PAGCOR 5 winning one fan at a time

One of the most interesting times within a day is at dawn when the skies turn crimson and the wind blows fresh. Especially when it promises to be a sunny day, one feels that he can take on the world or at the very least, start all over again. Someone once told me that the darkest part of the night is shortly before the break of dawn.

It felt the same way watching the winners of OPM@PAGCOR during the first leg of their concert tour that will take them to key cities in the country. The first of the series that was held at Casino Filipino Heritage showed how different Joyce Tanana (grand winner), Charles Kevin (second placer), Renz Ruther Robosa (third placer) and grand finalists Hadasa Camporaso and Steve Fernandez are different from each other as singers, yet they know how to work together in duets or even five-part harmonies. To call them promising would be an understatement.

And it’s not as if these young singers took on easy numbers. Their repertoire consisted of medleys of hits by such icons as Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Michael Jackson and Michael Bublé, with the audience applauding midway through their numbers. People were swept away by the power of their voices and their much improved stage presence. It’s obvious that just weeks after winning, their energy has become infectious and they now carry themselves more confidently and are willing to risk more vocally. They were, in local parlance, bigay todo.

Of course, it also helps that they have been given the chance by PAGCOR to perform regularly at the gaming companies’ different branches. As they say, practice makes perfect.

The winners of OPM@PAGCOR are different from products of talent searches on TV. First, because their training are actual gigs and not variety shows, their body language is bigger, if not, more commanding in order that they can communicate to the person sitting at the end of the hall. Then, of course, there’s the “pressure” of doing more since they know that they do not reach as many people instantly as those of their counterparts who were discovered via TV. To the PAGCOR 5 (as they are collectively called), it will be winning one fan at a time for now — and they are totally up to the task.

PAGCOR 5’s concert tour will be held at Casino Filipino Pavilion on Oct. 14; Airport Casino Filipino, Oct. 21; Casino Filipino Angeles, Oct. 25; Casino Filipino Cebu, Oct. 27; and Casino Filipino Davao, Oct. 28. Based on the first concert, PAGCOR 5’s repertoire offers something for everyone and what PAGCOR assembled is a group will “kill” to please.

Some people have criticized singers who are discovered via talent searches for singing songs that are either too old for their age or too young, and that everyone aims to birit their way to the top. However, it is not the case with the PAGCOR 5. Although they can hit the high notes, they do not always resort to birit.

Instead, they seem to base the extent of their vocal demonstration on the message of the song. If a line is poignant, they sing it softly. If one is sending forth a strong message, then by all means, they make sure the listener gets the message. It’s intelligent singing and it’s exciting entertainment. Going by their product, it’s clear PAGCOR knows how to develop talents.

For more info on the PAGCOR 5 nationwide tour, call Entertainment Department at 852-7752 to 60 or visit www.pagcor.ph.  

Bodie makes theater debut

Bodie Cruz, son of veteran actor Tirso Cruz III, makes his theatrical debut at the CCP in Sierra Lakes, one of the featured plays in Tanghalang Pilipino’s Tatlong Tabing: Three Plays by Tony Perez.

An actor, singer and commercial model, Bodie entered showbiz when he was around eight years old, appearing on ABS-CBN’s tween show, Ang TV. He left after a year to focus on his studies and earned a degree in computer programming. Bodie went back to showbiz three years ago through Pinoy Big Brother.

Coming from a family of musical performers, Bodie has also shown his musical talent by performing in concerts and singing engagements. “I love to work with veterans in the industry who share their talents and acting techniques with me,” Bodie shares.

Bodie plays Jusel Castro in Sierra Lakes, a tension-filled drama that explores issues among four people caught in a complicated web of love and desire. It is directed by Tess Jamias, an alumna of the Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company. The play is on going at the CCP-Tanghalang Huseng Batute.

For details, call TP for more details at 832-3661, 832-1125 local 1620/1621 and look for Lorelei Celestino or Paulo Perez. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 and at the CCP Box Office.