Fresh from a successful operation, I was expecting a calm and collected Rico in recuperation when I met with him recently. But surprisingly, the singer-politician was like this battery bunny in telling jokes left and right.
The author with (from left) Rico J. Punto and Marissa Sanchez
(Photo by Renz Mar Velasco)
“I want to celebrate life! I have a new pacemaker! I will never have arrhythmia ever again!” he declared.
According to medical dictionaries, arrythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. A pacemaker is a small device placed in the chest to help control abnormal heart rhythmics.
Three years ago, Rico underwent open heart surgery. Last December, he had successful angioplasty operation (a surgical repair by unblocking a blood vessel).
With a new pacemaker in place since last week, the concert performer gets a clean bill of health.
“I will never experience fatigue anymore during shows,” Rico said then pointing to his girlfriend, Queen Natividad, who is half his age. “And most especially, I can keep up with that woman!”
Queen just laughed off the comment and continued to fix his things. I remember thinking she looked so different from the Queen I met eight years ago in Singapore when she was just 22 years old.
“I will take care of myself once Rico is fully recuperated in three days,” she told me. “The eyebags are courtesy of the sleepness nights in the hospital making sure his pacemaker operation was going to be successful. Once he is 100 percent okay, then you will see the Queen you used to see before. ” Now that’s true love!
In his coming comedy concert “Music And Laughter (Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko),” Rico wishes to have three hearts – one for Marissa Sanchez, one for me, and one physical brand new heart for himself without a pacemaker. The show is the second in a series produced by Grand Leisure Corporation. Marissa and I are the guest performers.
The narrative of the concert is about this happily married man who exchanges his wife for a mistress after which things go crazy.
Looking at the concert line-up and picture, between me and comedienne-singer Marissa Sanchez, who do you think is the wife and who is the other woman? Save your guesses and watch the show at The Theatre at Solaire on Nov. 23.