AS REPORTED, pumanaw na si Jimboy Salazar nitong Biyernes (July 24) na nagpaunlak pa ng panayam sa Startalk less than 24 hours before he breathed his last.
All told, mas gusto naming sariwain ang maikli ngunit masasayang alaala namin of Jimboy, a bubbly soul whose singing voice made us his instant fan.
Late nineties ‘yon when then-Startalk co-writer Jobert Sucaldito tagged us along sa isang videoke bar on West Ave. kasama si Jimboy. First time kong mapakinggan si Jimboy who sang a Joanne Lorenzana song Kung Alam Mo Lang sa maliit na entablado.
A trying hard singer, since then ay isinama na namin sa aming repertoire ang awiting ‘yon even if it wasn’t actually a favorite singing piece.
Maraming taon ang lumipas. We had lost contact with Jimboy until Facebook came into vogue. Out of nowhere, he sent us a private message na kung maaari’y i-feature ng Startalk ang pag-a-out niya finally from his nutshell this time with his boyfriend John Danan.
What’s more, sa PM na ‘yon ni Jimboy sa amin niya ibinalita ang plano nilang magpakasal ni John, preferably on a beach kung saan he imagined himself clad in a white diwata outfit. Startalk did a feature on the would-be gay couple na na-inspire sa kasalang Aiza Seguerra-Liza Diño.
Early this year, however, naudlot ang nakatakda na sanang pagpapakasal ni Jimboy kay John due to their breakup. Next thing, Jimboy fell ill. Enough of wild speculations that led to his death.
To Jimboy, this writer sings a song of thanks for the short yet meaningful friendship.
Grand Kapuso Fans Day, matagumpay na na idinaos sa MOA
NOW ON its 65th year, it was GMA’s way of thanking its loyal viewers and supporters, without the latter the network would not have scaled greater heights in the broadcast industry.
Ang tinutukoy namin ay ang grand Kapuso Fans Day simply dubbed as Thank You, Kapuso na matagumpay na idinaos sa SM Mall of Asia Arena nitong Sunday. A day aptly reserved for family bonding, naging okasyon din ‘yon that the barkadas from all over Metro Manila—and perhaps mula sa iba’t ibang lalawigan—saw fit to spend their idle weekend on a grand occasion na para talaga sa kanila.
Hindi man masasabing 100% filled to the rafters ang venue, but the audience reception was both warm and intense.
Pinagsanib kasi sa three-hour na programang ‘yon ang lahat ng mga shows ng GMA, both in its news and public affairs and ETV.
Nagsilbing curtain raiser, ‘ika nga, ang mga haligi ng bulwagang pambalitaan ng GMA led by Mel Tiangco, kasama sina Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio, Vicky Morales, at Howie Severino—all clad in white tops. Swak ang kani-kanilang mga spiels na promo na rin ng kanilang mga respective shows.
Eager and curious sa kung ano pa ang mga pasabog sa fans day na ‘yon, we comfortably waited for the succeeding segments only to get a helluva treat ng mga show-stopping numbers. Para sa amin, isa sa mga most applauded was the twerk dance number of the Sunday All Stars regulars.
Alden Richards and Iya Villania ruled the stage.
Pardon our personal bias, but Alden—with his looks, talent and attitude—is Dingdong Dantes’s rightful successor bilang susunod na Primetime King ng GMA, and we bet our two cents’ worth!
Another expected scene stealer ay ang isang sikat na komedyana from GMA’s Let The Love Begin, dangan nga lang, we’ll see the “goose-bumpy” love end between Gabbi Garcia and Ruru Madrid. Bilang promo ng magtatapos nang soap, iniluwa ng entablado ang popular comedienne with her Madonna medley, and in minutes ay nag-transform siya in an alanganing-Santacruzan-outer space creature with the cast members.
Despite a few minor technical glitches, the show was a resounding success.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
