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Friday, September 16, 2005
Serna: Get your Soul Full!
By Roger Serna
Sounds and Images
Tonight all roads lead to the Pacific grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel for the much-awaited, much-talked about concert of Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, dubbed Soul Full.
Gary, at one point or another, will be sharing the limelight with his good-looking and talented sons, Paolo and Gabriel. The Powerplay Band will also be performing with him.
The concert is presented by Citichurch. This is a rare chance for you to be part of an exhilarating musical experience.
***
As early as the last part of last month, when the trailers started showing on television, some friends and acquaintances have been talking about it. It could be the hype, the director (who has been noted to have brought to the wide screen some of the most memorable movies in recent history), the stars, or it could be all of these things.
The movie Dubai, as the trailers say, will be shown simultaneously not only nationwide but also in at least close to 10 places around the world. It could easily be the first Philippine-made movie to enjoy such honor and privilege.
To further drum up interest in the movie, the stars are scheduled to visit Cebu next weekend and do a mini-show at the SM City Cebu Entertainment Plaza. As you may know by now (who doesn’t, by the way?), the cast includes Claudine Barretto, Aga Muhlach and John Lloyd Cruz, among others.
As of this writing, however, it is not yet certain who among the cast members will be in Cebu for the said promo tour. Just keep posted for developments.
***
Now it can be told. A friend who happens to be close to Little Boy Productions execs divulged that a week before the staging on Once On This Island, producer Hendri Go was very tense because there was slow movement of tickets in the outlets.
Although sponsorships play a major part in a production, ticket sales also contribute much to the producers’ coffers, not to mention feeling ecstatic at the sight of expectant viewers queueing up before the opening and actually packing up the venue right before curtains rise.
As it turned out, theater lovers in Cebu really did line up to see the musical play that made waves in its recent Manila run. While waiting for our turn to get inside SM City Cebu Theater 1, this columnist and some friends exchanged opinions at the apparent huge turnout of spectators.
We singled out two reasons: the familiar story and the powerhouse cast. Once On This Island had been staged by Little Boy Productions not too long ago utilizing most, if not all, homegrown talents.
Incidentally, Cebuana talent and Born Diva grand prize winner Raki Vega was also in the earlier cast essaying the same role, that of Ti Moune.
On hindsight, it could be the cast more than the story that drew the crowd that night. Imagine having (aside from Raki) the likes of Bituin Escalante, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Kristian Lei, May Bayot, Michael Williams, Michael de Mesa and Jeffrey Hidalgo, all very familiar figures in the entertainment scene, gathered together and performing live right before one’s very eyes?
The other cast members, though not quite familiar to ordinary Cebuano theater goers, were heavyweights in their own right! The experience was mind-boggling, to say the least. Expectedly, Raki was able to hold a candle side by side with the aforementioned musicdom greats.
As a result of the successful staging, the play will be back for the Sinulog festivities. Yes, still with the same line-up. Look forward to that event.
***
Shortly after the show, while waiting for my turn to avail of the services of Body and Sole Body Massage and Foot Spa at the Raintree Mall, guess who were inside for some pampering?
Menchu, the two Michaels and May. Some (including Raki) were said to be coming over later while the others already availed of the services earlier..
Needless to say, the presence of the celebrity guests made both the spa staff and guests all excited. The celebrities even asked if a branch will be set up in Manila.
The owners, Johnie and Flor Lim, answered that one will open before the year ends somewhere in Makati. Now it’s their turn to look forward to that day.
(September 16, 2005 issue)
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