A Heaven in the Skies...: Wise Guys

We met the Wise Guys band noong birthday ni tita Joyce. Wala kaming magawa that time and nagyaya mag-good time si tita Joyce, siya daw ang taya! So, we went around Quezon City looking for a place, preferably karaoke bar but we end up in Quezon Avenue and saw Chatterbox. From the entrance pa lang nagtitili kaming lahat when we saw puro gwuapo!!!

The band played several songs. Really gwuaaaappooooo sila! Lalu na si Jay! After a few songs one of them asked who among the audience is celebrating their birthday. They were offering a requested song and the band will sing it for the celebrant, whatever song.… The place was small and there was a common washing area for both the customers and performers at doon namin sila personally na meet sa backstage near the wash room. We all had a crush pa nga kay Jam. Sigaw ng sigaw si tita Joyce while si Ruth naman titig na titig kay Paul. Hahaha!

I don’t remember na how we got to be their fans or followers. Basta ang alam ko me and Ruth would watch them during our free time or whenever we are both stressed and we need to unwind. First Ruth and tita Joyce followed the band perform somewhere in Ortigas then next, ako na lang and si Ruth ‘cuz tita Joyce left for the states. Ruth and I tracked the band in 8th Days and in Pueblo aside their performance in Chatterbox meron din sila sa may Malate. However, only tita Joyce was able to see them perform in Malate before she left ‘cuz the place is so far and you need to have a car to get around the area. Anyway, come to think of it, dalawa kaming DEAF ni Ruth and yet it doesn’t stop us from going to the bars to watch them sing and dance amidst the swarming and screaming girls. But I think our Deafness has some advantage ‘cuz it made the guys curious about us and that curiousity lead to closeness and we all became good friends… Lahat sila galante, not just because they are performers and we are their customers but they are really down to earth. As we get to know them more, we started getting VIP treatment every time we come to watch them. Si Guy or Paul mostly are the ones who would accommodate us in the guest list. Minsan si Jam or Jay…. I remember I wasn’t used pa nga being around them all kasi they are all malambing and I almost insulted Jay with his sunglasses. Kasi biruin mo ang dilim dilim na nga dun sa bar tapos naka dark sunglasses pa siya! But I think he took my advise naman at di siya na-offend kasi the next time we saw him he changed his sunglasses to yellow. And all of us were curious how it would look around if you wear it kasi alam naming it’s bright. So, we’ve been taking turns trying his sunglasses every time they will have a break. Hahahaha!

We followed this group I think for a year or two and at one time during my birthday and we were at the bar, the group were performing a rock song and suddenly Guy pulled me up on stage and danced with me. Much to my surprise! Ang daming girls nakatingin sa aming dalawa and he didn’t let me go. I was blushing! Tawa ng tawa si Ruth. When they had their break, Guy asked me: “Anong sayaw yung ginawa mo? Wala akong alam na ganoon ah!” Laughter. Then he took my hand and sang my favorite song: SABI MO! He even wrote the lyrics for me and I think to this day I still have those notes.

The band was becoming famous at the time we met them. They would sometimes perform on television and we would watch them and afterwards text them. Sometimes, Ruth and I would race text them after school and we would end up screaming. Si Guy, Jay and Paul and madalas naming ka text noon kasi si Jam taken eh! May girlfriend na! But nevertheless, Jam also text us pa minsan-minsan. At one time I was not able to go with Ruth ‘cuz I wasn’t feeling well. Ruth came home at 3am. Jay brought her to our dormitory in his car. I wanted to scream when I found out! I could have gotten better instantly. LOL!

So many things happened as time goes. There was even a time they asked us to go with them in Baguio but I refused and Ruth wanted to go but later she didn’t. When I moved in a condo with different friends, Ruth stayed in the old dormitory and sometimes she still goes out alone. I don’t know when she stopped watching them…. The last time I watched The Wise Guys perform was in 8th Days. Guy was going to retire soon and put up his own restaurant somewhere near Ultra. We met his mom and gave his ex-girlfriend, Anna her late birthday present. (a Parker red pen). Anna is also their manager. She too, became close to us…. I don’t know what become of the group after that last day I watched them perform except that Guy did leave the band and started his restaurant. He even invited us at the opening but we weren’t able to come because of the short notice. I will always remember them even though we don’t see or get in touch with each other anymore.

Here are some pictures which I found hidden in my closet. These were taken in 8th Days noong birthday ni Guy.

This was taken after Guy pulled me up on stage and danced with me. I still look so flushed because I was so elated! Didn’t expect he will drag me up there, talaga!