Exciting artists in Xstatic

Despite the hard times, the concert scene seems to be very much alive and profitable these days. On Friday, Oct. 19, for example, there is going to be a big concert at the Araneta Coliseum called Xstatic! Produced by Marylouise International Productions, Xstatic is probably the biggest and most star-studded concert of the year. Among its featured performers are Gary Valenciano, Lani Misalucha, Aiza Seguerra, Carol Banawa, Karylle, Donita Rose and Piolo Pascual. Xstatic is directed by Floy Quintos who is also my director in Startalk.

The featured artists in this concert, no doubt, are among the biggest names in the entertainment field today. Below, allow me to give my impressions on these artists as performers and as persons.

Gary Valenciano – When he was just starting, I wasn’t particularly impressed with his style. I thought it was too foreign – and I like my Filipino artists to be, well, Pinoy. No, I don’t expect them to sing like Ric Manrique, Jr. or Ruben Tagalog. But somehow, they should at least sound Filipino.

After a couple of years, however. I finally began to appreciate his songs – the first of which was Pasko na Sinta Ko, the national anthem of anyone lovelorn during the holiday season. Today, he’s one of my favorite local singers.

As a person, I like Gary very much. I may not be very close to him, but I know he has a very good heart. And while it is sometimes boring to be talking to those who mouth Christian lines, with Gary it is different. Maybe it stems from the fact that whatever he says is no put-on and comes from genuine faith and sincere belief in the Lord.

Lani Misalucha – When we were drawing up our list of performers for the Gawad Urian two years ago, some members of the production staff were a bit apprehensive about putting in the name of Lani Misalucha because she looked too exotic. No, she wasn’t bad looking. She just looked different – not exactly our idea of how a singer should look like (you know – Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma, etc.).

And then, there was her name. With due respect to her husband, Misalucha is not exactly easy on the tongue. In fact, I doubt if anyone can say it without spraying people around him with saliva.

But what a voice – the most powerful I’ve ever heard in my whole life. Whether standing up or lying down, there doesn’t seem to be any effort coming from her diaphragm.

Through sheer talent and perseverance, however, she had become one of the country’s most popular singers. And I’m very happy for her. And I’m happier even for the fact that here’s another extremely gifted person who had proven once more you need not be a mestiza with patrician features to make it big in the entertainment profession.

Today, Lani is adored by her legions of fans who should all be commended for choosing to root for an artist with really genuine talent. And now, Misalucha is no longer a strange name. It now slides off the tongue of any music lover.

But going back to that Gawad Urian production meeting two years ago, those who were pushing for Lani to sing at the awards night won out in the end. She had a wonderful and well-applauded duet with Pops Fernandez.

The following year (actually, last summer), we were trying to get her again. But, sigh, she was already too busy and too big a name. But we haven’t lost hope. We’ll try our luck with her again next year.

Aiza Seguerra – In the history of Philippine entertainment, I can only name four youngsters who were really great child superstars: Tessie Agana, Snooky, Niño Muhlach and Aiza Seguerra.

When Aiza turned nine or 10, people were already beginning to wonder how she’d turn out as an adult. To be a leading lady on the big screen was, well, out of the question because nobody really expected her to transform into a great beauty the way former child stars Tita Duran, Lorna Tolentino and Snooky Serna did.

Some thought she’d turn out to be a comedienne (which still remains an option for her). But she did not (at least, not yet). Instead, she surprised everyone by coming up with this hit single called – but what else? – Pagdating ng Panahon.

Ordinarily, a song as popular as this one should already be coming out of our ears after being on top of the records charts this long. But not Pagdating ng Panahon. It’s so melodious, it’s still being appreciated by lovers of good music.

Donita Rose – Ever since she joined show business, Donita had always been as sweet as her name – whether on screen or in person. In spite of her success as a top VJ in all of Asia, she has remained extremely humble. One proof of her popularity is that every time I interview her for Startalk, the show never fails to hit the top of the ratings charts.

Karylle – I actually saw her as a kid in their condominium unit in Greenhills when her parents were still together. And now I can’t believe that she’s already a grown up.

As a performer, her assets are her fine singing voice – and the fact that she moves very well. In the beauty department, she has also turned out to be a quite looker. Of course, people still say that her mother is more beautiful than her. But who could be more beautiful than Zsa Zsa Padilla considering the fact that the Divine Diva still has one of the loveliest faces in the industry today?

Carol Banawa – Until last Saturday – when I interviewed her for Startalk – I never got to meet Carol in person. But I’ve always been impressed with her Baccarat crystal-like singing voice. And when I finally met her last Saturday, I discovered that she’s not only an excellent singer, but seems like a very fine person as well.

Piolo Pascual – No doubt one of the best looking actors today, he impressed me with his fine performance in Lagarista for which he got a nomination in most awards derbies last summer. As a singer, I‘ve heard him sing only once or twice – and I thought his singing voice was a bit thin and begging for angst. However, it wasn’t all that bad. It was, in fact, quite passable.

Last summer, when we were putting up the Urian Awards, we included him in our roster of hosts and, was actually the first to be cast. When he and his managers confirmed his participation in the Urian, we all merrily went our way and worked on the production numbers for the awards night. At the eleventh hour, however, he got an offer to perform in Japan and, for bigger money, dropped us just like that.

Of course, we in the production staff were all left frantic and hurt – and, personally, my perception of him really changed after that.

Ticket-holders expecting to see him at the Xstatic concert this Friday, however, need not worry about a no-show from Piolo Pascual. The producers have already checked his schedule. It’s already Tuesday and – so far – there’s no offer yet from Japan.