Willie Nep's "All of Me" a rollicking hit in Los Angeles
|
A hot ticket in Hollywood!
The UPD’69 Betan cum entertainer cum comedian cum impersonator brought the house down, more specifically the Celebrity Centre in Hollywood, California, on September 1, 2006. Brod Willie Nepomuceno got the audience laughing and howling for more as he had another successful performance in LA sponsored by the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Assn., Southern California Chapter. Willie just finished gigs in Seattle and Las Vegas the week before. After LA, his next scheduled performance was in Sydney, Australia.
First to perform were Brod Ike Araneta, UPD’71 and LC’82 Eileen Guerrero. Ike was masterful in his acoustic guitar while accompanying Eileen who beautifully sang the mellow Brazilian sounds of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Brod Joe Lalas, UPD’69 and members of his Heart and Soul band rocked the theatre with the 60’s sounds of the Beatles and BeeGees.
Ike Araneta at acoustic guitar and Eileen Guerrero singing Jobim sounds
Joe Lalas and his band rocking with 60's and 70's hits
Then came the star of the show: Dolphy, Sammy Davis, Elvis, Erap rolled into one. It was Willie the singer, Willie the comedian, Willie the story-teller, Willie the impersonator, Willie the magician. Willie took the crowd down the Pinoy memory lane of soapbox radio and jukeboxes; Three Flowers Brilliantine pomade and Tancho Tique gelstick; the local courtship and dating mores; the singing styles of Victor Wood and Eddie Peregrina; was alternately Nat "King" Cole and Natalie Cole. He had Kris Aquino grilling him in “Game Ka Na Ba?” finally admitting that he, Erap Estrada, was also Jose Velarde, the mystery signor of the infamous check that is now a part of the Philippine political lore.
The Celebrity Theatre International was filled to capacity with Betan families, guests and friends who delightfully dug Willie’s “All of Me”. Some out-of-California Betans who were spotted mingling with the crowd were Bing Garcia’64 from Davao, Noli Nolasco’62 from Calgary, Don Ganchorre'56 from Seattle, and Betans from the North American chapters. What a really fun night to jump-start the UP Beta Sigma Southern California Fraternity Ball weekend!
Following the pictures below, see Willie’s thank you email to the brods. Baka lang maiyak kayo, gaya ng nakakaiyak na pagkanta ni Eddie Peregrina.
/nmb'65, 9-06
Willie the Entertainer and Singer
Willie as Dolphy
Willie as Sammy Davis, Jr.
Willie, the ventriloquist, talking to Kermit the Frog
Willie as Elvis "The Pelvis" Presley
Willie as Erap aka Jose Velarde
*** = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ***
---Message from Willie Nepomuceno willienepomuceno@yahoo.com on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 02:50:02 +0100 (BST)---
Brod Sonny,
I'm flying Down Under tomorrow so kahit nagmamadali ako ayoko nang ipagpaliban ang pasasalamat ko sa inyong lahat at baka magkalimutan pa.
I guess I made the right decision in accepting your invitation to attend the Ball instead of earning an extra gig in Alaska. In terms of audience reception and smooth presentation, that was the best show I had in my entire tour.
Big thanks to Ivy and Tina for the assist. That was no joke putting together such an extravaganza despite the odds. Kudos to their patience and professionalism.
Beyond the show however was the validation that indeed, I did right in joining the best fraternity in the whole world. The feeling of kinship we had during our college days is surpassed tenfold as I personally felt in my short stay there.
You probably didn't notice that I shed a tear during the mass for Tito. We were together for the longest time in our Fine Arts days but it was a different Tito that I knew then. Same thing with Aman and Ike. I guess maturity and being together in another place has a lot to do with it. On the other hand bagong salta lang ako dyan eh bakit parang mas malalim na bonding ang naramdaman ko-- instantly !?
Well, Beta Sigma always sounded Greek to me anyway.
Again, thank you for the renewal of kinship. Special thanks to my adopted ka batch, Nonoy, who never fails to make me smile all the time. It's nice to see Norman, Imo and pinsang Ricky after a long while. Syempre sa lahat din ng brods nagkataon lang na medyo dikit kami nung panahon namin sa Peyups. Si Jolas nga surprised ako na performer na eh. Nakakalungkot lang yung balita kina Rudolf at Vio.
Sa lahat ng brods dyan, bata o matanda, taga UP o ibang eskwela, Mabuhay! Tenk you for giving me a Taste of L.A.! Balingit, Rey and Pamilar--kabats!
More power and glory to Beta Sigma!
Cheerz
WILLIE NEPO '69A
|
