What makes a legend a legend?

The old are new again, or haven’t you noticed?

Correction, please! Unlike “old” soldiers, veteran singers never fade away. They just keep on making beautiful music. They mellow like vintage wine.

Name six of them?

Yes: (at random now) Rico J. Puno, Claire dela Fuente, Rey Valera, Eva Eugenio, Nonoy Zuñiga and Joey Albert.

They are brought together by Vic del Rosario Jr., big boss of Viva Concerts & Events, Inc., in a concert aptly called Legends of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) slated for Dec. 30, 8 p.m. at the PICC, with Roxanne Lapuz as director and Jun Latonio as musical director.

Funfare interviewed five of the “legends” (minus Joey Albert who is based in Canada) with the six legends.

Excerpts:

How different is Legends from your previous concerts?

Claire: Actually, they chose between “legends” and “icons,” but Boss Vic said nabibitin siya sa “icon.” He said that “legends” says it all, talagang it’s the ultimate na.

Rey: First of all, ang tingin ko sa salitang “legend,” parang lumot (moss). Hehehehe!

Eva: Hoy, hindi naman! Sa akin, ang “legend,” siempre alamat.

Rey: In the past, I’d been doing shows (Hitmakers) with Nonoy (Zuñiga), Rico J. (Puno), Hajji (Alejandro) and Marco (Sison). All male kami. In Legends, kasama namin tatlong babae.

Nonoy: I like the word “legend.” It implies that there’s a body of work that you can stand on. It means that even if there are so many new talents around, nandyan ka pa rin, still patronized and appreciated by the public.

Claire: Very different. On this show, each of us has to prove na deserving siyang tawaging “legend.” Expect surprises on the show.

Rico: It’s the fad. Idea ni Boss Vic. First, he put Rey, Nonoy, Hajji, Marco and I together in a concert and called us The Hitmakers. And then, pinagsama-sama niya sina Pilita (Corrales) at ‘yung dalawang Carmen (Soriano and Pateña) and called them Golden Divas. And now, Boss Vic put together The Hitmakers and three female hitmakers.

Eva: Each of us will sing our hits that made us “legends of OPM.” Same with the three guys. We are also singing the hits of other singers during that time.

Rey: The four other “hitmakers” and I have been performing together for more than six years. Medyo nagkakasawaan na nga kami sa mga pagmumukha namin, eh. Hahahahaha! In Legends, for a change tatlong babae ang kabatuhan namin, so it’s different.

Rico: When you watch our show, you don’t have to watch our faces, just close your eyes and reminisce the good old days — you know, alaala nang tayo’y mag-sweetheart pa...Mga ganoon. After the show, you will feel light and say, “What a life!”

Will there be scene-stealing kaya?

Claire: Hopefully, none. But you can never tell. Six veterans are performing together for the first time and so many things can happen.

Rey: No way. We will help each other.

Eva: Kami nina Claire at Joey, hindi. Ewan ko doon sa tatlong guys. Hehehehe!

Nonoy: I hope wala. Each of us will have his/her own diskarte; may kanya-kanya kaming hits. It will be fun because first time naming anim to perform together.

Rey: Baka si Rico at si Claire mag-agawan ng eksena.

Rico: Abangan n’yo na lang! Hehehehe!

(To Claire) Why is Imelda Papin, another “legend,” not in the cast?

Claire: Being also a part of OPM, a “legend” in her own right, Mel should be on the show. Unfortunately, she’s having a show in the States on Dec. 29. Sayang!

(Also to Claire): It has nothing to do naman with the perceived rivalry between you, ‘no? Come to think of it, is there really such a rivalry?

Claire: We are past that stage already. I have proven myself and so has Mel. At saka, ang tatanda na namin sa rivalry-rivalry na ‘yan, ano!

You’ve been around for...ages!...and you’re still active. What’s your staying power (aside from your talent, of course)?

Claire: You have to listen to what the trends are; you must know how to re-invent yourself, para hindi ka maiwanan ng panahon.

Nonoy: Choose the right songs, maintain the right connections. And keep your feet planted on the ground. Huwag lalaki ang ulo.

Rico: The fact that our songs are being played over and over again helps a lot. After the 1986 EDSA People Power, most of our fans migrated to the States, kaya sikat na sikat doon ang Hitmakers. But then, ‘yung mga anak nilang naiwan dito, nagpapatugtog din ng songs namin, so we are always in the public consciousness.

Eva: We keep re-inventing ourselves. And, of course, hindi nawawala ang pagpapa-sexy...kahit konti! The older you grow, the better you should look. We know how to go with the flow; sumasabay kami sa agos ng panahon.

Rey: I have a tip for everybody: Don’t be harsh on newcomers or even those na nagtitimpla ng kape. For all you know, they are the bosses of the future. Kapag binabastos mo sila or sinusungitan, they will remember it up to the time they become the decision-makers. Eva is right. We should keep up with the times. This is the age of the Internet. We should continue to do research; we should adjust to the taste of the public, pati na ‘yung lengguahe nila.

Among the new breed of singers, who do you want to perform with?

Rey: Sarah Geronimo. She’ll go far. Sa bands naman, Eraserheads.

Eva: Same here. Sarah Geronimo.

Nonoy: Mark Bautista and Christian Bautista. Parehong mahusay na balladeer.

Claire: Si Sarah Geronimo din. Why her? Siempre, we have the same manager, si Boss Vic. We can also be a mother-daughter tandem, di ba? Hehehehe!

Rico: All of them!

Among your songs, which one would you like to be revived by other singers?

Rey: Actually, several of my songs have been revived, Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo being the most popular.

Eva: Tukso, of course! It has several versions already.

Nonoy: Never Ever Say Goodbye, with either Mark or Christian.

Claire: Sayang, what else?

Rico: Several of my songs have been revived. Mayroon pa bang hindi?

(Note: For ticket inquiries, call Viva Concerts & Events, Inc. at 687-6181 locals 620 and 745; or Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

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