Tukso Girl forever

For a while, Eva Eugenio was out of sight but she was never out of “sound,” thanks to Tukso, the ‘80s hit song that has left an indelible mark in public memory for her more than all her other songs combined ever did. Mention Eva’s name and it’s Tukso that immediately comes to mind and not Kapag Wala Ka Na, Pag-ibig Na Walang Dangal, Minamahal Kita Minamahal Ko Siya or Kunwari Ay Ikaw.

Through the years, two generations of OPM fans have been wondering if Eva is singing from experience --- you know, about infidelity, love without honor, being caught between two loves and other weak points of the heart.

“What do you think?” she would playfully titillate your imagination if you asked her, evading even the mildest intrusion into her private life.

Did she, as the tabs insinuated, have an affair with Joseph “Erap” Estrada who was not yet Mayor of San Juan (then senator, vice president and president) when they starred in the movie inspired by her hit song?

“Ano sa tingin mo?” is all Eva would say.

As to be expected, Eva is reviving Tukso in Jukebox Diva, her long-delayed “comeback” CD.

Eva shared the glory of the jukebox era with the likes of Imelda Papin, Claire dela Fuente and, among the men, Victor Wood who is dubbed as the Jukebox King.

“At that time,” recalled Eva, “the mark of a successful singer was to have his 45RPMs played on the jukebox. There was plenty of those music machines all over the country and it was with the jukebox that the public made their song preference felt. It was easy to find out which were the hits. You had to pay to get a song played and the more people paid to play a particular song, the bigger a hit it became.”

So different from the YouTube generation, wasn’t it?

Eva realized her dream of becoming a star when, in 1978, Tukso (composed by Rolly Asis) exploded all over the country and in a lot of jukeboxes. She followed it up with other hits (mentioned earlier), but Tukso stuck to her name like a trademark --- Kay dami nang winasak na tahanan, kay dami nang matang pinaluha, kay dami nang pusong sinugatan...

Now considered one of the Legends of OPM, Eva will forever be the Tukso Girl. Fans continue to enjoy her songs on the radio and karaoke buffs almost always include her hits in their nights out. Gone though is the jukebox, a victim of modern technology.

Songs on the CD are:

• Iisa Pa Lamang by Danny Tan and Jose Javier Reyes, originally popularized by Joey Albert;

• Bakit Pa? by Vehnee Saturno and sung by Jessa Zaragoza;

• Pangako Sa’yo by Rey Valera for Geraldine and, later, Sharon Cuneta;

• Babaeng Makasalanan, Lalaking Salawahan by George Canseco for Imelda Papin;

• Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw by Sunny Ilacad and Ernie de la Pena for Didith Reyes;

• Bulong Ng Damdamin by Mon del Rosario for Marissa;

• Init Sa Magdamag by Willy Cruz and Baby A. Gil for Sharon Cuneta and Nonoy Zuniga;

• Balatkayo by Tito Sotto and Joey de Leon for Anthony Castelo;

• Saan Ako Nagkamali? by George Canseco for Tillie Moreno;

• Di Ako Iiyak by Danny Subido and Louie Berrie for Susanna Pichay;

• Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin by April Boy Regino;

• Ako Ang Nagwagi by George Canseco for Dulce; and

• Isang Babalikan, Isang Iiwanan by Alex Catedrilla for Cristy Mendoza.

Produced by Sunny Ilacad and distributed by Viva Records, Jukebox Diva comes in a De Luxe edition with a free music minus one disc, distributed by Viva Records.

The other Jukebox diva meets Mommy D

And speaking of jukebox divas, did you know that Imelda Papin, a “jukebox diva” in her own right, met another “diva”-in-the-making three weeks ago in Las Vegas, none other than Dionisia “Mommy D” Pacquiao who comes from the jukebox era albeit more of a listener than a performer?

According to Funfare’s DPA from The Strip, Imelda had Mommy D fetched by a limousine from her hotel and was brought to the Orleans Hotel & Casino where Imelda treated her to a sumptuous dinner.

“It turned out that Mommy D is an Imelda Papin fan,” said the DPA. “She showed Imelda her dancing prowess and then they had a duet of Imelda’s hit song Bakit.”

The good news is that they decided to record a duet for 618 International Records (a division of 618 International Entertainment, Inc.) which also released Imelda’s Voice of The Heart CD (released locally by Vva Records under the title I Love You).

Imelda will be back next month in time for her special Christmas concert with Melissa Manchester on Dec. 19 at the PICC. They were supposed to mount a concert which had to be postponed because of the twin tragedies (Ondoy and Pepeng) that hit the country. Imelda and Melissa did a successful three-day concert at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Second win for Brazil

Here’s a report on the just-concluded 2009 Miss Earth pageant by Funfare’s “beauty experts” Joey Cezeare, Francis Caubaquib, Gery Yumping and Felix Manuel (who is going back to New York today after a month-long vacation to resume work as a nurse at a hospital):

After three weeks of hectic schedules, Miss Brazil Larissa Ramos, 20, was crowned Miss Earth 2009 at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center last Nov. 22. She edged out our very own Sandra Inez Seifert (Miss Earth-Air) who romped off with the Nesvita Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown awards during the preliminaries. Completing this year’s court are Venezuela’s Jessica Barboza Schmidt (Miss Earth-Water) and Spain’s Alejandra Echeverria (Miss Earth-Fire).

We talked to the winners the day after the event during a photoshoot and mini presscon held at the Fairways and Bluewater Resort in Boracay.

Larissa was beaming with pride after giving Brazil its second Miss Earth crown. Priscilla Meirelles, John Estrada’s girlfriend who chaired the board of judges, won the title in 2004.

Larissa said, “I’m very happy to give this honor to my country. It will definitely help me promote environmental awareness because more people will listen to me now, especially in my country which is known as the lungs of the world. I am thankful that I was bestowed this very meaningful title. I promise to do my best to help Carousel Productions and the different environmental organizations worldwide to help preserve our environment even after I pass on my crown next year. This is a lifetime commitment.”

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