Anna meets her crush

Even if she’s one of Broadway’s brightest young stars, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle has remained a fan at heart. Back home in California, she’s updated on Filipino TV shows, thanks to TFC (The Filipino Channel) and GMA Pinoy TV. One of her favorite soaps is ABS-CBN’s The Princess & I which stars Enrique Gil, her crush.

Imagine how surprised Anna Maria was late last Friday night when Enrique paid her a visit at a five-star hotel in Makati where she’s billeted with her parents, Artie Perez de Tagle and Evelyn Enriquez.

The “surprise” was hatched by Enrique’s manager Carlo Orosa and talent manager Girlie Rodis (good friend of Anna Maria’s family). Also around were Ketchup Eusebio, and Oliver Tolentino (who did Anna Maria’s attire) and partner Andrew.

“It was a friendly meeting since our schedules were so busy,” Anna Marie texted Funfare Update. “Enrique corrected some of my Cebuano greetings for our concert in Cebu (Saturday night).”

Earlier, Enrique texted a “Good luck!” to Anna Maria, saying he was sorry he couldn’t make it to her concert with Jonas brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick at the MOA Arena because he was busy shooting.

As the front act, Anna Maria (the Jonases’ “little sister” also managed by the boys’ father Kevin Sr.) easily won the crowd with five songs, namely Only Girl in the World, The One That Got Away, Insomnia, Movin’ to the Music and an OPM Medley (Please Be Careful With My Heart, Torete and Hinahanap-Hanap Kita) which she did without an American twang.

“Ako po si Anna Maria Perez de Tagle,” she introduced herself, “purong Filipino. Ang saya-saya dito. Naniniwala na ako that it’s more fun in the Philippines,” adding before she launched into the OPM Medley, “talagang magagaling ang mga Filipino songwriters.”

Hysteria broke out as the Jonases began their set that lasted for one hour and a half. Being on the “wrong” side of the G-Gap, I sat clueless as the largely-teen/tween crowd erupted into an orgasm of ear-splitting screams(!!!) over each of the songs, singing along with the brothers who were having such a good time with the fans. The fact that the Jonases were cute and cuddlesome, even if one (Kevin) of them is spoken for, no doubt energized the crowd.

Funny but as the young ones stood on their seats (especially those at the Patron Area), the young once (who, like this one, were there to accompany idol-worshipping kith and kin) remained glued to their seats, probably wondering what all the fuss was all about. Shouldn’t I be at the Zombies at PICC instead, I wondered.

But I went there purposely to watch Anna Maria perform and I wasn’t disappointed.

I admit not knowing any of the Jonas songs but I got the message of their music, it being a universal language.

That is, even if I didn’t have to scream.