Welcome to the Philippines!
MANILA, Philippines - Before Zac Efron, there was Claire Danes. Before Lady Gaga, there was Mariah Carey. Before BSB and NKOTB, there were The Beatles. From a time before it was officially more fun in the Philippines, Supreme remembers the memorable celeb visits to our beautiful country.
July 1966: The Beatles arrive for two sold-out concerts at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. On July 4, they unintentionally snub then-First Lady Imelda Marcos’ lunch invitation at Malacañang Palace. The next day, newspapers carry the headline “Beatles Snub President,” and the group’s entourage is reportedly treated badly going to the airport. They vow never to return to the Philippines, with John Lennon quoted as saying, “If we go back, it will be with an H-bomb. I won’t even fly over the place.” They kept their word.
October 1975: Muhammad Ali wins against Joe Frazier by TKO in their third and final boxing match dubbed “Thrilla in Manila” in front of 25,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum. In a post-game interview, Ali proclaims: “Joe Frazier, I’ll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. He is the greatest fighter of all times — next to me.” Before the fight, Ali and Frazier did not forget to pay a courtesy call on then-President Marcos and her First Lady. Alam na.
March 1979: Francis Ford Coppola shoots his epic war film Apocalypse Now for five months. Coppola and his family spent so much time here that his daughter Sofia, aged five then, even memorized Lupang Hinirang. Martin Sheen also brought with him his young son, future controversial star Charlie, on set.
1981: Pope John Paul II visits Manila for the first time for the beatification of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint. It is the first beatification ceremony outside the Vatican. In 1995, Pope John Paul II would again visit the Philippines. Following rumors of assassination plots, the Pope was this time transported to Luneta via the bulletproof Popemobile.
1983: Balladeer David Pomeranz comes to Manila for the first time for his first concert here. He sings his prom night staples Got to Believe in Magic and King and Queen of Hearts, which would later be profusely played in popular teen shows T.G.I.S. and Gimik some ten years later.
December 1986: Popular puerto Rican boyband Menudo performs in the Philippines, featuring pre-lie from the devil Ricky Martin.
June 1996: King of Pop Michael Jackson makes his second Manila appearance with a two-day concert as part of what would be his third and last world tour, the HiStory World Tour. Twenty years ago, he visited Manila for the first time with Jackson 5.
August 1996: Mexican superstar Thalia stages a concert for her over 25,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum at the height of the Marimar and Maria la del Barrio craze here. The following year, she releases a Filipino song called Nenditow Ekew.
April 1998: Hollywood film Brokedown Palace is shot in Manila. After filming, lead actress Claire Danes tells Premiere that Manila “smelled of cockroaches, with rats all over… and the people do not have anything — no arms, no legs, no eyes.” She was declared persona non grata since, and her films banned from the Philippines.
(She can console herself with that Emmy win for Homeland.)
November 2003: Mariah Carey performs in Manila for the first time as part of her Charmbracelet Tour. Onstage, while she was introducing her band members during a song, a cockroach appeared from nowhere, making Mariah quip, “There’s some sort of bug onstage and it’s scaring me.” Fans say Mariah handled it quite well. Buti pa si Tita Mariah, hindi masyadong takot sa ipis.
August 2007: Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs director Quentin Tarantino rides a pedicab to Malacañang Palace to escape heavy traffic on flooded Manila. Tarantino, who was going to receive a film award at the Palace, told reporters: ‘’It was a lot of fun. It’s the way it is, I guess… No worries. I’ve done more serious things than that.” (Tara, tito Quentin, bus naman tayo sa EDSA.)
July 2007: Grammy awardee Christina Aguilera performs in Taguig for her “Back to Basics Tour.” Before she sings her final song Fighter, Christina shouts, “Mahal kow keyow Manila!” Mahal keh ren nemen, Christina!
November 2007: After his 2005 visit, Neil Gaiman comes to Manila for the second time for the 20th Philippine Advertising Congress in Subic. A copywriter proposes marriage to her girlfriend by conspiring with Gaiman. She said yes, of course. Aba dapat lang.
April 2009: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are rumored to have flown to Manila via a private plane to adopt a Filipino child or to spend a holiday in Boracay. Reports have yet to confirm this rumor. I-claim na natin ‘yan bago pa i-claim ng China.
June 2010: Former US Vice President Al Gore delivers his world-renowned climate change lecture, “An Inconvenient Truth” in Pasay. He talks about global warming but not his split with Tipper, his wife of 40 years. Earth first before tsismis.
May 2011: Justin Bieber performs his hits Baby and Never Say Never in front of a sold-out crowd in Pasay. Bieber allegedly snubs some fans in NAIA as he left the country for the next leg of his “My World” concert tour. June 2011: Sandara Park returns to Manila as part of the Korean pop sensation 2NE1. She adds To Anyone and Lollipop to her discography, which previously included Walang Sabit and (Are You) In or Out?.
August 2011: Hotel heires Paris Hilton comes to Manila to meet with her friends Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao, promote a beach resort and inaugurate her Paris Hilton boutique. She tells her fans at the store opening: “Mahal kow keyew!” By the way, contrary to reports, P-Noy did not actually ask Paris for a courtesy call. Bayan muna before showbiz.
December 2011: Global football superstar David Beckham and his LA Galaxy team play a friendly match against the Philippine Azkals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. He says he’d love to come back one day. Paki-sama si Posh Spice, please. With the rest of the Spice Girls.
January 2012: Bourne Legacy starts shooting in Manila, with actors Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Renner. Director Tony Gilroy says he chose the city as their location because Manila is “ugly and gritty, raw and stinky and crowded.” Paki-tweet nga ang @MMDA.
May 2012: Survivor host Jeff Probst confirms that the 15th season of Survivor will be called Survivor: Philippines and will be shot in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. There will be three “tribes” at the start of the season: “Matsing,” “Tandang” and “Kalabaw.” “Ipis” was shortlisted but was removed from the list due to its unfavorable history with celebrity guests.
September 26, 2012: Zac Efron arrives in Manila for Penshoppe’s Fan Conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sept. 29. He tweets via Penshoppe’s account: “I’m loving the Philippines, this is so awesome.” Promise, makakita ka man ng ipis?
