Martin reminds Rico J: Behave!

Nagmula sa lupa

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Ang buhay mong

Sa lupa nagmula… — from Lupa, one of Rico J. Puno’s hit songs

When the sad news broke that Rico J. Puno died of cardiac arrest at 1:56 Tuesday (Oct. 30) morning at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City, the social media was immediately flooded with tributes. The one that must have made Rico laugh came from Martin Nievera who wrote: We will miss you. Now that you are in heaven, behave. We love you. Dubbed as The Total Entertainer, Rico was 65. He was diabetic.

Even if the public was updated about Rico’s recurring illness, the news of his death still shocked, especially since only two weeks ago The STAR interviewed Rico at the press conference for Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko, his concert with Marissa Sanchez and Giselle Sanchez, plus Rico’s daughter Tosca Puno, to be staged at Solaire on Nov. 23. (Tosca is one of Rico’s four children with ex-wife Doris Tayag. He had four more children with other women, according to Tosca.)

“My dad went to the hospital for executive check-up last Sunday,” said Tosca. “He was bloated kaya hindi na siya pinalabas ng duktor.”

There was no premonition that Rico would, as Martin put it, “be in heaven” 12 days later. He was his usual green-funny self, poking fun at Marissa and Giselle who played along even as they jokingly reminded the media guys to please “delete” the green items.

Rico de Jesus Puno (with daughter Tosca): Friends said that he will live on with his songs in the hearts of everybody, such iconic songs as Kapalaran, May Bukas Pa, Macho Guapito and The Way We Were (you know, Namamasyal pa sa Luneta ng walang pera).

The concert’s title proved to be prophetic. At the presscon, Rico displayed the spot on his chest where a pacemaker was implanted barely four weeks earlier, saying it was as big as a dollar coin. It was the third procedure that he had undergone in three years. In 2015, he suffered a heart attack on the set of the ABS-CBN sitcom Home Sweetie Home and underwent a triple bypass. In December last year, he underwent an angioplasty. A workaholic since he joined showbiz in the early ’70s, Rico didn’t let his ailment stop him from doing shows. One of his last appearances was at the Apat Na Dekada ng Aliw on Oct. 4 at Aliw Theater where he sang with Tosca and then went down the stage to sing to Aliw founder-president Alice H. Reyes.

“For him, the show must go on,” said Tosca. “Ayaw paawat, ayaw tumigil. He was a fighter to the end. He’s a Makati councilor and he even filed his COC (Certificate Of Candidacy) for the 2019 elections,” adding, “he spent his last few weeks with us his children, it was as if he was trying to make up for lost time.”

Marissa was shocked. “We are all flabbergasted. ‘Yon na pala ang huli naming pagkikita,” referring to the presscon. “I started my career with Rico. It was him who told me that I had a gift sa comedy.“

Giselle was in denial. She said, “Rico touched our lives but never any part of our body. He did it with his songs,” two of them May Bukas Pa (theme song of the ABS-CBN soap that showed that there is hope) and The Way We Were which is about lovers who can enjoy a date without having to spend a single cent (you know, namamasyal pa sa Luneta ng walang pera…).

Martin Nievera, one of Rico’s closest friends.

The influx of new singers hardly eclipsed Rico who teamed up with contemporaries Hajji Alejandro, Nonoy Zuñiga and Rey Valera as The Hitmakers which drew audiences here and abroad with their well-loved hit songs, sometimes with fellow OPM icons Eva Eugenio, Imelda Papin and Claire dela Fuente.

• Hajji (speaking in the present tense): In the world of show business, Rico J is truly one of my closest friends. We practically started in the business at the same time in mid-‘70s. I’ve always enjoyed his company because he is such a fun person to be with. He led a very colorful life which explains his never-ending exciting, funny stories just everything under the sun. There is no idle moment when you’re with this guy.

He is passionate with everything he does, be it singing, politics, playing golf or his recent love for interior designing. Even before becoming a public servant, he has helped and touched the lives of so many people in the most positive way. That’s why everyone I know has a good story to tell about “Koriks.” I believe, even only at 65, he has lived a full life. He will surely be missed but his songs and memory will live forever in our hearts. Rest in peace, my friend.

• Nonoy: Scenario: around 1973 when RJP was not yet known and I was with a band alternating with him. I was outside the lounge puffing my cigaret when he approached me and said, “Noy, pahitit nga?” I smiled and gave it to him. Then, he smiled back and said, “Salamat, repapips (pare),” then casually walked away, saying, “Singer ka, bawal sa’yo sigarilyo,” and then laughed. That cigaret was my new and only stick left for the day.

Last presscon, Oct. 18, 2018 at Limbaga restaurant: He was his usual fun self despite having just been implanted with a pacemaker, regaling the media guys and his Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko concert co-performers (from left) Marissa Sanchez, Giselle Sanchez and his daughter Tosca Puno. — PHOTO BY RICKY LO

• Eva: Mami-miss ko ang mga jokes niya. Sabi niya ako daw ang endorser ng Himlayang Pilipino. Hayun, umuna na siya. Kapag fitted ang gown ko, mukha daw akong suman. Malimit niya akong kayaging bumili ng CP pero hindi matuluy-tuloy. Wala na ang aming standard bearer. Wala nang Rico J. Goodbye.

• Claire: During our last concert at Resorts World, Rico came in a wheelchair at naka-oxygen siya kasi kalalagay pa lang ng kanyang pacemaker. Sobrang nakaka-stress siyang tingnan. All of us cried. But he still proceeded to sing because he said it was a commitment and the show must go on. He sang one song and joined a production number. The audience cried and cried, and gave him a standing ovation.

Then after three weeks, he called to tell me that he was strong already and he did not need oxygen anymore. I told him that I would visit him at home. After one week, he called and said that he was going to eat in my restaurant with some friends from Makati. His voice was fine, ang ganda-ganda! He seemed to be strong. He said that he had no more problem.

That was only three weeks ago. I can’t believe that he’s gone. I cried. What a waste. He’s too young to go. And dami pa sana siyang mapapasaya.

As per his last wish, Rico’s wake is held at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City, where his mother’s wake was also held. He will be buried beside his mom’s grave at Heritage Park.

The plan is to convert Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko (produced by Grand Leisure) into a tribute for Rico. For sure, he will be there, not onstage but with the audience clapping and clapping — minus his green jokes.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)