Cesar on Taylor concert cancellation: I’m heartbroken!

“Oh my God, I am brokenhearted!”

That was the reaction of Cesar Montano, newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), when told that James Taylor had cancelled his concert in Manila on Feb. 25 next year over EJKs (Extra Judicial Killings), although the cancellation wouldn’t affect his concerts in Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
Taylor announced the cancellation on Dec. 20 on his Twitter and Facebook accounts, saying that it saddens him  since he has been eagerly looking forward to playing for the Philippine audience ever since he added Manila to his tour of the Pacific.

“I am a big Taylor fan,” admitted Cesar when The STAR talked to him during the TPB Christmas Party Wednesday night at the Century Sheraton Hotel. “I am saddened, too. I’m hurt!”

Battling drug addiction is no stranger to Taylor who, in an interview, has confessed that “a big part of my story is recovery from addiction.” But then, he said in his cancellation statement that he values human rights and the rule of law.

“The scourge of addiction is a worldwide problem and does serious harm, not only to the addict but also to our society,” according to his social-media statement. “For a sovereign nation to prosecute and punish, under the law, those responsible for the illegal trade in drugs, is, of course, understandable, even commendable. But recent reports from the Philippines of summary executions of suspected offenders without trial or judicial process are deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law.”

Renen de Guia of Ovation Productions, producer of Taylor’s concert, issued an official statement denying that poor ticket sales is one reason why Taylor cancelled the show.

Here’s Renen’s statement excerpted from his Facebook account:

Ovation Productions denies malicious rumors being spread that the concert of James Taylor was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. A seating plan layout from ticket seller’s website doesn’t show a full picture.

This type of adult contemporary market is starkly different from that of the millennial market in terms of fans’ buying patterns. After having promoted various artists and genres from Taylor Swift to Tony Bennett, even Broadway musicals, and having done all types of formats and markets for 37 years, we are keen observers of how people buy their tickets.

For James Taylor, interest level was very high. We were actually on track of selling out. All indicators said so...for an event two months away, sales was good, the buzz was strong, the market was very enthusiastic, we were getting lots of reservations, also lots of requests for complimentary tickets. Many radio stations and noted bloggers were wanting to be media partners. Real promotions haven’t begun; just an announcement on social media of the coming concert. James Taylor was a pretty strong attraction considering that he has a wide audience crossing over from baby boomers to Generation X and maybe even some millennials influenced by their parents….

…We appeal to those spreading malicious rumors to please be more considerate. James Taylor made a political statement; Ovation Productions did its part to make him change his mind and in the end, we have to respect his decision as he has his own personal reasons for doing so. We do not engage in any political discussion.

A stanza from You’ve Got a Friend, one of Taylor’s well-loved and most popular songs, goes: You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, you’ve got a friend.

“I’ve been looking forward to Taylor’s concert,” added Cesar, “and if I have to sing You’ve Got a Friend and his other song on my Facebook every day to make him change his mind, I will do it.”

But then, Cesar might not have enough time to do that since he’s set to assume office after he took his oath office last Tuesday before DOT Sec. Wanda Teshiba Tulfo Teo (who, according to Funfare’s “beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas, “was a Bb. Pilipinas candidate in 1972”).

“I have a big task ahead of me,” said Cesar who, just like any government appointee, went through the whole process, being “grilled” by the screening committee after he submitted the required documents (NBI clearance, police clearance, etc.). “I’m excited. It’s a new challenge for me and you know how much I love challenges. I’m a multi-tasker. I am into sports (golf, basketball, biking, running, etc.), I paint, I star in movies and on TV, I write and direct.”
Cesar begged off from discussing his plans.

“I still have to check the data and listen to what the department’s plans are,” he said.

Among his plans: to develop sports tourism, to lure foreign film companies to shoot more movies here (the Philippines has been a popular shooting location since time immemorial), and to develop Subic into an entertainment complex.

“I have sounded off Martin Diño, head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and he’s interested,” shared Cesar. “Subic is the perfect place for that. It can be developed into some kind of a Universal Studios. It has an airport, an ocean park, a rain forest, a zoo, a port, a highway…everything!”

Anytime now, Cesar will start holding office at the Legaspi Towers (right across Roxas Boulevard from the CCP) which is, no thanks to the traffic headache, almost two hours drive from where he lives in an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City.

Asked what he has to sacrifice for his government position, Cesar said, “Not much, really. I can still play golf and hold a golf tournament with foreign golfers. In my free time, I can still shoot for Sultan Kudarat, a movie planned even before I was appointed TPB COO.”

He can also act a semi co-host of Happy Life, the new weekly TV show produced by Chavit Singson and directed by Eric Quizon, hosted by beauty queens and models, which premiered on GMA News TV on Dec. 11, airing every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Chavit’s daughter Kim Singson is on top of White Lion Media Productions, Inc. which is behind the show that tours all over the Philippines featuring scenic spots and showcasing local cultures, getting donors, and choosing deserving people as help recipients.

“I have already talked to Chavit and he’s amenable to the idea,” according to Cesar.

(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.)