Grabe! What an amazing night! Congratulations to everyone involved in ICON The Concert. First off, to the three artists - Rico, Gloc-9, and Yeng. In the course of preparing, practicing and collaborating for this show, I got to know each one more and more, at lalong tumindi ang paghanga ko sa kanila. I think most people will agree with me that Rico Blanco is one of the most brilliant singer/songwriters in our country. Working with him, nakita ko na bukod dito, he is also a consummate mastermind, a relentless strategist. In the months leading up to the concert, nandoon siya every step of the way, helping shape and reshape the vision for the whole thing. May mga panahon na he will be up at 4am to send messages regarding an idea, or comment on a suggestion, at marami doon ay na-experience ng audience at ng perfomers kagabi. At grabe naman ang song numbers niya kagabi! Not only does his body of work speak for itself, but because he continues to reinvent himself by combining modern elements like EDM with tribal Filipino music, at kung ano-ano pang ibang influences, nakakita ang Araneta kagabi ng mas marami pang posibilidad para sa OPM. Si Gloc-9 naman, matagal ko nang hinangaan from afar because, as I told him a few years ago, itinataas niya ang level ng rap music sa bansa natin. Isa siyang tunay na makata, na talagang in touch sa mga kwento at karanasan ng mga kababayan natin mula sa ibat ibang larangan ng buhay. Etong pagiging brilliant storyteller, combined with a performance style in Pinoy rap na pwedeng i-patent dahil siya ang nag imbento nun (of course drawing from his influences such as Francis M.) - hindi nakakagulat na isa siyang malaking force ngayon sa OPM. Pero pag nakasama mo siya ay nakakalimutan mong sikat siya dahil sa sobrang bait niya. Napakasaya ko at nakatrabaho siya, dahil nakita ko din ang solid work ethic niya from up close at marami akong natutunan sa ideas na binato niya para sa show. Ang sarap niyang tugtugan kagabi, nakakadala ang energy at rhythm niya, pati na ang angst at pagka-astig. Bukod dito ay napakabuti niyang ama at asawa, na magandang halimbawa para sa lahat ng tagahanga niya. Si Yeng Constantino Jo Fernandez naman is one of the most fiercely talented young singer/songwriters in OPM, as well as one of the purest souls I know. Kagabi, hawak niya ang Araneta sa kamay niya dahil marami sa audience ay mga taong na-touch na niya ang buhay through the songs she has written, and through her life. I am also always delighted by her spontaneity and spunkiness. Astig lang talaga siya na tao, at napakabait niya sa lahat ng nakakatrabaho niya. Si Yeng din ay napakatalas ng intuition, na minsan ay naranasan kong mag-suggest sya ng ideas na napaisip ako kung magwo-work ba, tapos, kadalasan tama siya at grabe lang ang resulta - much, much better than I have imagined. Kaya in the course of working with her, I have learned to trust this pure soul. Dahil sa napakalaking faith niya kay God, her steps are confident and unfaltering. At mapalad ako na ma-witness up-close ang growth niya bilang artist, bilang tao. Natutuwa akong makita silang magkasama ni Yan, whose quiet strength supported her throughout everything (parang hubby ko din, mabuhay sila, hehe..), and Im excited for what God has in store for them as husband and wife. To Direk Paul Alexei Basinillo, congrats! Ikaw ang nagbigay ng unang seed na idea that sparked countless other good ones - yung idea para sa concept, title, at main spirit ng show. And throughout shaping the whole thing, it became infused with your trademark - fresh, visually stunning, exciting, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Ikaw talaga ang makakaisip kung paano buoin ang ganitong concert, an edgy and exciting collaboration between three different huge forces in music. I also admire the firm yet kind leadership. Congrats to our writer Dido Camara for galvanizing Direks and the artists ideas into a coherent and exciting flow for the show. To Cornerstone Productions, congrats, grabe kayo, bow ako sa inyo. To the main man Erickson Raymundo, it is because of your vision and courage to try new things that this came to be. To Jeff Vadillo and Cynthia Roque, salamat sa tiwala, work gets better each time with you guys. To Caress Caballero who did such a great job with the promos. To Mac Merla and Jessa Azurin my constant ka-kulitan tungkol sa updates and coordination at palaging happy and upbeat maski hectic na, at yung mga bago kong na-meet na mga OJT (I hope you all had a good learning experience, and thank you for your efforts). Besides Cornerstone people being hard workers and putting their best effort into their endeavors, I can see a healthy and thriving company culture that I really admire. In spite of the stress that inevitably accompanies big productions and projects, I feel the kindness and the sense that you guys are also looking out for each other. To those amazing people behind our Icons: Thea Gomez Pollisco, Soki Munar, Jeff Vadillo, congrats! I know because of you, our artists go much further than they can do alone, sa tulong niyo at sa suporta. I also enjoyed working with you guys. To my handpicked musicians and backup vocalists, ano pa ba masasabi ko? Napakapalad ko na pumwede kayo para sa concert. Lahat ng hiningi, naibigay, and more. Bukod doon, cool na cool na mga tao at masarap ka-tambay. Isa sa pinaka masayang feeling ay yung matugtog ng magaling na musiko ang areglo ko, at may puso at meron na rin sarili nilang signature, at masasabi kong naibigay niyo ito. Salamat din sa choir arrangements, Yosha. Buti pinasa ko sa iyo, dahil ang gaganda ng mga nagawa mo. Janno Queyquep, Ardie de Guzman,, Karel Honasan, Michael Alba, Jay Agustin, Yosha A. Honasan, Brenan Espartinez, デッセーナ ディーノあきら,Jemay Dadap,Casey Concepcion, Anjo Inacay. To the UP Singing Ambassadors, again, its a treat to work with you guys. Youve added presence to the production numbers. Thank you Vic G. Cano for the apt transcriptions and adaptations. To the drumbeaters, congrats! Naging lalong astig ang mga prod numbers. To our stage manager Aio Hernandez, salamat nandoon ka, at naging maayos ang lahat sa entablado. Salamat din kay Idol na tumulong sa amin, beyond the call of duty, kaya napagaan din ang setup. To the one who took care of our house mix, si Angelo M. Rozul, congrats! Maski habang setup pa lang, nakaka-panatag na ng loob knowing you are involved in taking care of the sound.. To Shakira Villa Symes who took care of the lighting, congrats! I havent seen the show from (hehe) but my family said it was a visual feast. To Video Sonic people, salamat din sa visuals, sobrang laking naidagdag sa show ayun sa mga nakanood. Thank you to my family who came to watch, at bumili ng ticket para suporta - Mel Villena, Nori Perez Villena, Louie Villena, Terrence Villena. Doon sa mga bumati at nakagusto sa mga mashup na na-areglo ko, credit also goes to my dad and mom, Mel and Nori Villena, kasi mashup ako nung dalawang musiko/tao na yun. Hehehe. To my husband Dex , thank you for taking care of me and the little girl in my tummy, always making sure we eat properly and get some rest. Thank you for taking care of stuff in the house na napapabayaan ko (which is pretty much everything, hehe), for being my oasis of peace and laughter, and my intelligent adviser. Thank you to our helper Malou, whom I recently discovered ay magaling din maging PA. Naaalala niya lahat ng dinadalang gamit, cables, damit, pagkain, lahat ng nakakalimutan ko. And last but best of all, thanks to the Lord for being my source of strength, and for enabling all of this :-) He truly is the reason why I have joy in all circumstances, whether good or bad. I am awed at how He made everything work out for this show. *edit: Maraming salamat din pala kay Janice Concepcion for my preggy gig dress! I luvit!
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 04:43:15 +0000
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