Kuya Germs: Up There with the brightest stars

I’ll make you laugh when you’re blue

That way I can be close to you...

That’s the way of a clown,

That’s the way of a clown!

It’s the part I must play.

That’s the way of a clown.

— from Teddy Randazzo’s The Way Of a Clown

In all his 82 years, that was the part that German “Kuya Germs” Moreno loved to play — as a clown. It was a role he so loved to play that even after a stroke confined him to a wheelchair, cared for by two nurses alternating 24/7, the Master Showman refused to be sidelined, turning deaf to admonitions not to attend the GMA Countdown on New Year’s Eve at the MOA Thursday last week.

That turned out to be a “countdown” on his own life lived to the fullest by building up stars, many of them are now shining brightly in the showbiz firmament. It was on Jan. 2, 2015, two days after gracing the GMA Countdown (to 2015) when Kuya Germs suffered a stroke from which he recovered after a few months to resume hosting the DZBB daily program Walang Siesta and his late Saturday night show Master Showman: Walang Tulugan that would have marked its 20th anniversary this year. At 3:20 yesterday morning, Kuya Germs, as the poet wrote, “slipped quietly into the night,” unable to bid the public goodbye like he did at the end of his shows.

What’s my fondest memory about Kuya Germs? As an aspiring movie writer ages ago, I interviewed Kuya Germs at the apartment he was renting on N. Domingo St. in San Juan (not yet a city then), Rizal. He reminded me to show him the article before I submitted it to the Weekly Nation magazine. He frowned at the sentence that predicted he would be a big star like Dolphy. “Huwag na ito,” he told me. “Nakakahiya. Parang mayabang ang dating.” Since then, Kuya Germs remained grounded, down-to-earth, with not a trace of kayabangan (arrogance) at all. 

As a tribute to the Master Showman, here’s an updated version of a Funfare story titled Kuya Germs’ “magic wand” published in 2013 when he celebrated his 50th anniversary in showbiz:

Some lucky guys (like Cinderella) have a Fairy Godmother that can turn a pumpkin into a glittering carriage. Others have, you guessed it, a fairy godfather in the person of German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, a star-maker in his own right whose “magic wand” can create vehicles straight to stardom.

Hundreds have happily benefitted from Kuya Germs’ Stardom Express via his landmark GMA shows Germicide, Germspesyal, GMA Supershow and That’s Entertainment, that have long been off the air but never out of heart. Count in his near-midnight show Master Showman: Walang Tulugan (a top-rater on GMA Pinoy TV among Filipinos abroad) which serves the same purpose — launching pad of starry-eyed/starstruck young talents.

On April 24 (a Wednesday), Kuya Germs will mark his 50th anniversary in showbiz with a grand show at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. How many of those Kuya Germs has helped will show up in a gesture of gratitude? Expect another rousing celebration on Walang Tulugan (Saturday, April 27).    

You ask, why only 50th (anniversary)?

“I’m not counting the five years that I spent at the Clover Theater as a janitor,” explained Kuya Germs. “I started counting from 1963 when I signed a contract with Sampaguita Pictures” (where he appeared in so many films as the patpatin barkada of the lead stars). From janitor, Kuya Germs graduated to playing bit roles on the Clover (which used to be where the Rizal Avenue LRT station is now.)

It must be from Sampaguita big boss Dr. Jose “Doc” Perez, the Original Star-Maker, from whom Kuya Germs learned the ropes of the trade. Scratch the career path of most big stars today and chances are that they were “schooled” in That’s, some of them include Lea Salonga, Piolo (then simply known as PJ) Pascual, JC Bonnin, Jestoni Alarcon, Sheryl Cruz, Manilyn Reynes, Tina Paner, Jojo Alejar, Rayver Cruz and the late Francis Magalona and Jon Hernandez.

“Even during my Clover days,” added Kuya Germs, “nag-talent scout na ako, nagpapa-audition na ako. Eddie Mesa was one of those who auditioned na tinanggap ko.

Kuya Germs said that he treats his talents (or “wards”) equally; he doesn’t play favorites.

“Even in talent fee, equal sila; walang nakakalamang. Did you know that my first 16 talents got only P500 allowance each? I was nervous at that time baka umayaw ang mga parents nila. But I was glad that they didn’t mind the small pay. I kept reassuring them, ‘Huwag kayong mag-aalala; kapag kayo’y sumikat, hindi ko pakikialaman kung anuman ang kitain n’yo’. Up to now, I don’t get any commission. Kadalasan, I even spend my own money.”

For Walang Tulugan, now into its 17th year, Kuya Germs shoulders everything, all the expenses, and the ROI (Return On Investment) that he gets is seeing his “wards” succeed.

“I feel like a teacher,” he claimed. “When your students graduate with honors, para ka na ring sinabitan ng medalya. Masarap ang feeling.”

Do the successful ones ever show Kuya Germs any sign of gratitude (utang na loob)?

“Oo naman,” he said, adding with a tone of irritation, “kaya lang you now have to beg their managers if you want to invite them (the stars). Kailangan kang dumaan sa butas ng karayom, wala man lang ‘yung courtesy na, you know. Alam naman nila kung anong nagawa ko sa kanila.”

An institution himself, Kuya Germs has been pushing for the elevation of Quezon City to the City Of Stars, understandably so because that’s where all the TV networks are, where most of the stars live and where most of the entertainment establishments are located (check out Tomas Morato Avenue). When the City Council approved the “City Of Stars” resolution, Kuya Germs fell on his knees and thanked all the stars in heaven and even helped then Councilor Dingdong Avanzado (who also worked hard for the approval of the resolution) organize a parade of stars.

There’s also what he called Paradise Of Stars at the MOWELFUND Compound (in Quezon City) showcasing standees of stars, the paint of some of them melted in the rain.

“I wanted to do a parada ng mga rebulto but it was very expensive to do that, kaya ‘yung mga standee na lang ang nilagay ko. The paint used in some of them was not water-proof, kaya noong umulan nabura lahat. So I had them done again, using water-proof material,” said Kuya Germs. Maybe he should put on display there his vast collection of clowns.

And don’t forget the Walk Of Fame, the local version of the iconic Hollywood landmark, that Kuya Germs has built (with his own money, huh!) in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City, which is lit up by dozens of named star markers.

On that note, I nominate that Kuya Germs be honored with the biggest star in that Walk of Fame.

“I don’t need it,” said Kuya Germs in humility. “Huwag na lang ako. I just want to be remembered for whatever I’ve done for the industry,” citing an award (for building stars) by the Film Academy of the Philippines. (He now gives talented showbiz youths The German Moreno Youth Achievement Award at the annual FAMAS Awards.)

He’s his own biggest Walking Trophy.

Take a bow, Kuya Germs! Walang tulugan, promise!!!

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