It's oras ng ligaya at CCP with Sylvia

Two days after she arrived from California over the weekend, Sylvia La Torre was vocalizing at the family’s condo unit in Wack-Wack , Mandaluyong City, when the roving guard knocked on the door.

“Ma’am,” he said, “paki-tone down daw po ng radio n’yo, sabi ng kapitbahay.”

I bet that the neighbor was not a lover of music. Or if he was and had he known that it was an icon doing it, he would have applauded and asked her for an “encore.”

Sylvia and her husband of 56 years, Dr. Celso Perez de Tagle (a dentist), laughed at the incident over hot chocolate the other day at the lobby of The Manila Peninsula to which they, together with daughter Cheche and Cheche’s 18-year-old daughter Alyssa, have transferred since then.

“But on the second day when I started vocalizing again,” recalled Sylvia, “I did it with a lower volume.”

The roving guard again knocked on the door, this time with a wide smile.

“Ma’am,” he told Sylvia, “Para akong nakalutang sa langit,” enraptured as he was by the legendary voice that has entertained and inspired thousands upon thousands for decades and should therefore be declared a “national treasure.”

Actually, that’s how Sylvia preserves her voice.

Sylvia with husband, Dr. Celso Perez de Tagle (dentist, also shown below), with daughter Cheche (second from right) and Cheche’s daughter Alyssa. Below, left: The de Tagles’ famous grand-daughter Anna Maria Perez de Tagle who appeared in the TV series Camp Rock and the movie Fame. Bottom: With her good friend art patron and STAR columnist Danny Dolor.

“I practice every day,” she confirmed. “I don’t take cold drinks. And I vocalize every day.”

Barely recovered from jetlag, although she doesn’t really have to, she has been vocalizing in preparation for what she came home for --- the concert Laro set for Saturday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m. at the CCP, produced by the Young Musicians’ Development Organization (YMDO) headed by Irene Marcos-Araneta (with Maja Olivares Co as executive producer), with L.A.-based baritone Andrew Fernando and Sarah Geronimo as the only two other performers backed up by the 62-piece Philippine Youth Symphonic Band composed of young musicians aged nine to 23. Directing the show is Alex Cortez, with Floy Quintos as scriptwriter.

“There are very few people who can do kundiman the way Sylvia does,” said Irene who personally invited Sylvia for the concert which is so titled because it stars mainly children who are under the care of the YMDO. “Sylvia does it with so much joy.”

It must be such “a joy” again listening to Sylvia singing classics --- Sa Kabukiran, Waray-Waray and Kalesa, the only three songs she’s doing in Laro --- dressed in a gown Aureo Alonzo is specially doing for her. (Sylvia and Celso came to the interview straight from Aureo’s shop in Malate where she did some fitting.)

When Kalesa was mentioned in the interview, Sylvia suddenly started singing a few lines (Alin nga bang sasakyan pa ang tunay na maginhawa…). The lobby guard standing quietly nearby didn’t have to hush up Sylvia who was singing in a tolerable volume, although I’m sure that had she sung louder, those around would have egged her to go on... more, more, more!

That familiar voice was easily identifiable even if she was ghost-singing for non-singer Sampaguita stars (Gloria Romero, et al) in those ‘50s Sampaguita Pictures musicals (Lawiswis Kawayan, etc.) or simply delivering funny lines in such ‘60s sitcoms as Tang-Tarang-Tang in which Sylvia adhered to her “no touch” policy, restricting her TV husband Leroy Salvador to only tenderly touching her on the shoulder to demonstrate affection. And by the way, before the advent of variety noontime and early-evening shows that now light up local television, there was Sylvia la Torre and company (Doro delos Ojos and Oscar Obligacion, who died last April among them), enlivening black-and-white TV in Oras ng Ligaya.

“Ang mga bata sa Laro, ang naiisip ko para naglalaro lang,” said Sylvia who was last here also for a concert in 2006, produced by her good friend Danny Dolor (who’s hosting a welcome lunch today for Sylvia and company at his Forbes Park house). “Ang huhusay nila! We are raising funds for their studies in music. They play all kinds of instruments. Bilib ako!”

When she received Irene’s invitation, Sylvia said that she thought for a moment because she had just undergone a stent surgery (“an anatomical vessel inserted into an artery to keep a previously blocked passageway open”). “I was at risk of having a heart attack anytime dahil tatlo ang blockage ko.” More than a year ago, she had what she described as “a stomach attack.” In the ‘60s, Sylvia disclosed that she underwent throat surgery which, luckily, didn’t affect her vocal cords. “Sinabi ko talaga sa duktor ko, ‘Uy, paki-ingatan ang vocal cords ko, ha.” She isn’t shy about admitting that she’s now into her late 70s.

Back in the US where the family has been staying for decades, coming home regularly for vacations, Sylvia enjoys being mother to her three children --- Arturo (a.ka. Arte), 54; Bernadette, 53; and Cecilia Vasilisa Perez de Tagle Vega (a.k.a. Cheche, remember her with Janice de Belen and the late Julie Vega in Mga Basang Sisiw?), 40 --- and eight grandchildren, two of whom are married and have children. “Kaya,” Sylvia announced proudly, “may apo na ako sa tuhod.”

One of her granddaughters is Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, daughter of Arte, who appeared in the TV series Camp Rock and Fame (the remake of a ’70s movie), and is now touring with the Jonas Brothers whose father, simply known as Papa Jonas, is also managing Anna Maria.

“’Yan si Anna,” said Sylvia, “kumakanta na ‘yan noong two years old pa lang siya. I would bring her along to my shows at nakikikanta siya. I would sing Sa Kabukiran to her and to my other grandchildren,” including Cheche’s daughter Alyssa who also sings but who’d rather tuck up a degree in nursing before she, if and when, decides to follow in her elders’ and sibling’s footsteps.

What tips/pointers does she give Anna Maria?

“Naku, ang dami! I always remind her, ‘Do your best, give it your all in your performance, but be mindful of your health, huwag kang aabuso.’ And also, ‘Always remain humble; don’t let popularity and the fans’ adulation go to your head. The higher you go, the more humble you should be’.”

Life in California (the family lives in Chino Hills) is simple. She’s a full-time lola.

“After we hear Mass,” said Dr. Celso, “Sylvia and I would walk around before we walk back home. That’s our exercise.”

“Sometimes we go out with our Filipino friends there,” said Sylvia.

“Mama is a good cook,” volunteered Cheche whose family stays with her parents. “That’s why we are healthy.”

Cheche and Alyssa are going back to the US after the CCP concert while Sylvia and Dr. Celso are staying for one more month.

“Dapat ko naman i-enjoy ang bakasyon ko, di ba?” said Sylvia.

Meanwhile, let’s excuse Sylvia while she starts vocalizing in the privacy of her room at The Pen, with no one asking her to tone down the volume of “the radio.”

(Note: Tickets to Laro are priced at P2,500 for orchestra, P1,500 for orchestra side, P800 for box, P600 for balcony 1 and P400 for balcony 2, with 10 percent discount for groups of more than 10 and 20 percent discount for groups of more than 20. Call landlines 832-1125 and 832-3704.)

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