Kate Torralba’s brush with Sting

I remember a famous line from the book The Alchemist, "If you want something badly the universe will conspire to make it happen," or something to that effect. This famous line has been studied for years: It is either the favorite saying of every optimist or just a piece of cattle poop for the pessimist. And where do I belong? I’m neutral. But there is one lucky individual for whom these wise words became reality.

Her name is Kate Torralba, and she is one of the country’s fast-rising fashion designers, and only 25 years old at that. Surprisingly, she’s one of the humblest and warmest people I’ve met – traits one hardly sees in most people these days. This sweet Cebu native took a breather from her hectic schedule in fashion to meet one of her music icons. She flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to watch Sting perform live.

For a number of us, Sting is just an artist who looks more like a daddy than a singer, thanks to his age. Though I listen to his music once in a while and find his songs soothing especially when I drive, he does not belong to my list of "The-artist-I-would-go-all-bonkers-for." Actually, when I got this assignment, I was a bit doubtful that I was going to find the topic a tad interesting. Surprisingly, I did.

Her story goes: It was through sheer luck that Kate was able to see Sting’s concert in Malaysia. She got a call saying she won the Sting contest organized by Channel V and Dream Satellite TV for the lucky subscriber and his/her buddy, to an all-expense-paid trip to Sting’s concert in Malaysia. The perfect contest for any TV addict who could bag a trip abroad just by watching TV.

But Kate won only by default since the original winner had some problems and could not make it. She got the call only a few days before the set departure. She said, "It just landed on my lap and I had to rush everything. I even had to go all the way to Quiapo to get an NBI clearance since I had to renew my passport." It was indeed a photo finish; her new passport came the day before her departure. Heaven must have been smiling at her at that time and such a prize could not have landed on a more deserving individual.

It was a good thing that Kate is a certified Sting fanatic. Actually, the term "fanatic" is an understatement when describing how much she adores the artist. Seeing Sting in the flesh was actually included in her "Things I want to do before I die" list. She told the story with a high surge of energy it could have put the Energizer bunny to shame. I stared at Kate, trying to absorb everything she was saying and at the same time envying her because I couldn’t recall a celebrity who could make me go nuts like that.

Kate was already so hyped up even on the plane ride to Malaysia; she was accompanied by two more winners from the Philippines, whom she now considers her two tita figures. The two ladies with her did not even know who Sting was. On the plane ride, thanks to some evangelizing by Kate, the two were already as hyped up as she was the moment the plane landed.

On the day of the concert, all this excitement and anticipation reached its peak. Kate bought tons of beauty products in a salon to give herself a free makeover just for the big night. It was all ready-set-go to the concert site a few miles from the city proper.

There was another notable moment that made her trip even more memorable and at the same time a bit bizarre – at least for us. A Malaysian executive from Star TV apologized for being late because she just had to catch the Bahasa-dubbed Pinoy teleserye, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas, of ABS-CBN. And this executive was just obsessed with Jericho Rosales – and yes, the word obsessed is quite an understatement when used to describe this lady-executive’s admiration for our Pinoy actor. She even has a collection of Jericho Rosales paraphernalia and she’s proud of it. It seems our teleseryes are quite hot abroad. The popularity has reached "F4-mania level."

Kate became bosom buddies with this lady executive, who was ecstatic upon learning that Kate was Filipino and even more ecstatic when Kate said she had seen the actor a couple of times. "I updated her with the latest tidbits on Jericho," she says with a laugh. In some ways the two were able to complement each other, even if the stars they admire are in entirely different galaxies. They are both into things that they really like and make them happy, extremely happy.

As the concert was about to start, she left the Jericho fan and finally did some screaming of her own. Just like a very typical Pinoy who gets starstruck upon seeing his idol – proper decorum was the last thing on Kate’s mind. Like kids in a candy store, Kate and her friend ran to the seats nearest the stage, shoving and ignoring the perplexed stares of the Malaysian VIPs. This was a dream. Her friend, being a musician, even got a guitar pick from one of Sting’s guitarists, Donnie Miller.

But there was another bonus, and it was not even included in the plan. For any Sting fan, what is more enthralling than seeing him live at a concert is seeing him backstage. Kate got lucky the second time around when a kind executive from Dream Satellite TV gave her his only gate pass to go backstage and see Sting – this was not part of the itinerary.

Their meeting lasted a few seconds, since Sting had to shake the hands of other people in the room. But for all it’s worth, it lasted an eternity for Kate. She was definitely blown away and the only words that she was able to cough up were, "Gift… wife." With a perplexed look, the singer accepted it gracefully. Kate was able to give Sting a present, though it was for his wife, considering she was not able to make a gift for Sting given such a short notice. It was a poncho and a bag which she designed herself, sort of showcasing Philippine fashion. Hand it to the Pinoy for being the weirdest but really thoughtful when they meet their celebrity idols.

I may never come across a star or celebrity that I will go all gaga for though it is nice to meet people who seem to reach the moon and Mars upon meeting their star idols – literary. No need to go out of your way to make them happy. Now, how do we make the lady executive meet Jericho?

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For those who are interested in Kate Torralba’s works, you can reach her via e-mail at kt_fashionista@yahoo.com.

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E-mail the author at ketsupluis@gmail.com or ketsupluis@hotmail.com.