Living the simple life

When you speak of the ‘80s, one of the immediate names that comes to mind is Louie Heredia. The mestizo singer is responsible for hits like Nag-iisang Ikaw, Iisang Damdamin and Una’t Huling Mamahalin. All of a sudden, Louie slipped out of the scene, opting to live the simple life. “I felt that I’d ‘been there, done that,’” says Louie. “There was even an offer for me to do a new album pero ayoko na. I just wanted a quiet life.”

The yearning for a leisurely, unhurried lifestyle is quite understandable after being in the limelight for a good number of years and having to keep up with the competition, a backbreaking schedule and the ever-changing musical climates.

Louie also felt that it was time to leave while the adulation was still there and channeled his energy into worthy causes like helping out the survivors of the Mindanao crossfire and the kids of Pangarap Shelter. He also found time to catch up with the things he has missed out on because of a busy career. “I tried to touch base with friends I haven’t seen (because I was busy with my singing career) and I would travel out of the country once in a while with my family.”

The respite also afforded Louie the chance to explore his other gifts and passions, one of which is cooking. One should try Louie’s paella, pasta (Puttanesca and Pomodoro) and Thai curry dishes. “I’ve always had the knack,” he shares. “I started experimenting with different ingredients and spices. Every time I dined out or partied with friends, I would ask for the secrets of their paella recipes.”

In no time at all, friends started to spread the word and orders began to pour in. One of Louie’s loyal customers is Ayen Munji-Laurel who ordered two paellas one weekend. Satisfied, she would send Louie a text message: “It’s the best!”

“That means a lot to me,” says Louie, with obvious pride, “because Ayen has dined in the most expensive restaurants in the world.”

But then that old showbiz adage “once a performer, always a performer” rings true in Louie’s case and in many others like him who somehow tired of the constant struggle to be on top of their game. Even while he wasn’t active in the music mainstream, Louie would agree to do occasional corporate shows and hosting jobs in and out of town.

Somewhere along the way , Louie also became an American Idol fan who would religiously watch the live broadcast and even the replays three or four times a day. There are times when the tears would fall when someone got booted out of the show. “I can relate to these singers because I was once an aspiring singer, too.”

Before you jump to sweeping conclusions, however, Louie’s comeback concert of sorts with fellow ’80s sensations Randy Santiago, Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla titled Greatest Hits of the ‘80s last May 16 and 17 at the Music Museum does not mean he has plans of reviving his singing career. “This was a project of Boss Vic’s kids, Vincent and Veronique (del Rosario),” he says. “When they first offered it to me, I said I’d think about it kasi I don’t really enjoy going out anymore. But they were very convincing so when I gave my nod, naisip ko, ‘naku, I’d be memorizing songs again.’

This early, there are talks of bringing the concert abroad. “If Viva decides to bring us to the US, it’s fine with me. I think that would be fun,” Louie says, sounding excited. He could have added that after the reunion concert, there is nothing he’d most want to do than to retreat to his kitchen and dish out another one of his paellas.