In line with its philosophy of achieving excellence in everything, Le Soufflé Rockwell in cooperation with Yamaha, presents the 2nd World Voice Day celebration concert in the Philippines featuring four of the country’s best voices: That of soprano Joscephine Gomez, tenor Randy Gilongo, mezzo-soprano Maricris Joaquin, and baritone Lawrence Jatayna. The concert will happen today, April 16 at 6:30 p.m.

The singers, assisted at the piano by Carlos Perion, will render opera arias and duets, Broadway hits and well-loved kundiman pieces.

Gomez, whose voice is noted for its clarity, will interpret Marietta’s “Lied zur Laute” from the opera “Die Tote Stadt” by E. Korngold and the vocally-demanding “Vissi d’arte, Vissi d’amorev” from “Tosca” by G. Puccini, “Mutya ng Pasig” by N. Abelardo and “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess.” With Maricris Joaquin, she will sing the duets from “Lakme and Ah, guarda sorella” from “Cosi fan tutte” by W.A. Mozart.

Tenor Gilongo’s beautiful resonance will be heard in “L’alba separa dalla luce l’ombra” by F. P. Tosti, “Bituing Marikit” by N. Abelardo and other arias.

Lawrence Jatayna’s rich, velvety baritone voice will answer to the demands of “Toreador” from Bizet’s Carmen, Abelardo’s “Magbalik Ka Hirang” and “If Ever I Would Leave You” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” and “I Got Plenty Of Nuttin” from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” among others.

Ms. Gomez represented the country in the 1st International Music Festival held in Krasnoyarsk Russia in 1992 after winning the lead role in the Russian production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in auditions held internationally. To date, she is the only Filipino soprano to be presented in a solo classical concert in Israel and in Brunei Darussalam.

After many years of research and more than 10 years of attendance in post-graduate courses in otothinolaryngology, head and neck surgery, Gomez put up the Joscephine Gomez Clinic for Voice Therapy and Rehabilitation, the only voice clinic in the Philippines that specializes in cases secondary to hyperfunction and hypofunction of the laryngeal mechanism and in vocal behavior modification using a six-pronged wholistic approach.

Tenor Randy Gilongo won the Grand Prize in the Asahi Awards while pursuing his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance in Japan. He has performed lead roles in operas such as in Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte,” Puccini’s “Tosca,” Tchaikowsky’s “Eugene Onegin” and Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus.” He currently chairs the Voice Department of UST Conservatory of Music.

The four voices unite in the opening number, Barry Manilow’s “One Voice” and in Lucio San Pedro’s “Sa Mahal Kong Bayan.”

A seven-course dinner follows at 8 p.m. Le Soufflé is located at the Rockwell Clubhouse, Amorsolo Square, beside the Power Plant Mall.

Ayen and Franco’s daughter turns 18!

Some kids are thrust into the limelight with much fanfare by simply having prominent parents.

One reluctant star within our midst is Mariella (or Yela to her friends and family), the beautiful daughter of singers and stage actors Ayen Munji-Laurel and Franco Laurel. Yela recently turned 18 via a beautifully-solemn coming out party held recently at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila.

Yela is the eldest of the brood of Franco and Ayen (the other two being Hasan and Angia) and who is very much like her lovely mother, not only in terms of physical attributes but in talents as well.

The celebration, more than anything, was a testament to the character of the person and her God-given talents. She displayed her tersichorean skills and did a dance number, choreographed by Cecile Martinez, with her girl friends, Tin Tin Limjap and Ching Pagaduan. She also delighted the guests with her song number, accompanied by her proud Lolo Emy Munji. At one point, singer Sam Concepcion and her school friends, serenaded Yela with a romantic ballad. Musical director for the night was Mark Lopez.

Yela was the star that night and her famous parents – Franco and Ayen – simply took the sidelines, allowing the lovely debutante to shine. Yela got to waltz with her grandfather, veteran musician Emy Munji, her dad Franco and her good-looking younger brother Hassan. Mom and younger sister Angia offered her a touching song number.

After the elaborate program hosted by the couple’s long-time friend, balladeer Raymond Lauchengco, Yela left everybody with no doubt about her rightful place in the business that has been equally good to her parents. A spitting image of her mom, Yela was radiant not in a traditional ball gown, but in an elegant spaghetti-strapped chiffon magenta creation by Jojie Loren. Yela’s makeup was by Juan Sarte III and her hair which was fixed in a neat bun, was done by Danny Katalbas of Emphasis Salon.

Instead of table hopping for the posterity shots, Yela got to sit on center stage and the guests in every table were requested to pose with her. Prior to that, she also got to enjoy dinner unhurriedly with her close friends in one table, where she had a spotlight to herself. The beautiful blooms that were the table centerpieces were arranged by Antonio Garcia of Mabolo Flowers. These blooms were raffled off to lucky guests during the night much to their delight.

The tables had place cards of Yela’s favorites – TV series “90210” and “Heroes,” Broadway musical “Wicked,” designer brands Channel and Jimmy Choo, places like Japan, New York and Los Angeles, European cities like Rome, Paris and London, Six Flags theme park, Tom Hanks’ “Forrest Gump,” Nicholas Sparks’ novel “The Notebook,” ice cream brand Haagen Dazs, beauty shop Sephora, “Gossip Girl” main characters Serena Van Der Wooden and Blair Waldorf, hip-hop and R&B music, Starbucks coffee.

Only the closest friends of Franco and Ayen were invited to the party. Some of those we saw that night were Gigi Posadas, Sheila Francisco, Roden Araneta, Tonipet Gaba, Samantha Chavez and hubby Rino Que.

After dinner, an audio-visual presentation with Yela’s beautiful photos, taken by Raymund Isaac, kicked off the night’s program. There were also amusing interviews with Yela’s family and close friends, who only had nice words and praises for her. They defined YELA as “Young, Eloquent, Lovely, Admirable.”

Great words for an amazing young woman obviously raised very well by her God-fearing parents.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 16, go to Ms. Mency Zuñiga, Mrs. Nene L. Talampas, Cashmere Pascual, Joyce de Boda, Cia Cia Rejano, Ovette Ricalde, Aurozhel Love A. Abergas and TV/radio host and columnist Jobert Sucaldito… Happy wedding anniversary to Christopher “Bong” and Shirley Pizarro…