Bato-bato sa langit ang tamaan ay…

Just because he is so nicknamed since he’s “as hard as a rock” doesn’t mean that Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is tough through and through. He can also be a Cry Baby as evidenced when he wept on national television during a Senate probe on the drug war.

Two days after former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go (who’s running for senator in the 2019 midterms) did, Bato faced the same group of movie writers also at Annabel’s restaurant (Tomas Morato, Quezon City) and was asked the same showbiz-related questions.

Bato-bato sa langit ang tamaan ay…Bato finished that oft-quoted line by saying, “Bukol!!!”

If ever his life story were filmed, what kind would it be…action-drama, action-thriller or action-comedy?

“Puede ba action-drama-comedy?” Bato asked, adding half in jest, “comedy because I think the kids look at me as a clown and drama because, he warned, siguradong mababasa ng luha ang panyo ng mga manonood.” (A PNP mascot was made to look like him.)    

Born in Jan. 1962 in Barangay Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, to Teodoro Diamaton dela Rosa Sr. and Anesia Cruspero Marapon, Bato described his family a “dirt poor…super!” His dad earned his keep as a tricycle driver and his mom worked as tindera sa palengke (market vendor).

“I would go to school without eating because there was nothing to cook at home,” recalled Bato, “and without pocket money because my parents were not earning enough. I didn’t have transportation money so I would walk eight kilometers to school and back home. In exchange for free lunch, I would do my classmates’ homework.” (To help make ends meet, young Bato worked as a market porter and bus conductor.)

Bato finished grade school at Bato Elementary School and his secondary education at Santa Cruz National High School. He took up B.S. Public Administration at Mindanao State University and Masters in Public Administration at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City, and joined the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). He served as PNP head from July 2016 to April 2018, and a Bureau of Corrections chief from April 30 until Oct. 2018 when he quit and filed his COC (Certificate Of Candidacy) for the senatorial race in 2019.

Asked what lesson his bioflick would impart if ever, Bato said,

“Poverty is not a hindrance to the fulfillment of your ambition. No matter how dirt poor you are, you can succeed if you work hard.”

Who would he pick to portray Bato (bald Hollywood idols Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Vin Diesel)?

“As the younger Bato, maybe Robin Padilla. As the mature Bato, maybe Philip Salvador. I saw Philip in Gabi Na, Kumander and he’s very good in it. My favorite Hollywood movie is Clear and Present Danger starring Harrison Ford.”

And how many leading ladies would there be?

“Only one,” he smiled. “Everybody knows that I am faithful to my wife (Nancy dela Rosa) and I am ander de saya. As the younger Nancy, maybe Anne Curtis; and as the mature Nancy, maybe Sharon Cuneta. They are my wife’s favorite actresses.”

Noel turns 50 with a song on Spotify

Talent-manager and now recording artist Noel Ferrer duets with Emmy Cayabyab (wife of national artist Ryan Cayabyab) on the song Can’t Help Wond’ring Why.

Can’t Help Wond’ring Why is the song of Mrs. Emmy and Maestro Ryan Cayabyab for a Singaporean artist a long time ago and was recorded by Dessa 20 two years ago for her album Gonna Make Your Day Tonight which she wasn’t able to promote because she had a baby named Rhiana Noshka.

Twenty-two years after, the song is revived and brought back to life by talent manager and now recording artist Noel Ferrer in time for his 50th birthday.

“As the song title says, I myself can’t help wondering why I had this urge to record. I was probably inspired by the success of the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival that Maestro Ryan, Moy Ortiz and I did with the BGC Arts Center Foundation last October that I told Mrs. C (Emmy) that I wanted to record her song,” said Noel who aside from Pinoy Playlist has started to institutionalize two other annual activities this year — Noel@Avellana which is a Christmas exhibit that runs from Dec. 1 to Jan. 6, 2019, at the Avellana Art Gallery at 2680 FB Harrison St. Pasay City (inside the Henry Hotel compound); and The First Noel free Christmas concert at the Arete, the newest posh theater at the Ateneo de Manila on Noel’s actual birthday Dec. 11 featuring artists like Joanna Ampil, Arman Ferrer and Baihana, with the Ateneo Chamber Singers, Bukaspalad, Hangad, Dulaang Sibol with Gabe Mercado, Gel Basas, Atom Araullo, Iza Calzado, Jay Durias, Noel Cabangon and The CompanY, plus more surprise guests.

“I am happy doing these passion projects and starting these new traditions, so that through time they will continually be carried out and even be improved and developed to be more inclusive and more relevant,” Noel remarked.

In fact in 2019, he is already committed to spearheading multi-artists-community edition of Louie Ocampo’s election advocacy song Sana Naman, Taumbayan and other crossover productions.

With all these legacy projects, will talent management take the backseat?

“Not really, it’ll be more of a house cleaning and a year to focus on something more meaningful. I want to concentrate on significant artists and projects and less of the factory work. I just want to establish premium,” stressed Noel.

Noel’s version of Can’t Help Wond’ring Why with Rhiana Noshka and the Filipino version Bakit Hindi with Noel featuring Dessa (translated by no less than National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera) will be available and can be downloaded on Spotify, iTunes and other social media stores starting Dec. 11.

“I may have chosen to be in the Student Council and let go of the Ateneo College Glee Club stint in college, but this recording is one item off my bucket list. What a glorious way of celebrating 50 indeed,” Noel claimed.

Pinoy hunks in int’l pageants

(Left) George Reylor de Lumen. (Right) Jeff Langan.

George Reylor de Lumen, 23, of Camarines Sur was proclaimed 2018 Mister Universal Ambassador in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 24 with Aung Wira Jaya of Indonesia and Chitsanupong Soeksiri of Thailand as runners-up. De Lumen, an illustration artist and a model, also bagged the Best in Speech and Best in National Costume for his Ibon Adarna-inspired ensemble created by Michael Barassi.  

Meanwhile, Jeff Langan was adjudged third runner-up to 2018 Manhunt International Vincent Llorach Gonzales of Spain, and Best Fashion Model during the finals held in Gold Coast, Australia, on Dec. 2. Completing the court were Dale Maher, Australia (first), Luca Derin, Netherlands (second) and Mai Tuan Anh, Vietnam (fourth). — Celso de Guzman Caparas

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)