FMG: The man who has touched and changed many lives

Television careers come and go. Some go even go before they come. Today you have a show, tomorrow you can be tending your garden in peace and quiet. But inarguably, television is a most exciting world, where some names are revered, others are reviled.

In Philippine television, one name will linger forever, for his, is one of the most revered and respected and deservedly so. "He" is FMG to many, Federico M. Garcia when he signs contracts, Freddie when he is fondly addressed.

His smile is real and boyish, his moustache deadly. His eyes dance the foxtrot even at noontime. His voice commands. His presence can turn you into a docile geisha. His vision has changed the face of Philippine television. God bless his rivals for he has the tenacity of a heavyweight boxer, the grace of a seasoned matador the gut feel of a dexterous poker player and the heart and soul of a renaissance man.

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated FMG’s birthday at the 14th floor of 9501. What a party it was. What fun it was for a man who appreciates what it is to have a good time – once in a while. And what an honor it was for me to have hosted it. (Thank you to Charo Santos-Concio – the iron lady of ABS-CBN!).

That night, we did not only honor a great man of television, we paid tribute to a beautiful human being.

Under his stewardship, ABS-CBN has been the #1 network for the past 15 years. As president of the network, he has brought honor to our country. And he has made many of us honorable men and women – and yes, honorable gays. And I shall for the rest of my life, be grateful to FMG. He never for half a second discriminated, patronized, accommodated me who by birth proudly gay. Freddie, in all his greatness, has always treated me decently and correctly.

It is hard to find an appropriate birthday gift for someone like FMG who must have everything. But somehow you manage to find something – a nice recycled gift – expensive but something that you wouldn’t use – but which you would suspect FMG would appreciate. Of course, I didn’t intend to tell him my expensive gift was recycled. And then, I decided to write him a note which started with the usual ‘happy birthday’ and ‘wishing you all the best.’ And I wrote a postcript, "Freddie for the last time, I’m offering you my body and even if I know that you won’t take it, I don’t want to grow old, regretting that once upon a time I had the chance to offer it, but I didn’t try!"

Well, back to FMG’s party, it opened with a frenetic dance number by four of the sexiest girls show business – Angela Velez, Michelle Bayle, Andrea del Rosario and Vanessa del Bianco. I retreated to a dark corner of the restaurant, grabbed a half-filled glass of red wine and watched the four lovely dancing girls envy. Freddie danced with them to the delight of his friends, his generals and ground soldiers who came in full force. When the four sexy girls bounced out of the dancing floor I sashayed back to the center and hurriedly introduced funny lady Marissa Sanchez who sang a medley of songs and did a funny monologue on "why one wants to be FMG."

And then the concert Queen and King did their solo numbers and the crowd asked for a duet and together they sang for ninong Freddie. It was FMG who put Martin and Pops together in Penthouse Live the show where it all started for Martin and Pops! Under the watchful eye of FMG, they bloomed into the most powerful musical tandem of this generation.

Oh, the night would not have been complete without the obligatory roasting. Freddie listened intently, roaring with laughter as he was roasted by Randy David, Katrina Legarda, Tina Palma, Bibot Nolan, Maribel Salta, Randy Estrellado, Monchet Olives and Korina Sanchez.

Everyone talked about FMG’s humanity, kindness, carino brutal, brilliance, love for work, love for people, love for life, respect for talent and how he has touched and changed lives forever.

One day, for many of us, when the OBB starts to roll – it will be with honor, pride and respect that we would all say Freddie, thank you for the shows!