On Feb. 10, the SM Mall of Asia Arena will reverberate as four powerful voices are featured in a pre-Valentine concert called #paMore.
Yes, the show features Regine Velasquez with her husband Ogie Alcasid, the singer known in the Philippines as the “concert king,” Martin Nievera, and singing contest alumnus Erik Santos.
“It’s really a rare thing for someone to be in a cast like this. Sana more pa like this,” Nievera said at a press conference on Monday.
According to Alcasid, they will be performing timeless hits.
“Sa totoo lang hindi pa kami nagmi-meeting pero ang gusto ko sanang i-propose na sinasang-ayunan naman ni Martin ay kumanta kami ng mga kantang minahal ng mga Filipino through the years. So isama na natin ‘yung mga lumang-lumang kanta, especially ‘yung mga kantang kinanta ng groups like The Platters, The Jacksons, The Osmonds, Earth Wind and Fire, Carpenters, Bread.”
Santos said it’s a dream come true to work with his idols.
“After po ng concert na ito puwede na po akong mamatay. Isa po itong dream come true for me. Dream come true na ‘yung ‘Royals,’ mas dream come true pa ito kasi iniisip mo lang makakasama mo ang tatlong icons natin sa isang stage ay talagang speechless na ako sobra po,” Santos said recalling his 2016 concert with Nievera, Velasquez and Angeline Quinto.
“Actually isa ito sa ipinagdasal ko na matagal na panahon, na makasama ko sa stage ang mga tinitingala kong mang-aawit. Ang pagkakataong ito ay hindi dumarating sa lahat. I’m just so grateful and thankful to God na ibinigay sa akin ito. It’s really a good blessing to me,” Santos said.
Velasquez noted that while Santos is younger, he is not new in the music industry.
“Si Erik hindi na ng siya new artist kasi 15 years na siya sa business. He’s such a great singer and in this concert malaki ang mako-contribute niya. So I’m really very happy that he is with us,” she said.
The four are among the more stable in the current concert circuit, though they admit they don’t do more shows than what they did a decade or so ago. Still, all of them say they are grateful they are still around and music lovers still pay for shows in which they are the featured performers.
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Alden Richards renewed his contract with GMA Records recently, which means the
Pambansang Bae will have a new album and more. Present in the contract signing were GMA Network Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Artist Center Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara and GMA Records Managing Director Rene Salta.
The multi-platinum recording artist is excited for his upcoming album, which he said would have a millennial sound, including his most favorite praise songs. Alden is thankful that the label has been helpful and attentive with what he plans on doing about his newest album.
“GMA Records has been continuously researching and doing a lot of brainstorming kung ano yung mga project na ibibigay sa’kin, which I appreciate, dahil like what I’ve said before, hindi naman talaga ako kumakanta. And with their help, slowly, nahanap ko na yung fulfillment sa singing. So I’m happy that I’m still with GMA Records, it’s my 3rd year and I’m looking forward to more,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yalong has noted that despite being in the digital age, Alden remains to sell out in physical sales, “We are very happy, especially GMA Records, kasi pumirma muli sa’tin ng kontrata si Alden. The last albums that he released, lahat ‘yan platinum kaya masaya kami na kasama pa rin natin siya sa GMA Records, and hopefully magkaroon ulit tayo ng concert this year.”
The plans for his music career is already up and running as Salta discloses the upcoming activities for the Pambansang Bae under GMA Records. “Ngayon, limited edition ang magiging album ni Alden and it will probably be a bundle sa upcoming concert niya na ipo-produce ng GMA Records. Kumpleto na ang album, but the recording is still in the process and it will contain five songs and syempre kasama yung praise songs na si Alden mismo ang pumili,” he reveals.
Surely, the New Year has welcomed Alden with positivity and another successful year is in view as he begins to roll up his sleeves for his upcoming shows and album.