THE DWTL 41ST ANNIVERSARY MASS: A Nostalgic moment

Eight years ago, Jojo Ayson called me up to help out in organizing the first Days with the Lord Anniversary mass that will have all Days communities participate. That time I was tasked to handle the music crew and assemble a choir to sing for the mass. If there was a highlight in a Dazer’s life, to me that was my crowning glory. That time, the choir I assembled were most probably the best singers and musicians from the five Days communities I was very active then:

The Choir: Cholo Mallillin (Ateneo), Happy Lacson & Chinkie Uy (St. Scho & DLSU) Katrina Mangahas (SSC), Jhing Lazaro (SSC), Angela Gomez (SSC), Paul de Guzman (PSBA), Frankie Paqcuing (PSBA), Allan Urbiztondo (PSBA), Ogie Mariano (UP Mla.), Chenee De Leon (DLSU). The musicians:Guitars- Gerry Sison (Ateneo), JR Hernandez (DLSU),Marlon Beluso (PSBA), FLUTE- Jed Pantig & Phillip Annoñuevo (Ateneo) , Marvin Monterfrio (UP Manila) Violin-Jem de Chavez (UP Manila)

Last night was a reunion of sorts as the St. Scho Days with the Lord hosted the anniversary mass. A lot has changed in St. Scho, their basketball court which was the court that produced many WNCAA titles is now a building called Kuni Hall. My good buddy Jed Pantig has taken over the lead in making the music crew of the St. Scho days better than it was. It is always a beauty to see young dazers sit together and practice to be able to sing as one in a choir. I still played the guitar but was quite rusty because of the years of inactivity in staffing for the DWTL. My fingers ached most of the time which was a result of the fact that I rarely play the guitar in the past five years and if I do so it was only during the DWTL weekends. Joining us were my long time singing partner Happy Lacson and the angelic voice of Grace Darvin-Camacho. I believe Happy created a legend in the SSC and DLSU DWTL during her many years of service, but it was Grace that she looked up to and admired in the years when she was a new dazer. It was such a beauty to let the present crop of Dazers hear her very angelic and ethereal voice which is the same all through the years. Unfortunately, she sang the song “TOGETHER” with me! My voice was quite hoarse and had a hard time remembering the chords. Well nobody’s perfect.

Another sight quite moving was seeing old hands Clifford Chua and Nicky Tesoro still serving the Days Community. Their commitment is really something that every Dazer should emulate. Funny thing though, It was just in the homily that I realized that the celebrant was Fr. James Gaa who is also a dazer from way back when I was also quite active in the dela Strada DWTL.

It was a night that was quite nostalgic after seeing so many friends from different communities, Ateneo, PSBA, DLSU, UST, UP and many others. But of course the most important thing that night was the renewal of commitment once again to Kuya Jess to live our fourth day the way he wants us to live it.

See you next year!!!! + Basta Kayo Mahal ko!

SHOWBIZ CENTRAL GUESTING

The last time I was in a studio for a taping was December 2000 when I was a guest for GMA 7. After that I remember turning down additional offers for short roles and concentrated with my work in STI. Last Nov 4, I was back at the Broadway Centrum for a live show. The last time I had a taping there was also in 2000 with a sitcom of Vic Sotto and with Rossana Roces. Yes I was back, but this time as team manager of the STI All-Star Dance team. A classic actor turned manager stuff that was also quite exciting. This time around you were looking for the best possible scenario for the gals that you represent. It was so nice to see the gals being picked up at STI College Cubao by a van going to Broadway, had lunch there and after that they rehearsed with the Showbiz central people on what dance steps to use for the prescribed music. The segment that they were to come out was the “Don’t Lie” segment of John Lapus in which they will come out and dance if the guest will tell a lie. I said “What???” But what if the guest will not tell a lie? Then we wasted our time and effort to be there? I asked who the guest was, they said its Wendell Ramos! AH okay I think we will be able to dance thrice! (I was implying that he will lie three times)Come 4:00 pm the show started and the gap that the girls were suppose to come out was at around 5:15 pm. The girls got nice reviews as their elegance thrilled the studio audience and their electrifying moves left a lot of people wanting Wendell to lie again. After that it was most gratifying of all, text messages from friends who watched that they saw them on tv. To the girls the most important thing they did was get a picture with the crush ng bayan Richard Guttierrez, that alone completed their day. In a way I was happy for them, the same thing I felt when I came out on tv 16 years ago. Oh my God it was that ancient, well I hope that I will accompany them to many more things like this.