Close encounters of the ‘stranger friend’ kind

“A man can tell a thousand lies, I’ve learned my lessons well. Hope I live to tell the secret I have learned…” Part of the lyrics of Madonna’s “Live to Tell” play in my mind as I write this.

This is most personal because these are some of my most vivid recollections of my close encounters with one of two gentlemen, who happen to be the actors Xian Lim and Paulo Avelino, and the “stranger friend” status I share with them.

These are my tales to tell. My points of view that I am certain Lim does not subscribe to. I need to share them with my Beautiful Ones, and allow everyone to read and see my recollections.

Alexander Xian Lim-Uy

My first meeting with actor Xian Lim happened when his then-publicist Leo Bukas (+) invited me to the pictorial of Lim for a shoe brand. We were a group of six of entertainment writers and it was also the first time I met him.

Tall and packaged as the Asian heartthrob, he was proper and careful in dealing with press people. My key memory of that face-to-face, first-time encounter, is that I was seated on a plush chair. He approached me, handing a saucer filled with chocolate chip cookies, and said: “Try one of these, they’re good.” As I picked a cookie, our eyes locked, and with that smile on his face, twinkle in his eyes, yes, he had me with, “Try one of these.”

Press conference

It was also Bukas who recommended me to the publicist of his first Araneta Coliseum birthday concert so I would get an invitation. It was the after-press conference conversation with him that etched a moment. How the conversation led to my birthdate, I do not know.

When I said my month and number, Lim said: “Oh, we have the same astrological sign, Cancer. My birthday is on 12 July.” Jerry Donato of the Philippine Star took photos of Lim and I, and his comment, after he captured the moment for posterity, was: “Very mag-jowa ang dating niyo sa photos, my friend.”

And, it was Jerry as well, plus Charlize Legaspi of Business Mirror and DAILY TRIBUNE’s Roel Manipon, who asked me, on separate occasions, if I were the reason for Lim’s break-up with his girlfriend for more than a decade, Kim Chiu. As to why they believed I am the “bubog” to KimXi, made me wonder, and I do not have the answer.

Premiere

It was Alex Brosas, during his time as a columnist for another broadsheet, who recommended me to the publicist of Lim’s movie who had a premiere at the Dolphy Theater.

We were on the different sides of the theater, and some force pulled us together to be on the center aisle. This entire conversation had Bukas and Ricky Calderon (+), bless their souls as witnesses.

Lim casually asked, towering over me where he stood: “Why were you not in the press conference during lunch?” My reply: “They did not invite me, they only invited me for the premiere.” He said: “It’s a good thing you are here. Akala ko talaga, hindi mo na ako mahal (And I thought you did not love me anymore).”

My immediate retort: “Ano ka ba? Of course, I love you,” Then, I placed my hand on his cheek, after which, we shared the tightest of hugs. Every time Xian and I hugged, we pulled each other closer. No space between our bodies, and this kind of hug, he did not give to other members of the entertainment press.

Nowadays

He had his fair share of press conferences for projects bankrolled by his present movie production company. I did not get invites to his events. I believe he does not even know I am alive. And yes, I know he does not follow me in my socials. Although someone told me that in a couple of press conferences, Lim supposedly asked if I were in attendance. Talaga nga (Oh, really)?

Now, you know why I call him a stranger friend. As for the next encounter between Lim and I, who knows? A