Eclipsed

Today, they delivered the sad news that the 80s singing icon has gone to that great music hall in the sky.

Yes, Bonnie Tyler has passed on at the age of 75.

Any kid of the 80s will know Bonnie Tyler. Her song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" wasn't just popular, it's iconic!

She's truly one of a kind, and she, and her voice, will be sorely missed.

FMM: Behind her

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is bittersweet. It's a song that's 20 years old, and the title has a colour which is also the name of a friend who we recently lost.

Hazel is one of the IUJ girls who I met during that time I surprised Mark in Urasa. I was sitting on a bench outside SD2, waiting for Mark, and this group of 3 girls passed by. I overheard one of them ask if the other 2 knew who I was, and what country I was from. That girl turned out to be Hazel.

It was during that same night, at the Karaoke party, that we were formally introduced. After that first meeting, we became friends. Being friends with Hazel was easy because she had a very friendly personality. She was bubbly, accommodating, and she always had a ready smile. 

Whenever she'd see me alone and waiting for Mark's class to finish, she'd stop and take time to chat and keep me company. Whenever we'd go to Yummy Ice Cream or JUSCO in Muikamachi, her presence would always light up that place where we were.

After their IUJ stint and they were back in Manila, we'd still occasionally see each other. Some were planned meetings, like when her daughter was baptised. Some would be accidental, like seeing her in the NEDA building in Ortigas. But no matter how many years have passed, she was still the same bubbly, accommodating and friendly Hazel from IUJ.

It was last Friday when we heard the news that she was in the hospital, and last Wednesday, we heard the sad news that she passed on. It's shocking since she's still young, and it's saddening because we won't be able to experience the friendliness and warmth that was uniquely Hazel.

So, for you, here's Kelly Clarkson's 2005 song which was one of the songs that kept me company during my first few months of living in HKG - "Beyond these Hazel eyes."

Vaya con Dios, Hazel. 

Friends of Long Standing

I've read somewhere that you meet some of your best and most lasting friends in High School. 

Gary was one of those friends for me.

We met in freshman year. I was new to LSQC, having just transferred from Claret the year before. Was also part of the cream section, and most of the students in that section already knew each other since grade school. Initially, it felt like I'd be the odd man out.

But thanks to Gary, that feeling never happened. He welcomed me and we instantly became friends. 

We'd hang out in school, and we'd hang out after school. His house was near LSQC, and we would sometimes hang-out at their house. Eventually, Dimpy joined us and the 3 of us would be constants. Dimpy's house was the other place we'd hang out after class.

Aside from their homes, our adventures would take us far. Well, far considering that we were in high school and in our early teens. Among my fond memories with Gary and Dimpy was the time we went to Makati and geeked out at the big National Bookstore there. Gary and I would also go to Quiapo to have photos developed and to buy magazines.

When college came, we both ended up in UP, albeit in different colleges. Despite that, we'd find ways to see each other on campus. During our CMT, we we're both in the Sunday battalion, which meant hanging out more often.

Then, we graduated. While we didn't see each other as often, we'd find time to meet up.

Eventually, Gary moved to the US. Despite the difference in time and distance, we always kept in touch. (Thank you, technology!) Whenever he was in Manila, we had to meet up. When we did, he'd usually have a stash of pasalubong, or he would bring the stuff that I'd ask him to buy from the US.

In 2019, Gary asked me to organise his parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary. Since he and his 2 sisters were al in the U.S., and the celebration was here in MNL, he trusted me enough to put everything together. And that meant a lot.

Last time we saw each other was before Christmas. He was home for a visit, and we had our usual Christmas get together. He brought a stash of Trader Joe's mini totes. We talked the possibility of meeting up in the U.S., and maybe even get together with another H.S. friend, Arvin.

Unfortunately, those plans won't push through. 

Last Friday, Jing Jing messaged me asking if she could call. I already felt that what she'd be calling about wasn't good news. When she eventually called, she asked if I was sitting down. Yet another indicator.

That's when she broke the news. Gary was gone.

It was a shock. It still is a shock. There was no inkling that our December lunch would be the last. Part of me is sad that those get togethers won't happen again. But part of me is glad that we were able to see each other last year.

Thanks for being a friend, Gary. For being one of my first friends in LSQC HS, and in the decades after. You'll be missed.

Vaya con Dios.

Always special

It's not a Friday, but this 1984 hit from Iwi Laurel is such an appropriate song for today:

We visited Lolo, Lola and Tita Lon at Loyola today. 

It was our belated All Soul's Day visit. We usually go there earlier or later, so we avoid the November 1 crowd. Since it was raining last week, we ended up going today.

It's been decades, but they're still sorely missed, and will always be part of our special memory.

Hall of Fame

Annie Hall remains to be one of the most fashionable and most iconic characters in Hollywood.

And only Diane Keaton had the personality, style and gravitas to pull this character off.

She has so many films that are on my fave list. Who can forget her other Annie - from the "First Wives Club," and Erica from "Something's gotta give." Diane gave these characters both depth, humanity and humour - qualities that made them unforgettable.

Now that she's gone up to the Hollywood in heaven, that's what she'll continue to be.

Unforgettable.

Major Tom

Tomas was always part of our growing-up memories.

As Lolo Iking's driver, he would always be there whenever we'd go to our weekend family day outs in Greenhills. He would be there when Lolo and Lola would go to the commissary at Camp Crame. He would be there when Lolo would go to Napolcom to get his checks, or to the hospital for his check-ups. He was really a constant presence in the family.

Even if you look at our childhood photos, Tomas was in a lot of them. This photo is one of my faves, showing the 5 of us with Tomas, taken at the house across ours in Morato.

(Yes, I'm the one with my back turned against the camera.)

Even as adults, he would always be there - for big occasions, for small occasions, for random events, for birthdays - he made it a point to be there and make his presence felt.

Tomas was really a huge presence in our life. He was an honorary Morales.

That's why we were both shocked and saddened to hear about his passing. It feels like just yesterday when he last visited the house, and now, he's no longer with us.

In person, at least. Because in our hearts and minds, his presence will always be major, and will always be felt.

Pope of Hope

It was a huge shock when I saw Dean Charlie's message regarding the passing away of Pope Francis.

Although he's been sick for quite sometime, and he's been in and out of the hospital, we constantly and continuously prayed that he'd bounce back to his usual, healthy self. And the fact that he was able to make an appearance during Easter Sunday at the Vatican added to that feeling of hope that he could.

But on Easter Monday, he was called back by the Father. The Pope who broke norms, always had a big and welcoming smile, and stood as a beacon of hope, has gone back to heaven.

I've had the pleasure and honour of seeing him during his 2015 visit in MNL, and that was an experience that I'll cherish in my heart. 

Vaya con Dios, Papa Francesco.

Another star in heaven

And it's not just a star, but a superstar.

The news of Nora Aunor's passing came as a shock to everyone. Especially for those still reeling from the loss of Asia's Queen of Songs - Pilita Corrales a week ago. Not to mention Ms. Gloria Romero a few months back.

Despite some questions on her personal life, it's no question that as an actress, Nora Aunor was excellent and unmatched. No actress in the Philippines has produced as many iconic characters and lines as her, and that's what makes her super.

Looks like they're going to have a big production up there soon.

FMM: Love his music

For today's Friday Magic Madness, I'll pay tribute to Sergio Mendes.

It's been almost a month since he went up the great concert hall in the sky, but realised that I haven't written about that moment yet. 

The wonderful thing about singers - including Sergio - is that they leave behind beautiful music and memories that will live on after they're gone. And with his prolific work, there'll be a lot of songs to remind us of what a musical genius he was.

I've featured his songs many times before, and here's another one for today.

As he goes up in heaven, the lyrics of "Love City" resonates even more. 

"it's the only place he feels at home."

FMM: Nothing compares 2 her

Seems like they're organising a major concert in heaven. 

After Tony Bennet who passed away a few days ago, now, Sinead O' Connor has also left this world.

For our generation, Sinead was a music rebel. Her music was distinct from other music artists who were her contemporaries. From the melody, to the lyrics, to the ethereal way of singing, no one compares to her. 

That's why today's Friday Magic Madness is her biggest global hit: "Nothing Compares 2 U."

Truly, nothing - and no one - compares to Sinead O' Connor.

For that reason, she'll be missed.

FMM: Heroic Turn(er)

Another music legend has joined the great concert in the sky.

The world woke up to the news of the passing of legend and icon - Tina Turner.

Kids of the 80s remember Tina for her massive hit songs, massive hair, and massive personality. This was the era of "Private Dancer," "What's Love Gotta Do With It," and "Better Be Good To Me." But of course, her discography dates back earlier to that, with hits going back to the Ike and Tina era of the 60s and 70s.

Aside from being a great singer, Tina was also an equally great actress. 

One of my favourite 80s memories was "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome." We actually watched this on betamax (look it up, kids) because my siblings and I were all too young to watch it in cinemas.

Not only was she wonderful to watch as Auntie Entity, she also brought to life the film's theme song.

"We Don't Need Another Hero," captures the quality of Tina's voice perfectly. And as she's singing it while wearing her Mad Max costume, it just ups the cool quotient by 10000%.

She'll always be a hero.

Suddenly

The world woke up to the sad news that one of the world's biggest musical icons - Olivia Newton John - suddenly passed away.

"Iconic" is an apt way to describe both her and her music. 

From her start in the industry in the 70s until now, she was always a bright light and shining presence. I've been a fan of hers, starting from my childhood. Proof is how she's been featured in several of my blog posts.

And further proof is how I can sing "Xanadu" at the drop of a hat.

Heaven will suddenly be filled with beautiful music now that ONJ is there.

Mon Cherie

Cherie Gil is undoubtedly one of the icons and gems of Philippine Cinema.

She one of those actresses that can easily shift from being a villain to a heroine. Yes, she played heroines in her career, in films like "Oro, Plata, Mata," "Sana'y wala nang wakas," among others.

But yes, she's better known as the villain. A classy, elegant, intelligent and loveable villain. 

One of her iconic roles is as Lavinia Arguelles in "Bituing Walang Ningning." It's so iconic that her famous line: "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copycat!" is part of Filipino Pop Culture for almost 4 decades now.

Given how it's still part of the local lexicon until now, it's safe to say that those lines will be seared into the consciousness of the Filipinos and will never be forgotten.

And as Cherie Gil closes the curtain on her illustrious career, I'm certain that neither will she.

A Memorable Ting

Tito Ting is the eldest among the Dad's siblings.

My first memory of Tito Ting is when we first visited Bicol as kids. He lived in this super cool house in the middle of a sprawling garden. When we stepped in to meet him and my cousins, it was easy and clear to see that he was the patriarch of the family.

He was well-dressed like gentlemen of that era. He spoke Spanish fluently. His voice was very firm and authoritative. He looked strict and stern, but as we knew him more, he was also mild-mannered and very gentle.

Tito Ting, as well as Tita Dolly, were very active in church. He was a lay minister at the big church in Bacacay. One of my memorable childhood moments in Bicol was when we heard mass in Bacacay along with Tito and Tita. 

After mass, we all went to the priest's home inside the church compound so he could introduce us to the Parish Priest. It was huge home, filled with antique, wooden furniture. While we were waiting for the Priest to arrive, I saw the huge dining table with a basket of fruits in the middle. Feeling "at home," I took a piece of banana and started to eat. 

As I was taking a bite, I was told that I wasn't supposed to get food from the table because it wasn't ours. I'm not sure now if it was Tito or Tita who called my attention, but after they did, I stuffed the whole banana in my mouth and placed the banana peel in my pocket to hide the evidence. 

That's just one of the many memories with Tito Ting and family. The others include our usual sleep overs at their house in Bacacay during summer, or our beach bonfires at Lolo's beach. My cousins and I would also go to Tito Ting's property in the same area where there was a mangrove plantation. We'd usually get mangroves and turn them into rifles for our "army play" with the cousins.

Another memorable moment was when there was a big party at Tito Ting's house. In the middle of the revelry, a huge gecko appeared on their glass door and made a huge "tuuukooo" sound. Being kids from Manila, this freaked us out. Papa Jack - Tita Dolly's brother - saw the panic in our eyes and he brought out a gun and shot the gecko. Of course, the glass door shattered, but so did the gecko. After that incident, everyone went on with the party as if nothing - not even a shooting - happened.

Last time we visited Tito Ting in person was in Bicol was in April 2019. The first time we dropped by, he wasn't there because he was doing his lay ministerial work at the prison in that area. Yes, at 80+ years old, he was still an active lay minister.

The last time we saw him virtually was in April of this year when they were all in San Roque to celebrate Tito Hector's birthday. They had a video call and we got to see and say hello to Tito Ting.

Yesterday evening, Tito Ting was given his angel wings and joined Lolo Iking and Lola Dita in heaven. Now, we won't see him physically the next time we visit his cool home in the middle of that sprawling garden in Bacacay, but we know that he'll be watching us from above.

Vaya con Dios, Tito Ting. 

An Uncommon Bond

Among the many actors who played the iconic role of 007, there are 2 that easily stand out. First is the actor who introduced the role to me - Roger Moore, and second, the OG Bond - Sean Connery.

They say that the original is always the best, and I'd say that in the case of James Bond, that's true. While each actor had his own style, Sean Connery had the right mix of suave, humour, debonaire, and grit. And since he was the first actor to take on the role, the other actors can't help but be compared to him.

Today, the world lost its first Bond as Sean Connery passed away at 90 year old. He now joins Roger Moore in the great 007 Headquarters in the sky.

You will be missed, Connery. Sean Connery.

Of Royco and Uncle Rolly

One of the fond memories I have of our house in Morato - a story often shared with friends - is the story of when my Uncle Rolly took care of us while our parents were away.

Uncle Rolly is Mom's older/youngest brother. Older because he was 2-years older than Mom, and youngest because he was the youngest among the 5 Regalado brothers. In the Regalado clan, he was the original creative genius. He was a poet, a writer, a songwriter, and a composer. A true renaissance man.

Here's the story. He called us for dinner, and one of the things he cooked was our favourite Royco Alphabet soup. For those who don't remember it anymore, Royco was one of the most popular brands of soup in the 70s and 80s, and they were famous for their "Chicken noodle soup" and "Alphabet soup."

To our surprise, when we reached the dinner table, Uncle Rolly spelled all our names on our plates, using the letters found in the alphabet soup. I could imagine the labour he had to go through to do that for all 5 of us. Searching for each letter, fishing it out, then arranging it on our dinner plate. Yes, it was a lot of work, but it was thoughtful. And that was the type of Uncle he was - he would take great lengths to delight us nephews and nieces.

And delighted we were. You can imagine the thrill when we saw our names neatly spelled out on our plates. That made dinner much more special that evening.

That Royco story was one of the happy stories we shared with Uncle Rolly. Aside from that, there was the story of the entire clan going home to Bicol to attend his wedding to Auntie Baby (and the Manila kids - us - were part of the entourage.) And the last time I visited him in California in 2003, which is also the last time I saw him in person.

Yesterday, Uncle Rolly was given his angel wings and joined my Lolo and Lola, and his 4 older brothers in heaven. We might not be able to see him physically, but we know that his thoughtfulness, his creativity, his gentle nature and his music will always be with us.

We'll miss you, Uncle Rolly. Please continue to watch over us with your usual kindess, joy and music while you're in heaven.

A favorite, through the years

Yesterday, my Friday Magic Madness post was about the classic 80s song: "We are the World" by USA for Africa.

Today, I read that one of my favourite singers - one who was also part of USA for Africa - just passed away. That singer was the King of Country Music, Kenny Rogers.

He's one of the American singers that I listened to as a kid, thanks to Dad's cassette tape collection. My weekends and study times were usually accompanied by his classic songs: "Lady," "We got tonight," "She believes in me," and his iconic duet with Dolly Parton, "Island in the Stream."

Of course, we cannot forget "Through the Years." It's one of my all-time favourite songs in the whole wide universe.

So, in honor of Kenny Rogers, let me quote this iconic song of his:

"Through the years, 
you've never let me down, 
you turned my life around, 
the sweetest days I found right here with you. 

Through the years, 
I've never been afraid,
I loved the life we've made.
And I'm so glad I've stayed,
right here with you,
Through the years.

Through the years,
when everything went wrong,
together we were strong.
I know that I belong right here with you.

Through the years, 
I never had a doubt,
We'd always work things out,
I've learned what life's about,
by Loving you,
Through the years."

You will be missed, Kenny Rogers.

The Luke of Sadness

And a 90s icon goes to that big Hollywood studio in the sky.

Luke Perry was a fixture in the 90s. Starring in hit TV shows like 90210, and films like the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Most recently, people know him as Archie's dad in "Riverdale."

Now, Beverly Hills 90210 will never be the same.

A fashionable end

Fashion lost another one of its brightest and longest shining stars.

Karl Lagerfeld - Creative Director of Chanel and Fendi - has just taken a bow and made his catwalk to the fashion house up there.

Until his passing, he was still very active - designing collections, season after season, not just for Chanel and Fendi, but for his namesake brand as well.

He was such a huge influence that the fashion world will definitely feel the void of his passing.

Missing and Memories

This heartfelt song from Diana Ross pretty much sums up what I felt this morning.



We usually visit Lolo, Lola and Tita after the All Soul's Day rush, and that's what I did. As expected, Loyola was quiet, not crowded and more serene. A welcome change from the chaos and fracas that often happens from October 31 to November 2.

I was in my teens when Lola, then Lolo, left us. And whenever I visit them, I can't help but feel that I didn't spend enough time with them. That it would've been awesome if they lived another decade so I could've enjoyed their company and wisdom more.

But I know that even if they're not here physically, they're watching all of us from above.

Incidentally, today marks the 29th year since Lolo joined Lola in heaven. It's been so long, but the longing feels the same.

Yo extranjo mucho, Abuelo y Abuela. Por siempre.