LOS ANGELES --- For Filipino-Americans Charles “Chucky” Klapow, a dancer, and Zaldy Goco, a costume designer, life will never be the same after working with the King of Pop.

Both Pinoys are proud to have experienced working with their idol even for a brief period. Philippine News caught up with the duo at the premiere and after-party of Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” held last October 27 at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live.

Klapow, whose mother is Filipina and whose father is of Russian descent, revealed that the film gave him a sense of closure. “This is a dream come true for me. I have always wanted to work with Michael ever since I was a kid,” he said.

Chosen by Jackson as one of his principal dancers for the “This Is It” tour (which was supposed to happen in London’s O2 Arena next summer if not for Jackson’s demise from cardiac arrest), Klapow turned down the offer of director Kenny Ortega to choreograph the remake of “Footloose” just to be able to perform with Jackson onstage. Unfortunately, the Gloved One’s death, just 18 days before the first show, cancelled the show.

Klapow, who wore the green jacket and loose pants that he wore in the movie as a tribute to his idol, attended the event with his sister Kimberly who is also a dancer. “Our mom, Sylvia Moscoso, and 50 other relatives are at a Cineplex in an LA suburb where they caught a midnight screening of the movie,” disclosed the 29-year-old dancer with a laugh.

His mom, he said, grew up in the West Triangle Homes in Quezon City until she moved to the U.S. at age 16. His dad, Arnie, he added, was born in New York but grew up in Los Angeles.

Klapow, who co-choreographed all three “High School Musical” movies, revealed that he still has family in the Philippines. “I do have family in the Philippines but most of my cousins are scattered throughout the U.S. I have a very large family,” he said.

Director Kenny Ortega had nothing but praises for Klapow.  “I am very happy for Chucky because his dream of working with Michael was fulfilled. He is a very talented, hardworking man with good work ethics,” he said.

Unknown to many, Klapow also took part in the Michael Jackson memorial service when he danced with the original 11 dancers chosen by Jackson at the memorial service at Staples Center when Jennifer Hudson sang “Will You Be There.” The performance was reportedly how the King of Pop was set to perform it.

The other FilAm, Zaldy Goco, was one of the costume designers chosen to design Michael Jackson’s outfits in his London concert. Goco, whose family is from Paranaque, was even interviewed in the film.

The longhaired and stylish designer was dressed in a black chic top and pants for the event. Based in New York, he was also accompanied at the premiere by his sister.

Goco, who simply goes by the name Zaldy, has already designed clothes for the likes of Mick Jagger, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Keith Richards, Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani for her L.A.M.B. fashion label. Now he has his own fashion line that he operates in New York.

Inspired by his grandmother who had her own fashion school in the Philippines, Goco studied at Parsons School of Design in LA and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. He later became the image consultant for Donna Karan, Shiseido and M.A.C.

According to Kenny Ortega, “Zaldy’s clothes and designs remind me of Salvador Dali. He is very talented. When I saw his clothes for Michael, I could almost feel Michael wearing them.”

Most of the clothes that Zaldy designed for the tour, in fact, will be on exhibit as part of the Michael Jackson memorabilia that opened recently at The O2 in London.

We also bumped into group choreographer Travis Payne who was dressed in a white Michael Jackson-inspired jacket and black pants. Payne revealed to us that he was with the King of Pop when they did the “Dangerous” tour in the Philippines. “I loved it in the Philippines. I really had a great time over there. I want to go back,” Payne revealed.

Payne also got excited when we introduced him to Filipino director Dante Nico Garcia (“Ploning”) and the latter promised to tour him around if ever Payne got to visit the Philippines again.

Garcia, who was our guest at the “This Is It” event, is in Los Angeles to help promote the Philippine entry to the Oscars’ best foreign-language film category, “Ded Na Si Lolo.” He is in LA with Michael Tuviera, producer of the Soxy Topacio-directed movie that stars Roderick Paulate, Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa and Manilyn Reynes.

According to Garcia, attending the “This Is It” event was surrealistic for him. “I feel like I am in a dream,” he said.

To the more than five thousand fans who gathered to watch the King of Pop, seeing their idol perform, sing and dance one more time on the big screen was indeed touching.

One of the more moving scenes in the film was when Michael said he dedicated the concert to his siblings and then he named all of them one by one.

Present at the premiere were his brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie. Other celebrities who arrived at the premiere included Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul, Adam Lambert, David Cook, Mary Hart, Lou Ferrigno, Anne Heche, Neil Patrick Harris, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Mario Lopez, Paris Hilton, Julianne Hough, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu, Nigel Lithgoe among others.

The tribute to Michael was a result of 120 hours of video footage of the rehearsal at the Staples Center for his supposed 50 sold out concerts in London’s O2 arena in the summer.

The audience cried, laughed, sang, and danced while watching the movie as if Michael was alive and performing in front of them.  

E-mail the writer at jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments.