Matt Monro Jnr. fever hits the Capitol
TNT's Florence Hibionada (right) and Provincial
Budget Officer Elena Lim also took the opportunity
to pose with Matt Monro Jnr.
For about 30 minutes yesterday, everything literally stopped in the Capitol, seat of the Iloilo Provincial Government. And the nationwide transport strike has nothing to do with it all.
What it was, was the surprise visit of international balladeer Matt Monro Jnr. who made the rounds from the ground floor up to the sixth floor. To the delight of shrieking fans in capitol employees and officials too, the dashing Matt Monro Jnr. gamefully posed for pictures. Luckier ones in the women fans got a kiss including Fourth District Board Member Shalene Palmares-Hidalgo and Budget Officer Elena Lim.
Even the "grilling session" of Vice Governor Rolex Suplico to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado was stopped with the Vice Governor seeking for a minute of suspension. Trabado was called to appear before the Committee on General Services and Human Resources following questions raised on her eligibility.
Committee chair Fifth District Board Member Jesus Salcedo Jr. was introduced to Matt Monro Jnr. with the singer impressed when told that Salcedo Jr. is the youngest board member here.
Yet it was to be First District Board Member Richard Garin who shared the limelight with Matt Monro Jnr. Garin belted a few lines of "Born Free" and "Impossible Dream" that got the singer to say that only here in the Philippines where he can find good singers everywhere.
"My father loved the Philippines," Matt Monro Jnr. said when given the chance to speak inside the session hall. "And he told me that if I want to live happily ever after… find a Filipina wife."
Garin in jest then announced, "whoever wants to be Matt Monro Jnr.'s wife, fall in line." Second District Board Member Rodolfo Cabado jokingly told "hopefuls" nearby, "go ahead and get rid of your husbands first."
For 30 minutes, everything literally stopped in the Capitol yesterday. And yes. The nationwide strike definitely had nothing to do with it.