Joey’s Blog

The very first song and performance I did on television was an Elvis Presley number. The song was “Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do.” It was on Darigold Jamboree, a sister show of Student Canteen. I was on Darigold Jamboree, a sister show of band ang tawag nuon) called Moonlight Jiggers (ang baduy no? “Jigglers” pa nga yata eh). I was still a very, very young boy. But there is something I will always remember – I got a kiss from the Lady Dean herself, Miss Leila Benitez. Could that be the lucky charm for my television career?

I did a parody of Elvis Presley twice when I made “Elvis and James” (l and ll) as Elvis Presto. Presently, I am doing the character Brother Elvis Soriano in “Ang Daming Daan” of ABC–5’s “Teka Mona” every Saturday evening at 7. In my latest Dunkin’ Donuts commercial, I am doing again another humorous imitation of the King of Rock ‘n Roll. I don’t really know why this special attraction and attachment to this icon. The only Elvis connection I think I have that my son, Joseph Joachim (Keempee), was born on the same month and day as The Pelvis (Jan. 8).

Maybe another reason is that he is easy to do. All you need is that famous pompadour and sideburns and presto! Of all the movies and characters I have done, I personally like all with the Elvises. Rock ‘n Roll!

Incidentally, every Jan. 8 is also Rock ‘n Roll Day. Alam n’yo bang nagkita na si Elvis at si Saddam?

Elvis: Hey Saddam, you remind me of one of my songs…(sings)…Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere…oh let me be…your teddy bear…

Saddam: Hoy Elvis, tigilan mo ako ha…’yung bayan mo ang may kagagawan nito!

Elvis: Iraq ‘n Roll!