Cool Hunk Luke

BMG Records Pilipinas bigwigs (take a bow, Rudy Tee!) couldn’t have thought of a better title for Luke Mejares’ first solo album – Stop, Luke, Listen! The way Luke is looking these days, people can’t really help but stop, look (at) and listen (to) the way "the Gary Valenciano of Bohol" has reinvented himself. He has shed 50 lbs. and at his remaining 130 lbs. are neatly distributed in his 5’7" frame. He’s back to being Cool Hunk Luke.

And, of course, his being a father now has enhanced his aura.

"I sing with more depth now," said Luke, formerly with South Border. "Iba ang nagagawa sa akin ng pagiging tatay."

His wife (whom he married last year in civil rites when they discovered that she was pregnant), Inger Cuenco, gave birth to their daughter, named Akeisha Mikkel, last March in New York. Luke and Inger chose the name Akeisha (African for "favorite") from a baby book.

"Mikkel was taken from my name, Michael Luke," said Luke.

So proud was Luke of his daughter’s arrival that he didn’t try to hide nor deny it (unlike other showbiz denizens who do so on national television with a straight face in an effort to "protect" their career/image).

Luke’s attitude is in stark contrast to that of his American father, Robert Edward Davis (formerly with the US Navy), who rejected him when, after years of research and inquiries from all possible US agencies and institutions, he sought him out in Maryland two years ago. He drove Luke away.

"It was painful," recalled Luke who grew up with an aunt and an uncle in Bohol, believing that they were his real parents. "He really made a scene. Tinarayan talaga niya ako. Just the same, I left a note with him and I attached to it an article in Philippine STAR about my long search for him. Who knows, he might soften up and get in touch with me...maybe 10 years from now? I don’t feel any anger or bitterness toward him now. At least, I saw him. That was all that I wanted – to see him. I wasn’t after anything, neither money nor support."

That’s why Luke wants Akeisha to grow up in a loving environment, unlike him who felt unloved and unwanted, feeling insecure and coping with inferiority complex especially when his schoolmates teased him for being a negro. (If they could only see negro now!)

Luke and Inger did plan to get married this year but when she got pregnant, they decided to go through with the civil rites. "Gusto ko, paglabas ng baby apelyido ko agad ang gamit niya." They plan to get married in church before end of the year.

Fatherhood has tamed him, according to Luke.

"I’m more inspired now. Everything I do is for my daughter. Before, after a show I’d go with friends on gimiks. Now, I go straight home. I’ve also been taking more care of my health. I want to be healthy for Akeisha."

In fact, Luke welcomed not just one but two babies this year, the other "baby" being his BMG Stop, Luke, Listen! album which is composed of nine originals and three remakes (Just a Smile Away, the Close-Up song; Spell and Rock Steady).

"I’m thankful to BMG for the all-out support. Vic (Valenciano, a BMG executive) and I really sat down and carefully chose the song. I was touched by several people who wanted to contribute a song to the album."

He would have wanted to invite South Border vocalist Jay Durias to write a song but he was then busy with preparations for the new SB album. Asked if he’s now okay with the SB guys, Luke said, "We are civil toward each other when we meet. I remain an SB fan. I owe a lot to South Border. When I was with South Border, I really matured musically. I will forever be grateful to South Border."

With the release of the album, Luke also "rebuilt" himself – physically. He ran regularly, cut down on carbo (rice, etc.) and sweets, avoided oily/fatty foods and stopped taking (hard drinks).

Voila, goodbye 50 lbs.!

One of these days, Luke hopes to write a song for Akeisha around the theme "I’ll always be with you." For sure, according to Luke, Akeisha will treasure the song which, who knows, she will be singing when she starts growing up – and following in her dad’s footsteps.

Asked for a sample line from that song he’s yet to write, Luke thought for a while and sang, "If the world ends, I will be with you...here and now...now and forever more..."

Pinay Shines In Canadian Idol

Meanwhile, here’s refreshing news from Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" Ferdinand Lapuz about Filipino talents who shine in the Canadian Idol:

After Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco in American Idol, the Philippines is represented in the Canadian Idol by Elena Juatco (from Vancouver, British Columbia) who follows Mikey Bustos, a Fil-Canadian who was in the Top 11 in the show’s first season. Another Fil-Canadian, Bernard Quilala, was in the wild card show but didn’t make it.

Here’s an additional report from reader Carl (of Surrey, England, UK):

Good day Ricky!

This is again Carl of United Kingdom. Here is the update on what's happening in the Canadian Idol Search. In my first email to you, I mentioned that four Filipinos made it to the final 32 of the above-mentioned program in Canada, in the person of Anabelle Lumayag, 20, of Vancouver; Elena Juatco, 19, also from Vancouver; Bernard Quilala, 22, of Edmonton and Jerrica Santos, 16, of Surrey, British Columbia. The series of elimination rounds has happened and eight finalists were identified. Unfortunately, none of our four compatriots have made it.

On the brighter side of the competition, the judges announced the wild card contestants who vied for the two remaining slots to make the final 10, and our very own Bernard Quilala and Elena Juatco were among them. They both placed third in their respective elimination rounds. Live studio performances happened on July 14, the following night, and the two winners were announced. Elena managed to get the slot in the Top 10, singing the Broadway ballad What I Did for Love. Here’s what judge Flex said: "Natural performance of entertainment value. Jordan was impressed and said she "star-searched the moment. Werner remarked, "You're the kind of rare, special, unique entertainer that I wanna see in the Top 10." The judges said Bernard might need a third chance to finally get in.

Elena is a Biology and Drama student at Queen's University and won the competition as the Campus Idol. She has also performed in the stage play The Vagina Monologues at the Queen's. Let us all wish Elena good luck in her endeavour and that she perhaps be our Canadian (Filipino) Idol.

Fr. Corsie’s Healing Sked

Here’s Fr. Corsie Legaspi’s healing schedule until August:

• July 22, Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m. in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

• July 24 and 25 (Saturday and Sunday), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Retreat for the Sick at Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

• July 30, Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. at Virgen de los Remedios Parish, Balite, San Fernando, Pampanga

• Aug. 6, Friday, 6 to 10 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption, Leveriza St., Malate, Manila

• Aug. 7, Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. – Coming Home Retreat and Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

• Aug. 10 to 20 – Lectures and healings in the US

• Aug. 28 and 29, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Retreat: Reinventing Yourself, at the Coming Home Retreat & Meditation Center, Binakayan, Cavite

(Note: For inquiries, call 046-4348759 or 046-8780069, look for Araceli Altman Linsangan.)

What’s Up?

• Congratulations to Kheem Kenneth Anthony Tagubuan Yu for winning for the third time the presidential race of the Student Council of Bethany Christian School in Paniqui, Tarlac. It’s his last term (he’s a senior graduating next year).

• Reader Sandi Domingo (of Oakland, California) is making additions to the list of Mutya ng Pilipinas beauties who have joined showbiz, namely: Lorraine Schuck (1979 Mutya-Asia), Miriam Pantig (1980 Mutya Miss Talent), Marilou Bendigo (1981 Mutya-Asia), Hazel Huelves (1987 candidate), Mutya Crisostomo-Laxa (1990 Mutya Asia-Pacific and 1991 Miss Asia-Pacific second runner-up), Janine Barredo (1992 candidate), Karen Espino (1994 first runner-up) and Faith Amigo (1995 first runner-up).

• From reader "Lee" of Germany:

Please allow me to correct a trivia item that came out in Funfare last July 5 – What is the difference between pianoforte and fortepiano? The answer given by your contributor was: Pianoforte is an instrument while fortepiano means playing loudly and then suddenly softly. I think it’s the other way around. Fortepiano (pronounced for-ta-pe-a-no), is a noun. Its etymology: French or Italian; French, from Italian, from forte loud + piano soft: an early form of the piano originating in the 18th and 19th centuries and having a smaller range and softer timbre than a modern piano.

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)