Can you imagine what "fun" was when you didn’t have Internet, mobile devices and techy music players? The ’80s was all about partying... hard partying, that is.

Irishman John Robinson recalls working behind the dance floors in the mid-’80s: "I very much miss working in Manila… it has always been (and remains) like a second home to me," he admits.

John has two kids with his Filipino wife. In the US, clubs have to be empty by 2 a.m., which means the music had to stop at some point between 1:30 and 1:45 a.m. It is naturally harder to build momentum when you’re limited by time."

He adds, "The other major thing is that you don’t get the peaks in the US. When you have the luxury of time, you can bring the crowd right up to a crescendo, bring them down and still have time to bring them right back again."

John rose to fame doing gigs in Vilma Santos’ popular show aired lived from the The Met (Metropolitan Theater). It wasn’t long before he began rubbing elbows with the entertainment icons.

Then, there’s the network of friends he gained from his Rumors and Jealousy gigs. John thanks Facebook and other social networking sites for making him feel that neither time nor distance can bring them apart.

"Everyday I confirm friend requests from people who used to go to my gigs in the Philippines and Japan," he relates.

But what does John think of another huge ’80s party in Manila where the same crowd (a bit older now) would hit the floors?

"There’s a lot of interest in the ’80s and I’ll bet quite a few younger people would want to come along to experience what things used to be like. During those days at Rumors disco (the defunct Makati disco where some people went just to be seen), we didn’t run for the bar when the first bead of sweat appeared on our brows. You wouldn’t dare as you’d lose your space on the dance floor."

Get more information on John’s retro gigs at www.advocacyconcert.com.

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NKOTBSB At MOA Arena Tonight

The anticipated supergig featuring legendary boy bands New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys (collectively initialized as NKOTBSB) will happen tonight at 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

New Kids on the Block (also initialized as NKOTB) will perform the chart-topping hits it has popularized since it started as a boy band in Boston in 1984, such as "Hangin’ Tough," "You’ve Got It (The Right Stuff)," "I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)," "Cover Girl," "Step By Step," and many more.

The Backstreet Boys (BSB) is an American vocal group formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida and which rose to fame on account of its self-titled debut international album (1996), its second international album, "Backstreet’s Back" (1997) and its debut album in the US.

("NKOTBSB Live In Manila!" is presented by Ovation Productions in association with RJ 100 FM, The Rockwell Club and Edsa Shangri-La Manila. It is also supported by the Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Mellow 94.7, Home Radio 97.9, MYX, ABS-CBN and Optima Signsolutions.)

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TV5 Claims MTRCB Abused Discretion

Following is a statement TV5 sent regarding MTRCB’s decisions against the Tulfo brothers’ controversial "T3" episode where reported "threats" were made against Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto after the couple’s airport scuffle against Mon Tulfo:

"TV5 regrets the decision of the MTRCB and views it as an act in excess of its jurisdiction. At this point, TV5 will turn to the Court of Appeals and seek judgment in its pending petition to enjoin the MTRCB from further enforcing the sanctions until a definitive ruling is made on the issue of grave abuse of discretion committed by the Censorship Board."

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 3, go to New York-based actress Lorlie Villanueva, Tessie Capulong, Elmet Labella, Matilde A. Banaag, and Oliver Gorospe Palma, son of Alfredo V. Palma and Marlette Gorospe, who turns one year… Happy wedding anniversary to Stephen Sea and Sarah Brodett…