Comic relief: Willie Nep to the rescue

MANILA, Philippines - When the Sunday 3 o’clock habit Music and Memories of the inimitable tandem of Boots Anson-Roa and Willie Nepomuceno was unceremoniously axed, ironically on its sixth year of continuous broadcast over DZMM Teleradyo station, many faithful listeners were saddened by the vacuum it created on their weekend addiction to reliv- ing the glorious past and merrily strolling through the soundtracks of their lives.

Many expected its eventual return to the airwaves after it gathered a strong haul of protests from legitimate entertainment critics and the public in general. There was likewise a num- ber of “feelers” from other sources to revive the beloved program, but they remained just that.When asked about the controversy Willie Nep has this to say: “We were truly devastated not for ourselves but for our loyal listeners who have been so attached to the show like it’s some sort of a therapy for bygone memories and haunting melodies.” He adds, “We could have simply brushed it off as just another show that ended, but no, we really felt for our listeners.”Boots, meanwhile, has put the extra time to good use to benefit the movie workers’ welfare with her charismatic leadership of the Mowelfund. She has likewise been lending her thespian talent to the numer- ous TV series and indie films which are only too delighted to have her name on their marquees. As they say, life must go on.

And so it did, too, for Willie Nep. Barely two months after the final broadcast of Music and Memories, he staged a fundraiser for the 1991 class of the UP College of Medicine to benefit the juvenile patients of the Philippine General Hospital to a rous- ing success.

Two weeks after, Willie left for the continent Down Under to perform at the Tivoli Showroom of the Rooty Hill RSL in Western Sydney. The 800 seats theater was filled with cheering Filipino compatriots and Australians as well, with a repeat per- formance on the drawing board.

Upon his return, however, disaster struck the Visayas and a number of Willie’s performances for the Yuletide season were cancelled in deference to the mammoth destruction brought about by the typhoon.

While listening to a newscast, he learned that UP in Tacloban and UP in Palo, Leyte were both devastated by the storm surge. On instinct he called a friend for a small coffee talk. That friend brought another friend and still another.

Over a cup (and more cups) of coffee, they looked at each other and instanta- neously chorused something has to be done for the displaced faculty and stu- dents of their alma mater. The UP spirits lives. Relief is on the way.

The UP Alumni Association unani- mously approved a resolution for the re- lief effort. With barely two weeks to go, there’s no turning back, no assessment, no deliberations. Only the spirit of a Fighting Maroon.

Comic Relief hopes to fill the Mu- sic Museum not with relief goods but with warm bodies rallying to the Obla- tion. Not only with funds but to have fun as well. After all, Comic Relief... it’s more fund in the Philippines!

Willie Nep will showcase his usual brand of entertainment for the evening — nostalgic music and memories with a dash of political humor. Willie Nep’s daughter Frida Nep will play the role of the Pork Barrel Queen while the others by his father.

Comic Relief will be staged on Dec. 14 at the Music Museum in Greenhills. Fun starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the UPAA Bahay Alumni with nos. 0917-8377098 and 920-6868. You may also call the Music Museum at 721-0635 and 721-6726 or TicketWorld at 891-9999.