Conductor Gerald Salonga Wields The Baton As Resident Conductor Of The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra

CONDUCTOR GERALD SALONGA wields the baton for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and will now have to shuttle between Kuala Lumpur and Manila for the whole of 2019.  He takes on a new job as resident conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

After working as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 and still currently for the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, Gerard now wields the baton for the MPO. He learned about his new job in May 2018, while he was in Kuala Lumpur to conduct one of the concerts of the MPO.

“At that time, the general manager sat down with me and let me know of their intention to invite me to be their next resident conductor,” Gerard shares. “Naturally, I felt great about it. I’ve known about that orchestra since they were founded in 2008.” (Visit the website for full history www.mpo.com.my)

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Sam Concecpion Excited To Perform With Billy Crawford & James Reid In 'The Crew' Big Dome Concert On April 5

SAM CONCEPCION admits that he is envious of Billy Crawford and James Reid. In their summer concert at the Big Dome on April 5, “The Crew”, Billy has his wife Coleen Garcia while James has girlfriend Nadine Lustre as their special guests. Since he has no special someone at the moment, he then invited Yassi Pressman to perform with him.

”Naiinggit talaga ako kasi sila, may significant others,” he says. “E, what can I do? Loveless po ako. But Yassi is a good friend of mine and we see a lot of her on TV right now. She is also very talented and has a lot to offer in music and dance, so I’m really glad when she agreed to be my guest in ‘The Crew’ so we can do some numbers together. I think she’s really a perfect choice for me. We’re both excited sa fun numbers that we are going to perform in the concert.”

Both Billy and James praised him lavishly for being so talented, with James saying Sam is his own idol as he’s an even better singer and dancer than Chris Brown. “I’m blushing,” says Sam. “Nakakahiya and nape-pressure ako. I looked up to Billy and I have so much respect for James. I’m just so happy to be given the chance to perform with them on the same stage.

"Ang feeling ko nga, may mutual admiration and understanding kaming tatlo. Kasi hands on kami sa concert, the three of us, from brainstorming and planning our numbers, to choosing the songs that we’ll do in our concert. With the three of us performing together, we promise the audience a big party of great songs and music together.”

Sam is happy that he transferred to Viva Artist Agency as he now has a steady stream of projects. Aside from the concert, he is doing a new movie, titled "Indak". This will be dance movie which will feature original Pilipino music, directed by Paul Basinillio, who's also directing their "The Crew" concert. The movie will pair Sam for the first time with Nadine Lustre, who's a great dancer like him.

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Gerald Santos Back From 'Miss Saigon', To Stage Homecoming Concert On May 4 At Solaire

GERALD SANTOS is back in Manila after portraying Thuy in “Miss Saigon” which took him all over the United Kingdom, and also to Cologne in Germany and Zurich in Switzerland. How did the experience change him?

“Definitely, it changed me for the better,” he says. “I met a lot of new people and went to so many new places that helped me gain more self confidence. But the transition was not easy. During my first week in London, iyak ako nang iyak kasi naho-homesick ako.  I had to learn to do my own laundry and how to cook for myself. Also, my voice, I thought it would not last for one week kasi all out agad ako, but I’ve since learned how to make adjustments. After each performance, I keep to myself. I don’t talk to anyone, to save my voice.”

Gerald Santos at his solo presscon

He has now applied to other plays in London, even TV shows. “I auditioned but I’m not yet sure kung makukuha ako. Meantime, I’m staying here muna. I will do a concert in Hunan, China and also at the theatre in Solaire on May 4, 2019, 8PM, The Homecoming Concert.”

Gerald has really come a long way since he won in “Pinoy Pop Superstar” and became known as the Prince of Ballads. All in all, he gave 553 performances as Thuy, getting good reviews including from the producer himself, Cameron Mackintosh, who personally congratulated and praised him.

Gerald is now with Star Music and has released a single, “I Am Yours”, available in digital format.

In his homecoming concert, his special guests are Jake Zyrus and his Filipino co-stars in Miss Saigon : Aicelle Santos (who played Gigi), Joreen Bautista (alternate Kim) and the legendary Leo Valdez (The Engineer ). This is an extremely rare chance to see a glimpse of one of the greatest musicals ever, and they will perform a 15-minute suite of songs from “Miss Saigon” live.

Gerald as thuy in a scene from Miss Saigon

The concert is presented by Mediabiz Entertainment Production, Echo Jam and Twin M Productions International, in cooperation with Solaire Casino and Resort, Star Events and Globaltronics. Tickets are available at TicketWorld with telephone number : (02) 891 9999.

Gerald with the original Kim, Lea Salonga

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James Reid Happy For Gf Nadine Lustre's Solo Film, 'Ulan', Now Preparing For Summer Concert, 'The Crew', With Billy Crawford & Sam Concepcion, At The Big Dome On April 5

JAMES REID is very happy for GF Nadine Lustre’s going solo in the movie “Ulan”. “I’ve seen the trailer and I was so impressed as it looks very exciting,” he says. “I’m very proud of her and I wish her and the movie all the best.”

How about his own solo project, “Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko”? “The shooting has to be postponed because I injured my shoulder while training for it. I was doing a lot of strenuous stuff like Parkour, Muay Thai and that’s how I got the shoulder injury. But Viva is giving me a new movie that will not require action. Also I’m busy with my concert for this coming summer with Billy Crawford and Sam Concepcion, ‘The Crew’, which will be staged at the Araneta Coliseum on April 5.”

So how is it working with Billy and Sam?  “It’s my very first time to perform with them and I’m really thrilled as these two are really my idols for the longest time. We’re hands on in preparing for the show, in choosing the songs we’d sing, solo and together, and the numbers that we will be doing. We really want a seamless show and we assure the people who’d watch us that they’ll have a real good time.”

What qualities does he like in Billy and in Sam? “You know, I was nervous at first because I’ve never really worked with them before. But during our brainstorming sessions, we quickly made a connection with each other. They’re both amazing performers so I really have to step up and level up and be as good as them. Billy is our Kuya and I like him as he has so much wisdom. He gives very good advice. Sam has been my favorite singer of all time. I think he’s an even better singer and dancer than Chris Brown.”

Tickets for The Crew concert are now available at Ticketnet 911-5555, ranging from P500 for gen. Admission to P10,000 for VVIP with Meet & Greet with the artists.

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Juris Fernandez Proud To Perform With Joey Generoso, Ice Seguerra, Jinky Vidal, Jay Durias, Meds Marfil, And Janine Tenoso In 'Playlist: The Best Of OPM' At The Big Dome On Friday, 8 PM

JURIS FERNANDEZ first gained fame as the female vocalist of the band MYMP and she soared to fame with the song “Sa Aking Pag-iisa”. She then went solo and later became a part of the Sessionistas in ASAP which included Ice Seguerra, Princess Velasco, Kean Cipriano, Sitti and Richard Poon.

She got married to her non-showbiz partner Gavin Lim and they now have two children, a daughter and a son named Geordy and Giddy. Juris lied low for a while for her family, but she has now resumed her singing career and has just released a new single, “Paano Na”, with Star Music.

juris fernandez

She’s also part of the big concert this Friday night at Araneta Coliseum, “Playlist: The Best of OPM”, where she shares center stage with Joey Generoso formerly of Side A, Jinky Vidal of Freestyle, Jay Durias of South Border, Meds Marfil of True Faith, Ice Seguerra and talented newcomer Janine Tenoso, with Jay Durias himself as musical director and JP Panizales as stage director.

This is a must for all lovers of original Pilipino music as assembling them all together might not happen again.

Juris declares: “It’s really an honor for me to be working with all the top vocalists. Lahat sila, puro mahuhusay, may sariling following, so you have no choice but just to give your best when you sing with them. We’re having so much fun in our rehearsals, so we know performing for the audience in our concert on Friday will be a big blast for all of us. I’m really so proud to be singing with all of them.”

What are the most memorable songs for her? “An inspiring song for me is ‘This is Me’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’ that won as Oscar best song. I love the lyrics which says we should all accept ourselves as we are and we should all have the strength to face challenges in our life. You know, I get teary eyed when I listen to it and it can make me quite emotional. A song naman that lifts me up is ‘Do My Thing’, which carries the same message, but it has a mid-tempo arrangement that can make you dance. I also like my own song, ‘Dumating’, which is dedicated to my daughter when she came into my life and how she changed it. I want her to listen to it when she’s all grown up for her to know how special she is to me.”

“Playlist: The Best of OMP” is produced by Viva Live. For tickets, call Viva at 687-7236.

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Pinoy Showbiz

Shadow Ace, A Filipino Hand Shadow Artist, Impresses 'Asia's Got Talent' Judges & Goes Straight To Semi-Finals

A 20-YEAD OLD Pinoy using the name Shadow Ace scored the hosts’ Golden Buzzer in the last episode of “Asia’s Got Talent”. The hand shadow artist, together with his parents, were overwhelmed with joy as the hosts Alan Wong and Justin Bratton joined them on a stage filled with golden confetti. Growing up in a neighborhood where blackouts are frequent, Shadow Ace entertained himself with candlelight and it slowly became a passionate hobby that he’s actively pursuing.

“Shadow Ace, it’s a silly little thing I guess, just to say that you play with your hands and make figures like that, but I’ll let you know, I forget they were hands. They were people to me,” judge David Foster said.

“I am so glad that you are on this show. I really love that performance,” Anggun, another judge, added.

“He’s brilliant and amazing!” Alan and Justin said, before running to the judges’ table and pressing the Golden Buzzer.

The Golden Buzzer will send Shadow Ace straight to the Semi-Finals in March where he will have a shot at the USD100,000 grand prize and the winning title.  Watch the encore telecast of this episode on Saturday at 7:30pm on AXN. New episode of Asia’s Got Talent airs every Thursday at 8:30pm on AXN. To follow the journey of this season’s acts, check out #AXNAsia and #AsiasGotTalent.

shadow ace promoted to semi finals

To watch extended highlights of Asia’s Got Talent and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, fans can subscribe to the official AXN Asia YouTube Channel. AXN has also teamed up with Google to add a Google Assistant Action of the show experience, where fans can playfully interact with the hosts and learn more about the show, the judges and the acts on their mobile devices. Fans can activate the Google Assistant and simply say “Talk to Asia’s Got Talent” to get the conversation started.

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