Rico, hindi malimutan ni Nonoy

Marami na ang excited na manood ng isa sa most anticipated events sa musical scene - ang The Greatest Hits...Just Once kung saan pinagsama-sama ng Viva Concerts sa isang gabi ang lima sa best balladeers ng bansa, sina Hajji Alejandro, Nonoy Zuñiga, Rico J. Puno, Rey Valera at Marco Sison na gaganapin sa August 2, 2003 sa Araneta Coliseum.

Ayon kay Nonoy, isa itong great honor and privilege to share the stage with Rico, Hajji, Marco and Rey.

Sabi ng singing doctor, sa apat, si Rico ang kino-consider niyang elder brother, their kuya. "Siya ang singer na responsible sa pagpo-promote ng original Pilipino music. He set a trend in music when he infused Pilipino lyrics in his version of "The Way We Were."

Buhay pa rin sa alaala ni Nonoy na isa si Rico sa nag-offer ng moral support sa kanya when he lost a leg sa isang bombing sa isang five-star hotel in Manila in the early 80s.

"I cannot forget one bit of advice he gave me. Use a cane and have it designed in different colors. It would be my trademark, like Freddie Aguilar’s hat and long hair. Rico always reminded me that it was not my voice that I lost. I appreciate his advice. It restored myself confidence," he recalls.

Isa sa mga biggest hits ni Nonoy ay ang classic na "Never Ever Say Goodbye."

Si Ding Bolaños ang concert director, musical director naman si Mel Villena at si Maribeth Bichara ang choreographer.

Ang ticket ay nagkakahalaga ng P1,200, P1,000 P750, P600, P250 at P100. Available na ito sa Araneta Ticketnet, 911-5555; SM Ticketnet Outlet or Viva Concerts, 687-5853/687-6181 loc 715 or 620 and 687-1125.

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Isang common friend daw nina Ciara Sotto and Claudine Barretto named Paulyn ang nag-react sa lumabas dito tungkol sa observation namin kina Claudine and Raymart Santiago sa party ni Ciara sa Dish last week.

"I read your column about Ciara Sotto’s birthday party. I am a friend of Ciara and Claudine. I read one part of your column about Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto and you were saying that "sobra makapulupot" si Claudine kay Raymart na "akala mong aagawin"...you know I was there at the party too."

Pero ayaw naman niyang sabihin ang real name niya. Basta ang feeling niya, exaggerated ang comment ko about Claudine and Raymart.

"I just want to make it clear to you, kung hindi mo nakita....but I was there and it’s just pretty sweet to see them together after all the storm that Claudine had been through...they are sweet, but let’s not give the readers a wrong impression and other meaning to it."

Okey lang Ms. Paulyn. Pero andoon din kami so, hindi lang ako ang nakapansin na sobrang sweet nila.

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Salve V. Asis’ e-mail [email protected]/psnbabytalk@hotmail. com