Missing Elvira, Pilita, Mari, Noel and Subas

MANAHAN. Spontaneous comments and wild laughter.

I’ve been watching television for many years and have seen a lot of TV performers achieve great success. They win the adulation of millions of viewers, only to disappear from the limelight, get relegated to minor roles, leave show business for good, or pass on to the next life. But, they have left a lasting impression!

On top of my list is the late Elvira Manahan. She was not your typical TV star—she was a socialite who couldn’t sleep at night, so her friend, ABS-CBN’s big boss, Geny Lopez, gave her a daily late-night show, “Two for the Road.” Talk shows were never the same after that!

I got the rare opportunity to watch her in action when I was asked by my friend, NUT, to codirect her show. (Later, during the martial law years, she and NUT would cohost the show with Maria Montelibano as director.) The following are excerpts from a piece that I wrote about Elvira after her death in 1986:

“Directing Elvira was an exasperating experience. She was unpredictable and broke all the rules. The show perennially went off-course, because of Elvira’s spontaneous comments and wild laughter.

“‘Two for the Road’ was a daily live show. It still amazes me how Elvira managed to keep up with night after night of chatter. Somehow, her spontaneity worked. The less prepared Elvira was, the more hilarious were the results.

“But, more than the fun she exuded onscreen, I remember Elvira best off-camera, living life to the fullest, and taking us, her production staff, along with her to unimagined realms of high living. My nights didn’t end with the show’s closing. We would go to her house for a midnight snack of sinigang and corned beef, and watched the show, which Dr. Manahan had taped for her.

“Sometimes, we would go to The Circuit at the Hyatt with NUT and stay till morning, playing charades!

“As ‘Two for the Road’ progressed, I began to appreciate Elvira’s uniqueness as a TV personality. But, more important, I discovered that, somewhere underneath the flippant socialite with the frenetic laughter, was a caring, loving friend.”

Pilita Corrales

Every time I watch music videos on MTV and Myx, I also miss Pilita Corrales. Her “Your Evening with Pilita” provided enjoyable musical numbers without the use of today’s fancy equipment like computer graphics, modern cameras and high-tech editing software.

It was Pilita’s performance that made the show memorable, but it was Mitos Villareal’s classy directing that moved the show to greater heights. Her lighting set the mood for Pilita’s numbers, and her camerawork and editing were outstanding. Unlike today’s noontime variety programs, which feature endless dancing and singing, Pilita’s musical show always had a theme, much like a storyline in a drama series.

Jose Mari Velez

When I watch “TV Patrol” and cringe at its tabloid-style reportage, I miss the late Jose Mari Velez and “The Big News.” He was authoritative when it came to delivering the news. There were no histrionics, even when he was reporting a tragic event. He never showed his bias, never commented on a controversial news item. His role was to relay information in the clearest way possible, and with the utmost objectivity.

Subas and Noel

When it comes to funnymen, I miss Noel Trinidad and Subas Herrero, now retired as a comedy team. They were quite versatile. They could sing and do serious drama. Best of all, they excelled at comedy—as the sophisticated version of the comedy team of Dolphy and Panchito. Their best work could be seen on the long-running gag show, “Champoy.”

Unlike other comedians, they didn’t resort to slapstick or pie-in-the-face routines.  They relied on subtle facial expressions and understated, witty punchlines to make people laugh. They didn’t have to explain why a joke was funny. And, they didn’t underestimate the intelligence of their audience!