Michael Jackson dies at 50

July 6, 2009 at 07:44 AM

Deep Zoom into Michael Jackson's life in pictures.

The image on this page is your entry point to hundreds of photos of Michael Jackson, his life, his work, his fans and tributes to his career as King of Pop.

http://www.msn.michaeljackson.shoothill.com/

July 6, 2009 at 09:47 AM

During an impromptu autograph signing session in Manila, MJ whispered to the PR girl:

"Gwen, check this out. The lady wants me to sign a blank check. A blank check."

Then the 2 of them burst out laughing.

The laughs continued when MJ told her about the dead leaf and deflated balloon he signed on for desperate peeps who didn't have anything else with them.

I hope dhena came across that Philstar article last Sunday. The best read ever.

July 6, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Thanks Ash for the incredible gesture for MJ fans

You add so much to this forum :flowers: You truly do.

July 6, 2009 at 09:18 PM

Ashley that was beautiful! I tried to register to add to that thread, but it didn`t go through I guess

But Celine and Michael are my two favorite artists of all time, though I may have strayed from Michael a little since Celine came into my life he was always there, and always will be. I may not feel the same pain that the die hard fans do...but it still breaks my heart :cry: I wanted to badly to be picked to go to the memorial...but I`ll be watching tomorrow

Edit: I just found this too: its an artist that creates portraits of celebs from millions of dots...and each fan will have one dot to represent themselves. He`s thinking of doing MJ but needs 250,000 people to do it! http://www.SupportJacksonPortrait.com its free

Edited July 6, 2009 at 09:31 PM by kathyc25

July 6, 2009 at 09:45 PM

Thank You Ash for the wonderful gesture to the MJ fans it was a beautiful letter

you wrote i am a big Michael fan myself and i am still crying when i watch

old interviews with him or see his last rehersal Performance on june the 23th.

:cry:

July 7, 2009 at 01:14 AM

During an impromptu autograph signing session in Manila, MJ whispered to the PR girl:

"Gwen, check this out. The lady wants me to sign a blank check. A blank check."

Then the 2 of them burst out laughing.

The laughs continued when MJ told her about the dead leaf and deflated balloon he signed on for desperate peeps who didn't have anything else with them.

I hope dhena came across that Philstar article last Sunday. The best read ever.

yeah i've read that... here's the complete article...

My close encounter with Michael Jackson

By Gwen J. Cariño Updated July 05, 2009 12:00 AM

Photo is loading...

Handing out a loot bag to a boy during the Orphan‘s Christmas Party held at Manila Hotel on December 1996

MANILA, Philippines – When I was a PR officer at Manila Hotel, I was assigned to head the annual Orphan’s Christmas Party where 300 children from different orphanages around Metro Manila were treated to a day of fun and surprises. It was one of the biggest projects on my plate and it was such a challenge to focus on work the day before the big event, knowing Michael Jackson was billeted in the hotel.

Two nights before, I had been fortunate to be part of his welcome line at the hotel lobby together with the rest of the PR and sales staff but was content enough to see him walk by.

The day before, a guy claiming to be Michael Jackson’s aide from Mamarao Productions came to the office. I couldn’t recall his name but he looked for the “person in charge” and said his boss had read the announcement about the event in the Dear Guest flyers we had circulated to all the rooms a week before. Michael wanted to know how he could help. His aide went up to the Penthouse and down to the PR office several times after we gave our suggestions.

Michael offered to fill up the 300 loot bags with goodies and toys, candies and chocolates. But after getting close to 50 sponsors, it was actually a problem for us to dispose of everything.

So I thought hard…how can the King of Pop meaningfully join the affair? I couldn’t possibly have him be with the kids in the palayok game or the pabitin as he might end up being mobbed! And since the annual event was really all about giving, I mustered all my courage and told the Mamarao guy that the best thing I could think of was for Michael to literally be present to help distribute the loot bags, sign autographs and pose with the children for photos. “Wow, that may not be easy. You’re talking about handing goodie bags to 300 children and I can just imagine the chaos. We’ll see, Ms. Jacinto. I’ll get back to you,” he said.

Lunch break came and it was the most hurried one I ever took in my entire life. It wasn’t until after 5 p.m. that Michael‘s aide came back and said, “Michael is more than happy to do whatever you suggest. How do we go about it tomorrow?”

I wanted to scream. I had to calm myself and regain composure as the Lizzie Maguire in me said, “Get real, get back into focus.”

We agreed that Michael would join after the games, musical program and snacks, and at the last part to give out the loot bags. My colleague Annette Africano and boss Dulce Agnir requested for additional security around the garden and the stage area as this was where we decided to distribute the gifts. We made sure the children would form an orderly line.

Then the moment arrived. It was at the Champagne Gardens on Dec. 7, 1996. I was surprised to see him walking towards us, guided by his aide. Michael came up to me as I had to brief him.

“Hi, how are you? Thanks so much for letting me in, I know I’m early ’coz I didn’t want to miss the program.”

I said, “Are you kidding? Thanks so much for volunteering! Here’s what Michael, why don’t you just sit here and watch the musical numbers before we get into the gift giving. I will have to tweak the program a bit.”

He replied, “Sure, anything you say… (pausing to look at my name tag) Gwen!”

I was stunned at how incredibly sweet and modest he was. And in my mind it was, “Oh my God, this is really happening!”

Amazing how he patiently sat through the whole program. Carol Banawa, then an Ang TV mainstay couldn’t believe MJ was watching her perform. She had her red blouse signed by him right after her number. Then followed Stefano Mori’s dance number. Later, his back up singers and dancers came up on stage followed by select kids from different orphanages who danced to the beat of Billie Jean. Oh, the smile on Michael’s face was just amazing.

Then we announced that Michael will be distributing gifts onstage. I explained to him that there’s a loot bag for the younger kids and another for the older ones and he nodded. The thrill and excitement he gave those children was incredibly touching. It was in between the gift bag distribution that I caught a glimpse of MJ, not as a performer but as a person.

It was one in the afternoon. Santa Claus (David Endriga, a friend of fellow PR officer Francis Capistrano) was with us. The heat was scourging and I was worried that Michael felt so hot with his black long-sleeved signature attire and hat.

“Are you alright Michael? We can let you take a break,” I asked.

He said, “I’m cool Gwen. Just imagine how Santa feels inside his velvet suit and beard. We’ll be fine.”

I never heard him complain or say a word about how hot it was or how long the line was. He had the most beautiful manners. He didn’t even ask for a drink or a towel to wipe his sweat but one of our banquet staff made sure he got a glass of fresh orange juice.

An hour passed and we were halfway through gift-giving when we noticed that the garden was getting filled up. Suddenly, there were people from media, politicians, officials and hotel guests including those in a wedding reception at the nearby Champagne Room who deserted the newly-weds just to get a glimpse of the King of Pop.

“Oh oh, this isn’t supposed to be, I’m so sorry,” I said. It’s all right, we’ll get through it,” Michael said smiling.

As we finished giving out the last loot bag to an 11-year-old orphan, a new line of more kids and adults formed. Michael’s bodyguard, Wayne, said. “We can leave now.”

Michael replied calmly, “We can’t leave when there are still people in line. It’s Christmas, dude.”

I felt my heart beat faster and the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stood up. He wasn’t just the most electrifying performer, but the most generous person.

One of the most memorable moments was when a lady came up to him for an autograph. Laughing and holding his tummy, he said “Hey Gwen, you’ve gotta check this out. He whispered, “It’s a blank check. The lady is making me sign on a blank check.”

We laughed hard and little did we know that it wasn’t even half of the comedy. He later showed me and Wayne other stuff people would use or pick up on the ground when they couldn’t find paper for him to sign on. One lady made him sign at the back of her elegant, designer Filipiniana gown. One teenager came up to him holding a dead leaf and another one, a popped balloon. Imagine how our laughter ballooned as well.

It was an amazing, genuine experience. At one point he asked if I was going to catch his History concert and I said “tomorrow night.”

“Oh, you’ll have a blast!” Michael told me.

At this point he became concerned about the stage as adults outnumbered the kids. His face had nervousness written all over it but he still didn’t complain. He tapped the wooden floor with his foot several times making sure it was sturdy enough not to fall apart. “I’ve experienced the stage collapse and I just want to make sure we’re all safe here,” he explained.

Half of me wanted the line to finish because we were literally melting and worried about our safety, but half of me didn’t, knowing that once the line ended, Michael will leave.

At some point it did end. I managed to get an autograph for my sisters and me before our general manager, Clem Pablo, requested him to sing Give Love on Christmas Day.

Cesar Sarino, one of the hotel’s officials, addressed his thank you note to the King of Pop. Then I saw his guards and aides whisking Michael off stage.

I said in my mind, “Oh man, I didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye.”

Suddenly, I saw Michael return on stage and say, “Thanks so much to you and your team, Gwen. This really means a lot.”

Then he held me beside him and said, “I’ll see you at the concert.”

As Michael Jackson is laid to rest and returned to pristine condition in the afterlife, these two incredible acts of the King of Pop — volunteering for charity and unselfishly spending time with the less fortunate, will forever be the way I will remember this man.

July 7, 2009 at 02:10 AM

Wow!! what an amazing article! She`s sooo lucky! Thanks for posting Dhena

I really felt like I was there with her...and I loved that he said 'dude' :lol: that dosn`t seem like

something he would say.

July 7, 2009 at 05:36 PM

Anyone watching the MJ Tribute? This is so sad.

July 7, 2009 at 06:23 PM

I'm watching it and I'm so glad that Magic Johnson did not mention MJ's father when praising the family which will take care of his children.

What do you all think of this memorial ?

July 7, 2009 at 08:07 PM

When Paris started talking, I lost it! :cry:

July 7, 2009 at 08:08 PM

it's over :cry:

Goodbye MJ !

It was a beautiful memorial service.

I wish they didn't bring the children on stage at the end and most of all push Paris to the microphone. I don't think Michael would have liked that, seeing as he always protected his children from the public eye.

I was in tears :cry: :cry:

July 7, 2009 at 08:16 PM

Beautiful memorial...it was so hard to watch though. Oh when Paris spoke :cry:

July 7, 2009 at 08:48 PM

my heart broke when Paris spoke. poor, poor kids. lovely memorial too.

July 7, 2009 at 08:49 PM

Beautiful memorial...it was so hard to watch though. Oh when Paris spoke

When she started speaking, i thought i wasn't going to be able to breathe from emotions

The prayer at the very end to close the service was .. extraordinary.

I am so grateful that they put this on tv saying as how im sure it brought so much closure to his family, and not to mention most of the world

July 7, 2009 at 09:06 PM

I agree

July 7, 2009 at 09:22 PM

it's over

Goodbye MJ !

It was a beautiful memorial service.

I wish they didn't bring the children on stage at the end and most of all push Paris to the microphone. I don't think Michael would have liked that, seeing as he always protected his children from the public eye.

I was in tears :cry:

I agree

I'm soooo sorry for this kids, i hope they can be happy someday again :cry: !!! I pray for them ...

July 8, 2009 at 12:05 AM

Funeral was soooo sad, it has really sank in now that he is actually dead, tis crazy.

I had to cry when his daughter did, so upsetting

July 8, 2009 at 01:37 AM

From what I saw, I think Paris took the initative to speak to the world. I don't think that they pushed her up there.

July 8, 2009 at 01:50 AM

Jennifer Hudson's performance was so moving and beautiful.

Will You Be There (From Free Willy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzeanU3s_Pc

July 8, 2009 at 02:07 AM

i've just woke up. i finished the entire memorial service and i swear, i cried on almost every performance. gosh i still can't believe Michael Jackson's really gone! :cry:

i love Jennifer Hudson's performance. and OMG when Paris talked, i cried soooooooooo damn hard. i feel sorry for them.

goodbye MJ, you'll be greatly missed....

July 9, 2009 at 03:20 PM

It's so sad watching the whole memorial on youtube as I didnt get to watch it earlier

July 11, 2009 at 02:01 PM

Michael Jackson's Memorial Service Ticket & Booklet

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ1.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ2.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ3.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ4.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ5.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ6.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/cheng_id99/MJ7.jpg

Edited July 11, 2009 at 02:02 PM by Dhena

July 11, 2009 at 02:33 PM

Now for the Jackson Three

MICHAEL Jackson's three children are being groomed for stardom

Family patriarch Joe Jackson, who famously had a troubled relationship with his own children as he guided their careers, believes his bereaved grandchildren have the makings of showbiz domination just like his late son, Michael.

Joe Jackson, 79, told Good Morning America that the three children Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket), 7, could follow in the footsteps of their father.

"I keep watching Paris, she maybe wants to do something, you know," he said. "And Blanket, he can really dance, that's what they're saying. He can really dance."

Hollywood is buzzing with rumours the young Jacksons are preparing to star on stage in London next month for a celebration of what would have been their father's 51st birthday and that Prince Michael may record a "virtual" duet with his father.

----------------------------------

this guy's CRAZY!!! -_-

July 11, 2009 at 03:46 PM

Joe Jackson is such an #sshole.

July 11, 2009 at 08:13 PM

Now for the Jackson Three
MICHAEL Jackson's three children are being groomed for stardom

Family patriarch Joe Jackson, who famously had a troubled relationship with his own children as he guided their careers, believes his bereaved grandchildren have the makings of showbiz domination just like his late son, Michael.

Joe Jackson, 79, told Good Morning America that the three children Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket), 7, could follow in the footsteps of their father.

"I keep watching Paris, she maybe wants to do something, you know," he said. "And Blanket, he can really dance, that's what they're saying. He can really dance."

Hollywood is buzzing with rumours the young Jacksons are preparing to star on stage in London next month for a celebration of what would have been their father's 51st birthday and that Prince Michael may record a "virtual" duet with his father.

----------------------------------

this guy's CRAZY!!!

I really hate Joe Jackson, the sooner he goes the heck away, the better! This man was the death of Michael, among many other things.

July 13, 2009 at 06:37 PM

Joe Jackson is such an #sshole.

You're so right. Joe Jackson is a major #SSHOLE !!!

July 14, 2009 at 09:26 PM

Joe is an #sshole....

:evil:

July 20, 2009 at 02:56 AM

It says on perez and many news articles that Janet wants to take care of the 3 kids now. I think she would be a better parent than that nurse who didn't want them in the first place. At the memorial, Paris (the daughter) seemed to be very close to her aunt Janet. What do you guys think?

July 20, 2009 at 09:05 AM

^ i concur. :yes:

i'd rather see his children grow up with Janet than with a freak named Latoya and Joe Jackson :sick:

July 20, 2009 at 03:29 PM

To Dhena: Yeah, Janet seems the most down to earth in the whole family. Joe will probably abuse those kids.

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