Manong and Mariah

I was excited to log-on Billboard recently coming out of their 50-year charts.

The Twist? Come on. Any Beatles song or even Elvis's would have saved them from any embarassment. It is just disappointing that Billboard would chose to self-validate itself, namingthe song they claim to be the first Rock Song as the no.1 song of all-time.

As if it couldn't get any worse, their top artist of the past 50 years - Mariah Carey. So my least favorite singer is their no.1 great. That was the last time I logged on their site. Actually, I'm not sure which one I find worst: Mariah, Celine, Groban or The Corrs.

Until my cab-ride from Glorietta. I do not remember how our conversation led to Mariah Carey. Maybe about celebrities Manong has rendered services for. It is common knowledge that insider information is best known from taxi drivers. So we started speaking about a local newscaster who on her younger days in her career, gave manong the primadonna attitude. Can you imagine asking a taxi driver to open her door? Worse, according to manong, her language was surprisingly crass and demeaning. I actually was not surprised. Remember the issue about the household help? I didn't believe it then, but am starting to believe it now.

Manong spoke about the famous 90's TF star who frequents the casino. Well, not to gamble money but rather to trade her other assets. Then I asked her about more pleasant encounters. In less than a second, she said Mariah Carey. I do not remember her being in Manila, though. Manong used to work for a car rental company. He would not admit to be one of the better drivers in his company to be given the assignment.

He said she was his nicest passenger local or foreign. Manong said, Mariah just sang and sang thru Manila traffic, while engaging conversations with him. She showed interest with manong asking about his family, his work hours. "Ay hindi, sincere siya", was his answer to my impish question alluding to her being patronizing.

After her concert and on her way to the airport, Mariah surprised manong with a bag of food. Apparently, she asked for an extra packed lunch at the hotel for manong. She made manong wait for hours as she had to sign autographs in the hotel. Thus her small act of gratitude. But this small act deeply impacted manong. I can feel it in his voice.

I will still not buy her CDs nor watch her MTVs don't get me wrong. But for now, Mariah is off my worst artist list.