So long Sir Ricky, my idol and mentor

Vanessa Aumentado, Marisa Cartoneros, Rep. Edgar Chatto, Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto and Chatto and Veloso families have fond memories of veteran journalist Ricky Lo.

"Kumusta na ang society chronicler ng Bohol?" 

That was how veteran entertainment editor and TV host Ricky Lo greeted me everytime we saw each other in Bohol and some instances at The Philippine Star Office in the Port Area in Manila. 

Sir Ricky was one of the few journalists whom I looked up to as my idol, mentor, and friend.  

Ricky Lo is Ricky Lo.  He was revered and feared in the industry that his "Funfare" was the column to be in. To be mentioned in his column (which I was mentioned countless times) meant pride or humiliation, depending on how he chose to write about the celebrity.

I am his fan forever. In fact, his "Funfare" column was the first section in the paper I read first. For generations, many Filipinos got their fix of the day’s entertainment news from him. 

As a Funfare contributor until 2014,  I missed Sir Ricky’s call and text asking for showbiz scoop since there were many celebrities who visited Bohol. 

"Leo, totoo ba nandiyan ba si ___?  Kasama si ___?" he asked. 

He encouraged me to write articles and even gave me tips. 

Even when I started my column "True"  in the now defunct “The Bohol Sunday Post” for years (and transfered to The Bohol Chronicle with my "Bared" and later to "VRS"), I usually compare my style of writing as similar to that of Ricky Lo that it earned me the monicker the "Ricky Lo of Bohol."

When my articles were published in The Philippine Star, he kept my cheques in his wallet until he could give it to me personally. 

The year 2009 was my most memorable year with  Sir Ricky. He was in Bohol for a vacation  with his friend and fellow journalist Raoul Tidalgo. (He was a family friend of the Veloso, Chatto and Castillon families). We spent the day talking about the ins and outs of showbiz, blind items and sundry and we laughed out hard. 

Sir Ricky was very instrumental in promoting Bohol to the world in his widely read column in the Star. 

We exchanged text messages as I gave my feedback on "Star Talk" ,  where he was one of the mainstay hosts. Then, "Showbiz Stripped" which metamorphosed into "The Ricky Lo Exclusives" that lasted for almost four years. 

One time, I decided to visit him at the Philippine Star at the Port Area Manila. He and other staff members (former associate entertainment editor Maridol Bismark, Jerry Donato and Bum Tenorio) were busy for the deadline. But Sir Ricky had time for a chit chat. The good part was I didn't left the office empty handed! Sir Ricky gave me some pasalubong items including his book "Conversations with Ricky Lo" which became my guide on how to handle interviews and write feature stories. 

Sir Ricky was all that — and more.

Your VRS with veteran journalist Ricky Lo.

Several years ago, I pitched about the plight of child star Rebecca "Bikay" Lusterio (who starred in Muro Ami and Panaghoy Sa Suba where she won several accolades including Best Child Actress and Best Supporting Actress) who wanted to study in college.

Bikay told me she might not be able to go to college due to financial constraints. At that time, she had a brother who was still studying in college and she felt she maybe an additional burden to the family if she wished to pursue her dreams.

Bikay helped her poor family and financed her way through high school by selling seashells on Alona Beach. 

I told Sir Ricky about it and he wrote it in his column. Several scholarships were offered to Rebecca who preferred to study at Colegio de San Juan de Letran as a full-time academic scholar until she graduated in college. 

"Magsulat ka Leo about Bikay. Daming nakagusto sa story niya," he told me. He admired Bikay's natural acting, humility and unassuming ways. 

And everytime I wrote about Bikay and her activities, Sir Ricky was always kind to give  space in the paper. 

When Bikay graduated in college, she went to Philippine Star to personally thank Sir Ricky for all his kindness. Sir Ricky told me he was touched by Bikay's gesture. 

That was Sir Ricky. With him, it was always kindness and friendship. He was that generous, very giving in every way, whether with his time, materials things and friendship.

Thank you Sir Ricky. 

You will always remain in our hearts and you will be constantly thought of with fondness and deep love.

Rest in peace Sir Ricky, Gan Eden welcomes you. 

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Hudyaka sa Panglao bursting with colors & cheers

Wake-uppers:

Seen:  Commander Agapito Bibat of the Philippine Navy was chosen as class president of International Maritime Offices Course Class 52 by the International Maritime Officers Course (IMOC) School in the US with 36 participants from 26 participating countries around the world.

Scene: Pat Ruiz was among those who attended the early mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral for the August 25 nationwide against the pork barrel system and term extension of elected officials. Pat Ruiz said, “We had offered the highest form of prayer thru a mass in relation to the existing pork barrel in our country. We have still pork, it is still not pork less. The congressmen had identified projects using the national agencies and it is lump sum. In this regard, we call for active citizenship that people in Tagbilaran will also be taking into account that we are not yet pork less. And pork barrel is the cause of corruption, if there is corruption there is poverty. That is why it is a continuing advocacy that we will say no to any form of pork barrel.”

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Bursting with colors and cheers, the culminating events 

of the annual Hudyaka sa Panglao, took place last  August 27-28

 in honor of Panglao’s patron, Señor San Agustin. 

The festivities were led by Mayor Nila Montero.- LPU

The last time I was in Panglao Island, the Alona Beach was showing itself in full magnificent glory, breathtakingly beautiful, as it always did every day except when nasty weather or habagat is in the country.

Early last week, I was at Alona Beach, it is beautiful as ever, awesome, breathtaking, spellbinding and totally majestic, still transfixed me in awe, holding me (actually us) in captive seduction as the waves were rushing into the shore as if flirting with us as we were at the Alona Tropical for a presscon with Panglao Mayor Nila Montero and Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes.

Our group — from the Bohol media— had a sumptuous lunch together with Mayor Montero and some guests. Some media friends had stayed overnight at Alona Tropical where they had experienced the hospitality of  the resort staff including Roldan Cuevas, Rico Guigue and Deo Guden.

...with the members with Bohol media

Mayor Montero and Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes also shared to the media the latest developments and projects of Montero-Fuertes administration. They also boast of the town’s establishment of Panglao Solid Waste Utilization and Conversion Technology.

During break, I brought Christopher Lumactud (Bohol Chronicle’s layout and graphic artist) to the nearby Amorita Resort for a quick look-see of an (old) friend Cesar Paterno, an executive producer of ABS-CBN, who was with Katherine De Castro. Kat (she was also doing her ice bucket challenge), was doing a story on Bohol for her show on ABS-CBN.  When Kat saw me, she asked in jest if I owned a resort in Panglao for which I vehemently denied. Ha! Ha! Ha! Those Magandang Gabi, Bayan days!

At the Panglao town plaza, we were told that ten contingents were joining this year’s Hudyaka.

“Hudyaka is about merry making and thanksgiving to our patron saint Augustine,” said Mayor Montero.

BC’s layout and graphic artist Christopher Lumactud 

with ABS-CBN reporter and host Katherine De Castro. -LPU

August is probably Panglaoanons’ most colorful month for celebrating the Hudyaka festival honoring the blessed San Agustin. Aside from the usual revelry — pulsating drumbeats, colorful floats, fluvial parade and Hudyaka street dances — the attendance of some celebrities in this extraordinary celebration made it more memorable to all the Panglaoanons.

While taking pictures during the street dance parade, someone surprised me. There was Rebecca “Bikay” Lusterio, the pride of Panglao! Bikay went home to attend the town’s fiesta. She is taking up her Masteral studies in Denmark.

 “It is my home and I missed it. It’s so nice to see it again,” said the former best child actress. “It’s very beautiful, colorful...it’s nice to see the talents of the people of my hometown.”

At the height of the euphoria, there was another power interruption.  And it was raining. Someone told me that the search for the Festival Queen held on the vesper night was stopped because of power interruption. Imagine a celebration with no electricity! But it didn’t dampen the spirit of the Panglaoanons.

The 5 in 1 for the environment Climate Change Advocacy 

Campaign of the PIA-Bohol. Courtesy: Elvie Bongosia

Panglao is soaring to even greater heights, making stellar improvements in economy, education, environment and health. Like the white-sandy beaches of the town is so famous for. Panglao, the jewel of the south, is making waves!

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Students & volunteers plant trees to fight climate change

Students, teachers and volunteers engaged in tree planting and sensitization discussions on climate change mitigation in Ubay town on Friday.

The event, tagged ‘Climate Change Advocacy Campaign’ centered around engaging students from the third district of Bohol on the importance of tree planting; its social and economic benefit to combat global warming and contributes to the global mitigation efforts with local actions.

One of the practical ways to combat climate change is to plant more trees in order to take more carbon out of the atmosphere. The organizers said that it is important to make sure that climate change information gets to the grass roots to enable the young people to know what it is all about.

Former child actress Rebecca “Bikay” Lusterio

 with her fiancé during the town fiesta. -LPU

 “I join this tree planting because I want to help the environment back to its normal balance,” said Jeselle Bautista. 

Spearheaded by the PIA-Bohol, the students also had a journalism seminar on news writing, feature writing, photojournalism and broadcasting.  

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