The Fall and Rise of Em-em

December 16, 2008

JP Cunada

By JP Anthony D. Cuñada

 

When God takes away something, he has another ready in exchange.

For Abe John Obordo a.k.a Em-em, was not a case of God taking his talent away from him much more a case of he has no talent at singing at all?

 

This is how it happened.

Em-em joined a singing competition, The Singing Idol Songfest. If he only had a chair to stand on to reach the high notes. But there wasn’t any because the chairs were occupied by the audience.

 

Disaster struck. Abe John “Em-em” Obordo did not join a singing competition again.

 

As a popular science TV show says: Disaster doesn’t just happen. There are series of events that led to it.

 

For Em-em, the series of events are the following:

 

February 2004 he arrived for work in Kuwait. May 2004 he joined the Circle of Performing Artists in Kuwait (CPAK). During one of the cultural presentations sponsored by the US camp in arifjan Kuwait in celebration of the Philippine independence in June 2004, where he rendered a song number. At least one person liked it. He invited Em-em to join the contest.

Em-em was flattered. He joined the singing contest. And the next thing was: disaster.

 

And this is where our story begins.

 

Em-em was born in Roxas City on February 20, 1979, to Abelardo Obordo (deceased) and Amelia Obordo, the Captain of her Barangay, in Sapi-an, Capiz, since 1970-present.

 

As a young boy, he was always on stage either dancing the Tinikling and other Philippine folk dances or joining the singing competitions.

 

He almost became a priest when he was accepted by the famous St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City to continue his high school education. In the Seminary, he was a member of the Pian Presentors, a selected group of Seminarians who performs during important Seminary and Archdiocesan events, for four years.

 

Since the Seminary requires each section (there was only one section per year in his time), to perform during the birthday of the Patron Saint, Em-em choreograph his class’ presentations on his 3^rd and 4^th year in the Seminary.

 

Destined for a life outside the seminary, he pursued his studies at St. Anthony’s College in Roxas City taking up Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy.

 

After a year of adjustment, Em-em began to shine again. This time as a choreographer and at the same time modern dancer, playwright and director in college. And all of his works won the grand prizes.

Now, Em-em was very depressed.

He loves to sing. Previous experiences on stage have been rewarding. How can a performance in another country, albeit in front of mostly the same people (Filipino), go wrong?

 

He formulated theories to explain why it happened, but in the end, he came to this conclusion: I am not meant to be a singer. I am not meant to be in front of the stage.

 

If he could not be in front, could he be at the back? Yes, but our story does not jump there.

 

First, Em-em had to wander, smell the Kuwait air, let it blow away the pain of a wounded pride and shattered ego.

 

And maybe attend a birthday party?

 

Yes, he attended a birthday party.

 

And his world was never the same again.

 

Enter a renowned Filipino senior Journalist of The Daily Star newspaper, and organizer of events that involves Filipinos. Em-em met him at the birthday party. An acquaintance that encourages em em to be a part of his production and much to his surprised that this guy knew more than what he expected when it comes to handling productions and talents.

 

Fast forward to the first Karaoke Duet Challenge Em-em handled with the group, Arts and Music Enthusiasts of Kuwait, he and his friends formed. The Gandang OFW beauty pageant (Choreographer, October 2004), Karaoke Duet Challenge (Asst. Production Manager, September 2005), Gandang OFW (Stage Manager, October 2005)

 The voice of Christmas (Production Manager, December 2005).

 

The list goes on and on. With every new show his popularity grows. Now, he is a sought after choreographer, Production and Talent Manager.

 Then on February 2006, he managed and choreographed the Diamond Show and Haute Couture Fashion Show involving models from different countries by the internationally acclaimed designer Nohad Abdullah (www.nohadabdullah.com).He choreographed and directed the Mutya ng Pilipinas Kuwait in March  2006.

 Member of the production staff in April 2006 The International Photo Competition honoring the late Kuwait’s Amir.

When Geoff Eigenman visited Kuwait for the Fashion Show of the clothing line Human, Em-em was the choreographer and talent coordinator.. One of the production staff for the Launching of Malaysian Tourism in July 2006.

 Then he bcame the production in charge of the Malaysian Food Festival and Cultural Presentation was held in September 2006. He was the Production Manager when Side A band had a concert in Kuwait in December 2006. He directed the Black and Red Party, a dinner on Christmas Eve party and Fashion show coordinator in December 2006. Member of the organizing committee for the PSSST in December featuring the SIDE A BAND from the philippines.

Production staff in the night of the champions (a tribute to the Filipino singing talents ) in January 2007. And a series of Latino parties wherein he was the production manager in the early quarter of 2007..

When Regine and Ogie accompanied by Lovi Poe held a concert in March 2007, he was the Assistant Director and Production in-charge…GMA 7 kapuso catered all the Filipinos in middle east a basketball exhibition featuring PBA stars and artists from the Philippines he was a member of the organizing committee and the production manager of FACES (Filipino arts and cultural entertainment services) in April 2006.

 

As I said, the list goes on and on.

 

Yet, all those he did while keeping his job as a Receptionist and Masseur in one of the best health club in Kuwait.

 

Now he and his friends dream about putting up an event management company which will handle shows and gather Filipino talents. They also look forward in organizing an Actors Guild in Kuwait to produce plays shown in schools.

 

Blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes. And home is always the place where the heart is.

 

Despite of all his success in Kuwait, all he could think about is his motherland.

“It is more meaningful to share talents in your own (country).”And as to singing? “I’d rather sing on my own.” Em em said.

 

So, it was more of the fact that Em-em has no talent in singing rather than God taking his talent away. But God does have a substitute.

 

Doesn’t He?