The Hitmakers: No scene-stealing, walang pikunan

Ang pikon, talo. Roughly translated, that means “the onion-skinned loses.”

Aside from music and sense of humor, what glues The Hitmakers intact is the members’ immunity to one another’s quirks and the ability to shrug off potshots even if…it hurts? Like wine, the foursome has mellowed through the years they’ve been performing together, beautifully “surviving” the challenges and demands of growing old(er), changing tastes and trends and the influx of new (and younger) singers.

Once more with even more feeling (at random now, no billing issue among them), Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Rey Valera and Marco Sison are topbilled in The Best of OPM Hitmakers next Friday, Dec. 9, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila, with Jessa Zaragoza as special guest.

“Contrary to what people think,” assured Rey, “there’s no rivalry nor professional jealousy among us, and no scene-stealing. Correction,” Rey hastened to add half in jest, “there is pala between Rico and Hajji who haven’t gotten over it. Pikunan? No more. Hindi na dapat, matatanda na kami, eh.”

“Actually,” explained Marco, “it’s not scene-stealing, although mahilig si Rico sa ganyan. I just watch the exchange between Rico and Hajji, as if nanonood ako ng reality TV na comedy.”

“We’ve been together for years,” said Hajji. “Otherwise, kung may pikunan, we wouldn’t have lasted together this long.”

“I say what I have in mind,” stressed Rico, “and that’s not scene-stealing. But you know, there should be some professional jealousy para may challenge.”

With those non-issues cleared, we proceeded to the main topic of the “four-on-one.”

What song makes you happy?

Rico: The Way We Were, Hulog ng Langit and You’re All I Want for Christmas.

Hajji: Among my songs, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika and May Minamahal. Among the new ones, I like Happy, which has gone viral. When you hear that song, mapapa-indak ka talaga; it makes you sway to the beat. There’s also Bruno Mars’ song Billionaire.

Rey: Barry Manilow’s All The Time which marked a turning point in my life, especially the line which says “wandering all the time.” It made me think, “Am I worth anything?” You have self-doubt until you realize that you have all that you need and you want.

Marco: Not really what makes me happy but what’s memorable…my song Make Believe. I was with Willie (Nepomuceno) on a plane going home when the stewardess told me, “I like your song; ang ganda!” That made my day! My career was taking time to take off and that song was what made me. It makes me happy because it reminds me of my struggling years.

What song makes you sad?

Rico: Barry Manilow’s Don’t Look So Sad and It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve. Those songs remind me of the things I’m not able to accomplish during the passing year. But you tell yourself, “It’s just another New Year’s Eve, and you have another year to make up for it.”

Hajji: I still get emotional when I sing my song Nakapagtataka kasi it’s about separation, eh. I have a lot of experiences when it comes to separation and that where I draw my emotion. D’yan ako humuhugot. Also, Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan which has a haunting melody, and the lyrics by Willy Cruz are very beautiful. There’s also Bruno Mars’ song about a departed lover. The first time I heard it, napa-wow ako.

Rey: Barry Manilow’s Mandy which is about women who are not sure about their place in the sun. They look at themselves as plain housewives, hanggang bahay lang sila. For me, everybody should be equal regardless of gender, that women can be housewives and at the same time have a career.

Marco: Love songs that remind me of romantic scenes in movies.

What makes you high (not referring to illegal drugs)?

Rico: Lahat ng bawal makes me high — chocolates, bagoong sa Barrio Fiesta and mangoes whether green or ripe.

Hajji: Golf makes me high. My dream was to be a professional basketball player. In San Beda, I played in the NCAA Juniors. But you have to be realistic. Lahat nga kasabayan ko, naglalakihan na ang tiyan; my contemporaries have grown big tummies and I was the only one left running. So I tried golf. At first, I thought, “What’s the point in hitting the ball and running after it? Then, you hit the ball again and run after it again.” Soon, I got hooked. Golf is very challenging. Like chess, it makes you think.

Rey: Driving around and appreciating the beauty of Nature. I feel high, ang sarap mabuhay! How wonderful life is!

Marco: A good movie, like Me Before You which was the last movie that I’ve seen. I watched the premiere episode of Tsuperhero (on GMA) which I found entertaining. Bagay na bagay sila (Derek Monasterio and Bea Binene).

Who or what is your greatest love?

Rico: My “current.” She forced me to rush to the hospital when I suffered stroke at ABS-CBN while taping for Home Sweetie Home. I woke up from a nap yawning and dizzy. I went to the clinic; my blood pressure was 170/100 and I was told to go to the hospital right away. It was my current love who took good care of me. (Rico admitted that he has four children with different mothers, one of them his ex-wife Doris Tayag. One child is a singer, one is a designer based in the US, one is married to a pilot and the youngest is six years old.)

Hajji: It’s hard to say who; mahirap magsalita, mapapaaway tayo, hehehe!!!

Rey: Music.

Marco: My children. (Four by different women.)

If you were to write an autobiography, would you tell all?

Rico: That’s part of my plans. I remember Steve Jobs saying something like, you have to take care of your health because that’s one thing that you can’t hand down to your children. And also, the most expensive bed is a hospital bed. The bottom line is, don’t think of what you are leaving behind; iisipin mo ‘yung maiiwan mo sa mga anak mo.

Hajji: I’m a very private person and only those I have grown up with know everything about my life. One time, MMK (Maalaala Mo Kaya) wanted to dramatize my story but I begged off. I’m not perfect just like everybody else and I’d rather keep my mistakes to myself, and my ups and downs. I will never write a book about myself.

Rey: What I would reveal? That I am not perfect, na hindi ako perpektong tao, na hindi ako matinong lalaki, na palpak ako. I have accepted the reality that man is naturally monogamous in the sense that, you know, one at a time, hahahaha!

Marco: I will tell about my extra-curricular activities. There’s a lot about my life that the public doesn’t know.

(For tickets to The Best of OPM Hitmakers, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Star Media at 854-3300 or 901-4562.)

The cast of Hello Kitty Live — Fashion and Friends (from left): Bad Badtz-Maru, My Melody, Katrina Cleaver as Sophie, Hello Kitty, Pom Pom Purin and Mimmy

Five reasons why you should watch Hello Kitty Live

It’s less than a month before the Manila staging of Hello Kitty Live – Fashion and Friends and here are five reasons why you should watch the show.

1. It is the first musical which features the global icon Hello Kitty and her friends in the Sanrio family;

2. It will be the first time that her fans of all ages will hear her speak and get to know more about the persona of their most-loved cartoon character;

3. The show will feature an all-pop soundtrack which most of her fans are familiar with — songs by Bruno Mars, Kylie Minogue, Clean Bandit, Flo Rida, Charlie XCX, to name a few;

4. You get the chance to see the cast that includes My Melody, Mimmy, Dear Daniel, Bad Badtz-Maru and Hello Kitty in fashionable outfits designed by renowned Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand TokiDoki; and

5. The show promotes good core values such as respect, kindness, loyalty and friendship, which parents should teach and instill in the heart and mind of their children.

Hello Kitty Live is set to have 16 shows (with matinees) at the Meralco Theater from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1, 2017. The producers of the show seek to present Hello Kitty with a more modern image. While keeping the good core values, the production team intends to portray Hello Kitty as a contemporary girl, up-to-date and curious, in order to create an even stronger bond with her fans. The goal is reached by the choice of the vocabulary, polite but familiar to the young audience, and of the music.

Joining the iconic bobtail cat with a red ribbon on her head on stage are her best friend My Melody, boyfriend Dear Daniel, the troublemaker Bad Badtz-Maru, the easy-going Pom Pom Purin, her twin sister Mimmy, and Sophie, the narrator of the story who also creates the connection between the audience and the characters on stage. Hello Kitty’s parents are also making a virtual appearance in the show.

You can also have your photo with the cast after each show when you avail of the Red Bow pass at the venue of the show. (Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets or call 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph. Hello Kitty Live – Fashion & Friends is made possible by Zen Tiger Live and Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc., with Philippine STAR as one of the media partners.)

Federico Moreno and his late dad, German ‘Kuya Germs’ Moreno

Federico continues Dad Kuya Germs’ Walk of Fame legacy

Anchored on its vision to give importance to the people who made their mark in the entertainment industry, the annual Walk of Fame that was previously spearheaded by the late Master Showman German “Kuya Germs” Moreno is now under a new leadership.

The late icon’s son Federico Moreno is determined to continue what his father has started and decided to form a Board of Trustees for its induction this year. The Board, which is headed by Federico himself as president, promotes this year’s Walk of Fame with the addition of new categories such as Theatre and News and Public Affairs.

According to Federico, the inductees are not limited to being an icon, but rather representing their significance in the industry.

“To be inducted in the Walk of Fame, you have really reached that epitome of success wherein it’s not about the length of you being in showbiz, but how you made an impact on the industry,” he explained.

The event will be held today in Eastwood City, with Jackie Lou Blanco and John Nite as its hosts.

“The Walk of Fame Foundation is one of the best contributions my family and the close friends of my father can offer to the Philippine Entertainment Industry. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are deeply honored to continue his notable cause,” Federico added.

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