By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Elias, Gardy, and Alma
People are really going crazy with the Elias fame. During the campaign period, Elias was here for several events. His group was well received by the crowd in Panglao which did not only consist of the Panglaoanons but also of residents from nearby towns.
Then he was another favorite at the Saulog Festivities in Tagbilaran City before the fiesta celebration. In that event, people who wanted to see Elias, their idol, came in droves. “Traffic galore” in Tagbilaran was witnessed by the commuters and such situation was due to the music of Elias.
Is Elias really that good as a stage performer? From the grapevine, Elias accordingly has his signature moves which are described by some as suggestively sensual, but others defy this description of such dance steps. This is what my friend calls as “a style all his own”.
I can just imagine the Elvis Presley craze during my time. And Elvis was a class all his own, too. What with his “Love me tender, love me true?”. Young Elvis was muy gwapo. With his guitar, he could dance the twist, another fad during our young years.
But Elvis as a star, shone for decades until he went into substance abuse. But he has his Graceland. His popularity went beyond his death for the songs he sang.
How about the star that Elias is? Will this continue to shoot into the high skies?
My bff and editor Ardy follows the shows of Elias. She says that the guy is down to earth. He does not have any off stage behavior. My bff says that when Elias is on stage, he goes away from his being a probinsyano and transforms himself into a professional performer unmindful of his financial beginnings and humble resources. And he performs with gusto, bff Ardy says.
Yet, on stage, it does not only mean performance, it also entails professionalism in dealing with clients.
I became interested in him when news spread llike wild fire about the many cancellations of his bookings. And per stories told by his clients, Elias does the cancellation at the nick of time and at the last impossible moment. If this happens very often, this star that Elias is, will surely have its schedule to move faster back to the ground. As of now, I conider that star like a dying ember with its ghost looking pale on the floor.
Is it the fault of Elias? Is it the fault of his manager who calls people “panuway”, “imo na nang problema”, and “Dili ko makapasaylo kay dili ko Diyos.” I find her very repulsive based on her statements on social media. I noticed that my bff Ardy has stopped talking about Elias even if performing on stage is also a realm which Ardy loves.
And here comes the 25th of May which will present the premiere show of the internationally acclaimed: The Songs of the Firefly”, in cinemas all over the country. It’s the story of the famous Loboc children’s choir with our very own Alma Taldo, the choir Master/Trainor of young boys and girls in their elementary grades thru all the years. If Elias has his manager named Beverly Labad Labad, we also have our multi awarded Gardy Labad who does not exhibit any form of tantrum on and off stage. DILI GYUD MOHATAG UG LABAD SA ULO SI GARDY. He is magical including his team, Maimai Apipe and Odoni Ginete Pestelos. Odoni was the one behind the Sandugo Music which caught a lot of likes on the airwaves until last year when it was deleted. Why? What happened??? Was it a political move? It is nice to ask, isn’t it?
Bohol is not wanting of talents. We must have them!!! We still can have Elias but we have to let the local stars shine to the Heavens up above.
