Girlfriends Day with The Lettermen

Posted on January 13, 2007
Filed Under Friends, Fun | Viewed 1825 times

Three months from retirement, and what an apt way to celebrate it than to be out with best friends. With 1-day notice, I invited best friends Bing and Lucy to have dinner and watch the concert of The Lettermen. Short notice has always worked; Most often, when one gives a longer notice, there would be hitches along the way. We met at Gateway, had dinner at Dencio’s – the usual grills, bangus belly sinigang, asparagus tips (see, we’re eating healthy!), and sisig, and for desert, ice cream and leche flan. What a feast for 3 best friends, who last saw each other in December, It seemed like ages, with so many stories to tell, a lot to catch up with.

Bing, Lucy and me at Dencio’s

The concert started late, but we didn’t mind. The Araneta colisieum was almost filled to its seating capacity (only half of the coliseum that seats 13,000 was used). 5,000-6,000 is my estimate (that’s the obsessive compulsive me, counting and counting and counting).

The good thing for us, especially Bing was that among those who watched, we were in the lower half in terms of age. We felt younger than most (oh, to be young and carefree), Bing is almost 15 years younger than Lucy and myself (there, now, you can guess Bing’s age). There were people in their 70s, 60s, us 40’s and a handful of 30s (there you are Bing), and 20s.

The Music

We were told before the program that the concert would be taped live for the album “The Lettermen in the Philippines”, and would we please cooperate by clapping? To which th audience gamely agreed. But the clapping, whistling, hollering and even singing was from the heart, not orchestrated. Lucy and I were impressed, Bing knew most of the songs by heart.

Their voices blended in harmony; they are among the best. The only local group that i can think of who can perform nearest to them are the Apo Hiking Society. The way they sing is effortless, and once they start crooning (crooning, man, not singing), one starts waxing sentimental, one loves all over again, one walks down memory lane. Lucy and i were born almost when they started the group (47 years ago, they say). c’mon tell the truth, Lucy, were we born before the group was launched? 47 years ago, and their songs have ruled the air waves for years. we still hear their songs – they are immortal, unlike the newer songs, forgotten. They still continue their world tours, at least 150 performances each year, they say.

see the receding hairlines?

What made the concert more special was that we best friends had the 2-1/2 hours all to ourselves, despite being amidst the crowd. How we clapped, hollered, how we sang with the audience, and how in between we reminisced those good old days. Who cannot be mushy with the songs “Warm”. Morning Girl, The Way You Look Tonight, Put Your Head on My Shoulder (we should have brought our mothers along!), and many more, sang either in full as as part of medleys. They also had fast numbers, Copocabana, Going Out of My Head (see, it wasn’t pure ballads) and theme songs from movies (Phantom of the Opera, Titanic, Ghost). Every one could relate with their songs; nowadays, revivals almost always become hits. Filipino songs were part of their repertoire, also translated to English, Hindi Kita Malilimutan, Sapagkat Kami ay Tao Lamang, the immortal Dahil Sa Yo.

Apart from listening, humming, singing along, and savoring each moment, we tried to catch up with what has been happening with our lives in the recent past, they at work full time and mothers after work, while me, in retirement, enjoying being a “mother to the max”, and enjoying my writing and the new found friends in the blogosphere.

Oh, how we envied those in front, those who paid $100+ – The Lettermen were gracious enough to have pictures taken with them.

It was touching finale. For once, the audience were like teenagers, flashing cellphones swaying to the tune of You’ll Never Walk Alone. It was a sight to see the tiny lights from the cellphones which have connected our lives to so many people, gadgets we cannot do without with nowadays.

Thank You

Once again, my thank yous. To the Lettermen, thank you for the enchanting evening; to Juris and Mikko (bing’s kids), and Allan, Lisa and Michael (Lucy’s), thanks for your understanding. Your Moms have spent the 4 hours Friday night with your Tita Dine, instead of preparing your dinner and sharing it with you. Thanks, dear best friends Lucy and Bing for coming, despite the very short notice. Thanks too, to my kids, and Dad (that’s my husband) for understanding the need for a night out with friends. For the past many many years, you haver never faulted us from spending Wednesday or Friday nights out with our best friends.
Friday was not only TGIF day. It was “Girlfriends Day” with The Lettermen. We went home at past 11 pm, lighthearted, humming, we must have been “Alzheimered” from the stresses and cares of the past weeks.
For those who want to catch them, I read that they would be in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Bacolod and Pampanga. And yes, they will keep coming back, this is their 20th visit to the Philippines.

after the concert, outside Gateway, Lucy, Bing and me

hi! Bing

that’s me

Comments

12 Responses to “Girlfriends Day with The Lettermen”

niceheart on January 13th, 2007 11:03 am

Wow! You are a rocking momma! You don’t look like you have 7 kids.

Sometimes it’s really nice to have an all girls’ night out. It also helps to have an understanding husband.

Natawa ako duon sa picture with the receding hairlines.
Jaja on January 13th, 2007 5:10 pm

that was a nice way of spending a girls’ night out.the only ways i know how to spend a girls’ night out are:clubbing,getting drunk,clubbing,getting drunk!hehe.

i miss the philippines!ang ganda pala ng gateway,di pa ako nakakapunta jan!

salamat for stopping by my blog and for the compliments!
sachiko on January 13th, 2007 5:31 pm

wow,nag laway ako sa foods,yummy!

thanks for visiting my blog.
Talamasca on January 13th, 2007 6:23 pm

I’m not really a fan of oldies but I daresay that they’re definitely goodies. The Way You Look Tonight rox my sox. Oh, and lovely photos you got there! I’m totally guessing that you had a blast! Good for you.

Anywho, thanks for blog crashing! Come back anytime!
Rach on January 13th, 2007 11:57 pm

Glad you had a wonderful time with your best buddies. I’m also meeting my bestfriend tom for lunch. It’s like her pre-birthday celebration.
Alternati on January 14th, 2007 4:59 am

hey Dine,

I totally agree with you that impromptu outings always work best! Planning just allows cancellations.

A concert with best friends is the best!

I was laughing out loud at the “lots of receding hairlines” tag. hahahaha
Belle on January 14th, 2007 12:08 pm

did u say u have 7 children? i find that hard to believe. you look young and beautiful!

has “Il Divo” been to the Philippines yet? they are a bunch of good looking dudes especially the French guy, my favorite.
mr nice ash on January 14th, 2007 3:10 pm

I watched The Letterman in Unang Hirit one morning. I’m just on my early 20’s and I loved their blending. They are indeed great. I fell asleep on the sala floor.

I also compare APO to them. And also Vic and Jose. hehe
Shari on January 14th, 2007 4:13 pm

My parents have brought me up to love music, and I daresay I’m an oldies kid at heart. People are often surprised that at 19, I’m more fond of songs from before I was born than now (cringes), hehe. I love The Lettermen; you’re really lucky to have seen them, and with your best friends at that. It’s been ages since I last went out with my friends.
pauL on January 16th, 2007 8:50 am

hi! sori for the late reply to your comment in my blog. its nice to know na nagbloblog ka pa rin po… i dunno if it’s ok to say ‘po’... *lol

its good that you had fun in that concert. God bless!
maripe on January 18th, 2007 9:17 am

HI Dine
Had I known you will see the Lettermen sumama ako. Pag balik nila sama ninyo ako ha.
Also to Devotees of St Therese of the Child Jesus pls help build the Shrine of St Therese at Villamor Airbase, Pasay City. Pls visit our website: Stthereseshrine.com
jun dayo on June 18th, 2008 1:59 pm

Nice stories often told when you are with friends watching concert especially of a well-known group called The Lettermen. Now they will be coming back on 1st week of July, you can bring along everyone to sing their undying harmonies and I’ll be humming the song too while watching at the special ringside of Aranete Coliseum. Please visit my Youtube site, just type jundayo55 and enjoy the rest of the Lettermen memories.See you on July 3!