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Erik Santos’s two-day concert sold out on its first night; eyes Araneta Coliseum for his 10th year anniversary show

Monching Jaramillo

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Pep.ph - 08:41 AM

Sold out ang first night ng two-day concert ni Erik Santos na PowER IKons sa Music Museum, kagabi, August 12, Friday.

Mamayang gabi, August 13, ang second night at inaasahang dadagsa uli ang mga manonood.

Guest performers ng Prince of Pop sina Stephanie Reese (she played Kim in Miss Saigon sa Germany), Star Power grand champion Angeline Quinto, at Concert Queen Pops Fernandez.

Base sa title ng concert, parang tribute sa international at local icons sa mundo ng music ang concept ng show.

Dito ipinakita ni Erik ang range niya sa pagkanta ng iba’t-ibang songs na pinasikat ng singers here and abroad, gaya nina Barry Manilow, John Legend, to name a few. At ang version din niya ng mga kanta nina Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, at ilan pang sikat na foreign singers.

Sa local singers, nandiyan ang kanta nina Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, at iba pa.

Masayang-masaya rin si Erik dahil dumating din para magbigay-suporta ang mga kaibigang singers na sina Yeng Constantino, Rachelle Ann Go, at Sarah Geronimo.

Nandoon din sina KC Concepcion, Jed Madela, Richard Poon, Jamie Rivera, at ang magkasintahang sina John Lloyd Cruz at Shaina Magdayao.

Sigawan ang audience sa pag-akyat ni John Lloyd sa stage na kunyari ay siya ang may concert after lapitan siya ni Erik sa baba para pakantahin ng “I Can’t Smile Without You.”

“Masayang-masaya po ako dahil nag-sold out po tayo tonight. Nag-sold out po tayo tonight,” ang medyo overwhelmed na bungad ni Erik sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) backstage after ng concert.

“Grabe yung mga friends ko, pumunta po sila talaga. Grabe, maraming-maraming salamat po.”

WHERE’S RUFA MAE? Sino ba ang di pa dumarating sa mga friends niya na ine-expect niyang dumating sa second night ng concert niya?

“Sana po pumunta po siya,” sagot ni Erik. Libing po kasi ng lola ni Rufa Mae [Quinto] ngayon.”

Nakadalaw ba siya sa burol ng lola ni Rufa Mae na si Lola Lucing?

“Opo. I went there twice,” sabi ng singer. “Mommy Lucing is very close to my heart.

“Pagka tinatanong siya [Lola Lucing] no’ng nabubuhay pa siya kung sinong boyfriend niya, ako daw.

“So, medyo malungkot. Pero we have to move on and magkikita-kita naman tayong lahat sa darating na panahon, di ba?”

Considering na nagluluksa si Rufa Mae, nagawa ba nitong i-text siya ng good luck sa concert niya?

“Yes, of course. Of course. Yeah,” sagot ni Erik.

If there is one song from his concert na ide-dedicate niya kay Rufa Mae, what would it be?

“Somewhere down the road,” pakanta niyang sagot.

BIGGER VENUE. Watching him kanina, no doubt na very powerful ang kanyang boses para sa venue na Music Museum.

Wala ba siyang plano to stage a concert sa mas malaking venue?

“I hope sa 10th year ko [sa industry]… sa 2013 pa naman, pero I hope sa Araneta naming gawin,” pagwi-wish pa niya.

Punumpuno ng magagandang pop songs ang kanyang concert, anong part ang pinaka-favorite niya?

“Lahat, e. Lahat favorite ko, e.

“Kasi lahat yun, kumbaga halos lahat yun, paborito ko. Lahat po paborito ko.”

Sino ang nakaisip ng konsepto?

“It’s a team effort,” sagot ni Erik.

“Actually, yung concept, galing po sa akin at kay Direk GB [Sampedro, director ng kanyang concert] na sinaliwan ng napakagandang musika ni Mr. Homer Flores.”

Kapansin-pansin ang manaka-nakang pagbibiro niya sa kanyang spiels kanina.

“Kasi, yun naman ang kailangan ng tao, e. Kasi sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, nakabili pa sila ng tickets for my concert.

“So, mas maganda yung hindi lang sila makakarinig ng magagandang music, ng songs.

“Kumbaga, dapat din na mag-enjoy sila at matawa rin. Sana natawa sila, di ba?” saad niya.

Na-overhear namin kanina na balak nina Sarah, Rachelle Ann, at Yeng na mag-concert din ang YRS group nila. Parang reunion din.

Ano ang masasabi niya rito?

“That would be a great idea. That’s a great idea,” sambit niya.

“Actually kaya na namin, e. Isang Araneta ‘yan. Reunion ng champions.”

After his concert, what’s next?

“Actually, mero’n kaming musical this November, Little Mermaid.

“Yes, yun naman. After this, yun naman ang aming kaka-career-in.”

Ang kaibigan niyang si Christian Bautista is making waves in Singapore doing a musical TV show, Kitchen Musical, with Karylle. Siya ba, di niya naisipang mag-audition din?

“Hindi, e. Hindi,” sabi ni Erik.

“I don’t wanna leave the Philippines for a long time, e.

“Tsaka di ko naman po nabalitaan yung [audition].”

But he’s not closing his doors sa gano’ng opportunity?

Eric Santos's friends from ASAP Rocks showed up at the Music Museum on August 12 to watch and even sing with him during the show.

(CLICK HERE to read related article) 

Uploaded: August 13, 2011

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Erik opened the show with Miley Cyrus's "The Climb."

He said the song signifies what all icons go through before making their mark as performers.

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Rehearsal time!

Erik's access to the local music scene was via Star in a Million, where he bagged the grand prize in 2004.

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Guess who came to support the night's performer? KC Concepcion sans boyfriend Piolo Pascual!

The daughter of Sharon Cuneta missed the Megastar medley because she had to leave early.

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Pop Star Princess Sarah Geronimo watched the show from start to end and even stayed a couple of minutes backstage after the concert. Photography: Wilson Chua

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Angeline Quinto sang Lani Misalucha's “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin” and Barbra Streisand's “People.”

Supertar Nora Aunor’s pictures were flashed on the screen during her segment.

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His rendition of “Larger Than Life” showed his dancing prowess. He was joined by G-Force.

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Pops Fernandez, who was Erik's last guest, performed Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

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