For the love of Carlo

MANILA, Philippines – I was still a student at the UP College of Law in the early ‘80s when the amazing all-male a cappella group, The TUX, was formed. Most of them were personally known to me, having been my co-members in the UP Concert Chorus. They were an exceptionally talented bunch, funny on and offstage, unabashedly showcasing a camaraderie that would be the envy of any all-male high school barkada. Even as they went on to soar high in their respective careers, got hitched and had kids, they continued making beautiful music together. The group filled its own niche, with a fair share of sold-out shows, gigs and concerts and for a long while had become a fixture in the corporate entertainment scene. The TUX even released commercially successful and well-received albums of its own brand of music. 

Now, after more than 25 years since they were formed, they are gearing up for a most important show, together with no less than some of the brightest stars in the firmament of the Philippine entertainment industry, like Gary Valenciano, ZsaZsa Padilla, Regine Velasquez, Kuh Ledesma, Nanette Inventor and John Lesaca, to raise funds for one of their own, Carlo Bulahan, who is afflicted with cancer. The benefit concert titled sTUX on You... You’ve Got a FriendS, will be held on July 17 and 18 at the Music Museum. It will also be a reunion of sorts by featuring the participation of former TUX members Nolyn Cabahug, the Philippine’s foremost tenor, and Manolo Tanquilut and Zebedee Zuñiga, both now with the Opera.

Among The TUX members, Carlo stood out with his height, built and Indian-mestizo good looks, particularly his expressive eyes. To my delight, I found out that, in settling down, Carlo had chosen to be his bride, the former Marika Amigo, a beautiful high school classmate of mine at the St. Joseph’s College, which explained how our batch was able to book The TUX for our batch’s Silver Anniversary Homecoming. During preparatory reunions, our classmates would catch sight of Carlo and then shriek and giggle like high school girls of yore at how gorgeous he is. He would sometimes take our photos and videos and do this and that for us. We loved Carlo and we greatly appreciated how simple and down to earth he was, offering to help our class in any way he could.

Marika and Carlo’s union bore a sweet daughter, 11-year-old Ryah (who at nine started writing songs like her dad). Their normal family life, however, has become a thing of the past when Carlo was recently diagnosed with cancer. Now that my own father-in-law Justice Emilio Gancayco is confined at the Philippine Heart Center, I know what Marika and Ryah, Carlo’s own parents and siblings, must be going through. To have someone close to your heart suffer from a lingering illness is physically, emotionally, mentally and financially demanding. As Marika recounts, “Everything happened so quickly from the time of his first check-up, to his blood tests, then colonoscopy, more tests, surgery, then chemo, in a span of two months. The cancer was a big shock to all of us. We shed some tears at the beginning, then braced ourselves to focus on God alone. We are ‘holding up well’ because God’s words continue to assure us.”

They had no money for the expensive series of chemo treatments but even in this regard, Carlo’s family experienced the miraculous work of God’s power. “Our church put up a six-day garage sale in order to raise funds. God has also touched the hearts of many people to help us, among them the TUX family (Manny, Popo, Jeric, Eric, Dante, Monet, Gary and a dear kumpadre Freddie Santos) who are all willingly giving their time, talents and efforts in putting up this benefit concert for Carlo. I am moved to tears by their expressions of love for Carlo, and I would like to personally thank them and all the other artists who have unselfishly offered to participate in this fund-raising show,” Marika relates. For Marika, “the TUX is our third family group. The TUX members have been together since college, and now, some of our kids are in college. I am so proud to share that they will represent the Philippines in the a cappella festival in Singapore in October.”

Indeed, family, friends, The TUX, and most especially God, have drawn Carlo, Marika and Ryah stronger and closer together. They have not complained nor are they questioning God why these things are happening to them. They have kept their strong faith in God and are leaving everything into His hands.

(For ticket inquiries and donations, call Marika at 0917-9767250 or e-mail [email protected]. Text author for comments only at 0927-5000833.)