with Lennon’s caricature and signature for their advocacy to help alleviate world wide hunger. Called Imagine A World With No Hunger, the advocacy is a noble gesture from Hard Rock Café.

My compadre and travel buddy Joey De Leon and I have always been bona fide Hard Rock Café fanatics. In the past two decades, we’ve flown to the most far-flung cities around the world just to visit Hard Rock Cafés to do a sort of Visita Iglesia (religious pilgrimage) and purchase shirts and pins for our ever-growing collection that now occupies at least two aparadors (closets). One common denominator we saw at all the Hard Rock Cafés around the world we’ve visited from New York to Paris to Cabo San Lucas is Imagine. You’ll see the word emblazoned either on the ceiling or some prominent area of the café.

Imagine has come full circle as the song celebrates its 39th year together with Hard Rock Café, also founded 39 years ago by Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett. There are 149 Hard Rock Cafés in 53 countries. For a limited time, all Hard Rock Cafés around the world will be selling limited edition Imagine merchandise like Lennon shirts, bracelets and pins whose proceeds will be sent to charities in India, Haiti, Kenya and Thailand.

Hard Rock Café Makati are now selling these limited edition items. When you purchase them, you are not only helping alleviate world hunger. You will own merchandise that will be worth more in the coming years. I am an avid Hard Rock memorabilia collector and have seen items escalate in value.

Hard Rock Café is at the third level of Glorietta 3 at Ayala Center Makati.