Rico J. Puno Celebrates 40th Anniversary In Showbiz With A Big Concert At The Solaire Theatre On December 2, With Many Special Guests

RICO J. PUNO took up business at PSBA but he loves singing more, so he started performing for small clubs like Spindle where Vicor Records discovered him and gave him his first album. This was in 1975. The next year, he won the Aliw Award as most promising entertainer. His first big hit is his version of "The Way We Were", which he sang mixed with Tagalog lyrics about "namamasyal pa sa Luneta nang walang pera."

He came up with more hits like "Buhat", "Kapalaran", "Macho Gwapito", "Lupa", "Damdamin", "May Bukas Pa" and "Ang Tao'y Marupok". He became so popular that the movies beckoned. He played Alma Moreno's leading man in "Bawal na Pag-ibig" in 1977, a big hit so he did two more movies in the same year "Wow, Sikat, Pare Bigat" and "Silang mga Mukhang Pera" with Nora Aunor.

"As a rule, hindi ko pinapanood ang mga pelikula ko," he says. Why? "E, kasi, nabubuwisit akong makita ang mukha ko. Sa first album ko, di nilagay ang litrato ko sa jacket. Ang nakalagay, litrato ng puno. Sa likod, nandun ang mukha ko, pero blurred. Ayaw ni Boss Vic ipakita ang mukha ko."



He will now celebrate his 40th anniversary in showbiz with a concert at Solaire Theatre on December 2, 8 PM, produced by Star Media. "Sabi ko sa kanila, tribute ba to? Kasi ayoko ng tribute. Noong mag-concert si Rey Valera na tribute daw, sabi ng anak ko, bakit, patay na ba siya? Kaya ayoko ng tribute. Hindi raw, concert lang talaga."

His guests include Ai Ai de las Alas, Willie Revillame, Ogie Alcasid, Randy Santiago, Gloc 9, Martin Nievera and Jukebox Queens Imelda Papin and Claire de la Fuente. Why didn't he include Eva Eugenio? "Natanggal kasi ang ilong niya. Ikakabit pa uli." The musical director is Louie Ocampo while stage director is Rowell Santiago.

The concert is also a thanksgiving for his second life. "Two years ago, nagte-taping ako sa ABS, biglang hindi ako makahinga. Ayun, na-triple bypass ako. I spent P4 million kasi I had a total of 12 doctors and stayed in two hospitals, Makati Med and Asian. During the operation, may nilagay silang tube sa throat ko, tapos nung hilahin nila, parang may tinamaan at naapektuhan ang boses ko. I had to undergo therapy para bumalik siya. But it's worth it. I'm so thankful kay Lord for giving me a second chance para makasama ko pa ang apat kong apo."

So did this change him? Does he no longer deliver his trademark green jokes? "Well, I tried, pero parang magkakasakit ako. At hinahanap ng audience. When I perform, I play it by ear at inaabangan talaga ng audience ang sexy jokes."

Tickets for "Rico J. Puno, 40 Years of the Total Entertainer" are now available at Soleil Theatre, call 854-3300, 901-4562.
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