18 | February | 2007 | Writing on Air by Jim Paredes

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.