It’s been wall-to -wall schedules recently. During the past seven days, we actually did 5 concerts, one with Sharon in Araneta, one with Pops in Shangrila Makati, and three solo APO shows; Valentines at Bellevue, a concert in Zamboangga the three nights ago and two nights ago at the Irwin Theater in Ateneo. I am bone tired! I haven’t worked this hard in quite a while. It’s a miracle I have not lost my voice although I am developing a mild cough. I still have the Sharon Cuneta show on TV monday night but that should be easy with just one song to do.
If I sound like I’m complaining, actually, I am not at all. I am so happy to be doing this since APO is such a joyful activity expecially when we have a live band (which has been the case except for Zamboanga). I have three more out-of-town concerts to do the next two weeks. Man, been at this for 38 years. I’m gonna rock till I can’t rock no more!!! ha ha
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I got lots of texts and even a few comments on my blog about my surprise appearance in Maalaala Mo Kaya, the drama show of ABS-CBN. I played an older Piolo Pascual and in the program I get to marry a childhood aquaintance who has had a crush on Piolo’s character for years. It was one of those showbiz offers I ordinarily turn down since I am not comfortable acting, but what the hell, I’m getting old and I wanna try all these things that come my way from time to time and say yes this time around. I always consider the possibility that things I refuse may actually be loads of fun, and guess what? Most of the time they really are! Ha ha. I thought I was so awkward while I was doing it but it turned out OK (I think). It was supposed to be a kissing scene since we were lovers and were seeing each other for the first time in ages but alas–my leading lady was too shy. So it became a hugging scene instead.
Hmm.. I would not mind doing more of this. It’IS fun pala.
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My sister Babsy is currently in Manila to attend a class reunion–her 50th anniversary with St. Scholastica! It’s been a blast for her ever since she got here about a week ago. But nothing beat the small siblings’ reunion we had yesterday at my brother Gabby and Marianne’s place. We had a great time singing, laughing, and just plain monkeying around the way we used to many years back when I was still a kid below ten years old.
We are a big family of 10 kids and I am the 9th. Yesterday afternoon we sang a lot of the songs that I heard while growing up in this wonderful family I belong to. We are loud, bossy, noisy, and outrageous when we are all together (most of us are like that too individually, ha ha) and our boisterous laughter and gleeful screaming can be heard till about 5 houses away. Yesterday was no exception.
Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been like if I was born to another set of parents. I will never know. But what I do know is I am so thankful to be the son of Jesus and Ester, and the sibling of Jesse, Ducky, Babsy, Tictac, Aping, Meiling, Gabby, Lory, and Raffy!! We weren’t even complete yesterday and already it was so unbelievably fun. The last time all sibs were present was some 10 years ago. I wonder if we will all ever be together again in this lifetime?
Our family is an old one with many stories to tell. I know of some sibs in some families who do not enjoy or even get along with each other. We have had our tampuhans but we always manage to move forward. I am happy that my children have all this to enjoy. Family backgrounds are two of the important poles of the tent we pitch and live in in our lifetime. I am glad ours on both side of my parents are colorful and solid ones!
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Do you realise that last week was one of those important time periods that had triple significance? For one, it was the start of Valentine week, and we all know how big that is in our country. I’m sure all of us expected some romance or at least to be romanced.
It was also the start of the election campaign season. I guess, it is realistic to expect to be screwed based on the quality of our politics.
Lastly, Saturday was the onset of the Chinese New Year of the Pig. I guess that sort of sets the tone for things to come.
Babuyan na nga talaga! ha ha!
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Working on music must always have been a joy to you, so it’s not really work is it? Oh I miss Valentine season in Manila! There are so many music events I could go crazy! Oh and that love-a-palooza thing was featured in the paper here in Sydney too. Pretty cool.
Fun to hear you did a surprise appearance you made in MMK. I’ve never seen you act! Maybe I ought to? You think? Hehe.
Hapi Taon ng Baboy!
pen–Music is a joy to me even if I work hard at it. At the same time, I can say that I have never ‘worked’ a day in my life if what one makes money of is supposed to be hard and unpleasant.
You’ve been with the local music industry for so long that you’re practically an institution already. My mom hates it when I say this sort of thing to her so don’t take offense in it, but since birth, I’ve known you as Jim of APO. If I were in your MMK leading lady’s place, I would be REALLY intimidated to do a kissing scene with you. Heh. Who was she, by the way?
Oh, will APO have another NYC concert anytime soon? 🙂 And yes, please do rock til you can’t rock anymore.. hell, even then, keep on rockin’! Haha!
Hi Jim 🙂
I know that MMK episode was already aired some time ago but I did not watch it coz I did not really like the actor but my friend told me that you’re on it so I decided to watch. I was waiting for you to appear since the first scene lolz ( I had no idea about your role) Anyway it was really good and it’s nice to see you again on TV doing something like that since PDA.
Your leading lady….the Ms.International…I’ve heard she turned down a movie or a kissing scene because she’s pretty conservative 🙂 Pero maganda yung kinalabasan ng hugging scene.
More power!
Hi Sir! being currently in the middle of a family feud, this line fr. your post really striked me…
“Family backgrounds are two of the important poles of the tent we pitch and live in in our lifetime.”
so true! =)
abt. the MMK epi, i’ve watched it but hindi ko kayo namukhaan! =( i love the storyline and i managed to finish it, maybe i was just too drowsy to recognize you. =) more power!
Hi Jim,
Sayang! Did not catch the MMK
episode.
Just wondering, You haven’t had any
kissing scene before?
Sir Jim.
Saw your pictures.. “Amazing!”
How did you manage to take those nude pictures.. Ang galeng!
Was there a time you get aroused
when taking those pix?
I saw that MMK episode and I was really surprised to see you there. You did well 🙂
I still have a hangover with your pre-valentine concert here in Bacolod and I’m still begging my friend to give me a copy of the whole concert. We really had a great time that night. We hope to see you again here next year and I hope to hear you sing Dobidoo live next time. I was waiting for it, too bad it wasn’t included in your list of songs that night.
Yeah!! Keep rocking sir Jim! Can’t wait to see you here in Cagayan de Oro City 😀 Just would like to let you know that most people here are looking forward to the great APO concert. I’d say it’s the most awaited concert of the month. My friendst and I put off going to the other concerts because we’re saving for the front seat in APO concert!! *lol
It’s going to be a bash I’m sure. Your songs are being played everywhere.. not the remakes.. but your originals 😀
Few more sleeps and you’re here!! teeehee!
eetsie–see you in CDO. It will be good!!!
mlelymls–Bacvolod was fun!! We will be back in the future. APO is forever. heh heh.
anonymous–Do I get aroused when taking nudes? Not really–I am too technical when shooting. I get excited about the lighting and am mesmerized by the beauty before me. The pressure to take good pictures is not a turn on. Maybe if I was nude while taking it… ha ha.
Joey–we will be in Atlantic City yata by May 3. Check the apo sched nalang sa apohikingsociety.org
vernaloo–salamat.
skulgrltrx–I hope you get over your family feud.
anonymous–nope. never did a kissing scene before.
Heyya Jim, was on holiday back in Philz recently, saw ur show at Bellvue, you guys rocked!! The “Quadruples For Christ” joke still has me laughing (I’m in SFC myself).
And man…10 kids in ur family?? That’s alot!! But it’s awesome to hear that even after all this time, you’re all still close!
carl– glad you were there that night. that was a lot of fun for us as well.
passed by through links of links.
🙂
see you in Virginia
Hi Jim,
I am also the 9th child–but you beat our family by one. It is nice to see families get along because all too often the stereo-typically dysfunctional families get all the air time.
I met you in 1973. We were at a family friends’ beach house (Maligaya Beach, Batangas). You dropped by one evening with your guitar (with D.Javier I believe)–and sang songs until late that night. I was pleased that my mother let me stay up (I was 7)
That picture you put of your siblings, reminds me of myself and my own siblings. It warms my heart.
Glad to see that you are well.
Best,
C.S.B.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hi Jim, great pics of your family. When you get a chance to come to Hawaii, give me a call. Mahalo. Don
I see alot of resemblance in your family photo. I can imagine all the roaring laughs.
I’ll try to catch that MMK at You Tube.
And the analogy on the 3 events….big laughs on that!!!
panahon na naman ng eleksyon. hindi lang babuyan, buwayahan, kapit tuko at balimbingan.
ang mga politiko sa atin tulad ng hunyango (chameleon) papalit-palit ng kulay para makapanila ng mga biktima.
Hello po Sir Jim,
Bago pa lang po ako sa pag gawa ng blog ko at may nagbigay po sa akin ng link nyo. Im so glad na mabasa yung magagandang article nyo. very inspiring.
Regarding sa pagkanta. I also love to sing. Sa totoo lang po I really love your songs. Nakaka relax na nakaka inspire at lahat na.. sarap pakinggan kahit paulit ulit. Keep doing songs for your fans sir. Sana maituloy ko din yung career ko sa pagkanta kasi ngayon sobrang stressful ang life ko. hehe. Sayang di ko napanood ung MMK epi nyo.. kasi wala kaming TV. hahaha. So sad.
Belated happy puso na rin po!
Hi sir jim ulit. hehe. when can you come here in Dubai for a show? it would be nice if you can go here! We are waiting for you. God bless
Well, Family Feud is actually a classic game that traces back wayback in the 80’s i guess. It is a nice game anyway.”~:
“Family Feud” was a great game show in the old days, now we have “who wants to be a millionaire””*.