There are a bunch of unanswered email with all these questions. Since I putting some stuff on hold pending approval from certain quarters, I thought I’d take the time to answer them here.
Q: I like how you put your favorite albums on the blog. Many of them I am unaware of but have since tried out. Very diverse taste in music but I think the heavy stuff are not for me. Sorry. I’d like to ask what are your 10 favorite bands.
Rick: Well, I like a lot of artists but here’s my best bet at the moment and not in order. Plus they are all still performing: U2, Versus, Reel Big Fish, Tool, Death Cab for Cutie, Interpol, British Sea Power, Dave Matthews Band, Up Dharma Down, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Of the ten, the only ones I have not seen live are U2 and Tool. The best show I’ve been to – the Cure during their Curiosa Tour concert at Randall’s Island and Interpol opened for them. Reel Big Fish at the Irving Plaza was wild. Everyone was dancing from start to finish. The Dave Matthews Band concert at Central Park was so huge. The Great Lawn was packed. It was a bitch getting home after that.
Q: Do you still buy CDs?
Rick: Yes, but not as much as I used to. I have to totally like the album before I get it. Sorry but U2’s new album is a little disappointing. Classic U2 it ain't. Classic U2 is Boy, October, and War. I was listening to them when it wasn't fashionable to listen to U2. And I still have every original US-pressed vinyl LP from Boy to the Joshua Tree.
Q: Do you download music?
Rick: Rarely. I upload my CDs to my iTunes. I have about 5,000 CDs in my collection. No pirated stuff FYI.
Q: You seem to infuse a lot of your musical influences in your writing. Are you a frustrated musician?
Rick: No. I used to play in bands from grade school to college. In college I stopped after a bit. In high school, we jammed at least once a week. Played a few gigs and parties. That’s it. I played bass guitar and percussion. I wanted to take it up more seriously while in the United States but work got in the way. Hahahaha. And I didn’t think I could live out in a van. Maarte ako. Hahahahaha. I guess, I didn’t have the right attitude for it.
Q: Did you read JK Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series?
Rick: Yes. And it’s not a kid’s book by any chance.
Q: How many books do you buy in a year?
Rick: At least 12. One of the coolest things is friends and acquaintances coming over and either lending me some books or giving them. I think I have a backlog of three dozen books that I have not read.
Q: What magazines do you read regularly?
Rick: World Soccer and Time are the only ones I read regularly now. Rolling Stone and Rogue once in a while.
Q: Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Rick: Man that is a tough one. Cory Aquino, Dwyane Wade (rookie year NBA Store in NYC), and Tobey Maguire (filming of Spider-Man 2). It has to be Jennifer Lopez (Marriot Hotel). That’s right. Hahahaha. Seriously. That is a funny funny story. I thought it would get me on Page Six of the New York Post.
Q: I like how you put your favorite albums on the blog. Many of them I am unaware of but have since tried out. Very diverse taste in music but I think the heavy stuff are not for me. Sorry. I’d like to ask what are your 10 favorite bands.
Rick: Well, I like a lot of artists but here’s my best bet at the moment and not in order. Plus they are all still performing: U2, Versus, Reel Big Fish, Tool, Death Cab for Cutie, Interpol, British Sea Power, Dave Matthews Band, Up Dharma Down, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Of the ten, the only ones I have not seen live are U2 and Tool. The best show I’ve been to – the Cure during their Curiosa Tour concert at Randall’s Island and Interpol opened for them. Reel Big Fish at the Irving Plaza was wild. Everyone was dancing from start to finish. The Dave Matthews Band concert at Central Park was so huge. The Great Lawn was packed. It was a bitch getting home after that.
Q: Do you still buy CDs?
Rick: Yes, but not as much as I used to. I have to totally like the album before I get it. Sorry but U2’s new album is a little disappointing. Classic U2 it ain't. Classic U2 is Boy, October, and War. I was listening to them when it wasn't fashionable to listen to U2. And I still have every original US-pressed vinyl LP from Boy to the Joshua Tree.
Q: Do you download music?
Rick: Rarely. I upload my CDs to my iTunes. I have about 5,000 CDs in my collection. No pirated stuff FYI.
Q: You seem to infuse a lot of your musical influences in your writing. Are you a frustrated musician?
Rick: No. I used to play in bands from grade school to college. In college I stopped after a bit. In high school, we jammed at least once a week. Played a few gigs and parties. That’s it. I played bass guitar and percussion. I wanted to take it up more seriously while in the United States but work got in the way. Hahahaha. And I didn’t think I could live out in a van. Maarte ako. Hahahahaha. I guess, I didn’t have the right attitude for it.
Q: Did you read JK Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series?
Rick: Yes. And it’s not a kid’s book by any chance.
Q: How many books do you buy in a year?
Rick: At least 12. One of the coolest things is friends and acquaintances coming over and either lending me some books or giving them. I think I have a backlog of three dozen books that I have not read.
Q: What magazines do you read regularly?
Rick: World Soccer and Time are the only ones I read regularly now. Rolling Stone and Rogue once in a while.
Q: Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
Rick: Man that is a tough one. Cory Aquino, Dwyane Wade (rookie year NBA Store in NYC), and Tobey Maguire (filming of Spider-Man 2). It has to be Jennifer Lopez (Marriot Hotel). That’s right. Hahahaha. Seriously. That is a funny funny story. I thought it would get me on Page Six of the New York Post.
Q: And the most infamous?
Rick: Ah… thieving politicians. God, I cannot stand them! If I mention them here they might have me killed. Hahahaha. Seriously…. Joey “Pepe” Smith? Bwahahaha. Nah… he’s a legend. Probably that NPA Alex Boncayao Brigade guy. Erap when he was President. I almost did not shake his hand.
Q: What is the craziest thing you’ve done that’s sports-related?
Rick: Go to Mexico to watch luchadore wrestling. Ride shotgun in a drag race at Ortigas Avenue one time. I was scared shitless. Does paying a lot of money for a Juventus-AC Milan match count? That set me back $500.
Q: Who in your mind is a “babe?” Will you ever put pictures of sexy babes on your blog?
Rick: Jessica Alba is a babe. So is Jessica Biehl. When I was in advertising, I used to tape “Reserved for Jennifer Connelly” at the back of my chair. Ah... we'll see about babes. Hahahaha.
Q: Who is your all-time all-time celebrity crush?
Rick: Moira Kelly. Ay caramba! How can you not fall for her in The Cutting Edge and With Honors?! I have almost all her movies including the Lion King stuff and the first season of The West Wing. And she’s Catholic too.
Q: What was your weirdest date ever?
Rick: I took a then unknown porn star as my date to an Ateneo East Coast reunion. No one knew about it. Hahahaha. But she was hot! I met her at a strip bar in New York. Hahahahahaha.
Q: Are you seeing anyone?
Rick: This is an odd question! Not at the moment. Hahahaha. But I do like someone but nothing muna. Hahahahaha.
Q: What is the one thing that you tried out for but was unsuccessful?
Rick: The Apprentice. FOX News. For the former, the waiting line was way way kilometric. I didn’t stand a chance. FOX, well, I’ve not given up hope. Hahahaha.
Q: Not many media people go work for TV. How does it feel to be coming out every so often?
Rick: Ah wait a minute. Hindi naman. There are lots of other media people who come out a lot. Quinito Henson na lang. Sev Sarmenta. Ronnie Nathanliesz and a lot more. Siguro sa new wave of writers yes. But my colleagues Chris Soler, Mike Abasolo, and Sid Ventura come out more. Sila yung mga star. I’m just a punk ass new jack kid on the block. I’m a long way before I can come close. But it’s fun. My first ever was ages ago… a children’s show. Then it was on John Lesaca’s Show where I came out twice. Hahahaha. I won’t tell you why. But I have a tape of that. I made a few cameo appearances on a couple of commercials. Two for PLDT. One for Jardine. And one for an instant noodles product that came out in Taiwan. Hahahahaha. For print… Bic ballpen. Hahaha. I have nice penmanship daw. Hahahaha. I have copies of everything. Hahahaha.
By far my fave is doing that Champions League match of JRU and Mapua and interviewing politicians and celebrities for Solar Sports during Manny Pacquiao’s third match with Erik Morales.
Q: Is your work on Halikinu Radio your first?
Rick: Well, I once subbed for my cousin Donald who was a jock for a while at KISS-FM (when they played jazz) for an hour while he went out for dinner with a chick. Hahahahaha. Donald has been living in NYC for what 13 years now?
I made a few guest appearances as an analyst on NBA Radio. That was hosted by good friends Martin David and Magoo Marjon and my classmate Ralph Roy (bro of rock legend Karl Roy). Also on WLS to promote Parokya Ni Edgar and Datu's Tribe. On 99.5RT during its heyday. Claimed a prize and got interviewed by a damn jock who was reading porn inside the DJ's booth.
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