Master Showman strikes gold

MORENO. Always goes the extra mile.

For this humble telonero (curtain raiser) at Clover Theater, showbiz beckoned 50 years ago when, in his own words, he purposely rechristened himself Moreno after my then matinee idol father, Oscar—and thenceforth claimed he was a relative!

I couldn’t be prouder that Kuya Germs dropped my Papa Oscar’s name and went on from being local vaudeville’s “go-fer” to resident comedian at the Vera-Perezes’ Sampaguita Pictures. The rest, as they say, is show biz history.

Kuya Germs’ story is emblazoned with his multifarious talents as a radio and TV host (22 shows, including “Superstar,” “GMA Supershow” “That’s Entertainment” and the ongoing “Master Showman sa Dobol B“ and “Walang Tulugan with Master Showman”).

Award

He also acted in some 60 films, like “Dance-Orama,” “Guy and Pip,” “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo,” “Dyesebel,” as well as the more recent “Adela” and “Paupahan,” for which he received an award as Best Supporting Actor).

But, the industry more earnestly salutes Kuya Germs as a live-concert impresario and television producer. As such, he either discovered, managed or catapulted to greater fame the likes of Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz, Lea Salonga, Gretchen Barretto, Lani Mercado, Regine Velasquez and Dina Bonnevie.

Benefits

As a talent manager, he always goes the extra mile for his wards. Insiders know that he provides subsistence during their early years as struggling artists, and nurtures their growth, professionally and personally, without the usual “accountability.”

Another little-known fact about Kuya Germs is how he continues to “pay back” the industry with his unheralded support for film-related agencies that look after the industry’s “small and obscure” workers.

One such institution is our Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the 39-year-old private foundation founded by former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada to provide welfare, health, medical and death benefits, as well as film-education opportunities to the industry’s marginalized practitioners.

Kuya Germs has built the “Walk of Fame’ on Mowelfund’s grounds and the “Horror” room at its Film Museum. Aside from being a regular contributor to its coffers, he remains “on-call” for the needs of its beneficiaries. —Thanks, Kuya!