kids, calendars and ricky martin

I got an email a couple of weeks ago about my celebrity clicks post from Julie - who was putting together a 2009 calendar for Ricky Martin to celebrate his 25th year anniversary in show business. She found me online and saw my photo of Ricky's foundation trip here in Cambodia. She mentioned that she would like to use my photos for the calendar - the proceeds of which will benefit children's programs at the Centros Sor Isolina Ferre in Ponce, Puerto Rico - a charity that Ricky has supported in the past. The photo(s) she said, would illustrate his continued work on behalf of children in need around the world.

With such a noble cause and the opportunity to work with people around the globe, then by all means, count me in.

So I am making this post for Julie who I am bidding good luck for the success of the calendar. For more information on Ricky Martin's work on the children of the globe, visit http://www.rickymartinfoundation.com/

Ricky's trip in Angkor started at the children's shelter of Friends International. At the gate, kids rushed out to greet him and give him the traditional Cambodian "sompeah" where you greet one another with a clasp of two hands and a bow.

Inside the center, Ricky took time to learn more about the center up close and spent some time with the kids... including a game of petanque!

This little kid did a Khmer rap for Ricky to his amusement... he's probably contemplating of taking him to his next world tour (just thinking out loud)!

After that, we made a swing to the Old Market for some shopping... Friends International had a great shop there that sold interesting items and recycled fun stuff that Ricky and the gang simply couldn't resist! I guess "pasalubongs" are actually a very Latin thing...

Next stop after lunch and siesta was a shelter and transient center that handes cases of abuse, traficking and maltreatment to women. Ricky was galant enough to remove his shoes to go inside!

Ricky doing his version of the Cambodian "sompeah"...

This is perhaps the most used photo from my shoot. Found this published in several newspapers and magazines here already...

Ricky was indeed a natural with babies and kids! He truly had a way with them...

The most hilarious thing that happened was him signing a CD for a fan which turned out to be a bootleg copy from the fake DVD/CD shop in the market! He did it anyway!

As far as I can remember, my only recollection of Ricky as a singer/performer are his massive global hits and their much publicized tour in the Philippines in the 1980's way back when he was still part of the group Menudo. Of course, I was up on my feet in Latin parties as soon as his tracks are played. But when I had an opportunity to meet him, I was indeed humbled by his presence and his conviction to use his fame and good fortune to be a force in changing the world. Meeting and hanging around with his entourage was also a refreshing experience - from his manager and friend for decades, his foundation president, and even the people from the US embassy in Phnom Penh who accompanied him for the entire Cambodian leg... they are experiences worth more than their weight in gold.