More showbiz trivia circa 1968 to 1969

In my Tuesday column, I published the letter of reader Jun Lugtu, a member of St. James Academy (Malabon) Class 1968-69. Mr. Lugtu is in the process of putting together their yearbook (updating everything that happened to them in the last 33 years) and has asked me to furnish him with trivia that happened during circa 1968-69. I already gave him last Tuesday a list of the most popular movies, TV shows, department stores, movie theaters and FAMAS winners during that year. Below are more bits and pieces of trivia that happened in 1968-69.

The most popular foreign tune was Hey, Jude! by the Beatles.

ABS-CBN introduced color to local television.

Sylvia La Torre was the queen of television – with two daily shows: Everyday Holiday (1 p.m.) and Oras ng Ligaya (6 p.m.)

The king of morning programming was Joey Lardizabal, who hosted The Morning Show on ABS-CBN. Lardizabal later died of cancer and Eddie Mercado, a perennial pinch-hitter for Lardizabal, was eventually taken in as a permanent replacement.

Pepe Pimentel of Kuarta o Kahon fame was the top game show host.

The top newscaster was the late Jose Mari Velez, who anchored The Big News on Channel 5 every night at 9.

Jeanne Young was Philippine entertainment’s ingénue.

Nova Villa, one of the most beautiful faces in the movies, was establishing a foothold on television.

Helen Gamboa was the reigning queen of pop. She was big in the movies and especially in the recording scene.

Rosemarie Sonora (she didn’t use her surname at the start of her career) was all set to take over the throne of her sister Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes as movie queen, but that was never realized because of the arrival of Nora Aunor and, later, Vilma Santos.

The wedding of the year took place on Christmas Day of 1968 – when Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces exchanged vows at the Santuario de San Jose in Greenhills (with President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos as principal sponsors). The late morning reception was held at The Plaza in Makati.

Jimmy Morato was introduced in Larry Santiago Productions’ Cleopakwak (the komiks story of direk that lays golden eggs). His leading lady was the late Loretta Marquez.

The dance craze was the grind.

Amelia Apolinario was a popular dancer-choreographer.

The Aldeguer sisters – Telly and Lally – were said to be receiving the then fabulous sum of P500 (for both of them) every night for performing at the Top of the Hilton.

Clarita Rivera was an emerging singer.

Anyone who could dance the hula or the Tahitian was allowed to perform in variety shows on television.

Pinky Amabuyok emerged 4th runner-up in the 1968 Miss World pageant in London.

The top cage stars were Freddie Webb of Yco and Robert Jaworski of Meralco.

The world junior lightweight crown (previously held by Gabriel "Flash" Elorde for eight consecutive from 1960 to 1967) was returned to the Philippines by Rene Barrientos after he defeated American (but of Mexican extraction) Ruben Navarro on the night of Feb. 15, 1969 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Caltex Spelling Bee champion (1969) was Romeo Solis Jr. of Don Bosco Technical Institute Mandaluyong and the first runner-up was Ronald Bregendahl (son of the late actors Ric Rodrigo and Rita Gomez) of San Beda College. The year before, Cynthia Patag of Iloilo placed third in the spelling bee contest.

Virgie Arroyo was a popular radio personality. She had a mighty radio program, which she supposedly was co-hosting with a little girl who was actually also herself (mimicking a young girl’s voice). Arroyo, sadly, died a few years later when she figured in a tragic car accident in front of Uni-Mart along Ortigas.

Johnny de Leon (with sidekick Ngongo) lorded it over the airwaves.

Tabloid news then was about a cat that gave birth to four kittens and a puppy. Obviously it was a hoax.

The fashionable style in men’s wear was the Nehru collar.

Some brides matched to their altar dates in white mini skirts. The groom wore dark coat and tie. (The Barong Tagalog returned to the wedding scene only in 1973 with the Bagong Anyo look – Barong Tagalog that had buttons from the collar all the way down and with two slits at the back.)

The United States opened opportunities among Filipinos who finished Commerce B.S.E. and even secretarial courses to work in America. Yes, it was that easy to go to the US that time.

Koala Milk (it was really just filled milk and not the milk of the koala bear) was introduced in the market. Its TV ad featured two groups of little boys engaged in a tug-o-war – with those who drank Koala Milk winning, of course.

Good Earth Emporium along Rizal Avenue was a popular department store. On its roof deck were kiddie rides like the merry-go-round. Lily Monteverde was probably also there manning a popcorn booth. (Yes, that was among the first of her many businesses.)

Families saved up for the Holiday on Ice at the Araneta Coliseum.

Matabunkay Beach in Batangas was still a popular destination for excursions.

Eugene’s in Cubao offered very good lengua.

For good and fresh seafood, people in Greater Manila Area (which was how Metro Manila was called back then) went to Fish Fun in Malabon. And I bet most of you graduate of St. James Academy that year went there for your graduation dinner celebrations