A heartfelt thank you from Gary V

This being Gary Valenciano’s 20th year in show business, it is only right for his followers to expect that XXTreme will be the ultimate concert Gary V has ever done. That is, thus far. The show, which is the culmination of a year-long observance of this milestone in Gary’s singing career has every promise of being such. It will be held tonight, Nov. 28 and tomorrow, Nov. 29 at the Araneta Coliseum.

There are exciting guests joining the show like current R&B favorites, Luke Mejares, Jay-R, Gary’s three talented children Paolo, Gabriel and Kiana, his fellow TOYM awardees in the field of music, pianist Raul Sunico and flautist Tony Maigue. Those letters, by the way, stand for Ten Outstanding Young Men plus soul queen Jaya, who will do a dance number with Gary. Jaya, just in case you have forgotten, was a dancer first in the US of A before she became a singing star. It will be nice to see her doing the moves with Gary. There are also the AWIT Children’s Chorale, the AWIT Children’s Chamber Orchestra and other surprise guests. And holding the entire thing together, of course, is Gary’s usual give everything performance.

The nicest thing I heard about XXTreme though, is that it is also a reunion concert of sorts. Gary has decided that now is the time to look back and once more work with the people who early in his career helped mold the star he became. I am sure he has remained friends with them over the years but what happens tonight is the public acknowledgement of gratitude. He is "tumatanaw ng utang na loob." Pinoys love this gesture. Sure he was born talented but everyone needs the trimming, the polish and all those finishing touches that these people fortunately helped to provide.

Directing in collaboration with Gary is Rowell Santiago, the man behind some of Gary’s most memorable concerts, Major Impact at the ULTRA and Shout and Move which were also held at the Big Dome. Then there is Gary’s first manager Sandra Chavez, who is a special consultant on the project. Gary will also be dancing once more with The Manoeuvres. Take note that the combination of Gary and the Manoeuvres resulted in exciting choreography and a lot of much-imitated dance moves. I am quite sure that all of them plus Gary have put together a truly exciting show befitting Gary’s 20th anniversary. And I also hope that although he can also do the newer stuff well, Gary V will also once more treat his fans to the opportunity of hearing him sing live all those unforgettable hits from the past.

Check out all SM Ticketnet outlets and the Araneta Coliseum Ticket Office for tickets to XXTreme. These are reasonably priced at P1500, P1200, P1000, P600, P400 and P200. A percentage of the proceeds from the show will go to the Shining Light Foundation. For more information you may get in touch with producers GV Productions, Inc., Manila Genesis Entertainment and Manna Entertainment at 723-5593, 725-1937 and 721-4405.

The Top Hits

Meanwhile as the year 2003 enters its final month, with only 26 days to go until Christmas Day, here are the songs that are currently lording it over the airlanes: Forever’s Not Enough by Sarah Geronimo; Bakit Pa Ba by Jay-R; Perfect by Simple Plan; Can We Still be Friends? by Mandy Moore; White Flag by Dido; Maybe by King; I’ll Be by Edwin McCain; The API Song by Black Eyed Peas; Mr. Suave by Parokya ni Edgar; and Tayo’y Mag-Otso-Otso by Bayani Agbayani.

Don’t you just feel good that five of the songs listed in the current top 10 are original compositions performed by Filipino artists. There is hope for Filipino music yet! And these include numbers one and two! Forever’s Not Enough by Star for a Night winner Sarah Geronimo and Bakit Pa Ba? by Pinoy import from LA, Jay-R. Both are newcomers to the business and those hits come from their debut albums. Take note too that both songs were written and produced by veteran musicman Vehnee Saturno.

Might as well mention the other local releases also doing well at the moment so as to interest you in getting copies and in helping the music industry rise from the doldrums. These are: Broken Vow, a duet by Sarah Geronimo and Mark Bautista; Kanlungan by Noel Cabangon; Hanggang Ngayon by Martin Nievera; Sana Magbuhat Pa Nong Una by Jessa Zaragoza; Tell Me by Ariel Rivera and Regine Velasquez; Spageti Christmas Song by the Sexbomb girls; Nasaan by Nyoy Volante with his Mannos; Baby Come Back by Renz Verano; Malaya Ka Na by Lani Misalucha; and Saan Ka Na Kaya Ngayon by Anna Fegi.