Yeng Constantino declares 'Single is just a status!'

MANILA, Philippines — If you're "loveless" or don't have a date this Valentine season then you should have been at Yeng Constantino’s concert “Okay Lang Maging Single Sa Valentines Day” held Friday at the Music Museum.

The novel idea of a concert for single people was hatched by Yeng herself  whose quirky and creative side put the focus on the b-side of Valentines month. She opened the show with an energetic version of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love (A Bad Name),” bellowing to the audience,  “Sino dito ang single? Sino dito ang kagagaling lang ng break up?” before declaring "Single is just a status!” She then kicked off the first of many music medleys  that consisted of Hotdog’s “Pers Lab,” Agaw Agimat’s “Sabi Nila,” and APO Hiking’s “Mahirap Magmahal Ng May Syota Ng Iba.”

She performed “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana,” “Mr Kupido,” “Goodbye To Love,” “Hiding Inside Myself,” “Bluer Than Blue” – songs about heartbreak that sort of explain why some choose to be or remain single.

“It’s not our choice to be single, it’s just not happening yet for all these reasons,”  was her theory.

Director Dido Camara had a few dramatic video snippets of Yeng and “on-screen boyfriend” Sam Milby made in order to introduce the show in stages. "Okay Lang Maging Single Sa Valentine's Day" was divided into four "chapters" namely Breakup, Aftermath, Coping, and Acceptance. Each chapter had a corresponding set-list.

The Coping chapter was particularly entertaining as Yeng dug into it with a hopeful version of Adele’s “Someone Like You” followed by Brian May’s “Too Much Love Will Kill You” which gave her the opportunity to introduce and duet with first guest, Jovit Baldovino. fHe then sang '80’s the power-ballad staples “Hard To Say I’m Sorry”  (originally by Chicago), “Eversince The World Began” (Survivor), and “Open Arms”  (Journey).

The evening also featured Paolo Valenciano with whom Yeng performed a couple of numbers including an upbeat reading of Rey Valera’s “Kumusta Ka.”

Yeng picked the energy up in the latter part of the show,  getting into her element in singing local pop rock numbers by the Eraserheads and Rivermaya namely  “Wag Kang Matakot,” “With A Smile,” “Umaaraw-Umuulan,” and “214." Yeng was particularly proud of her band that night which boasted six-string whiz Jack Rufo as musical director, Nino Regalado on drums, Nico Karera on keys, Carel Honasan on bass and backup singers Yoshi and Aileen.

Yeng went for a flourish near the end with her spirited version of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” which he dedicated to the Big Guy upstairs.

“Kung wala siya, wala ako dito,” she said, referring to the greatest love of her life. She deemed it the perfect moment to break out into her new song, a light acoustic number titled “Pag-Ibig” which quotes Corinthians 13:4 at length: “Love is patient, love is kind..”

So, see? You can be without a partner but not really loveless.

Right, single is just a status.