The Best of Aliw 2018 set Sept. 18

MANILA, Philippines — Aliw Awards Foundation, Inc. (AAFI) gathers once again its awardees who represent the best in Philippine live entertainment via a concert titled The Best of Aliw 2018 on Sept. 18 at The Theatre at Solaire.

Directed by Freddie Santos, the concert brings together Pilita Corrales, Rico J. Puno, Celeste Legaspi, Martin Nievera, Dulce, Imelda Papin, Spirit of ’67, Angelos, Merjohn Lagaya, Halili-Cruz Dance Company and the Singing Lawyers Salvador Panelo, Mike Toledo and Joey Lina.

“I’m really happy that Aliw is back again because this is really for performers. When Alice (Reyes) asked me (about this), I said ‘Definitely!’” said Pilita, the first Entertainer of the Year awardee. “With direk Freddie, it’s nice that he has some new ideas. It’s not like you go there and sing and then tapos ka na. He really came up with great ideas for the show so it’s not just the same as any concert.”

Freddie, for his part, said, “We are excited about this because you don’t get artists of these caliber just like that. This is not just your typical tribute music which is what you expect singers to do.”

For this concert, Freddie said he decided to make it a bit different from the past Aliw concerts he had helmed.

  Director Freddie Santos

“We have so many singers but these singers talk. They talk a lot. I know ‘coz I directed all of them. They know how to talk and they know how to tell a story. So I said, ‘Alright we got the music, this is what I would like for spiels — the best of Philippine literature.’ We picked songs, poems, essays. My god, the response of the artists was overwhelming,” revealed Freddie. “Dulce immediately said she will speak in Visayan. Pilita will be reciting the song of Maria Clara in its original Spanish text.”

Founding president Alice Reyes, on the other hand, related that the concert is also a fundraiser for Aliw’s Welfare Fund for ailing and unemployed live entertainers and IWCP District 381 projects.

Produced by AAFI and the Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines (IWCP), District 381, in cooperation with Solaire Resort & Casino, the concert is in line with Solaire’s advocacy to promote Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and Filipino artists for which Solaire received a Special Award last year from the AAFI.

According to a press statement, the tradition of presenting Aliw awardees in a concert started in 2006 during the term of past president Rema Manzano at PAGCOR Parañaque. Subsequent Best of Aliw presentations were held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater, Resorts World Manila and Star Theater.

The Best of Aliw is presented by The Philippine STAR, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, Philippine United News, People’s Journal, People’s Tonight, Jade Vine Restaurant and 9 Tenz.

(Tickets to the show are available at Ticketworld. For details, call 891-9999 and 911-5615.)