Picking the brains of people with stories to tell
It was almost like a movie moment, the first time I met Alem Garcia.
Manila, November 2017: She had just come from doing Gugmang Giatay the Musical at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater and was surrounded by guests offering their congratulations.
Through her crowd of admirers, we caught each other’s eye. I remember congratulating her as well, and she responded with a very soft-spoken and polite thank you—a stark contrast to her loud and energetic performance not even an hour ago.
Susanne Verallo made the first move.
The first time we met each other, just a little over two years to this day, was at the opening of Go Lokal in Ayala Center Cebu, a concept store for up-and-coming Filipino entrepreneurs to showcase their products. I was looking at a display of minaudières and was fascinated with their iridescent detail under the harsh shop lights when someone approached me.
“Hello,” her voice was soft-spoken and polite. “I’m Susanne Verallo.”
The name immediately rang a bell—after all, it was proudly displayed next to the statement bags that had so caught my attention.
We shook hands and made small talk about her products, particularly about how the minaudières on display were among her last. She explained that they take too much effort and generate a lot of waste to make, and will be shifting her focus to jewelry instead.
“What does that mean?” The artist formerly known as Lourdes Maglinte ponders, as a hairstylist makes quick work parting her hair into smaller sections. The ends, fading from an emerald green dye, frame her face like a faux bob though the singer takes no notice, her attention focused on applying light makeup.
It was the Wednesday before the official launch of Ruin the Party, and LOURDES (she’s dropped the last name and turned the caps lock on) was getting a complete hair transformation at MIRA Beauty by Design. Her glam squad for that afternoon, led by the salon’s Beauty Director Hannah Esguerra, was preparing to bleach LOURDES’ hair and give her the rose gold hue she’s requested while we were making jokes about touching base with us when she’s even more famous than she already is.
“Being famous,” she clarifies after a swipe of color on her eyebrows. “I don’t think I have fans. But I have friends who go to my gigs.”
In a way, this rings true. After all, as much as Cebu’s music industry is growing, it’s still a tight-knit community that unites familiar faces, most of which end up becoming friends (sometimes lovers).
