Catching Up with John Lesaca
/“What do you mean?” he asked. “Why I haven’t had performances and shows?”
Yes, that.
“Because I’ve been busy!” was the quick answer. It wasn’t what I hoped he’d say, but I believed him. John Philip Jacob Lesaca is not exactly a slouch. In all the years I’ve known him, he has been a teenage idol, a professional violinist, rock star, composer, TV host, winner of several awards, farmer, an environmental advocate, golfer, father, and a twice-married man.
John Lesaca playing golf
He said he was too involved with too many things pre-pandemic and these past months gave him time to finally say, “No more.” No, that’s not “no more” as a musician but rather, as the other John Lesaca many of us know little of.
For many years between performances at the Cultural Center or the Hard Rock Café, among others, John was championing the well-being of local musicians, pushing to more widely professionalize them while fighting for their rights to fair pay, good performing conditions, and other issues. He was one to stand for the faithful payment of royalties. He was forever gathering data, attending meetings, traveling here and there, struggling to make things right for his fellow artists; but it must now end.
Lesaca playing during the UP High annual homecoming
“My passion must be replaced with new blood,” he lamented, “new ways of thinking, new ways of doing things which an old fogey like me has difficulty adapting to.” So as the song in Frozen goes, let it go. Let it all go except for one last cause.
John believes the Philippines needs a Department of Culture. This government body would not only promote dance and music, but it would also further Filipino values, customs, traditions, and heritage. Through the department we can instill respect for our elders, reinforce good manners and right conduct, and perhaps change the Filipino mindset so as to consider or think of other people before thinking of oneself.
The Department of Culture is a dream that comes from the heart. John was born 65 years ago, the sixth of eight children, to a school teacher and an engineer. All the children were strictly disciplined and raised “old school” in thinking and conduct. This shaped John into one of the kindest, respectful, and most likeable guys around.
John at age 4 with a ukelele
I asked him what it’s like to be him. Imagine being a much-applauded musician with a beautiful wife who was once married to another musical giant. By the way, she also happens to be the sister-in-law of a former President of the Philippines.
He laughed and gave a smile that’s unmistakably Lesaca.
To understand his amiability, we must bring up his beloved hometown, Area 1 – the neighborhood. Area 1 is an enclave inside the UP Diliman campus where many intellectual, social, and musical giants lived and roamed. Think Ryan Cayabyab, NVM Gonzales, Jovita Fuentes, Francisco and Fidel Nemenzo, Jose Maceda, Amelia Bonifacio, Nora Daza and her sons, Bong and Sandy, to name a few. Perhaps living in close proximity to these big names makes one so used to fame that it’s no longer a big deal.
With wanners (from John's files) - LR - Boyet Guerrero, Jess Tan, Deda Paz, Randy Lesaca, Risa Lansang, Vin Lava, JP Paz, Ryan Cayabyab, John Lesaca, Barbara Ann Cayabyab, Melody Cayabyab, Bobbi Jo Domingo and Bella Bonner.
Back in the ‘70s during martial law, Bong and Sandy Daza often had their friends BongBong, Imee, and Irene Marcos come over and hang out in the neighborhood. John recalls the very rich Marcoses being introduced to street food such as fishballs and balut. One time between bites a buddy nudged Bongbong or Bonget as they called him and said, “Pautang (Loan me money).” That garnered laughter, but not more than when Bonget quipped back, “Magpapaalam muna ako sa tatay ko (I need to ask my dad’s permission).” Everyone laughed out loud, and that endeared the Marcos children to many Area 1 kids.
The Wanners—as Area 1 residents fondly call themselves—would have an annual New Year’s Eve Party, and the 1987 version was one that neither John nor Marilou Arroyo would ever forget. Prior to the party, neither really knew the other. He did not know that she had ended her marriage to one of the biggest names in the music industry. Nor did she know that equally famous John was nursing pain from the end of his first marriage.
“I was struck by her simplicity and beauty,” he sighed. “We talked all night and all the days thereafter.” It was like a fairy tale complete with the part where he said, “Her daughter who was with her at the party hated me because she said I was holding her mom’s hand.” Ha ha! In high school parlance, John had made first base. But like all fairy tales, they have lived happily ever after. “One thing is for sure,” he smiled, “I never let her go since 1987. We got married (legally) in 2009 and in church in 2010.”
John and Marilou were already an item when Marilou’s big brother, Mike Arroyo’s wife Gloria, was sworn in as President. John recalled: “Being related (to President Arroyo) was a boon and a bane. The family met and agreed that we would not do anything to embarrass the President.”
It sounded easier than done. “We always had to behave well and even if we heard people saying not-so-nice things about the President and the First Family, we held our tongues and smiled. We never showed any reaction or outburst. We were, after all, her personal diplomats.”
"I think this was taken on Mama's 96th birthday. She passed last May 6 after turning 97. Kneeling left: our youngest sibling Randy, behind him from L to R: sisters Polly and Evelyn, sister in law Betty (Abay's wife), behind them L to R: Malou (Bob's wife), Nina (Ronnie's wife), my wife Marilou, our eldest Abay, last row L to R: Brothers Bob and Ronnie, me." - John Lesaca
It was just as easy to think that having a direct link to the top, John and Marilou would enjoy special privileges. They could have, but they did not, he said. “People in government always offered to expedite our documents, skip lines, etcetera. But we chose to decline the offers.” They went to government offices and applied for their own passports and visas, making sure to fall in line and comply with requirements.
If they enjoyed VIP treatments at all, it could be because John was then at the peak of his musical career. He often had top billing as a solo artist and violin virtuoso. He performed with Andy Williams, Paul Williams, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Henry Mancini and Burt Bacharach. He did orchestral arrangements for the Manila Symphony, worked with the Metro Manila Symphony Foundation, and played with the CCP Philharmonic, among others.
In 2005, he and Cash Manalang, another Wanner and professional musician, mused about starting a Beatles tribute band.
“Beatles songs are easy to listen to but very difficult to perform,” John said, so it was imperative that they be very good at what they did. They needed equally talented band members. Luckily during a TV singing competition, popular TV show director Bert de Leon was seated next to John as fellow judge. When John mentioned wanting to start a Beatles tribute band, Bert’s eyes glowed. “I’m in!” he said. They hired a fourth man, Roy Marinduque, and the fun began.
Area 1, the band, was born. It quickly became one of the most successful bands in the country, first fronting for the popular Chris Montes in a concert at Aliw Theater, then playing with the phenomenal Cascades on tour in the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and Guam. There were also shows with ‘60s biggies Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy, among others. There wasn’t a high school reunion in town they did not play.
“I love you, John!” fans screamed from the crowd.
“I love you, John!” is what wife Marilou whispers at home.
In 2018, John was in their car at home waiting for Marilou to get in when he heard a loud moaning over the sound of the engine. He got out of the car and found Marilou on the ground writhing in pain. “I was afraid she fell and broke some bones,” he began. “I was afraid to touch her and make things worse.”
Marilou had slipped on a mat in their doorway, fell on her side and completely fractured her upper thigh bone. She was sent by ambulance to Makati Medical Center where she received a titanium implant. The incident was another turning point in their lives.
"This one, complete kaming siblings: seated from L-R: Me, Evie, Mama, Polly and Abay. Standing l to R: Randy, Bob, Karl(+) and Ronnie. Annual family reunion at Christmas time. around 5 years ago siguro." - John Lesaca
Thereafter, the couple had to hire caregivers and therapists, and their lives changed from her walking every day for exercise and him playing with the band all night to her becoming a dependent on walkers and wheelchairs and him pushing her gently to safety.
Regardless, Marilou continued her political campaign for Congress in the 5th district of Negros Occidental. She ran unopposed. Before Covid, John and Marilou were often in the Bacolod suburb and John had to spend fewer nights with his band.
Currently they are locked down in Manila where she continues to do her work as District Representative and Chair of a special congressional committee for persons with disabilities. John is by her side helping with research and networking with people to get her job done.
With Christmas holidays coming up, an opportunity might again arise for John to play violin for residents of impoverished neighborhoods.
Close friends: L-R: Dodi Tan, Boy Camara, Sandy Daza, BonBon Jimenez, Evelyn Lee (from NY), Cash Manalang
“Sir, what is your name?” a scruffily dressed woman once asked John between songs he played on his violin. With all modesty he answered, “It is not important to know who I am. What is important is that you enjoy my music.”
“But wait,” he mused, “why do you want to know?”
The woman giggled and replied, “Because if you’re running for Congress we will vote for you.”
“Hahaha!” John nearly rolled on the floor laughing.
Bella Bonner
Bella Bonner is a journalism graduate of the UP Institute of Mass Communications. Among others, she worked as a grant writer and hotelier in Texas where she lived for 30 years. She has retired, returned to Manila and spends her days in sports, traveling and writing a personal blog, "Chicharon Diaries."
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