NO WONDER, N/A (hindi “Not Applicable” ang ibig sabihin) as in “Not Amazing” has really come out of Erik Santos’s career as a singer to think that he has a good voice to boot.
In all honesty, isa si Erik sa mga hinahangaan naming balladeer. Taglay kasi niya ang boses na malinis at pulido like a well-polished pair of shoes. Sana nga lang, he also slips into the shoes of grateful artists who owe their success to some people na naging daan sa kanilang career.
Ito ang maliwanag na walang-wala sa karakter ng mahusay pa manding si Erik: debt of gratitude. Sa wikang Tagalog, utang na loob.
In the recently concluded 4th Star Awards for Music, Erik went up the stage to receive a recognition. Pardon this writer’s episodic dementia, hindi namin maalala kung anong award ang tinanggap ni Erik nu’ng gabing ‘yon.
All that we remembered was his acceptance speech. Bumaha siyempre ng mga katagang “thank you” ang talumpating ‘yon ng balladeer patungkol sa ilang mga addressee that included his management office, the recording company that produced his album and certain people whom we knew from Adam and Eve.
There was a momentary pause. “Teka, sino pa nga ba?” Inakala naming babanggitin na ni Erik ang isang pinakamahalagang tao rin sa kanyang career, no less than Boy Abunda. Minsang naging bahagi si Erik ng Backroom, Inc. ni Kuya Boy.
More than a year ago, nagpasya si Erik to bolt the said artist agency. At the same time, nasagwaan ang press kay Erik for badmouthing Kuya Boy who then chose not to dignify the issue. Yet the proper time came, it was Kuya Boy’s turn to clear the air, ‘ika nga.
Sa aming pagkakaalam, the serious conversation that took place between Kuya Boy and Erik in private put an end to whatever feelings of animosity that they may have harboured against each other. At sa mga ganoong pagkakataon, business relationship may end pero hindi ang kanilang pinagsamahan.
Nang hindi banggitin ni Erik ang pangalan ni Boy Abunda, bingo! Ins-tantly, nawala ang aming paghanga sa mang-aawit na ito na hindi maru-nong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan.
Stiff neck? Selective amnesia? Sheer ingratitude? Which of these seemingly SWARD reasons kaya ang excuse ni Erik, Ah?
KANGAROOS AND koala bears are perhaps all that we know about Australia, but Aga Muhlach takes us to more revealing discoveries in the Land Down Under in the first anniversary celebration of TV5’s Pinoy Explorer.
Matutunghayan ang ikalawang bahagi ng PE ngayong Linggo, September 23, kung saan ang buong mag-anak ni Aga—that includes his wife Charlene Gonzales and twin children Atasha and Andres—engage in fun activities as they explore what Australia has to offer.
Kabilang sa mga ‘yon ay ang leisurely whale-watching and trekking to Blue Mountains via skyway and cable car. Ginalugad din ng mag-anak ang Jenolan Caves, ang sinasabing pinakamatandang kuweba sa buong mundo.
Nagsilbing tour guides ang mga anak nina Aga at Charlene. Pinagsaluhan din ng buong pamilya ang masayang pagpunta sa Chocolate Company with Charlene and Atasha making chocolates na nilantakan naman ng mag-ama.
Samantala, the previous period has seen TV5’s taking into its arms and under its wings ang mga aktor tulad ni Aga at ni Cesar Montano. Aga hosts Pinoy Explorer while Cesar is with the Artista Academy. Both are reportedly in the running for local posts in the 2013 elections: Aga as Congressman in CamSur, Cesar as Vice Mayor in Manila.
So, what happens now to these two programs na babakantehin ng mga political wannabes na ito once they file their COCs in October?
No “exploration,” no “matriculation”?
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
