RICO J. PUNO, GONE BUT IRREPLACEABLE

IN one of the evenings during the late Rico J. Puno’s wake, the Music Icon’s wife Doris introduced me to   producer, Ms. EBJavier, of what could be Rico’s next concert to be held on November 23 at Solaire with Giselle Sanchez and Marissa Sanchez dubbed Songs and Laughter (Sana Tatlo ang Puso Ko).

During our conversation, Ms. Javier mentioned that the concert was conceptualized by Rico J, the flow of the script, everything was his idea. And now that Rico is gone, she did not hesitate to tell Tosca, the eldest daughter who is supposedly one of the performers, to cancel the show. Who could replace him when she herself knows that there is no one.

But according to her, Tosca said it would be a waste because it was her Papa’s concept. So Ms. Javier asked me, who do you think could take over Rico’s role?

Hindi namin pareho binanggit ang salitang “replace” dahil wala naman talaga na puwedeng mag-replace sa nag-iisang Music Icon at Total Entertainer ng bansa.

Nag-isip kaming puwede pero wala. We just had an exchange of cards and words “let’s get in touch.”

Wala naman talagang puwedeng pumalit because Rico J. Puno, the OPM King, Music Icon, Total Entertainer is irreplaceable.

THE TRIBUTE 

On the last night of Rico’s wake, November 7, Wednesday, a successful tribute was held at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish on McKinley, Forbes Park at 8PM, where his contemporary singers-artists rendered Rico’s timeless hits interspersed in a solemn mass.

Naunang naghandog ng kanilang awitin ang apat na laging kasama ni Rico sa concerts both local and abroad, ang Hitmakers na sina Nonoy Zuniga, Marco Sison, Hajji Alejandro at Rey Valera. They sang Kapalaran at inilantad nila sa kanilang eulogy ang mga biro sa bawat isa sa kanila ni Rico J.

Say ni Marco, pina­yuhan daw siya ni Rico na huwag laging nakapikit ‘pag umaawit kasi baka pagdilat ng mata niya, wala na ang kanyang audience. As a balladeer, na­ging habit kasi ni Marco na nakapikit habang kumakanta, para damang-dama niya ang kanyang musika.

Rey, Nonoy and Hajji also spoke of  the memorable punchlines Rico had each of them. At aminin man o hindi, through the years that they had always been together in many shows, marami na rin silang jokes ni Rico na ginagamit on stage. Kumbaga, na-adapt na nila ang vibe na dala ni Rico sa stage.

Ogie Alcasid sang Buhat in the offertory, while Rita Daniela sang The Lord’s Prayer; Martin Nievera rendered The Way We Were and You and I;  and the Meditation song Ang Tao’y Marupok was rendered by the three female hitmakers of the late 70s till the 80s—Imelda Papin, Claire dela Fuente and Eva Eugenio, ang kanyang kapanabayan noong late 70s and 80s.

Claire even recalled na sa isang singing engagement nila noon, dumating si Rico na naka-stretcher talaga at saka naka-oxygen! Ganun daw ka-dedicated si Rico sa trabaho, na tulad ng sabi ng kanyang kapatid na si Jun sa kanyang eulogy, si Rico ay hindi tumatanggi sa trabaho, kung puwede pagbigyan lahat.

Three weeks before Rico passed away, tumawag daw ito kay Claire para lang ibalitang magaling na siya at hindi na kailangan pa ng oxygen support.

Nagpapasalamat daw silang tatlo kay Rico dahil isa ito sa nagbigay sa kanila ng break sa music scene. Nagpatunay sila—Claire, Imelda, at Eva kung gaano katindi ang pagmamahal ni Rico J sa trabaho.

Kumanta rin during the mass sina Angeline Quinto ng Lupa, at Erik Santos ng Panunumpa.

Madamdamin ang inawit ng batikang singer na si Dulce sa kanyang bersiyon ng original song ni Rico na “Diyos Ang Pag-ibig.” Nababagay ito sa singer-actor, na hanggang sa huli ay inialay ang talento sa pagkanta para sa Diyos.

Sa isang bahagi ng ly­rics, “Patnubay niya’y ating hilingin, Ngayon, magpahanggang libing.”

Isang pambihirang pagkakataon din ang pagsasama ng apat na OPM singers na sina Richard Reynoso, Rannie Raymundo, Renz Verano, at Chad Borja.

Mahigit sa sampung minuto ang kanilang medley ng “Kapantay ay Langit,” “Sana’y Maghintay Ang Walang Hanggan,” “Kahit Ikay’ Panaginip Lang,” “Mahawi Man ang Ulap,” at “Ikaw.” Talagang performance level.

Rico’s other friend in the industry, ang sinundan ng kanyang pagiging Aliw Entertainer of Year na si Pilita Corrales also rendered her endearing song A Million Thanks To You.

EULOGIES

Giselle Sanchez acted as emcee after the mass and called on Rico’s friends and relatives for their eulogies.

Ang bumasag ng pormal na proceedings ay ang eulogy ni Bibeth Orteza na kaklase ni Rico J noong grade six pa sila sa P. Burgos Elementary School.

Ayon kay Bibeth, si Rico ang unang lalaking nagpaiyak sa kanya noong sila ay Grade 6 pa lamang.

Bago siya nagpatuloy, nagpasintabi muna si Bibeth at tapos ay ibinunyag na first time niyang magsuot ng bra sa school nang mapansin ito ni Rico.

Wala umanong kaabog-abog na sumigaw si Rico ng: “Si Orteza naka-bra! E, kasi ang laki!”

Nagsumbong daw siya sa kanilang class adviser at nangako raw si Rico na hindi na niya ito uulitin.

Pero hindi roon natapos ang kapilyuhan ni Rico sa kanya. Two days after, bigla na naman daw sumigaw sa kanilang school si Rico ng: “Si John Lennon naka-bra! Ang laki kasi!”

Natural, muling umiyak si Bibeth.

Nagsumbong ulit siya sa kanilang teacher, pero ito ang rason ni Rico, “Hindi ko sinabing Orteza. Kaano-ano ba niya si Lennon, ba’t siya umiyak?”

Naghalakhakan ang audience. Humagalpak talaga ng tawa si Angeline na katabi ni Erik Santos.  Talagang pilyo raw si Rico noon pa man.

Inilahad pa ni Bibeth na pareho raw silang mahirap noong nag-aaral pa sila at nang minsang magkita silang muli ni Rico sa isang malaking event, at pareho na silang nagkakapangalan, nabanggit daw ng Music Icon sa kanya, “Akalain mo bang dara­ting ang panahon na kakain tayo ng ganito kasarap?”

Marami pang event na binanggit si Bibeth na nagbigay kasiyahan sa mga taong naroon.

Isa pang nagbigay ng katatawanan ay ang eulogy ng kapatid ni Rico na si Jun Puno, wala raw siyang masabi sa sobrang bait ng kanyang kuya pero pagdating sa babae ay “galit-galit muna.”

Jun served as the coordinator behind the successful necrological service and manned by Anna Puno.

Sinabi ni Giselle na nakasisi­guro siya na iyon ang kagustuhan ni Rico J, na maging masaya kaya napuno ng kantahan at katatawanan ang kanyang necrological service at eulogy na ibinigay sa kanya ng kanyang pamilya at mga malalapit na kaibigan sa showbiz at maging sa politika. Giselle added that sa kanyang narinig, ang tribute na iyon for Rico J was the most star-studded next to the tribute done for another king, the Movie King, si Da King Fernando Poe Jr.

SPOTTED GUESTS

Among those who we spotted that evening, were John Estrada and wife Priscilla Meirelles, na nasa chapel before the mass, Dingdong Avanzado at Jessa Zaragoza, Jenine Desiderio, Patricia Javier, Rochelle Barrameda with her husband, also former actor Jimwell Stevens. Naroon din si Matteo Guidicelli at K Brosas. Bago nasawi ang Music Icon, ay ni-request niya na makasama si Matteo sa Music and Laughter (Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko) concert sa November 23.

Tinawagan pa raw ni Rico si Matteo para kumbinsihing sumama sa kanila nina Giselle Sanchez at Marissa Sanchez.

Also spotted were Jinggoy Estrada and Philip Salvador na hindi naman nagtagal, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Rico served as a councilor of Makati City from 1998 hanggang 2007 and in 2016 until his passing.  He filed for candidacy for another term in the coming elections.

Former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay gave the first eulogy wherein he mentioned na Sangguniang Kabataan pa lang daw siya ay nakakasama na niya si Rico J. They became running mates nang kumandidato bilang vice mayor si Rico noong 2010, but lost. Despite what happened Jun Jun said: “I was lucky to have him as my friend.”

FAMILY RECONCILED

Rico’s wife Doris Ta­yag Puno gave a short but sweet and meaningful eulogy. Inamin niya na ma­tinik talaga sa chicks ang ama ng kanyang mga anak.

Inilahad niya na sa kabila ng matagal na nilang pagkakahiwalay, nagulat daw siya noong tawagan siya ni Rico noong kanyang 64th birthday last June.

Iyon ang nagbukas ng kanilang communication na noong una ay ang anak na si Tosca pa ang kanilang nagsilbing tulay para sa mensahe nila sa isa’t isa. Iyon ang naging senyales para muling mabuo ang kanilang pamilya.

Doris said: “The Lord is full of surprises… I felt Rico wanted to make things right. And he did it right.

“Rico may not be with us anymore physically, pero natupad po ‘yung isang pangarap, sa tulong ng dasal, for us to be one whole family again. We became one again!”

Before the tribute ended, Giselle finally confirmed and announced that their concert on November 23 will push through and Rico’s son Rox Puno will take over his father’s role in the show. This time, it will also serve as another tribute for the Total Entertainer where singers can come and participate. As I looked at Ms. EBJavier, who was seated not so far behind, she had a sweet smile.

Rico was laid to his final resting place last Thursday, November 8, at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

The OPM King, Music Icon and Total Entertainer Rico J. Puno is gone but he left a legacy of music that will live on even for the next breed of entertainers to come. His songs will still be played on air, on other musical platforms, will be sung by other entertainers but the soulful rendition Rico expressed in every lyric, every beat and every tune, will never be the same again.

Goodbye, dear Senor! Maraming salamat!