MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando with wife Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando and special guests during the recent launch of the book ‘The Will to Change: Marikina and Its Innovations’ at the Ayala Museum in Makati City.

Long before he joined GMA-7’s reality-TV show “Celebrity Duets,” MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando has already ingrained in his system the passion for singing. In fact, while in college he already took to the microphone to sing his heart out during drinking sessions with his school buddies.

But the difference between him and his friends was that while they drank more than they sang, BF sang more than he drank. “Hindi pa uso ang karaoke noon, piano o guitar lang accompaniment pero kanta lang ako ng kanta habang naglalasingan mga kaibigan ko. So I think singing saved my life because some of my drinking buddies are already dead while I am still very much alive. I’m happy that I’m still strong...”

Although he can sing well (the public came to realize this fact when BF joined the other “tenors,” Sec. Angelo Reyes and former DILG Sec. and Manila Hotel Pres. Joey Lina in various fundraising concerts), it never crossed BF’s mind to embark on a singing career. It was politics and public service which got the better of him, and became his calling.

It was his love for singing though that prompted him to join “Celebrity Duets” and looking back now, BF says he felt so lucky to have won over his fellow contenders Joey Marquez, Cory Quirino, Melanie Marquez, Carlene Aguilar, JC Buendia, JL Yang and Phil Younghusband. It was however the beneficiaries of his prize money who are the luckiest, his favorite charities, Caritas-Manila and the Child Haus Center for Health Improvement and Life Development, a shelter for pediatric patients from the provinces. The Child Haus Center was chosen through the recommendation of the Ricky Reyes Foundation.

Although he admitted that he gained tremendous media mileage from his participation in “Celebrity Duets,” Chairman Fernando denies that he did it to advance his political career. However, it was something he will never regret getting into, because he realized once more that music indeed is a very potent and effective medium that he vows that if his singing would promote his advocacies, he would gladly find time for it.

BF marks a milestone

Chairman Fernando, who is also the over-all chair of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival that is held every December, celebrated recently his birth anniversary with several parties, one of which was held at the Manila Ocean Park. Mayor Marides said that was the only place they could get at that time that was big enough to accommodate their guests, among them BF’s political leaders from the provinces, and national officials.

Among the chairman’s wellwishers were former First Lady Imelda Marcos and Vice President Noli de Castro. There was a musical program that entertained the guests. A tour of Manila Ocean Park was also availed of by the guests.

BF running for president

Chairman Fernando has confirmed it in various occasions, his intention to seek the highest position of the land. And so people would be seeing him on stage not only to deliver his platform of government (if elected) but also to sing his favorite songs to entertain his audiences.

By the way, the City Government of Marikina, led by Mayor Marides recently launched “The Will to Change: Marikina and Its Innovations” at the Ayala Museum in Makati City. Written by Dennis Gonzales, Carl Javier, Rufo Mendoza and Anna Felicia Sanchez of the Ateneo School of Government, the book features Marikina’s best practices in local governance and public management.

In her statement, Mayor Fernando said she hopes the book will “motivate leaders to pursue transformational governance, as well as inspire Filipinos to have an incisive perspective on community and nation building, of which responsible citizens is a critical component.”

Among those who graced the event were MMDA Chairman BF, Marikina Rep. Marcy Teodoro, Vice Mayor Marion Andres and key personalities from the business, education, public and non-government sectors, including Klaus Preschle, country representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation.

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Famous director,  a ballet dancer!

Yes, many don’t know it but popular and sought-after director/musical director Al Quinn was once a ballet dancer and he’s proud of it because it paved the way for his getting into the movies and television.

Al even formed a group called Shirley & the Moderners (with Shirley Santos and himself and two others), the very first jazz dance group in the country. They performed at the Manila Grand Opera House. Among those who were impressed by the group’s performances were Dolphy and Pancho Magalona with whom he developed close friendship through the years. The group also performed in the show “Friday Variety Show” directed by Ted Yabut and shown on the first Channel 7 at the Republic Supermarket in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Later, Pancho asked the group to appear in his Sampaguita movie “Maria Went to Town” with her loveteam mate Tita Duran who became his wife. After this movie, Pancho moved over to Premiere Productions where he starred in a comedy-musical for which he asked Al to do the choreography. Al’s group also did the dance numbers. All in all, Al choreographed six Pancho Magalona musical-comedy movies.

Al was born Alcuin Pastrano and it was Pancho’s suggestion that they changed his name to Al Quinn. Pancho and Al became the best of friends, and Al recalled that they later found out they are distant relatives.

With Dolphy, Al directed three comedy films and choreographed his musical-drama movies like “The Good Father” which starred Dolphy with Boots Anson-Roa and all his children. Al also directed three movies under Lea Productions, two of which starred Vilma Santos and Romeo Vasquez. Al also worked under such noted movie directors at the time, Felicing Constantino and Natoy Katindig.

In between, Al did choreography jobs for the Manila Grand Opera House as he was taken by Lou Salvador, Sr. as the venue’s official choreographer. It was during this time that he met Ramon Zamora and Jun Aristorenas, among others, who became his dancers.

After directing and choreographing for movies, Al went on to direct musical TV shows, most notably Carmen Soriano’s “For Men Only” shown on Channel 5 when the network was bought by Edward Tan.

The latter became “Carmen on Camera,” then “Carmen in Color” when TV went color (this was shown on Channel 9).

Mutya Ng Pilipinas ’09

By the way, Al is once more directing the Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant which will be held tonight in Baler under the sponsorship of Aurora Province. Aurora Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo proudly announced that she is bringing the prestigious beauty competition to the world stage as it will be telecast in all of the various continents (North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific) via The Filipino Channel. (TFC) from August to September.

The pre-pageant will be shown on TV5 tomorrow (Aug. 10), and the gala night on Aug. 16, also on TV5.

Al is also the director of the annual Bb. Pilipinas Beauty Pageant.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Aug. 9, go to Philippine Veterans Bank Pres. and CEO Ricardo A. Balbido Jr., Dona Nena Oreta, Pocholo Romualdez, Chit Montenegro, Philip Mangawang, Tweetums Gonzalez, Atty. Arturo del Rosario, Firmo Liwanag, Tess Rigonan-Teo, Mrs. Puring Aquino, Alex Cobarrubias, Mila Parawan and Director Bong Quintana of Backroom, Inc...