GERALD SANTOS SECURE BENEATH THE WINGS OF A HARDWORKING MENTOR

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)

 

From my blog “ Manila Showbiz & Lifestyle” farmed out in different versions to www: pmpcstarnews.com, Pilipino Mirror, Remate Online, Scandal, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update, etc.

 

Some years ago, napakilala sa amin formally ng ex-prexy ng PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club) who is now on his second term as prexy for the same movie press club Roldan Castro ang tinaguriang Prince of Ballad na si Gerald Santos at pati na ang kanyang hardworking, unwavering manager/mentor rolled into one  na si Doctor Rommel Ramilo.

       If Dok Rommel is not the “wind beneath” Gerald Santos’s wings which to us in a manner of speaking is,  ewan lang kung ano dapat ang itawag natin kay Dok sa kanyang paghihirap mapapalipad lang nang todo ang pakpak ni Gerald sa rurok ng tagumpay.

       In any case, it was in an exotic steakhouse sa Timog kung saan nagkaroon kami ng eyeball-eyeball- disclosures with one another tungkol sa struggle at journey ni Gerald together with some members of the movie press mostly from the PMPC.

       Doon napag-alaman namin na hindi pala walk in the park ang tinahak ni Gerald Santos pagkatapos niyang maging   Grand Champion ng GMA’s Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 2, 2006 hosted by Regine Velasquez coz muntik-muntikan na siyang ma-rape ng isang kilalang musical director at magtapos sana ito ng sexual molestation case kung hindi nagawan ng mga inampalan na i-black out na lamang ang malaking eskandalo.  

       Naka-moved on na si Gerald successfully  from the trauma and thank God despite the ups and downs along the way, sa walang patid na pagtulong sa kanya ng kanyang manager na si Doktor Rommel masasabing slowly but surely nasa-tamang direksyon ang  career path ni Gerald at sa tulong na rin ito ng kanyang mga loyalist fans, believers, sponsors, good friends and press friends including us ( i-write in ba ang sarili?), family friends both on the side of Dok Rommel’s  and Gerald’s as well.

       Nakita namin na cross-sectoral nga ang mga tagahanga ni Gerald sa latest grand launching niya ng kanyang third album billed  “GERALD SANTOS: THE PRINCE OF BALLAD” ng bagong record label na Prinstar Music Philippines and distributed by IVORY Music and Video, Inc.

Ang full album tracklisting nito ayon sa tagapamahala nito who is a good friend  Nanette Brillante include revivals of the famously  “Ikaw Lang,” “Paminsan-minsan,” “Hindi Magbabago,” “Maghintay Ka Lamang,” “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang Mahal Ko,” “Ikaw Lang (minus one),” at “Paminsan-minsan” (minus one).

Sa tingin namin hindi na virginal ang aura ni Gerald nung pinaunlakan niya ng ilang songs ang mga guests niya at kaya nga may kakaiba at makapal na dimensyon na ang dating ng boses niya sa amin.

       Non-exclusive contract artist sa ngayon si Gerald sa TV5. He has done two great music theaters  directed by another good friend Joey Nombres.

 Kinanta niya ang theme song para sa miniserye ng Superstar na si La Aunor ‘Sa Ngalan Ng Ina”. Gerald Santos was the personal choice of the Living Legend Sonny Jaworski to sing for him during the Big J’s jersey retirement at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum sa taong ito. Gerald’s rendition of Jaworski’s favorite “WINNERS” ( originally by Frank Sinatra ) brought the icon to tears and gave Gerald a standing ovation and warm congratulations.

       Gerald Santos has been reaping awards left and right on his way to the top, like the Star Awards for Music's Male Pop Artist of the Year  and ALIW Awards' Best Male Concert Performer, etc.

Personal witness kami sa stairway to heaven journey nilang dalawa ni Gerald at Dok Rommel  kahit ang ilan nito ay may halong roller-coaster ride. But who says the way to stardom is all  strewn with roses  yet?