Muling nagbabalik sa entertainment industry ang alternative rock legend at songwriting ace na si Rico Blanco pagkatapos ng halos tatlong taon na pamamahinga.
Sa kanyang pagbabalik, ang ipagkatiwala sa Viva Music Publishing Inc. ang catalog ng kanyang mga kanta at composition tulad ng "Liwanag sa Dilim," "Your Universe," "‘Wag Mong Aminin," at "Antukin" ang unang ginawa ni Rico.
In effect, ang Viva Music Publishing Inc. ang music manager ng catalog ni Rico sa mga susunod na taon.
Sa contract signing nitong hapon ng July 5, ibinigay ni Boss Vic del Rosario ng VMPI kay Rico ang assurance na gagamitin sa mga pelikula ng Viva Films at malaki ang posibilidad na muling i-record ng mga contract star ng Viva Artist Agency gaya ni Sarah Geronimo ang mga kanta ng mahusay na singer.
Para kay Rico, ngayon ang pinakamasayang bahagi ng kanyang buhay dahil kuntento na siya at natutupad na ang mga simpleng bagay na matagal na niyang nais gawin.
Isang mabuting anak, kapatid at tiyo si Rico dahil siya ang tumutulong sa kanyang pamilya.
Ngayong malapit nang makatapos ng pag-aaral ang mga pamangkin niya, pinayuhan si Rico ng kanyang ina na “ i-enjoy ang buhay.”
RICO'S REALIZATIONS
"It came to a point in 2016, no, there's no burn out. No pagod, hindi na masaya. Nothing of that sort. Sa akin, it’s actually the opposite," pahayag ni Rico.
"I had a little free time and I started thinking of the big things in life. Parang I realize I had more than I needed. I’m not rolling in cash, I still have only one car. Kapag coding, Grab ako.
"I never forget kasi where I started from and every weekend, I go home to my family in Pacita Complex, San Pedro, Laguna. They don’t want to move to a bigger house.They’re happy there.
“It’s in one of those conversations with family and friends,na-realize ko, I have more than I need and I’m thankful for that.
“I can’t kid myself by inventing another goal sa industry and I don’t mean to say it in an arrogant way. I have to be honest na a friend of mine left for masters sa ibang bansa.
“Nakabalik na pala, two years na pala. Nagulat ako. Two years na yun? Nakabalik na siya, inihatid ko pa lang siya sa airport!
"In the meantime, anong ginawa ko? Wala, more gigs, more shows, another album.
“It did not really shift my life to another… walang paradigm shift. It was just more of the same but more good things, so it’s not something to complain about," patuloy pa ni Rico.
RICO'S SIMPLE LIFE
"So when I thought of that, sabi ko, maybe it’s time for me to put a break on these great things that’s happening in music so I can do the other things I’ve always wanted to do.
"Simple things lang naman, spend time with my family and friends. If you see me work, I work like anything, so yung time nababawasan.
“Travels, see places, getting older and this is the best time for me to travel. I don’t have my own family. Yung mga pamangkin ko, patapos na ng college. 'Tapos my mom goes, ‘We’re okey na. Enjoy your life.'"
Ano naman ang una niyang ginawa nung sinabihan na siyang ganun ng kanyang ina?
“So first thing I did was get my dive certification. Ten years ko nang gustong mag-dive, hindi matuluy-tuloy kasi walang oras sa schedule ko. Sisimulan ko lang ng isang lesson, nagpaso na yung bayad ko sa instructor, hindi na ako naka-lesson number 2.
“So first thing I did was get that. I explore the country, it’s basically what I did.
“Two years or almost three years, parang content na rin ako sa time na yun and I was able to plant seeds for the long term, in terms of what I’m going to do na non-music," sabi pa ni Rico.
WILL LIVE IN LA UNION
Ikinuwento rin ng isa sa founding members ng '90s rock band na Rivermaya ang iba pang balak niyang gawin sa mga susunod na araw.
"Like now, I’m gonna live outside of Manila. I’m gonna live close to the ocean. I want El Nido or La Union to be my base.
“January 1, 2016 nang maging effective yung retirement ko, by February, I got my certificate. By my birthday ng March, on my birthday, I was swimming with jack fish in El Nido. Kung puwede lang umiyak sa ilalim ng tubig, I think I was doing that," nangingiti pang pagbabalik-tanaw ni Rico.
“I know, baka nakakatawa lang sa ibang tao, it doesn’t make sense, weird talaga ng mga artist, parang ganoon, but I think, we all deserve that in our lives when we work hard.
"Di ba sa sports, meron awarding ceremony, sa school, may graduation ceremony… there’s a time to pat yourself in the back and celebrate.
“So I thought lang, that’s I want to do on those two years, almost three years.
“So now I’m back but it’s with a peace of mind na alam ko yung long term ko. I’m going to move to La Union in a few months.
“With technology now, it’s so much easier to work with people no matter where you are. I’m gonna build a studio there and create more music."
Nagpapagawa na nga raw siya ng bahay na titirhan sa La Union.
“Under construction na. Ang unang target, September or October pero hindi aabot, e. Hopefully, early next year, tapos na yun.”
Bakit nga pala sa La Union niya napiling manirahan?
“La Union, parang intermediate na andiyan lang. Kahit ma-free ako bigla ngayong gabi, sakay lang ng bus, andoon ka na, three hours or four hours.”
Sa La Union na ba siya bubuo ng family?
“Ah, yung family? Kung saan mabuo doon. Hindi naman pina-project. Kung mangyayari, mangyayari kapag nag-fall into place.”