Those naughty, crazy summers

As the song goes: “Summertime, and the living is easy.” As the temperature rises, so does the fun factor.

I remember when I hopped on a bus to Baguio all by myself, for the sheer excitement.

What would summer be without a crazy adventure? It gives us something to look back on with a naughty little grin.

MARTIN NIEVERA: If being able to say I went full circle with a childhood dream is crazy and naughty, then it would have to be last summer, when I joined the singing group my dad (Bert Nievera) used to be a part of. I sang all of last summer in Honolulu, standing on the same stage that I watched my dad perform on, with exactly the same guys, The Society of Seven.

When I was 10, I watched the group every chance I got. That was when I decided to become a singer. I learned from them everything I know about performing in front of an audience. How to make the viewers feel like they were just in my living room and treat each venue like a sold-out coliseum. I learned to sing, laugh and cry, then sing again, from my dad and the six men who became my mentors, uncles and stepfathers. I owe them all my life.

How many people can say thanks that way to those who gave them the wings to fly? Thanks Uncle Bert Sagum, Uncles Tony and Danny Ruivivar. Dad, I love you.

LUIS MANZANO: When I was in my early 20s, I ran naked one early morning along the beach in Boracay.

TONI ROSE GAYDA: As a kid, I posted a sign outside our gate: “Lahat ng gusto ng summer pabaon, hanapin si Gloria del Barrio.” Our doorbell rang nonstop; my lola wondered why everyone was looking for her. They pointed to the sign; I hid in the bathroom. When I came out I was ready to get pinched.

KIM ATIENZA: When I was 12, I pretended to be dead. With catsup on my clothes, I lay on the street to stop traffic. Then I casually stood up and walked, tripping on bystanders’ reactions. As an adult, I went swimming in the Pasig River and swallowed dirty water in the process for a “Matanglawin” episode. I had a bad case of diarrhea for weeks after. I’d do it again, though.

ARA MINA: When I was a teenager, I went up the roof of the house and jumped into the swimming pool. Feeling Wonder Woman!

JULIA CLARETE:  It was a scorching summer in Tuscany, Italy— I decided to wear a garland on my head while having dinner with a hundred other tourists. It was crazy and weird, but fun and liberating.

BENJIE PARAS: While on a speedboat 20 years ago, my friend and I decided to swim to the shore. We didn’t realize we were 400 meters away. I had cramps on both legs and almost drowned. Good thing the boat came back for us.

JETT PANGAN: Sometime in my youth, my best friend and I rode our BMX bikes from Bambang to Chinatown. It was an amazing race.

KEAN CIPRIANO:  I fell madly in love. It was the ultimate summer fling.

Papa Bossing

Vic Sotto can match the “Papability” factor of younger actors. Thus, it’s no surprise that rumors linking him to younger women never seem to wane.

(A studio insider told me that a pretty young star brings food for Bossing in the studio when he has a taping schedule.)

Despite countless intrigues hurled at him, Vic remains to be a sought-after endorser of different products—like the popular cough medicine Solmux.

“Sa show biz, katawan ang puhunan mo,”  Vic says.  “Hindi puwede ’yung laging nagkakasakit.”

Aside from meds, Vic surely needs the soothing relief of a woman’s touch. From whom does he get his dose of TLC? “Ahem! Ahem,” he jested. Like a coughing fit, love can’t be hidden for long.

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