Men Of Manila: ‘Entertainment with a heart’

The Men Of Manila (MOM) introduced themselves to The STAR’s Entertainment Section guys by singing Something Stupid (popularized by Frank Sinatra and daughter Nancy) in both its English and Italian versions and we gave them far more than a “passing” grade.

Composed of seven men aged between 17 and 25 years old, they choose as repertoire all-time favorites such as Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Every Breath You Take and many more. They can easily win hearts not just with beautiful blending of voices but also with their matinee-idol looks.

Composed of Yano Gaspari, Nelson Valencia, Lio Garcia, Jester Hernandez, Redjie Relucio, Arcel Delgado and Paolo Sta. Maria, MOM claims to be a band with a difference.

Aside from entertaining Filipinos with their soothing voices and sexy moves, the band is donating part of the proceeds of their earnings (concerts, ticket sales, etc.) to a charity of their choice. Thus, they want to be known with this tagline: “Entertainment with a heart.”

The brains behind the band decided to call it MOM noting that as the country’s hub, Manila is synonymous to a Filipino’s search for the fulfillment of a dream, where Filipinos from different parts of the country converge in their search for a better life. Hence you always hear fortune-seekers saying, “Luluwas ako ng Maynila para hanapin ang aking suwerte” (I will go to Manila to try my luck). 

Managed by Le Marais Production, MOM held its first concert last July 26 at the Music Museum. Another concert is being worked out for December.

Meet them:

= Yano Gaspari, 18 (Feb, 27, 1996), 5’10”: Born (to an Italian father and a Filipina mother) and raised in Italy, Yano came home when he was 12 (speaking very little Filipino and English) and hasn’t gone back to Italy since then. He was discovered by a talent scout (who initially wanted to groom him as a model) while watching a female beauty contest at the Cavite State University where he’s a Tourism Management sophomore. He has traveled the world with his mom who’s a singer.

= Nelson Valencia, 22 (Feb. 22, 1992), 6’: An AB Theater Administration graduate from the California State University of Northridge, he has done stage plays and commercials (Hershey’s, Hollister, etc.) in L.A. where he was born and raised. He came for a vacation in 2012 but stayed when he was discovered by a talent scout while touring the ABS-CBN Studios. Recalled Nelson (whose father is a Filipino from Pampanga and his mother a Spanish), “I’ve been criticized for my Filipino because of my (American) twang. When I sang Ikaw Ang Lahat sa Akin, the people behind the TV programs laughed. But it didn’t discourage me; instead it challenged me to prove myself.” While waiting for the big break, the independent-minded Nelson (who left home at 17 and lived in his car for a year, refusing to ask money from his parents) works at a call center at night.

= Lio Garcia, 25 (March 24, 1989), 5’10”: Described as “soft spoken, quiet and unassuming,” he comes from humble beginnings in Bicol where his father, a barangay officer, is a farmer. He quit his Industrial Technology studies in Bicol to work as production operator for a wood-working company in Cavite, then went to Manila to work at the Marikina Shoe Expo. He was discovered by his manager on his Facebook in which Lio has 18,000-plus followers.

= Jester Hernandez, 17 (July 17, 1997), 5’10”: The youngest in the group is also the “veteran,” having performed on stage (as the lead in Florante at Laura) and appearing regularly on German “Kuya Germs” Moreno’s late-night Saturday show Walang Tulugan. He had just graduated from high school at the St. Mary’s Academy in Cavite when he was discovered by a talent scout right at the Hernandezes’ living room. Jester ably impressed the talent scout with his rendition of the Edwin McCain’s romantic hit I’ll Be. He looks up to Robert Downey Jr. (“Because he’s smart in his life and career choices”) and Vin Diesel (“Fierce and fearless. I want to be like him”).

= Redjie Relucio, 17 (Nov. 25, 1996), 5’11”: He’s the first cousin of Charice but Redjie doesn’t want to bank on it in his effort to make a name of his own. “I don’t want people to accuse me of ‘using’ Charice,” said Redjie who is an Information Technology freshman at the Asia Technological Institute in Laguna and who was also trained by Charice’s coach. He used to compete in singing contests just as Charice did before she finished a finalist in an ABS-CBN talent search.

= Arcel Delgado, 20 (Jan. 27, 1994), 6’1”: He’s the “Mr. Friendship/Mr. Congeniality” of the group because, having served as Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman in his hometown in Zambales, he has a ready smile, a warm handshake and a lively conversationalist. He was spotted by a talent scout while doing the rounds of go-sees and VTRs and asked to join a model search. A Nursing graduate from FEU, Arcel plans to take the board exams in November. He got his singing talent from his father who can belt out songs by the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Styx and Stevie Wonder.

= Paolo Sta. Maria, 22 (Jan. 17, 1992), 5’9”: An ECE graduate from UST, Paolo is a dancer who wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Gab Valenciano (son of Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano). He has taken up voice lessons. Being the eldest among three siblings, he hopes to support his family even if his dad earns well as a service advisor in an automotive company. His aunt (who has a friend that manages talents) helped Paolo got into the ABS-CBN educational show Epol Apol when he was eight years old.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)