Regine Velasquez leads star-studded ‘Throwback Party’ for teachers By Edwin P. Sallan, InterAksyon Last year, Regine Velasquez’s performance of “Believing In Me” was the highlight of the PLDT Gabay Guro Grand Gathering, an annual free concert that pays tribute to teachers in celebration of National Teacher’s Month. This year, Asia’s Songbird brought a few of her friends, who joined other stars in entertaining a full house crowd of over 20,000 teachers at the Mall of Asia Arena last October 5. In the event dubbed as “Throwback Party”, it was déjà vu once again as Regine brought the house down anew with another powerful performance of the song written by her sister Cacai and brother-in-law Ramon Mitra to specifically salute to what is universally regarded as The Noble Profession. With inspiring lyrics like, “You’re always there to show the way/Telling me things I need to hear/A gentle hand but a firm command/You’ve taught me lessons to succeed,” the song once again resonated well with the happy teachers in attendance as further enhanced by the Mandaluyong Chorale who joined Regine in her special performance. “I remember being inspired by my teachers, and I wanted to become one. In many ways, they helped me become who I am now,” Regine told InterAksyon and other entertainment press earlier this year in explaining her involvement with Gabay Guro. Her performance, however, is not the only highlight of the almost five-hour show. Regine was also joined onstage by seasoned singers Dulce and Jonalyn Viray as the three generation of “biriteras” delivered an equally roof-raising number. Other memorable “throwbacks” in the concert included Pops Fernandez’s medley of ’80s dance hits. Alice Dixson turned back time with a retro dance number to the tune of Debbie Gibson’s “Electric Youth”. Four more throwback singers who had their best years during the ’90s also drew loud cheers as they serenaded the teachers with their biggest hits. Rachel Alejandro’s “Paalam Na”, Manilyn Reynes’ “Sayang na Sayang”, Jessa Zaragoza’s “Bakit Pa” and Dingdong Avanzado’s “Basta’t Kasama Kita” were well-appreciated selections that would not look out of place in any karaoke section. Add Rey Valera’s “Pangako sa Yo”, which was sung by all four, and the teachers had a classic OPM playlist on their hands. The knowledge that Rachel was once linked to Dingdong who is now married to Jessa also added some sort of “personal touch” and “kilig factor” to seeing all three on the same stage. Other retro performers include Side A, The Manoeuvres, the Universal Motion Dancers, the EB Babes and Noel Cabangon who performed his equally touching signature song, “Kanlungan” got the teachers just as misty-eyed as Regine’s “Believing in Me”. The present and future of OPM combined forces when it was the turn of Regine’s husband, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, and up-and-coming balladeer Michael Pangilinan to take the stage. More “current” entertainers like Iya Villania, Sam Milby, Derek Ramsay and Mikael Daez, gay comedians Ate Gay, Regina, Dax Martin and Joel Oliveros as well as even the UP Pep Squad blended well with their throwback counterparts. In addition to first-rate entertainment, PLDT Gabay Guro, a joint program of the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and the PLDT Managers Club Inc. (MCI) also gave away fabulous prizes that included a House and Lot from Camella Homes won by Miguela Macalalad Cagampang from Parang High School Marikina, a Haima Car from Laus Group of Companies that went to Mylene Punzalan of Villamor Airbase Elementary School and an APE Piaggio 3-Wing Van from Auto Italia won by Lolita S. Tong from Marikina Elementary School. Regine, Derek, PLDT Gabay Guro Chairman Chaye Cabal-Revilla and PLDT and TV5 Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan personally raffled off and awarded the prizes. interaksyon/entertainment/regine-velasquez-leads-star-studded-throwback-party-for-teachers/
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 03:23:25 +0000
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