Whatever happened to Guada Sanchez?

With the Bb. Pilipinas in the limelight (thanks to 2008 Bb. Pilipinas-World Janina San Miguel for the renewed excitement over and interest in the pageant), readers have been wondering whatever happened to the past binibinis, including Guada Sanchez who was Bb. Pilipinas-Universe in 1974 when the Miss Universe pageant was first held here (won by Spain’s Amparo Muñoz; and then in 1994, by India’s Sushmita Sen).

Giselle Sanchez, who recently hosted and performed in the very First Philippine Ball in Beijing, has the answer.

“I was surprised to discover that Guada was one of the event’s producers,” Giselle told Funfare. “I grew up knowing her as ‘Guada Suplada’ because, according to my mom, Guada rarely smiled and would only do so during the pageant. In Beijing, I discovered how sweet and how nice Guada is. She was always smiling and laughing during the dinner first in Liquin and then in the famous Courtyard, a ‘must-go-to’ restaurant where the chef is a Fil-Chinese, Rey Lim.”

According to Giselle, Guada is now Mrs. Malcolm McLauchlan, married for 24 years. They have two children: Matthew, 21, in boarding school in Australia; and Sebastian, 16, in school in New Zealand. (Cristina, 32, Guada’s daughter by Victor Lopez, is an events manager in New Zealand.)

“Guada has everything,” said Giselle. “Beautiful and obedient children and a handsome, loving husband. She’s 51 and still very beautiful. She and Malcolm have been in Beijing for only six months, and she has already joined the ranks of Filipino movers and shakers in producing the Philippine Ball. She and Malcolm are working together in building an eight-restaurant complex called 1949, The Hidden City.”

Incidentally, Giselle, who’s in the cast of Regal Films’ riotous comedy Manay Po 2 Overload, is performing tonight, starting at 8, at the Music Museum with Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Pilita Corrales, Pinky Marquez and Marissa Sanchez. The show is for the benefit of the female rape victims under the wing of the Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women.

Two more rejoinders to the Earth, Wind & Fire minor ‘issue’

•  From Mark Young, in-charge of publicity, brand management and entertainment of The Fame Factory:

I am Earth, Wind & Fire’s publicist and recently saw your article on-line in The Philippine STAR regarding Al McKay’s revue group “The Experience” (which did a series of shows in the Philippines last week).

Earth, Wind & Fire is certainly honored that Mr. McKay has put together a cover band and revue as a tribute to the great music of Earth, Wind & Fire. They are just as honored when the group is paid a tribute by a high school or college band that often plays EWF hits at their sporting events.

The Original founding members Philip Bailey (lead vocalist), Verdine White (bass player and brother to Maurice White) and Ralph Johnson travel, perform and record as Earth, Wind & Fire under an international trademark.

Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and founder Maurice White were recently honored by the Grammy Awards with nominations for their latest Earth, Wind & Fire album, Illumination.

Earth, Wind & Fire continually tours to sold-out audiences around the world, most recently coming off a South American tour in which EWF played numerous sold out engagements to audiences exceeding 20,000 in Chile and Brazil alone, with their extraordinary show sending fans into a frenzy.

EWF is currently on tour in Europe playing to thousands of fans in Germany and to over 30,000 people at a stadium in Amsterdam.

The “EWF Experience” band member quoted in The Philippine STAR as to the real EWF band lip-synching in concert is unfounded. EWF is an example of pure quality and professionalism.
We look forward to you seeing EWF live in concert someday to experience why Earth, Wind & Fire is the legendary band and certainly is the reason that Mr. McKay is paying tribute to them with his cover band revue.

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•  From Rich Salvato (no address given):

Maurice White, founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, read your column and has asked that I forward to you the following comments. To begin with, he wants it understood that there is only one Earth, Wind & Fire and that he alone owns the name of the band. The band that he authorizes to utilize the brand name is led by Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson who are all original members and sing live with absolutely no lip synching as Bruce Conte, whom you interviewed, was quoted as saying.

While it’s true that Al McKay was an original member, he has never been authorized to use the brand name (Earth, Wind & Fire) for his touring purposes. Currently, legal counsel has been retained to monitor the activities of Al McKay’s band worldwide and stand ready to litigate in certain countries.

Bruce Conte has given you fraudulent information. He may have played as a sideman with Al McKay but he was never a member of Earth, Wind and Fire. As to his ridiculous statement that “if it sounds like EWF, it must be EWF”, then every band that covers a known artist’s material must be the original. Obviously, this is impossible. Also, Conte’s allegation that the Internet smear campaign on McKay’s’ Manila shows may be the outpouring of the rivalry between the two bands is ludicrous. True fans of Earth, Wind & Fire are very much aware of who the real band is. Currently, fans of the real Earth, Wind & Fire in Germany and Holland are enjoying the band perform during their tour of Europe.

So Mr. Lo, it would be appreciated if you would inform your readers of the truth.

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