Arnel Pineda, Journey off to NY to attend docu’s Tribeca preem

JOURNEY’S Manila concert, the first time Pinoys got to watch Arnel perform as its frontman, is a highlight in “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

“I can’t stand watching myself on screen!” a grinning Arnel Pineda said, playfully covering his eyes with his hands as we watched “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey.” Ramona Diaz’s documentary film on the Filipino singer and the band Journey premieres on April 19 at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Arnel was one of the special guests at the opening of Oliver Tolentino’s exhibit of clothes worn in an episode of “America’s Next Top Model.” The Hollywood designer’s showcase was produced by Michael Carandang.

Now sporting short hair, Arnel said he and the rest of Journey are flying to New York to attend the docu’s premiere.

Replying to my e-mail query on whether her docu was ready, Diaz earlier said she was in the final stages of editing at Postworks-Technicolor, a production house in New York. She remembered that when she started the film four years ago, Arnel seemed overwhelmed by the events surrounding his joining Journey as new lead vocalist. She said she witnessed his transformation in the first year with the band as he learned to embrace his new status.

Diaz continued: “Four years later, you can see by the interviews and performances he has given that he has really come into his own. He remains a very complex figure but a true artist at heart, with all the attendant angst and ennui. I hope the film reflects that, if just a tad.”

REVIEWING the docu’s rushes in Ramona Diaz’s studio

Milestones

I’m writing this at an airport lounge in Manila, still high from the warm reception that I received in three events that were, for me, milestones in my life—all of which happened in the span of a few weeks and in my country of birth.

The first milestone was my being honored at the The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni awards at the University of Santo Tomas.

The second was delivering the commencement address at my old high school in my hometown Calasiao, in Pangasinan.

FILIPINO “Miss Saigon” superstar Leo Valdez and actor-director Ricky Davao at the book launch PHOTOS BY ALANAH TORRALBA

Book launch

The most recent was the launch last Tuesday evening of my first book, “My Filipino Connection: The Philippines in Hollywood,” at Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4, Makati. On the way there, I thought I’d have a bout of jitters but they never came. It sounds cheesy and corny, but at the venue, the love and support I felt from family and friends calmed me down.

The smiling faces of old and new friends greeted me. Some of them I hadn’t seen in ages! Others had flown in from LA, adding to my unabashed joy.

Fil-Canadian Mikey Bustos, the actor-singer based in Toronto and who was a “Canadian Idol” finalist, was in town and made a surprise appearance. Mikey is in my book due to his “Filipino Tutorial” videos on YouTube that have gone viral.

SIGNING copies of “My Filipino Connection” for businesswoman Nelia Dee (center) and Undersecretary Gertie Tirona of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Mikey is managed by Arsi Baltazar, who found out that Mikey was featured in my book and brought him to the launch.

I first met Arsi when he was 16 and a contributing writer to the now-defunct TV Times. I was working at the time with Vicor Music Corp. as a PR writer.

The guests all held copies of my book and asked me to sign them. Was this really happening? It was like a dream that was too good to be true!

G TONGI

A TV news mic was thrust in front of me, cameras flashed, and recorders picked up the questions and answers. I was having my 15 minutes of fame. It felt surreal to be answering questions and not asking them.

Program speakers

The brief program began. Inspiring words from Anvil Publishing’s Karina Bolasco and Inquirer Entertainment editor Emmie G. Velarde further set the evening’s tone.

Emmie told me afterwards that she had written her brief introduction minutes before she left the office for the launch. “That the words just flowed could only mean that what I said was exactly what I felt,” she said.

FILMMAKER Mike Sandejas and wife May

My wife Janet also spoke from the heart, saying how moved she was by the turnout of so many friends for the occasion—the culmination of a year’s effort in the book’s preparation.

When my turn to speak came, it took a monumental effort on my part to stop myself from bawling.

Sad note

The only sad note in the event was the news that legendary comic book illustrator, Tony DeZuñiga, another one of the talents of Filipino heritage featured in the book, had had a stroke. Tony’s wife Tina texted me about the unfortunate incident as Janet and I were about to leave for the launch. I was so looking forward to introducing Tony as my special guest.

Over lunch at a Roxas Boulevard restaurant on Black Saturday, Tony had sounded excited about attending the launch. “What should I wear?” he had asked frivolously. Tony and Tina also told us they planned to invite Pilita Corrales to attend, too.

musical theater superstar Joanna Ampil

Tony and Tina had been updating us on their life since they moved back to the Philippines (although they travel extensively since Tony is in demand at Comic Cons all over the world).

CCP exhibit

We visited the Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo and the San Agustin Church under the sweltering heat of the sun and capped the afternoon off with halo halo and lots of jokes.

The latest word from Tina is that Tony is doing better. The artist is bound to get much-deserved recognition soon. Among his coming exhibits is one at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

READING from my notes … no tears fell.

* * *

My book is available in the Philippines at National Book Store and Powerbooks branches and on www.nationalbookstore.com.ph.

(E-mail the columnist at [email protected]. Follow him at https://twitter.com/

nepalesruben.)

PHOTOS BY ALANAH TORRALBA