Josh Groban and me, thank you, LJM

SOMETIME in 2006, Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc was spending a weekend in Baguio City along with Lifestyle editor Thelma San Juan, when she invited the Inquirer Northern Luzon bureau staff for dinner at Camp John Hay. It was my first time to talk to her since I started working with the Inquirer in 1998. She asked me why I rarely visited the Inquirer main office in Makati City so I could meet the other editors as well.

“Ma’am, ma-traffic po at mainit,” I replied.

She laughed so hard, saying: “You are right! I love the Baguio weather!”

I thought that was the end of our conversation since I did not know what else to talk about when you’re in front of the editor in chief.

“So what would make you leave Baguio and come to Manila?” she asked. “If Josh Groban is coming for a concert,” I said.

I was joking, of course. But she took it seriously.

“Is he your favorite singer?” she asked. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

“If he is coming, then, I promise to give you two tickets. See me at the office in Manila. Just remind my secretary about it,” she said.

Almost a year after that encounter, I was thrilled to hear the news that Josh Groban was staging a concert at the Philippine International Convention Center in October 2007. Ticket prices, however, were expensive that I was not sure if I could save enough to get one.

As the concert date neared, I was surprised to get a call from desk editor Juliet Labog-Javellana. “LJM left me two tickets for you. When are you coming to Manila?” she told me.

I stifled a scream as I realized LJM remembered our conversation and kept her promise. She was kind, down-to-earth and accommodating to the paper’s rank and file.

I more than enjoyed Groban’s concert as I was able to shake his hand and take his photo. I have LJM to thank for that experience.