Everything Elvis!

Chito Bertol is often seen at the opening of the various garden shows held at the Manila Seedling Bank in Quezon City. After all, he is the longtime Chairman and President of the foundation that manages the place. At ribbon cuttings and launchings,

he looks every inch the distinguished ambassador of landscaping, gardening, and environmental issues as he escorts and tours dignitaries and very important guests through the exhibits.

Filipino connoisseurs of rock and roll music, however, see Bertol in another light. To them, he is a flashy entertainer and a talented performer and singer. After all, he is known as the Elvis Presley of the Philippines. He earned the title when he won am Elvis singing competition in 1958, a time when the iconic rock star was experiencing the white heat of his fame. The contest was held by the variety show, “Student Canteen.” Bertol was only 15 then.



“This was when ‘Student Canteen’ was still a radio show and hosted by Pepe Pimentel, Eddie Ilarde, Leila Benitez, and Bobby Ledesma,” he recalls. “After winning the contest, I had the opportunity to have a career as a singer, but my father wouldn’t have that. He wanted me to finish college and have a normal job.”

Bertol did have a successful career in the corporate world but he could never shake off the title that was bestowed to him by “Student Canteen.” Not that he minded, since after all, he’s one of the biggest and most loyal Elvis fans in the world. During his free time, he appeared on TV and radio shows and concerts, singing the hits of Elvis. At present, he hosts a weekly radio program in which he presides over a lively banter with guest stars and plays the recordings of his idol on the air. He also heads the Philippine chapter of the Elvis Presley Friendship Club. He still maintains a vast collection of Elvis memorabilia, which is stored in an air-conditioned room in his Quezon City townhouse.

Any admirer of Elvis will experience Nirvana upon entering this room. The countless items include souvenirs, dolls, an animatronic bust that sings Elvis hits, the complete DVD collection of his movies, original 78 rpm records, CDs, shirts, and pendants, among many more. Several items are gifts from friends, but some of them were bought by Bertol at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. There is a widescreen TV where Bertol can watch the films and concerts of Elvis. “I haven’t cataloged the collection, and I plan to do so this year,” he says. “Some of the things I have here are expensive and sought-after collector’s items, especially the 78 rpm records.”

The room was converted into this shrine in 1988, when the Bertols moved into the townhouse. It’s been featured in numerous TV shows and news articles but he’s reluctant to open it up for public viewing since some of the pieces are indeed priceless. Yet Bertol decided it was time to have it photographed again this month, for The Manila Bulletin’s Home and Garden section. January happens to be a special time for Elvis fans, he says. “We’re celebrating the 76th birth anniversary of Elvis this month. We’re having an Elvis concert at Graceland in Tayabas and I’ll be hosting the show and introducing the seven tribute artists who will be performing,” he says.

The show’s guests and performers will include a few members of the Elvis Presley Alliance, which covers clubs based in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan, among others. Its president, Tommy Uy, will be flying over from Hong Kong to attend the affair.

Bertol says he doesn’t perform at concerts anymore and he now prefers to sing in private functions only. “I’m 68 already and I can’t fit into my Elvis outfits anymore,” he says while laughing.

Millions of fans like Bertol -- many of them only in their teens -- have kept the legend of Elvis alive. Yet Bertol is inclined to disagree. He insists it’s the iconic work of Elvis that has kept the legend going. Says he: “His music is unique and brilliant and it changed the face of pop music. He was also handsome and was a charismatic performer. It's why he's still winning new fans from the younger generations.”
source: mb.com.ph/