|
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Costanilla: Dr. Elvis
By Sam Costanilla
Spotlight
CONCERT. If you are a music lover - and particularly an Elvis Presley fan - here’s a concert you should not miss. No, you don’t have to travel to Las Vegas just to watch the rock ‘n roll king - or any of his thousands of impersonators - do his thing onstage. A Tribute to Elvis Presley Part II is a presentation that doesn’t require you to travel elsewhere. Why? Because it will be staged right here in Cebu - at the Budyong Hall of Casino Filipino Mactan, to be specific. The show is on Saturday, July 2, starting at exactly 8 p.m.
* * *
OPONGANON. Then you’ll ask, who’s going to perform? Okay, let me tell you that a true-blue Oponganon (Opong is actually the original name of Barangay Opon, Mactan island) in the person of Bernard Pino is going to do the two-hour show on Saturday evening. This retired physician was born and raised in Opon. After finishing his medical studies here, he flew to Michigan, USA where he practiced his profession for close to 33 years.
* * *
ENCOURAGEMENT. Dr. Elvis, as I fondly call him, was encouraged to develop his Elvis sing-alike ability after one of his American patients told him that he sounded just like the original rock ‘n roll king. This Cebuano doctor would admit that he had never been a Presley fan but because of his patient’s encouraging words, he decided to try singing Presley songs and eventually impersonating his stage actions, including the trademark gyrations. Little did Bernard know that he would soon order his tailor to make Presley concert costumes. Remember those sequined overalls and bellbottom pants? Yes, he even produced the exact replica of Presley’s shades. Of course, even the hairstyle and the trademark sideburns are being copied by this Cebuano Presley impersonator.
* * *
TALENTS. For his concert on Saturday evening, Dr. Elvis will be doing 24 Presley songs and he will be having four costume changes. The incomparable Doy Montaña and his band shall provide the live accompaniment all throughout the show. Other local talents are appearing as guest performers like Sheryl Panis, The Carnations (Sarah Badana, Fenderlyn de Gracia and Ludy Bacalso), Robert Santillana, Harold Badana, Rene de Gracia and The Emotions Dance Company. I saw Dr. Elvis’s first concert two years ago and it was fantastic, but I know that his show on Saturday evening will be even more so, more colorful, more fun-filled and more musically delightful and enriching. Hurry, the tickets are selling like hotcakes, so please don’t blame me if they run out either today or tomorrow. Just check it out at the entrance of Casino Filipino Mactan’s Budyong Hall. I think there are still some pieces left.
* * *
BENEFICIARY. Watching this Saturday’s concert is actually your way of helping local musicians who are in need of free hospitalization due to financial problems they are facing. It’s heartening to know that Dr. Elvis has already waived his talent fee as his way of helping this noble cause. Isn’t that highly commendable? The show is for the benefit of the needy members of the Cebu Association of Legitimate Musical Artists (Calma) which Dr. Elvis and Montaña themselves organized. In this respect, they want to sincerely thank all the corporate and individual sponsors for supporting this Saturday’s concert. Don’t you miss it, folks.
* * *
REJECTION. This aging self-proclaimed stage director here continues to suffer from his tarnished credibility. He just got rejected by a probable stageplay producer. (E-mail samcost@yahoo.com or call/text 0915-4992844).
(June 30, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
