Why Paolo is missing in Eat, Bulaga!

For several days now, Paolo Ballesteros (photo) has been missing in Eat, Bulaga’s Kalyeserye in which he plays Lola Tidora (trio with Wally Bayola as Lola Nidora and Jose Manalo as Tinidora). While Paolo would “disappear” every now and then to fulfill commitments abroad, it would only for a few days. But now, his absence is getting longer, thus making the Kalyeserye followers wonder whatever happened to him. Is he indisposed (like he was last year when he suffered an elevated high blood pressure)?

Here’s the truth and nothing but: Paolo has been suspended after he “ranted” in his Facebook that he was clueless what he was supposed to do at an ad summit in Subic sponsored by Eat, Bulaga!. He was supposed to be one of the hosts but he was a no-show. As he “ranted,” he decided to stay in his room and drank.

Was it a show of unprofessionalism? Has the Kalyeserye success gone to his head (while the rest of the cast, mainly Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, remained level-headed)? It isn’t a case of “too much, too soon” because Paolo is an “old-timer” on the show, is it?

According to the Funfare VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent), Paolo has been showing “unpleasant attitude” and that Bulaga event proved to be the boiling point.

“Did you know that the content of the cup that Paolo usually drinks from is not coffee but Red Horse?” asked the VDPA.

So, has Paolo been rendered “drunk” from drinking too much Red Horse?

If Paolo wants to “rant” some more, he’s welcome to do so in this corner.

Inset, right: Pomeranz and Melissa Manchester with Clive Davis (leftmost), founder and president of Arista Records, and the Billboard ad put out by Arista showing David and Melissa. Inset, left: Arthur Manuntag is the special guest performer at Manchester and Pomeranz concert at the Big Dome on April 6.

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David Pomeranz: No alcohol, no smoking, lots of water and enough sleep before a concert

Like all singers, David Pomeranz observes certain “do’s and don’t’s” before a concert, or even if he’s not scheduled to have one.

“I generally don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke and I make sure that I get enough sleep,” David told Funfare in an exclusive e-mail interview.

That’s probably what David will do before his concert, An Evening of Timeless Love Songs, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Melissa Manchester on April 6, with Arthur Manuntag (a.k.a. Asia’s Mr. Crooner) as special guest performer.

In that concert, we will be swooning to such Pomeranz songs as Born For You, King & Queen of Hearts, Got To Believe in Magic, If You Walked Away, Trying to Get the Feeling Again and many more. And to Manchester songs like Midnight Blue, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Through The Eyes of Love, Walk On By, Whenever I Call You Friend and I’ll Never Say Goodbye (theme from The Promise).

The concert is produced by Ovation Productions headed by Renen de Guia who is a long-time friend of Melissa and David.

“In the 1970s, I was a radio DJ while handling Artists & Repertoire at the Polygram label distributed by Dyna Records,” said Renen. “Melissa and David recorded under the Arista label which was distributed by Dyna Records so I actually knew that David and Melissa interacted back then.

“I promoted David’s first concert in Manila in September 1983 at the Folk Arts Theater. A few weeks before the concert, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated so the concert went by with not many people noticing as confetti was raining daily in Makati and everybody was out in the streets rallying.”

Here’s more about David in his interview with Funfare (Melissa’s interview out soon):

What do you or have heard about each other?

“Melissa and I are old friends from way back in Arista Records days. We were amongst the first of a few choice artists signed to this new label (headed by record executive legend, Clive Davis), which also included Barry Manilow and Eric Carmen.  When I first heard Melissa’s recording of her and Carole Bayer Sager’s song, Midnight Blue, I instantly fell in love with it and with her and couldn’t wait to meet her.

“Those records she made back then were so incredibly beautiful and rich-sounding and her voice so gorgeous that I instantly asked Clive if I could work with her producer, Vini Poncia. As a result, Melissa and I wound up singing background vocals on each other’s albums and had a ball doing it!  The beautiful thing about this upcoming Araneta concert is, we really haven’t seen each other or worked together since then and this will be a reunion for us.”

Please give us the background of (and stories behind) your three popular songs — King & Queen of Hearts, Born for You and Got to Believe in Magic.

“I wrote Born For You with the wonderful lyricist, David Zippel, and we knew instantly that that song was special. I’m proud of the melody and words because they ‘yearn’ for and express finding eternal love both at the same time. Kinda cool. The song had been recorded several times in the United States before I had the opportunity to put it on my Universal album in the Philippines and I am so thrilled and honored that it has been embraced as it has. 

“Got To Believe In Magic and King And Queen Of Hearts are special to me, again, mostly because they’ve been so thoroughly enjoyed by Filipinos everywhere. Both songs were written by Charles Fox and Stephen Geyer featured in a motion picture called Zapped for which I was the vocalist. Boy, talk about ‘believing in magic’!”

Do you sing those songs the same way (with the same feeling) you did the first time you sang them?

“I always sing my songs as if it’s the first time I ever sang them. I try to infuse my heart and soul into everything I do.”

You have sung all songs there are to be sung.  Any kind of song that you haven’t done but would like to do?

“Good question. I just completed writing and recording a set of Gospel songs with Kathie Lee Gifford (from The Today Show) and I’m getting a special thrill from these. I’d like to make a ‘Beatles’ album, though, where every song is a whole different vibe from the others.”

Are you going to sing together during your concert in Manila?

“Yes. Wouldn’t miss it. Melissa is a consummate musician and one of the most heartfelt singers on the planet. I have a feeling there’ll be goosebumps in the room that night.”

If you were to sing Melissa’s song, what would it be?

“I’d sing Come In From The Rain. Beautiful!!”

How do you take care of your voice; any do’s and don’t’s?

“I generally don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke and I watch my diet very closely, especially when I do a big concert. I also make sure to drink lots of water and get as much sleep as I can before the show. Sleep, for me, is the most important factor in  keeping my voice in shape.

“I also make sure to do my own ‘home-made’ vocal exercises in the dressing room before the show. They’re pretty cool actually and, who knows, I might even record them some day.”

(The Philippine STAR is among the sponsors of An Evening of Timeless Love Songs. Ticket prices are P4,755; P4,225; P3,700; P2,640; and P1,585, available at www.ticketnet.com.ph)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)