‘As 1,’ Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano

Expected to be another huge success is the “AS 1” concert featuring the inimitable tandem of Concert King Martin Nievera and Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano which happens on Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum. Making the highly-anticipated Manila repeat of the ground-breaking concert more exciting is the appearance of Martin and Gary’s sons, Robin and Ram, and Gab and Paolo respectively, in production numbers with their famous dads.

“AS 1” had sold-out performances in the US, Canada and the Middle East, and producer Ana C. Puno couldn’t be prouder when she said she made money from these 16 shows.

After more than two decades of rivalry in the entertainment industry, finally, the top two make musical acts in the country teamed up for the show aptly titled “AS 1” and it was a decision they will never regret.

 “AS 1” opened in Manila last Sept. 19, 2009 before a mammoth crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. It also brought together two of the most respected musical directors in the country, Louie Ocampo and Mon Faustino in one stage.

The “AS 1” franchise also dominated the recording scene with the release of the commemorative “AS 1” CD which immediately claimed the No. 1 spot in the retailers’ album sales charts and after 10 months continues to be one of the strongest selling albums on the OPM retail charts. The “AS 1” CD is released by Universal Records in cooperation with Polyeast Records and it features Martin and Gary doing renditions of each other’s hit songs as well as several duets such as its title song “As One,” a song composed by Gina Tabuena-Godinez and Albert Chang, beautifully arranged by Gary himself.

“AS 1” is brought to you by Starmedia Entertainment and Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management, Inc. The concert is for the benefit of Shining Light Foundation and the Louie Tabuena Liver Foundation.

“AS 1” is presented by ABS-CBN in cooperation with Lee and Globe with media partners “ASAP XV,” “Twist & Shout,” Myx, Studio 23, Cinema One, Lifestyle Network, Business World, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, People’s Journal, People’s Tonight, Tambayan 101.9, DZMM, etc.

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Juicy Cat Dolls repeat at MM

On Friday night during the repeat of “Juicy Cat Dolls: No Preservatives Added” at Music Museum, comediennes Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor will give people an idea of how politicians’ wives talk when they think no one’s listening.

Revealing as it is irreverent, shocking yet sidesplitting, and candid as some of their political motives are crude, these are talk that could very well end up as another scandal if the two characters that Mitch and Nanette play are not careful – and of course they are not!

“It will be very different this time now that the election results are out. If before, our characters were mere ‘First Lady’-bles, now they are already in the throes of power. And you know how some people are when given such trappings: They’re prone to overstep boundaries and act even more ridiculous. That could be the take-off point of the face off,” Nanette said.

Mitch, on the other hand, is looking into another angle. “The wives could end up talking about why their husbands lost. ‘Mali ba yung jingle na ginamit sa kampanya? Di ba na-gets ng mga bagets? At bakit di umepek yung nilabas na pera? Teka, nasaan na nga ba ‘yung pera?’ Yung tipong ganun,” she said.

Nanette added that having Mitch as her “sparring partner” in the portion almost guarantees that neither will fall flat on their faces with the jokes. The two have built an enviable working relationship since their first team-up in the comedy show “Tit for Tat” in the ’80s.

Presented by Maxi-Music Incorporated, “The Juicy Cat Dolls: No Preservatives Added” is sponsored by La Scala Café at M. Adriatico and Lighthouse Studio, with media partners Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and Business World.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings July 16 go to the still sultry chanteuse Ms. Carmen Soriano, beauty queen-actress Melanie Marquez, Rowena Bautista-Mendiola, Gualberto Lumauig, Henry Zabarte, Carmelita Millado, Diane Tristan Valiente, Erlinda Ballesteros, Katrina May Villavicencio, Carmen Rodriguez Arguelles, Andro Laurel Lopez, Caridad Rustia, Carmencita Valero, Roel Villacorta, Tanya Louise T. Plastina, Sherylle dela Cruz, Rowena Bravo, Cali Tiansay, Arron Villaflor of Star Magic, Jansen Macalindong of New Jersey, USA, and Mayor Carmela E. Alvarez. Belated b-day greetings to Julie Bonifacio-Gaspar (July 15).