MANILA, Philippines - “You think I keep returning to the Philippines because I love performing there? I keep returning to the Philippines because I love to eat,” John Ford Coley jokingly tells anyone who asks why he keeps returning to the Philippines, which is halfway around the world from his home in South Carolina.
Here are some unknown facts about the almost Pinoy music legend:
1. He loves lugaw and other Pinoy street food.
John considers the Philippines his second home and it’s true that he eats a lot whenever he is around. In fact, he gains a minimum of five pounds anytime he is on tour in the Philippines. The first few times he came, turon, lugaw and tokwa were his favorites but nowadays, his food choices have expanded. Just to name a few, he craves for buko and pineapple pie from Tagaytay, Jollibee Chicken Joy and grilled bariles (tuna) from GenSan.
2. He has done several benefit shows for typhoon victims.
Since John first came to the Philippines in 2000, he has silently done countless benefit shows for typhoon and disaster victims. His last one was after a strong earthquake shook Cebu followed by a devastating typhoon last year. He spearheaded a benefit concert at the Park Lane Hotel Cebu in which the proceeds were utilized to construct new boats that were donated to Cebuano fishermen who lost theirs at the height of the typhoon. Should you encounter a boat with the initials JFC emblazoned in the hull, that would be one of them.
3. He is a part-time movie and TV star.
John has appeared in several movies including Dream A Little Dream, Aces And Eights, Rrrhadd and Scenes From The Goldmine and has appeared in over a hundred TV shows and specials in the US including The Tonight Show, Midnight Special, The Mike Douglas Show, Merv Griffin Show, Hollywood Squares, American Bandstand, etc.
4. He has been faked three times.
John has been impersonated three times. The last was when the impostor started forging his checks, performed in concerts and even appeared on radio and TV. He made sure the impostor did time in jail.
5. He lost partner England Dan in March of 2009.
England Dan or Danny Seals of England Dan & John Ford Coley was John’s high school classmate and they started their successful singing career in the early ’70s. England Dan passed away in March 25, 2009 of Lymphoma. England Dan is the brother of another popular singer Jim Seals, the one-half of Seals & Croft.
John is currently learning Tagalog so that he can include some OPM songs in his future concerts not only in the Philippines but also in the US. In August to September, John is doing an Australia-Asian tour that includes three shows in Manila, one each in Singapore and Malaysia, and five in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth). The Manila concerts are at the garden ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La hotel on July 30 (dinner show); grand ballroom of Crimson Alabang, Aug. 1 (dinner show); and grand ballroom of Solaire Resort & Casino, Aug. 2.
His set list for all concerts includes his monster hits Sad to Belong, Just Tell Me You Love Me, I’d Really Love To See You Tonight, We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again, Nights Are Forever, Love Is The Answer, Broken Hearted Me, What Can I Do With This Broken Heart, Part Of Me Part Of You, Longer, and many more. Aiza Seguerra is John’s special guest.
Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets, Ticketworld online, SM Tickets, National Bookstores, Ayala Malls and the concierges at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Crimson and Solaire Resort & Casino.
John Ford Coley Love Is The Answer is presented by Steve O Neal Productions, Edsa Shnagri-La Hotel, Solaire Resort & Casino and Crimson Alabang in collaboration with HDI, Hard Rock Café, Business Mirror, Telenovela Channel, IBC 13, CNN, TLC, AFC, Discovery Channel, Retro 105.9 FM, Natural 97.9 FM and RJ100.3 FM.