I was an obedient student in college (also in high school and so on), so when my journalism teacher, Bibsy Carballo, told me to report to the newest and swankiest hotel in the country then, I did just that. No questions asked—when told to jump, my generation did, never asking why or where, but just how high, as they say.
By now the news of Ma. Dolores “Bibsy” M. Carballo’s passing is all over the entertainment industry, where she gave vent to her various talents spanning almost five decades. She was a writer (pre-martial law Sunday Times magazine), award-winning documentary and TV writer, talent manager (from Jackie Lou Blanco to Dawn Zulueta), entertainment columnist (Philippine Star).
ONE thing struck me this morning. I haven’t deleted from my phone contact list the numbers of some friends who have died, some of them quite a long time ago.
It was a call from radio broadcasting maverick and veteran impresario Francis Lumen that I had been waiting for—an invitation to have face time with Indian tennis champion Mahesh Bhupathi, who has been flying into town regularly to organize the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) matches here in November.
There are those who have yet to get a life again after Nora Aunor was bypassed as National Artist. They simply can’t move on.