I went to the (40th) Star Awards for the first time on July 21, a Sunday evening, at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater in Ateneo de Manila to accept an award on behalf of a good friend and my long-time
Tempo columnist, Ronald K. Constantino. 

Ronald is the first recipient of the Ethel Ramos Dean’s Lister Award, an award named after another close friend who passed on in 2023, Ms. Ethelwolda A. Ramos, movie columnist-talent manager. The fact that I was going to honor the two of them in one shot made it easy for me to say yes to Philippine Movie Press Club president Rodel Fernando upon the request of Ronald. Ethel and Ronald are two institutions in entertainment journalism.

On the way up stage, I was flattered that Sen. Bong Revilla and his wife, Rep. Lani Mercado, rose to greet me. Briefly, I mentioned the names of Ethel and Ronald, both also very close to them. On stage to meet me were PMPC officers led by Rodel Fernando, together with Farrah Ramos Moro, Ethel’s niece and daughter to another colleague, my former Tempo columnist Chit Ramos. I was to sit with Chit for a few moments later where she inquired about Ronald, who is homebound.

Backstage, I had an opportunity to take a picture with the superstar and National Artist, Nora Aunor, who was to be named Best Actress for Pieta moments later. She figured in a triple tie with Vilma Santos (When I Met You in Tokyo) and Maricel Soriano (In His Mother’s Eyes). Alas, Fernan de Guzman, who kindly took our picture, didn’t quite catch my entire face in the quick shot. I am now afraid to use it.

By the way, pandemonium broke when Nora entered the theatre during the middle part of the program, which had to be halted. Most everyone rose to acknowledge the superstar. Maricris Valdez wrote on Facebook that when Nora arrived, it seemed like people saw an apparition.

xxx

PASSERBY:

Award-winning public affairs show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) emerged as the number 1 TV program for the first half of 2024.

Based on Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data from January to June 2024, the magazine show hosted by Jessica Soho bested all other TV programs, securing the top spot in Total Philippines (combined Urban and Rural) with a combined GMA/GTV/Pinoy Hits people rating of 14.6 percent.

Former MB staff writer Yugel Losorata has closed a deal with Random Penguin House, which is publishing a new book of his, And For The Record. The book will be out in October, not just in the Philippines but also in other parts, like Malaysia and Singapore.

Here are a few words I wrote on Yugel’s breakout project: Let Yugel Losorata hold your hand in a guided tour of the Philippine music scene in this book chronicling the highs and lows of his years as a
music journalist and band player-composer. What a rare, smashing combination.

This book makes for easy listening to music lovers, and not just for fans who love to rock and swear to roll.