Yes, its Rico Blanco!

There was a blind item in yesterday’s column about a big-label company’s impending launch of a new song by the label’s new artist, calculated to be a big hit. The radio teasers and the blind item have kept the record-industry guessing.

So who is the “new artist” and what is the song to be released by what company?

Yes, it’s Rico Blanco, former frontman of Rivermaya, who is now on solo flight, and the song is none other than Yugto from Warner Music Philippines which is now Rico’s new home.

“Yugto marks the dawning of a new era in OPM,” said a Warner spokesperson.

After he split from Rivermaya, Rico (still remembered also as the former boyfriend of KC Concepcion) went on a year-long leave from the local music scene and toured the US and Europe.

Yugto is the carrier single of Rico’s first album as a solo artist in which he showcases more of his talent as a producer, songwriter, collaborator and performer.

From his hiatus, Rico emerges as a bolder artist who dares to experiment on different sounds and create a new kind of music that reflects all that he has experienced. Described as his most ambitious project, Yugto is about an epic battle in a man’s heart, echoing his quest for meaning in his existence and his views of the world.

“Be ready for a new taste in Pinoy rock music,” added the Warner spokesperson.

 Asked about his thoughts on Yugto, Blanco simply replied, “I can’t wait to play the song live.”

Yugto is the first of a series of singles from the album scheduled to be released under Warner Music Philippines next month.

Stay tuned.

* * *

It’s Dr. Gary Sy and not Gary C. (as in Gary V.).

The doctor is “in” Wednesday nights from 10 to 11 on Operation Tulong Medikal (DZRH 666 Khz); Sundays 10 to 11 a.m. on Gabay sa Kalusugan (DZMM 630 Khz); and first and third Saturdays of the month, 8 to 9 p.m. on Super Kalusugan (DZBB 594 Khz).

“People always think I’m Gary C., that’s why I have to correct them all the time,” smiled the good doctor who treats and cures the sick not just medically but also with his sense of humor.

A renowned medical practitioner and an author of two books (Gabay sa Kalusugan, available at all Mercury Drug stores nationwide), Dr. Gary is the medical director of the Life Extension Medical Center (located in Suite E, Garden Plaza Hotel, 1370 Gen. Luna St., Paco, Manila, telephones 400-4205 and 522-4835 local 41 or 315). He has been treating patients for free. Everytime he’s on air, he’s so swamped with text messages and phone calls from listeners who can’t afford to consult a doctor that he runs out of time to give all the answers. I should know because I tune in to his programs on the way home from work.

He also conducts free medical lectures around the country.

Yes, Dr. Gary is always “in.”

Over lunch at Starbucks (at the ground floor of Imperial Palace Suites, Timog-Morato Rotonda, Quezon City), I asked Dr. Gary if, like some showbiz people I know, he is hypochondriac (as some doctors and nurses are, they being well aware of all the symptoms).

“No,” he said, “I’m not.”

There’s one thing Dr. Gary wanted to clarify.

“Some people have been asking me if I take the supplements (diabetrol and vita-vegetable, etc.) that I endorse and the answer is yes, I do. I’ve been taking them for years. Yes, they are effective, otherwise I won’t be taking them or endorsing them. I also take Oatbran for breakfast; it works for me, so I recommend it to my listeners.”

Like most doctors, Dr. Gary is health-conscious. He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he exercises regularly, he tries to get enough sleep and he undergoes regular check-up (blood pressure, blood sugar level and cholesterol level are normal as of the last check-up).

Anyway, if you have more questions for Dr. Gary, call the numbers mentioned above or when he’s on any of his radio programs mentioned.

It’s Dr. Gary Sy, remember; not Gary C.

Briefly noted

• Congratulations to Jamie Anne Yap (photo), daughter of my doctor-friend Welson Yap and wife Siony, who is graduating summa cum laude from De La Salle College on June 21 with a degree in B.S. Physics, the first ever to achieve that honor in that course. She’s also a Jose Rizal awardee for academic excellence. She’s pursuing a medical degree at the UP Colllege of Medicine. 

• Also, belated congratulations to Mercedes Cabral (photo) who led the poll results for the world’s glamorous in the recently-concluded Cannes Film Festival. Mercedes is in the cast of Dante Mendoza’s Serbis which was the Philippine entry in the filmfest’s competition category. Mercedes is also appearing in the South Korean film Thirst, directed by Cannes winner Park Chan Wok.

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