An exciting show to watch on the night of September 12 is “Face to Phase… of love, life, laughter and beauty,” featuring the tandem of a famous comedienne and a lady politician. We are referring to Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai delas Alas and Ms. Jade Ecleo, governor of Dinagat Islands (just off Surigao del Norte) who are teamed up on stage for the first time and for a good cause. Their show will be held at the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex and it will benefit the Jade Ecleo-Villaroman Foundation.

As always, Ai Ai is expected to entertain the audience with her trademark comic antics and wit. She has always filled to the rafters the venues where she held her past shows so expect Aliw Theater to be jampacked too tonight. She has also starred in several box-office hit movies (she is currently filming a Star Cinema movie with former President Joseph Estrada, Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga among others).

Despite her busy schedule, Ai Ai accepted Governor Jade’s offer in support of her advocacies. For this, the lady governor is very grateful. “She’s the one my constituents are clamoring to see on stage with me,” the lovely governor said. A former Bayanihan dancer, Governor Jade also had a singing stint in New York where she studied and earned her master’s degree. When she came back, she sang with a local band called Amadeus.

Governor Jade has spent almost nine years in public service yet her passion for music has always been in her heart. She has performed in private affairs and small concert venues but this is the first time that she will headline a full-blown musical extravaganza.

Their repertoire for the show will be a mix of their respective musical influences and style. “You should forget that I am a governor when you see me perform,” Governor Jade said. “Because I am a totally different persona when I am on stage.”

Other featured performers are Erik Santos, Dingdong Avanzado, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Hotlegs. Erik, winner of “Star in a Million” 2004, has become one of the country’s fast-rising musical stars. He has been a sought-after performer here and abroad, has recorded hit songs and sold thousands of records. He has deservedly earned for himself the title “Prince of Pop.”

Dingdong Avanzado is a noted singer-composer who also once forayed into politics (he belongs to a family of politician, by the way). One of the country’s most outstanding concert performers, Dingdong is dubbed “Kilabot ng Mga Kolehiyala,” “Crush ng Bayan” and is also known as the “Original Prince of Pop.”

Chairman BF is also a performer, having appeared in numerous concerts with the so-called “Three Tenors,” Sec. Angelo Reyes, and Manila Hotel President Joey Lina. BF is also the grand winner in GMA-7’s “Celebrity Duets Season 2.” In “Face to Phase,” he will launch the song “Lahat Tayo’y Tsuper.”

The Hotlegs is of course Manila’s premier jazz dance ensemble while Tango master Jun Borja will perform a Tango Argentine number with Governor Ecleo.

Musical direction is by Beth Martin and Elmer Blancaflor, and choreography by The Hotlegs. Writer and director is Paolo Bustamante.

“Face to Phase…” produced by Ms. Emeellee Mercado and Milton Ngu as executive producer, is presented by UNO1ONE Entertainment Productions and Cherry Mobile together with AK7 Enterprises Corp., PacAsia Mineral and Management Corp., Brahms Travel and Tour Corp., Philrock Alchemy Resources, Century Peak Corp., Citic Mining, Oriental Synergy, Philnico Industrial Corp., Dayot Plant Nursery Orchids Garden & Trucking Services, Nama Sakana Sushi, Benefits Style Salon Eastwood, Drino’s Shoes and Dance Wear, Daisy Premier Skin Care Authority and White Avenue Bar & Restaurant.

About the beneficiary, the Jade Ecleo-Villaroman Foundation, it grants scholarships to poor but deserving students in the secondary and tertiary levels in Dinagat Islands, the governor said. The foundation also has programs for the elderly such as the “Handog Regalo Para sa Lolo at Lola,” and extends financial assistance for the treatment of various medical/surgical conditions such as hydrocephalus and elephantiasis, and provides wheel-chairs to disabled individuals in the community.

In addition to its socio-civic projects in Dinagat Islands, the foundation supports orphanages and charitable institutions in Metro Manila among them the Associacion de Damas in Manila, White Cross in San Juan, the Philippine General Hospital’s Pediatric Charity Ward for terminally-ill patients, Golden Acres Home for the Aged and Hospicio de San Jose’s Home for the Aged among others.

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Harmony group Music@ts continues to make waves here and abroad

Slowly but surely, the three-part vocal harmony group Music@ts (myu-zee-cats), composed of excellent young singers Alona Climaco, Mafe Aringo, and Lawrence Calderon (with sessionist musician Albert Peñoso) has been captivating audiences locally and internationally.

Most recently, Music@ts has been awarded the Most Outstanding Group at the 2008 Asia Pacific Excellence Awards, Music@ts held at the SM Megatrade Hall. Music@ts performs all genres of music – from pop, jazz, standards, R&B, retro, Broadway and well-loved Filipino classics, with the twist. The group is as versatile as can be, given the excellent background of each member.

Formed in 2006 through the efforts of its leader and musical arranger, Lawrence Calderon, Music@ts is now under the care of award-winning record producer and composer, Vehnee Saturno and Ms. Ladine Roxas. The couple signed up the group for a five-year talent management and recording contract.

For their training, the band has performed and wowed audiences in numerous top-notch entertainment venues in the Philippines and overseas such as the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Century Park Hotel, Richmonde Hotel, Sulo Hotel, Diamond Hotel, Dusit Thani Hotel, Bellevue Hotel, Manila Pavilion, Danat Hotel in Abu Dhabi and recently, the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong.

You can catch their performances at the lobby lounge of Makati Shangri-La Hotel every Thursday and Saturday, 9 p.m. and at the Lobby lounge of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, 8:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. Watch out for their self-titled debut album soon which will be released under their home studio, Saturno Music Productions.

Lawrence Calderon, vocalist, arranger and pianist and the leader of the pack, had been classically trained at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, where he majored in Voice and Piano. He was a former member of the Coro Tomasino, UST Liturgicon, Philippine Male Chorale and the UST Singers. In 2004, Lawrence has joined the World Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany where his group bagged the silver medal award. He’s had solo performances in Austria, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany. Lawrence was also pianist and musical arranger of Rhythm and Voices. He was also one of the lead actors and musical director for Gantimpala Theater Foundation’s Summer Acting Workshop Recital entitled “Katy.” He has worked with the finest in the musical industry such as Ryan Cayabyab, Celeste Legaspi, Regine Velasquez, Jinky Llamanzares, Mitch Valdez, Ogie Alcasid, and Zsa Zsa Padilla to name a few.

Alona Climaco on vocals (soprano) started singing at the age of five. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Choir and The Nocturne Chorus (formed by Arnel Ignacio). She has performed in The Westin Philippine Plaza, The Tap Room of the Manila Hotel, Grand Boulevard Hotel, and the COEX Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul Korea, as a solo artist. 

Mafe Aringo on vocals (alto), a former Mutya ng Pilipinas candidate, was a member of the University of the East Chorale. Mafe has been trained by renowned choir conductors at the Nocturne Chorus. In 2002, she joined the Rhythm and Voices Band and has performed in Podium, Tap Room of the Manila Hotel, Manila Pavilion, Grand Boulevard Hotel and Casino, Westin Philippine Plaza and the Makati Shangri-La. She has also performed with the Alegria Band at the Fountain Lounge of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Beijing China in 2004. Mafe’s stint with Nocturne Chorus has allowed her front act stints with Ivy Violan, Arnel Ignacio, Ai Ai delas Alas and Monique Wilson.

Albert Penoso (sessionist bass guitarist for the band) has performed with numerous bands in his 20-year musical career. He has been a member of X- Po Band, Traffic Jam, and Real Groove and has performed internationally in Europa East Coast Bar in Singapore, among other venues.

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Gary, Martin as one

Catch Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera promoting “As 1” at SM Clark on Sept. 12. “As 1” is presented by ABS-CBN and Globe; co-presented by Real Leaf with “ASAP ’09,” MYX, MTV, GluControl, Belo Medical Group, Hewlett Packard,  The Manila Bulletin, WRR For Life, Crossover, DZMM, Edge Radio, JAM 88.3, WAVE 89.1, MAGIC 89.9, 99.5 RT, MAX 103.5, YES FM, The Edge Radio, WROCK, Soundcheck, Videosonic, Provill, The Nest, Essensuals Toni & Guy, Salon De Manila, Friday’s, Italliannis, Fish & Co., Flapjacks, Studio V., Universal Records, Polyeast Records.

“As 1” will have a US/Canada tour in Pala Casino; San Diego CA (Oct. 9); Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco CA (Oct. 10); Arena Theater, Houston Texas (Oct. 16); Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles CA (Oct. 17); Gateway Theater, Chicago Illinois (Oct. 23); Mark Etess Arena, Atlantic City NJ (Oct. 25); Massey Hall, Toronto Canada (Oct. 30); Jubilee Edmonton, Canada (Nov. 7); and Jubilee Calgary, Canada (Nov. 8).

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Sept. 12 go to director Celso Ad Castillo, Ms. Remy Jose of Casino Filipino, Sophia Romero, George Yang, Cora Vicente, Maya Santiano, Dulce Fernandez, Cong. Conrado Estrella III, Albert David, Elvira Perez, and MB’s sports editor Ding Marcelo. Happy wedding anniversary to Jack and Bing Teotico; and Engr. Marcelino and Corazon Samaniego.