Butch Francisco's write up 9/05/06 Philippine Star
September 4 2006 at 9:05 PM
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Not exactly another career option
STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco
The Philippine Star 09/05/2006
When I signed up as one of the endorsers of the clothing company Jewels – along with Tanya Garcia and TJ Trinidad – part of the agreement was for us to take part in the activities organized by the store. This includes visiting the various outlets (they’re opening a new branch in SM Bicutan soon) and – gulp! – doing ramp modeling each time Jewels organizes a fashion show at the malls.
That stipulation in our contract – about us doing ramp – I did not take seriously. Have they actually seen me walk? A penguin has more grace than I will ever have. Besides, I am no fashion plate – never will be – not even in my wildest imagination.
But days within our contract signing, we were told that we were to take part in the fashion show Jewels was putting up in SM Bacoor. I immediately made myself available for that affair – thinking that all I had to do was wave and say hello to the wonderful people of Bacoor. I did not even bother to attend the rehearsals that were scheduled three days prior to the affair because I asked myself: What for? How many ways are there to wave and say hello to people?
On the day of the show – set on a Saturday – I was coming from Startalk and it took me forever to get to SM Bacoor because of traffic in that part of Cavite called Talaba. On my supposed first appearance on stage, I was still looking for parking and I totally missed that part of the program.
When I finally got backstage, they made me slip into a shirt and pushed me on stage where I saw for the first time how the ramp looked like. What was I going to do? Walk, walk, walk – I told myself. But where? Like a little boy thrown into the wilderness, I tried to find my way through the ramp while scratching my head because I was hopelessly lost.
The second time I came out on stage, Tanya Garcia was with me and she guided me through the whole process. I survived that show, but swore to myself that I’d be prepared the next time around.
That next time took place the other Saturday when Jewels joined a fashion show along with other clothing stores (but with the Jewels brand as the finale, of course) at SM San Lazaro.
In preparation for that show (organized by V-Factor Events), I even went to the rehearsals scheduled earlier (about three days before the show) at the actual venue deep in the heart of Manila that used to be known for its racetrack and a hospital for the indigent. That was the first time I ever set foot in SM San Lazaro and in that area at the back of UST, for that matter.
Rehearsals were done after store hours at 9 p.m. and I decided to check out the Jewels outlet first on the second floor and got a shirt I was going to wear on Startalk that Saturday. When I finally went down to the venue where rehearsals were in full swing, I saw how the models – both men and women – towered over me. And they were all very young. Some were probably still in school.
When I looked at the stage, I discovered that the show was called Campus. Great. I am being cast in a fashion show called Campus. Maybe I can be their dean.
Then it was time to work and learn my blocking. I was coming from stage right and meet this beautiful model named Reneli in the middle where there was an X on the floor. We count up to eight before switching positions and move to the other end of the stage. Count up to eight again and switch another time. She walks the length of the L-shaped stage and I meet her halfway. I continue walking until I’ve covered the entire stage and exit. That was only Part I. There were other blockings I had to learn later.
Meanwhile, I had to be taught how to walk – as in walk the ramp. The first thing I had to learn was how to get it from within – you know, like in singing. Then you had to clip the butt and take long strides while looking straight ahead.
It was at this point that I started questioning in my head the things I was doing with my life. Am I still supposed to be doing this at this stage of my life – at my age? Then I remembered that it was a commitment I made to the very kind owners of the Jewels store and I was going to stick to our agreement and give them my full cooperation.
On the day of the show, I did Startalk first and all throughout the program, I kept memorizing in my head my blocking.
After Startalk, I drove immediately to SM San Lazaro and was there early. Later, I found out that Tanya had arrived and was being kept inside a bodega because they couldn’t let people see her yet. When I went to say hello to her, I saw how she was munching on french fries and drinking Coke. That was minutes before the show. Well, she’s young and I guess those extra calories wouldn’t show. They didn’t and she still looked fabulous in her Jewels attire when she walked down the ramp.
Halfway through the show, we got word that TJ Trinidad was still at the airport (he flew in from the south that day) and there was no way he could still make it. Blocking had to be altered and we had to make adjustments.
When I finally went out on stage, I remembered every detail of the blocking, but completely forgot everything they taught me about walking down the ramp and went my own usual awkward way. Incredibly enough, I got a hearty applause from the people in the audience. Whether it was out of pity or an appreciation for all my efforts, I don’t know. But I must have done something right because the reception I got from them was truly warm.
Of course, I am not taking this walking down the ramp career seriously – fear not – but I will be at every show of Jewels because of my commitment to the very nice owners.
But I have to admit that I still relish in my head that warm applause I got from the crowd at SM San Lazaro. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my long career in show business that I wouldn’t exchange for anything else in the world.
Except maybe for the first prize in the first lotto draw.
Even third prize will do.
This message has been edited by Chenez_ako on Sep 4, 2006 10:37 PM
