Ric Segreto
Encyclopedia
Ric Segreto born Richard Vincent Segreto Macaraeg, was a Filipino
Italian-American recording artist, singer-songwriter
, actor
, teacher, journalist
and historian
who became popular in the Philippines
.
Ric's father, born in Malasiqui, Pangasinan
, educated at the University of Santo Tomas
in Manila, was a medic with the rank of Captain in the Philippine Army during World War II, was captured by Japanese soldiers and made to march in the Bataan Death March
and imprisoned on Corregidor Island. After the War, Dr. Macaraeg travelled to the United States
and attended Johns Hopkins University
. Dr. Macaraeg was the first Filipino diplomate to the F.A.C.S.
Both Ric's parent's love for music influenced Ric's interest in music and singing. The family moved to the Philippines in 1957 where his father set up a physician's practice. Ric went to Lourdes school in Quezon City
. The family then moved to Guam in 1959, where growing up in a milder environment furthered Ric's interest in the performing arts. Ric played in rock bands with his brother, and the grandsons of Filipino composer Nicanor Abelardo
. At the ages of 12 and 13, The Asteroids, Ric's band members, played military bars and were not even old enough to drive.
Ric was then sent back to the Philippines to attend high school at the Ateneo de Manila. While there he became fast friends with Jim Paredes, later forming The Apo Hiking Society
. After a year at Ateneo, Ric returned to Guam. He then formed a band that included his brother called the Salvation Army, singing and playing all over the island every weekend till he finished out his high school. Going to college made Ric look to the States and choosing Creighton University
in Omaha, Nebraska
, he majored in history. During his college years, music found Ric playing in bar bands, to military service men in Bellevue, Nebraska
(home to Offutt Air Force Base
) and doing college stage play acting.
, Harvey's in Reno
and clubs in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. Meeting up with another show band bound for Japan out of San Diego, California
, Ric played for Japanese audiences during the early 80's.
While teaching in Guam, Ric supplemented his free time playing music at local beach bars and night clubs with his younger brother Gordon. Gordon was always frustrated by Ric's refusal to practice and his outright willingness to play a song that they had never played before. By doing this, Ric was trying to sharpen his brother Gordon's chops and musical prowess. Which in a sense worked but Gordon still had to endure many embarrassing moments. Ric was also known for having Gordon start a set and then even before the first verse was started Ric would say, “I'll be right back”. Well into the song Gordon would find Ric sitting at the bar enjoying a beer and happily waving at him from the audience. The band Ric and Gordon started was called the Bunelos Brothers, (name provided by Gordon). Ric being the professional he was thought that name was perfect for their little music project. Not too serious but just serious enough to provoke controversy. And besides, everyone loves Bunelos! The Bunelos Brothers were a regular feature at Tahiti Rama, Barney's Beach House and The Signature Pub. Their repertoire consisted mainly of Beatles music, easy listing tunes, MOR, and ballads. Their voices were homogenous and harmonies came very easily for them. Just like brothers all over the globe, not every decision was 100% mutual. There were fights on stage but most of them were mainly scowling looks and failures to sing back up. In some cases Gordon would get even with Ric and refuse to play. Ric would give his brother the “I’m going to kill you look” but Gordon knew his bark was worse than his bite. The Bunelos Brothers played together for 3 years going through an assortment of other members, including their eldest brother Goff.
. He was killed in an accident on the Makati - Buendia Flyover, when he ran into or was hit by debris, possibly caused by workers on a construction project.
He was survived by his wife Erica and their son Darby Macaraeg.
, Odette Quesada, Bodjie Dasig, Gerry Paraiso and Amado Trivino.
Ric's first album was entitled Segreto, followed by Man of the Hour. Since then there were several compilation albums.
These are the many songs he released during his career that continue to be enjoyed by many fans and listeners.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
Italian-American recording artist, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, teacher, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who became popular in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Early life
Ric Segreto was born in Brooklyn, New York to Bridget Segreto, an Italian-American and Godofredo G. Macaraeg, a Filipino. Ric, the second son of five brothers and one sister was raised for the first five years of his life in New York by his mother, a dietician at a New York hospital and his father an abdominal surgeon.Ric's father, born in Malasiqui, Pangasinan
Malasiqui, Pangasinan
Malasiqui is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 122,820 people in 20,798 households....
, educated at the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
in Manila, was a medic with the rank of Captain in the Philippine Army during World War II, was captured by Japanese soldiers and made to march in the Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
and imprisoned on Corregidor Island. After the War, Dr. Macaraeg travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and attended Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. Dr. Macaraeg was the first Filipino diplomate to the F.A.C.S.
Both Ric's parent's love for music influenced Ric's interest in music and singing. The family moved to the Philippines in 1957 where his father set up a physician's practice. Ric went to Lourdes school in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
. The family then moved to Guam in 1959, where growing up in a milder environment furthered Ric's interest in the performing arts. Ric played in rock bands with his brother, and the grandsons of Filipino composer Nicanor Abelardo
Nicanor Abelardo
Nicanor Sta. Ana Abelardo was a Filipino composer who composed over a hundred of Kundiman songs, especially before the Second World War.-Life:...
. At the ages of 12 and 13, The Asteroids, Ric's band members, played military bars and were not even old enough to drive.
Ric was then sent back to the Philippines to attend high school at the Ateneo de Manila. While there he became fast friends with Jim Paredes, later forming The Apo Hiking Society
APO Hiking Society
The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as Apo Hiking Society or, simply, Apo, was a Filipino musical group. The group had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila high school, with thirteen members: Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito...
. After a year at Ateneo, Ric returned to Guam. He then formed a band that included his brother called the Salvation Army, singing and playing all over the island every weekend till he finished out his high school. Going to college made Ric look to the States and choosing Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, he majored in history. During his college years, music found Ric playing in bar bands, to military service men in Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...
(home to Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
) and doing college stage play acting.
Early career
After graduation in 1974, he toured the US with a show band, singing and playing bass guitar at Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Harvey's in Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
and clubs in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Meeting up with another show band bound for Japan out of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, Ric played for Japanese audiences during the early 80's.
Later career
Yearning to reconnect with his Filipino roots, Ric left Japan and went to the Philippines. He played in a few clubs singing until he was discovered by VICOR record company. His first hit "Kahit Konting Pagtingin" was an immediate favorite and launched his career as a Filipino recording artist. Performing many concerts, TV appearances around the world.Teaching and journalism
A lover of history and education Ric's fondness for the written word led him to take a break from performing and dedicate some of his passion to teaching and writing. Touching base with his other home, Ric became a teacher in Guam and endeavored to enlighten high school students with his flair for history. He submitted sociology articles to a local Philippine magazine, MAN Magazine, after returning to the Philippines to record another album. Ric was also working on a thesis that addressed the Philippine music industry.While teaching in Guam, Ric supplemented his free time playing music at local beach bars and night clubs with his younger brother Gordon. Gordon was always frustrated by Ric's refusal to practice and his outright willingness to play a song that they had never played before. By doing this, Ric was trying to sharpen his brother Gordon's chops and musical prowess. Which in a sense worked but Gordon still had to endure many embarrassing moments. Ric was also known for having Gordon start a set and then even before the first verse was started Ric would say, “I'll be right back”. Well into the song Gordon would find Ric sitting at the bar enjoying a beer and happily waving at him from the audience. The band Ric and Gordon started was called the Bunelos Brothers, (name provided by Gordon). Ric being the professional he was thought that name was perfect for their little music project. Not too serious but just serious enough to provoke controversy. And besides, everyone loves Bunelos! The Bunelos Brothers were a regular feature at Tahiti Rama, Barney's Beach House and The Signature Pub. Their repertoire consisted mainly of Beatles music, easy listing tunes, MOR, and ballads. Their voices were homogenous and harmonies came very easily for them. Just like brothers all over the globe, not every decision was 100% mutual. There were fights on stage but most of them were mainly scowling looks and failures to sing back up. In some cases Gordon would get even with Ric and refuse to play. Ric would give his brother the “I’m going to kill you look” but Gordon knew his bark was worse than his bite. The Bunelos Brothers played together for 3 years going through an assortment of other members, including their eldest brother Goff.
Death
On September 6, 1998 at around 12:15 PM, on a Sunday, Ric was riding his motorcycle from his home in MakatiMakati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
. He was killed in an accident on the Makati - Buendia Flyover, when he ran into or was hit by debris, possibly caused by workers on a construction project.
He was survived by his wife Erica and their son Darby Macaraeg.
Discography
At the time Ric's career took off the trend in the Philippines had shifted back to English original Filipino songs. He collaborated with Levi CelerioLevi Celerio
Levi Celerio was a Filipino composer and lyricist who was born in Manila, Philippines. Celerio was a prolific song-writer, with over 4,000 songs to his credit. He is perhaps best-known for being a leaf-player, a feat for which he was put into the Guinness Book of World Records...
, Odette Quesada, Bodjie Dasig, Gerry Paraiso and Amado Trivino.
Ric's first album was entitled Segreto, followed by Man of the Hour. Since then there were several compilation albums.
These are the many songs he released during his career that continue to be enjoyed by many fans and listeners.
1. Kahit Konting Pagtingin
2. Don't Know What To Say (Don't Know What To Do)
3. Give Me A Chance
4. Touched By The Rainbow
5. Angela
6. Come Back To Me
7. Do Ya, Do Ya Ever, Do Ya?
8. Man Of The Hour
9. Hold On To My Love
10. All I Wanna Do
11. Slippin' Away
12. Even Just Once More
13. Stay
14. I Need You
15. I Thought She Was You
16. Since You Said Goodbye
17. Nang Dahil Sa Iyo
18. Labis Din Kaya?
19. Dasal
20. Loving You
Filmography
- May Minamahal (1996) as Himself / Performer of "Don't Know What To Do (Don't Know What To Say)" a.k.a. "Hopeless Romantic"
- Nine Deaths of the Ninja (1985) as PC Trooper
- Missing In ActionMissing in Action (film)Missing in Action is a 1984 action B-movie directed by Joseph Zito and starring Chuck Norris. It is set in the context of the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue. Colonel Braddock, who escaped a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp 10 years earlier, returns to Vietnam to find American soldiers listed as missing...
(1984) as GI