Boots Babushka: After 40 years, Home in Bohol at last

by anyajulia | Feb 18, 2009 | Features, Headlines, TBTK

Boots Babushka impersonating Pilita Corales in the YouTube file

Most of us have heard of Rip Van Winkle, a literary character in English literature . As the story goes, Rip, while still in the flower of his youth, intoxicated by the wine that he drunk, fell into a deep sleep, or much more, a long deep slumber. That did not just last for a day or two. nor weeks and months or years . But for two decades even. Like a living dead placed in indefinite suspended hibernation. When he woke up, Rip thought that it was just the morning after. But to his great astonishment, he noticed that he is now in a different surrounding. His neighborhood that he was familiar with, no longer existed. Nor the crowd of people that he met everywhere. Everybody became a virtual stranger to him. Little did Rip Van Winkle know that twenty long years have already passed. For him, it has become a whole new world setting. Far beyond the pace and cadence of his generation and beyond the spectrum of his time, when he once was young. .

If you are amazed of Rip Van Winkle’s tale but would not believe, it is expected. For it is not a true to life story, just a figment of the imagination of the American author Washington Irving, who created this literary piece as a subject of class study and stage plays. However, the subject of our feature story, who bears a striking resemblance to Rip’s fairy tale classic, certainly, would fascinate its readers. Because it is for real. A factual event, a first person account, told no less to this writer. What more, he is a Boholano, like you and me. Unlike Rip Van Winkle, our actor is not a drunkard nor did not sleep for twenty years, but nevertheless, was detached of circulation and was away from home for, hold your breath, forty (40) years. A length of time twice more than that of Mr. Van Winkle’s hibernation. But just like Rip, after all these years, the feeling is mutual. For you will indeed be surprised of the changes taking place at home, after such a pretty long absence. Perhaps you will wonder, why it took this Boholano that long to be able to return to the island-province, where he saw the light of day. This, indeed is the reason why we come up with his story.

“ The farther you go away from me, the nearer is your return”, so said our teacher before in Logic, to explain a union of contradictory principle about the course-subject.

In a related development, Boots Babushka, our main character, left his hometown in Tubigon,Bohol at age 17 in 1966. Unable to finish High School, to seek fortune in Medina town, in far-away Mindanao. The only skill he has to make a living, is as a beautician, make-up artist, hair-dresser. He was all alone in his travel to the unknown. In an unchartered course he has never set foot before. In unexplored territory, where he is a virtual stranger. No friends nor relatives to keep company or to seek comfort with . After staying for sometime in Medina, Boots tried his luck in Cebu City.

Then to the national capital of Manila in 1969. Where he made a name for himself, associated with the craft he does best. Where he used to own and manage a Boutique that made his name a byword – Boots Babushka. Soon thereafter, he was rubbing elbows with Manila’s socialite, the high and the mighty, the rich and the celebrity, for 17 years – the entirety of his stay in the Metropolis. As a working student, Boots finished High School at the Far Eastern University and was taking up Mass Communications course in college up to third year. In 1985, at the height of the post-Aquino assassination and the political-economic instability of the country, brought about by the insistence of then President Ferdinand Marcos to hang on to power, he left for the United States as tourist.

The sudden demise of his 21 year old house-help from aneurism or banggungot, who died in his sleep, made him realized the shortness of man’s life. Boots just wanted to explore the horizon beyond our shores to make life fulfilling. Although duty-bound by US immigration laws to return home, yet, in due time, he was able to seek a work authorization permit and later on as recipient of a US Permanent Resident Card. That allowed him to settle down in the Big Apple. Finding his niche in Times Square, New York’s main thoroughfare and commercial hub. Eventually, in 1996,fulfilling his American Dream, this Bohol’s Pride took his oath as naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

The further this cosmopolitan Boholano or Boholana, who represents the third kind, traveled the world, nevertheless, it took him four decades, 40 years, or generations after, before he can make a turn-around, then be homeward bound to Bohol. To please a friend and client, Mrs. Betty Veloso-Garcia, who is at the helm of the campaign promotions for the TBTK Global Homecoming that unfolded in July 2006. What started as constant interaction and chatting among two good friends in a beauty saloon, soon made him decide to pack up his bags. Be part of the TBTK delegation, took that flight from JFK International Airport in New York. Then finally be destined to Bohol. This is Boots Babushka’s recollection, intended to inspire the Boholano readers stationed abroad, to mark their calendar red, on the dates of July 16-26,2009. So we will be seeing each other in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, for the most look forward event, the 4th staging of the TBTK 2009 Global Homecoming.

The name Boots Babushka, even then, is popular in Manila newspapers’ society page circle. The preferred hair-dresser of big stars and celebrities as Pilita Corales, Vilma Santos, Connie Reyes, the APO Hiking Society, Cocoy Laurel and his mom Celia, among others. Boots doesn’t just have the talent to beautify faces, but can also act, dance and sing. He can mimic and impersonate Pilita Corales to the hilt. That whenever the famous international Filipina entertainer is out of the country, Boots can take up Pilita’s gown, shoes, and microphone, then play second fiddle in TV shows. Boots song renditions are recorded on video and can be seen online, if you click the YouTube search.

The media people too consider Boots as a true friend. Whose life-story, struggle and sacrifices, humble beginnings, from the naivety of a provinciano becoming a success story in his field, inspired them no end. Boots story was featured in the Bulletin’s Panorama Magazine, Philippine Star, among others. Letty Magsanoc for one, described Boots with such superlative as among Bohol’s wonder, next to the Chocolate Hills.Dagohoy,Sikatuna and President Carlos P. Garcia. Ricky Lo, on the other hand, writes him in one word as BRUSH. A tool he used to make a living and became famous with. As well as the close brushes with life’s misery that in his growing up stage, he was just able to overcome with, on his own merit.

Registered as Eugenio Palanas in his Birth Certificate, Boots was abandoned by a biological father at age four. His mom in turn, let him be adopted by a wealthy couple in their hometown, Dr. & Mrs. Jaime Mendoza. Dr. Mendoza was a former Malacanang physician during President Garcia’s incumbency, who got killed in the White Gold fire in Cebu City in 1972. Although Boots grew up with a healthy physique and good cognitive function, yet he did not have the wishes of his heart. The love and affection that he so desired. Instead, he always was at the receiving end of sarcasm and nasty jokes, abused in more ways than one – for his effeminate mannerism and girly conduct that was already evident and become manifested since childhood. Moreso in the neighborhood and in school.

Just as in psychological study, as concluded by leading theorists, that a child is neither good or bad, but influenced by society. A by-product of his or her environment. The only way for someone like Boots to get out of the predicament is to go somewhere else, find his place in the sun, paddle his own canoe, to improve his stature in life, and make a difference. He did it his way, and found success doing what he loves most – beautifying faces and entertaining people. If going places is the gauge to success, then the thing speaks for itself for Boots Babushka. He is a true model to someone of his kind. Who can make a transformation, be the best in his chosen field, be a friend to all. Then reach out to the star of his dream. Today, he is living in dreamland, there in America’s most exciting city – New York.. Despite his stature now, Boots remains humble, unassuming, and down to earth. Typical attitude of a Boholano who is Maka Diyos, Maka Tao, Makabayan.

Going back to the TBTK story. The moment the Philippine Airlines jet where he was onboard as passenger, together with the rest of the Boholano balikbayan TBTK delegation, made a touch-down in Tagbilaran’s airport runway from Manila, that’s it for Boots. A great sigh of relief. A nostalgic feeling. Ecstasy, as if he is in Cloud 9. Raising his head up to high heaven, giving thanks to the Lord with a grateful heart. For he is home at last after 40 long years. He left Bohol when he was seventeen. Upon his first return in July, 2006, Boots was already in the prime of his life, at 57. When Boots accompanied Betty to their place of residence in Penaflor Street, he met the Redulla siblings: Ramon, Vidal, Naty, and Al . His childhood contemporaries in Tubigon way back then. What a feeling seeing your friends then already have families of their own and now mature in their looks.

Strolling along Tagbilaran City is like walking down memory lane that reminded Boots of their school’s out of town trips and excursions before. Much have changed and everywhere he went, Boots bears witness to the progress and development of the capital city. The New York based Boholano stayed at the Metro Center where the amenities are close to first world setting. The hotel staff are friendly and hospitable. They make you feel at home, Boots said. In the malls and venues of TBTK gathering, people treat you like a VIP. Courteous in their greetings and always sporting cordial smiles. The TBTK Chair brought Boots and their American friend Irving Spivey all the way to Carmen town just to see our Chocolate Hills. It’s one famous landmark that neither Boots nor Irving had seen before. Whom everybody looks up to as an attraction worthy of fascination. What a natural wonder to behold, a breath-taking view that they brought with them in the many picture shots taken from their cameras. On their way home to Tagbilaran, they dropped by at the Loboc River to get in touch with the world’s smallest primate – the tarsius, found only in Bohol. As an added bonus, Boots claimed to have seen what the natives call as Sigbin. A lemure or Bohol’s counterpart to the kangaroo.
All in all, it was just a two-week homecoming. For Boots has to depart ahead for Manila. To meet long-time friend Pilita Corales, who invited him to perform in her concert show at the Music Museum. He also took time visiting pals in the entertainment circle. Other than that, he was able to travel to Cebu to fulfill a vow before the image of the Virgin sa Regla in Lapu-lapu City for all the life’s blessings. After which, Boots took that flight back to New York. He looks forward to TBTK 2009 this July to be back in Bohol the second time around. (Douglas B. Hontanosas)