First knight

Sir Cliff Richard, a devout Christian and Bible-reader, has outlasted every musical trend of the past five decades (I remember him singing "Suddenly" with Olivia Newton John in the ’80s.) He is British pop’s most celebrated survivor.

In 1995, he was knighted by the Queen of England at Buckingham Palace to recognize his achievements in music as a pop singer and for bringing honor to the British Empire. Sir Cliff was the first rock star to be honored ahead of Paul McCartney (1997) and Elton John (1998).

For the first time in over 20 years, Cliff is returning to Manila for a pre-Valentine’s Day show at the Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 13. He is flying in from Singapore via Philippine Airlines on Feb. 12 for the sixth stop in his eight-country Middle East and Asian "Here and Now" tour. From Manila, he goes to Tokyo, also via Philippine Airlines on Feb. 15.

Cliff will sing his greatest hits and new songs to reach out to several generations of music fans. He promises a night to remember with an act different from any concert he has tagged before.

For sure, Cliff will take his audience down memory lane by singing his enduring classics like "When the Girl In Your Arms," "The Young Ones," "Bachelor Boy," "Summer Holiday," "Constantly," "On the Beach," "I Could Easily Fall in Love with You," "In The Country," "Congratulations," "We Don’t Talk Anymore," "Ocean Deep," "Miss You Nights," "I Just Don’t Have the Heart," "From a Distance," "The Millennium Prayer," "A Little In Love," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World."

Cliff, who turned 66 last October (can’t believe he’s as old as my mom!), will also perform songs from his latest album "Two’s Company" where he duets with guests Brian May of Queen, Dionne Warwick, Anne Murray, the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb, Elton John and Olivia Newton-John.

In 2004, it was disclosed that Cliff had sold more singles in England than any other artist, ahead of the Beatles and Elvis Presley. He had sold over 250 million records and broken into the Top 10 of the English music charts in each of the last six decades. In the 1960s, Cliff sent seven singles to No. 1, including "The Minute You’re Gone," "The Next Time," "The Young Ones" and "Summer Holiday." He has compiled 14 UK chart toppers.

Cliff became such a music icon that he transcended the airwaves to appear in several movies, including "The Young Ones," "Summer Holiday," "Wonderful Life," "Finders Keepers," "Two a Penny" and "Take Me High." He has also appeared on stage in the dramatic musicals "Time" and "Heathcliff."

Cliff has absolutely no plans of retiring. "I would like to celebrate my 50th year in a special way," he said, interviewed by Pia Barchet. "Not many people become 50 years old in a career and so I would like to celebrate it with people. I’ve always said to myself that really the age is unimportant. It’s how you feel. Do you feel 60? If you feel 60, you act 60. If you feel 18, then you act 18, I feel 20."

Cliff was born in India where his father Rodger Webb worked for the railway company. He got his "dark" looks from a great-grandfather who was half-Spanish and a grandmother who was part Burmese. He is the oldest and only boy of four children. A brother, Frederick, died at birth. Cliff moved with his parents and sisters to England in 1948.

After leaving school in 1957, Cliff was employed as a credit control clerk at a lamp factory in Enfield and a year later, left his job to sign a recording contract with EMI. Cliff performed with the Drifters, later renamed the Shadows, and eventually went on his own. His music was heavily influenced by Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

Three years after his father died in 1961 at the age of 56, Sir Cliff became a devout Christian and bible-reader.

Cliff never married although he had several girlfriends, including tennis star Sue Barker. He was once rumored to be courting Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. He has denied being gay. "I’ve come close to getting married twice and each time, I got cold feet," he said. "I couldn’t have loved them enough to give up my freedom."

Cliff is as busy in his off-music activities. He produces wine in his Portugal resort home, breeds thoroughbred horses, collects luxury cars and plays lots of tennis.

Media Source is bringing Cliff to Manila for the one-night show, which is bound to surpass attendance records for a foreign act.

(For ticket inquiries, call 911-5555.)

Manay Gina to become Lola Gina

Add to Gina de Venecia’s many roles – wife, mother, manay, tita and friend – is another one she will surely enjoy, that of lola.

Gina’s eldest daughter Trade Undersecretary Carissa Cruz and her husband Juju Evangelista are expecting their first child. The baby will be Gina’s first apo, and she says she is "so excited" for the baby’s arrival.

"Sana kamukha ko," laughs Gina.

Carissa, who is 10 weeks pregnant, says she is craving for ketchup and patola and can smell everything from almost a mile away.

Friends are truly happy with the coming new addition to Gina’s life. Now trying "to discern" whether it is God’s will for her to run for senator, Gina will surely find a lot of joy in the baby. She says she will never get over the death of her youngest daughter KC from a fire two years ago. But she has learned to cope with KC’s death, and with happy events like the coming birth of her first apo, she will find more things to smile about.

A spa in a hospital?

ReBirth Spa at the lobby of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center was conceived by obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Rebecca B. Singson to support pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is a unique spa in several ways. It specializes in servicing pregnant women through pre-natal massage to alleviate common backaches and pains and more importantly, perform lactation massage to induce milk production postnatally.

The other unique feature of ReBirth Spa is that it is a pampering salon and provides spa services to a patient who is hospitalized. This means that while recuperating from a surgery, one may avail oneself of a relaxing footspa or even a haircut or makeup right inside one’s room. While undergoing a boring chemotherapy, one may have a manicure and pedicure or scalp massage. Doctors and health care workers as well as the relatives caring for the sick, who work long stressful hours, may also avail themselves of the de-stressing services that ReBirth Spa offers. Services begin at 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., or beyond if requested.

International star Lea Salonga, recipient of the Lawrence Olivier and Tony Awards for her performance in Miss Saigon in London and in Broadway, will cut the ribbon tomorrow at the blessing of the newly constructed spa salon at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center’s lobby on Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Salonga twice visited ReBirth Spa for lactation massage and to this day has continuously breastfeed her daughter with joy.

Palawan National School to mark centennial

The Palawan National School in Puerto Princesa City will hold its centennial celebration from Feb. 9 to 14. All alumni are urged to attend this historical milestone. For updates, please refer to e-mail address: [email protected] using password pnsat100. Alumni may get in touch with Dr. Teresita Lardizabal-Salva at (048) 433-2379 or Dr. Erlinda Alli Ganapin at (048) 434-3405 or 0920-9536589 or e-mail [email protected].

My aunt and godmother Nellie Loudon Mayor Loleng, belongs to Batch ’49. My dad Frank Loudon Mayor, uncle Robert Loudon Mayor and former Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abueg belong to Batch ’51. My father can’t make it to the reunion but Uncle Bob flew all the way from Chicago for the occasion.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])