Seniors Prom night with The Platters

My friend Danee Samonte gave me four complimentary tickets to the show of The Platters (new generation, I presume) at Aliw Theater last March 28. I was hundreds of miles away from the venue and I didn’t make it. But my friend, election lawyer Romy Macalintal and his wife Mila, together with their friends Jorge and Ester Lopez, were there.

”It was really an evening full of beautiful memories spiced up with romantic songs made popular by the immortal The Platters as interpreted by the World Famous Platters (WFP) as they sang along with a huge crowd that almost filled to capacity the Aliw Theater to the last seat,” reported Romy, also invited by Danee, the producer, and his beloved Maggie Samonte.

It was a veritable Seniors Prom night and how the Baby Boomers enjoyed it, Romy and company included.

“The fans of the Platters, composed mostly of the ‘young once,’ some of whom were accompanied or assisted by the ‘young ones, joined together as they reminisced the good old times when, as aptly described by Eddie Stovall of the WFP, ‘music was really music’.”

It was also an affair where Romy and company had the chance to meet friends whom they had not seen for quite sometime. And, as to be expected, instead of crushes and growing-up pleasures, they talked about blood pressure, blood-sugar level and growing-old pains.

Recalled Romy, “’Padre, kumusta ka na. Anong maintenance mo sa rayuma? Sinong doctor mo?’ were some of the questions we asked and heard from the senior fans while waiting excitedly for the WFP to start their repertoire of classical Platters songs. Only You was the first song belted out by the group. From the very first note of this topnotch Platters favorite, the audience immediately responded with an emotional outburst of ‘Ohhhhh!’ and a deafening round of applause.

“From then on, there was no stopping the WFP from performing in succession the other most requested songs of the Platters: Twilight Time, Remember When, I’m Sorry, You’ll Never Know, Red Sails in the Sunset, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Harbor Lights, Magic Touch and My Prayer.

“After this non-stop rendition of Platters’ all-time favorite songs, the WFP momentarily switched to a medley of Motown songs like My Girl, My Guy and other selected soul music which Motown singers have been known since the ’60s.

“The WFP’s parting song was the Platters’ unrivaled hit single — The Great Pretender. Like Only You, from the very first note of the Great Pretender, the thousands of Platters fans in attendance continuously clapped their hands and opened up their hearts in awe and appreciation to the WFP for bringing back those golden days ‘when music was really music.’ And the group received a much-deserved standing ovation from the highly enthralled audience.”

Romy said that credit should also go to the Rockin’ 60s who did the front act. Composed of veteran singers Tito Santiago, Weng Erana, Vero Pedero and Nancy Lumen Reyes, the Rockin’ 60s thrilled the audience with their own versions of Stupid Cupid, Crazy, Someday, Where the Boys Are, Sincerely, Why, Hurt, Paper Roses, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Calendar Girl and Those Were the Days.

“It was really a night full of memories relived through songs we continue to cherish up to the real time,” added Romy. “We enjoyed the kind of music we want to hear at that particular moment of the night.”

Take note, Baby Boomers. See you at the next Seniors Prom!

(Note: Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal is an election lawyer who is currently hosting the radio program The Law of the Heart is Love over DWBR, 104.3FM, every Saturday 8 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 9 to 10 p.m., where he plays love songs and read love poems with known celebrities as guest poem readers. The entire proceeds from the program directly go to the scholarship fund of Mission Guided By Mary Foundation for poor and deserving elementary and high school students of various Catholic parishes.)

Indie actor competes in Mr. Gay World 2012

Indie film actor Carlito ‘Carl’ Rosadino Jr. is the country’s bet at the 2012 Mr. Gay World Pageant, with grand finals set for Easter Sunday, April 8, in South Africa.

Coffee-shop barista Carlito “Carl” Floro Rosadino Jr. leaves today for Johannesburg, South Africa, to represent the Philippines at the 4th annual Mr. Gay World Pageant. Twenty-five delegates are competing.

A veteran of male pageants, Carl won the Mr. Gay World Philippine title on Nov. 18 last year. He was also the 2007 Slimmers World Bikini Bodies winner and Mr. Expo World Philippines-Face of the Year 2008. He took up Arts Studies in UP-Diliman and is into swimming and dancing. He also appeared in some indie films, one of them Bathhouse with John Lapus and former Mr. World Philippines runner-up Jet Rai.

A week-long series of judging activities is lined up for the 25 delegates to test their composure, camaraderie, leadership skills and intelligence given different tasks and challenges. Their stay in the “rainbow” nation will be highlighted by a trip to Askari Lodge where they will taste the Safari experience. The grand finals will be held on Easter Sunday, April 8, at the Lyric Theater in Johannesburg where the delegates will compete in national costumes, swimwear, formal wear and the final Q&A.

Carl is actively involved with Ang Ladlad Partylist and Love Yourself Project. Ladlad is the organization that is helping Carl gain more knowledge and insights into the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community in the Philippines as well as around the world. The Love Yourself Project involves HIV/AIDS Volunteer Education and Counseling to encourage individuals to take care of themselves and others by adopting a healthy lifestyle. — Reported by Funfare ‘beauty experts’ Felix Manuel, Gery Yumping, Joey Cezeare and Francis Calubaquib.

What’s up?

• The Panglao Island Nature Resort (PINR) sports club has lined up its summer tennis tournament schedule: Babolat Tennis Camp 2012 (whole-day activity) on April 14 to 20; Head Age Group Tournament (Group 5), April 21 to 23; and Technifibre Panglao Island Tennis Masters 2012, April 23 to 29. For inquiries, call 412-3964 or 0920-9505258 (look for Rose).

Reunion of Star Patrollers

A rare reunion of past and present Star Patrollers of ABS-CBN happened during the recent 25th wedding anniversary of their mentor Mario Dumaual and his wife Cherie (seated). It was Mario who trained the girls (from left: Christine Bersola, Angelique Lazo, Ginger Conejero, Niña Corpus and Marie Lozano) as entertainment reporters. Mario is an institution in TV star-news reporting.

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(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)