Boholano icons in heaven

So many Boholanos icons have been leaving us that there appears to be a “traffic jam” as far as tributes to the dear departed in the community are concerned.

Can you imagine having the best pool of talents there — made up of great Boholano artists who have all gone ahead of us?

Since there’s only happiness in heaven, and, Boholanos like tapuk-tapok, they can organize a show.  Bohol’s most illustrious son Carlos P. Garcia can be the over-all chairman of the Boholano gathering in heaven. He can name it Tigum Bol-anon sa Langit.

Victoriano D. Tirol, Sr. and Cecilio Putong can host the gathering. For the intermission, what about a vaudeville production number from Pinay? Since Yoyoy Villame is also there, give him a song-and-dance number since he’s good at both. And Karyapa and Inday Potenciana? They’ll make the event more memorable of their poems and songs.

If they wish to make a drama, Justino Romea can direct it. They will hear the love song Ako Kang Paabuton, the folk song Sa Daplin sa Baybayon as well as most of the songs featured in the annual 'drama' presentations in his native Napo, Loon, for which he served as writer, director and musical arranger. Justino’s father Berrnado “Leon,” can help write the script or direct.

Carlos Garcia and Cloviz Nazareno can read their poems.

What about a dance number in heaven? Oscar Real can be there, along with beauty queen Marecor Recio-Boligao. Linoi Almirol can provide gowns for the show.

Do they make movie in heaven? They can since the empress of drama is already there: Rebecca del Rio, the first Filipina to win the Asia’s Best Supporting Actress.

Oh, surely they would need media coverage. Bohol’s dean of journalists Atty. Zoilo Dejaresco can take care of that — with wife Charing.

Francisco Dagohoy, Tamblot, Datu Si Katuna, Anoy Datahan, Vicente T. Cubero a.k.a. Captain Francisco Salazar, Alberto Cainglet, Tomas Cloma, Myla Miravillosa, and Vicente Nunag can be the sergeant at arms during the program.

Other Boholano luminaries who attend the tapuk-tapok are Celestino Gallares, Macario Sarmiento, Fernando Rocha, Eutiquio Boyles, Filomeno Caseñas, Agapito Hontanosas, Conrado Marapao, Perfecto Balili, Jacinto Borja, Juan Pajo, Esteban Bernido, Lino Chatto, Esteban Bernido, Venice Borja-Agana, Pio Castro, Simeon Toribio, Nino Ramirez, Honorio Grupo, Don Aniceto Clarin, Simplicio Apalisok, Venancio Inting, Pedro Belderol, Genaro Visarra, Alfonso Uy, Salustiano Borja, Anecito Clarin, Olegario Clarin, Jacinto Borja, Claudio Gallares, Juan Torralba, Miguel Parras, Jacinto Remolador, Gregorio Peñaflor, Timoteo Butalid, Andres Torralba, Mariano Capayas, Socorro Tallo, Antonio Ong Guat, et al.
Carolina Alvarez and Iluminada Tirol can prepare sumptuous meal. Osang, Bohol’s Broa Queen can prepare refreshment, too.

This is just a thought.

As Abraham Joshua Heschel taught, “death is the end of doing, not the end of being”. As we troop to the cemeteries, we can reflect on how our memory of those who have died is shaped by our ongoing experience and the experience of the particular holiday.

Thank you, Jose Mari Chan

The next night, my friends and I were at the Panglao Island Nature Resort for a nostalgic date with Jose Mari Chan’s “Constant Care” for the Inyong Alagad of dyRD, Bohol’s first radio which turns 50.

Jose Mari Chan, already into his 60s, looked young and sounded almost like the way he did during his heyday years ago.

His Bohol show featured all the songs Boholanos have learned to cherish through the years, like the classic hits Beautiful Girl, Constant Change, Please Be Careful With My Heart, Can’t We Start Over Again, and others.

Good show, Jose Mari Chan!

His illustrious four-decade career has made him a musical legend. With over 100 hits for the past 52 years Chan’s reputation as a hit-maker is firmly etched in the hearts of music lovers in the country.

“Nainlove ko balik,” said a 50-something mother who was seated beside us, “Idol jud nako siya!”

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