Ogie Mendoza TANGO    

Tango amore in February

Dateline: Singapore  January 29 – February 7, 2007

                                                 WEEK 1

Arriving from Jakarta via GA 830, I got into Singapore at half-past ten in the evening. I went to do the usual immigration and custom clearance, and in another twenty minutes I was done ready to collect my luggage from the conveyor area. Another five minutes and viola my luggage is out. I then went to proceed to the taxi station to board a cab that will ferry me to the city. I was going to stay at Dalvey Court once again where Mdm. Bg Pang accommodates me graciously each time I’m in Singapore.

The air of Chinese New Year is very evident in the surroundings as houses, parks and malls are decorated with the typical red lantern and mandarin orange plants that are usually used as decorations to commemorate one of the popular celebrations around the world.

I got into BG’s house a in another thirty minutes and Sitti, her Indonesian maid, welcomed me at the door as she ushered and help me with my things to the room where I usually stay. I was feeling very tired from a heavy day of lessons coupled it with the short flight from Jakarta and presto I am dead-tired. Good night!

The following day I saw Bg for breakfast and was seen limping on her leg as she had a terrible fall three days ago when she landed right inside a manhole somewhere in Bukit Timah while doing errand for her grand aunt whom she takes care of. Her right ankle was badly bruised and swollen and somewhat in tears when narrating her ordeal. Poor Bg! She has so much zest in life and the last thing that she would never want to happen to her is to be left with nothing to do. With her condition, she is rendered inutile at the moment. She can’t dance but one thing sure though so she says is she is still joining TANGO CARAVAN, hoping that her condition will improve in two weeks.

She then asked me to give her details for the said tour and gave her all the information she needed to finalize her entry. Upon learning the price, she then issued me a check making her relieved of worries that she might not be able to join the excursion. This is Bg Pang. When she says something she means it and she means business. Therefore she’s in for TANGO CARAVAN. Welcome aboard Bg! She was then seen smiling despite the pain on her ankle.

Tonight, Ms. Elizabeth Sam is throwing a lavish birthday celebration over at Upper Club.

I got this invitation alongside with friends Angeline, Nurdi and a host of other friends, so we all are going to pay homage to one of Singapore’s revered ladies tonight.

As I got into Upper Club, I saw familiar faces from the dancing world all charged up and ready to party with our birthday girl. Everyone was looking elegant. Everyone was in party mood and the energy emanating inside the ballroom was indeed superb. Judging from the atmosphere I saw, I can very well say that Elizabeth is a well-loved and respected personality. She is simple and friendly to everyone. She has no pretensions whatsoever and she just comes to dance for the love of dancing. At her age, I would say she’s looking much younger and still have much bravura to go on with life with great aplomb.

I sat with Angeline, Nurdi and Philo as we enjoyed the sumptuous dinner of beef and chicken with enticing desserts courtesy of Chef Hans of the Upper Club kitchen. Wines and other drinks were flowing during the evening. E. Sam, as she is fondly called by the ballroom people was seen radiating with charm and elegance as she moved from table to table thanking and greeting everyone who came for her party. She was telling everyone to sit back and relax as more surprises are in store for the evening.

The dance floor was filled with ballroom habitués all having the best time of their lives dancing to the pulsating music of mixed Latin and ballroom DJ Chardin played during the evening.

Ms Jannie Tay was seen in the company of Jenny Chua, another old guard in the world of Singapore dancing. Jenny Chua who came together with her partner for life, Jojo were seen having a good time exchanging banters with E. Sam. Jannie came up to me to tell me she needed to talk to me about Roberto’s tango show. I said fine, I can see her anytime

The Eus, from grand matriarch Diana, to daughter Helena, daughter-in-law Mary and grand daughters Samantha and Eva were present during the evening. They of course came with their respective Filipino DI’s.

Indriatti who came with Michelle with their respective partners were seen seated on one table along with Irene and Zaldy. Also spotted were Alvin Kuan of the Balrroom Club, ditto with Alice, Grace Chau , Daisy, Colleen, Helen, Angela, and a host of other dancing ladies who were all seen having a great time chatting, dancing and laughing.

It was a beautiful evening indeed when suddenly the emcee interrupted the proceedings when he said the greatest show on earth will begin in a few minutes. Everyone got even more excited because this is what E. Sam was telling her guests to sit back and relax as her friends promised her a very special number this evening.

The lights went off and soon enough a pair of Latin dancers whose names I couldn’t remember, came out with a highly energetic jive and samba presentation which then segued to a dramatic rumba number. The guests gave them a resounding applause signifying their approval of the couple’s superb performance. Then another couple came out, this time it was ballroom from waltz to foxtrot and quick step which they presented.

The dance floor was swarmed by eager spectators making the energy really fully charged. I would say this is one of the best parties I’ve ever attended. The crowd was restless as

though something exciting is bound to happen. There was a ten-minute lull before the next presentation and suddenly the lights went off again. From the shadows, audience can

see people in dark suits positioning themselves on center stage. By the time everyone was

in place, the long silence was disturbed by a very loud tune to the music of Madonna’s

Material Girl and everyone in the audience went gaga as they clapped and hummed the

song’s introduction. Some twenty male participants were seen swaying and gyrating to the top bouncy tune of the 80’s when suddenly a “blonde lady in white dress” appeared from the crowd of male dancers, singing, lip-synching Madonna in effervescent style. People thought it was another of those gay boys who would dress in drag but everyone got the biggest surprise of their lives when they found out it was Royston, this 60 plus year old long time dancing partner of E. Sam. Everyone was laughing in stitches as they couldn’t believe Royston was doing it. Being the male macho that he is known for, having sired several children from three wives, whom by the way, he still keeps till now, he together with the Filipino boys really brought the house down. There is no other way to describe this number but spectacular and hilarious. Kudos to Royston and the Filipino DI’s! In the words of Angeline Jansen, the Filipino dancers outdid themselves. Bravo!

After the euphoria from the performances presented, it was time to present the birthday cake and everyone in the house were called to come forward to join our celebrant as she blows the candles on her cake, signifying many years of blissful living. E. Sam was seen closing her eyes and making a wish before she blew the candles and everyone gave her a resounding applause.

All the ladies were asked to stay as they swarmed around the birthday girl for a souvenir photo. Ms. Jannie Tay and Ms. Jenny Chua were seen in close huddle with E. Sam, understandably because the three power ladies of Singapore are the best of friends.

All the men in the house were soon called upon to join E. Sam for a birthday pose. Dozens of Filipino DI’s came up to stand and be counted .Also seen, were Alvin Kuan of the Ballroom and a host of other men who are Ms. E. Sam’s friends in the business world.

After the ceremonies, it was back to general dancing and again the dance floor was filled to the rafters as everyone in the house are now again on party mood. It went on until 2:00 am when everyone dropped dead-tired brought about by the non-stop dancing and loads of fun that transpired during the evening. Great party indeed! Happy birthday E. Sam!

The following day lessons with Angeline and Shirley were scheduled towards early evening at Xenbar. At 6:00 pm Shirley was there ready to take her lesson. I just went on to brush-up on what she still remembers from the previous lesson which was less than a month ago and surprisingly, she has again improved from last time. For less than two years now, Shirley has made significant progress and it’s about time to make her do some complicated variations to test her skill in using the elements of tango which she has been learning all along. I tries giving her simple variations yet but with twists and turns and she managed to somehow delineate the movement that is required of her, a clear sign that she has absorbed the discussions concerning good posture to be able to dance elegantly.