Multi-awarded directors, actors define love in “Sayaw ng mga SENIORita”

Gary Valenciano continues to inspire, entertain, and move the lives of his thousands of fans as he closes the final quarter of 2012 with a series of exciting projects headlined by a brand new full-length, studio album under Universal Records entitled “Gary V Sings: Just For You.”

The brand new album is another creative and original concept by Gary which is six months in the making. “I was in the car and I told Kiana (my youngest child) to make “pa-simple’ in asking her mom, my wife Angeli, about the songs she once mentioned to me. These songs were just some of her favorites that she had always dreamed I would record,” said Gary.

Mr. Pure Energy wanted to make that year’s Christmas a special one for Angeli by actually recording some of her choice cuts as a gift. So he did. The concept was very different from his all other recordings as he only had one instrument accompanying him as he sang…the piano. Years went by and only Angeli has had a copy of those songs. From the very start, Gary wanted to record these songs for only one person and that was Angeli.

“Gary V Sings: Just For You,” according to Gary “stems from a dream of a wife and from the heart of a husband to an album that Gary hopes for many to enjoy and to find quite endearing.”

The CD contains 10 unforgettable tracks that includes Barry Manilow’s “Somewhere Down The Road” and “As Sure As I’m Standing Here,”; Stephen Bishop’s “It Might Be You,” Judy Collins’ Send In The Clowns, Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” James Ingram’s “Just Once,” Kenny Rankin’s “What Matters Most,” Michael Jackson’s “Someone in the Dark,” Burton Cummings’ I Will Always Wait For You” and the CD’s carrier single, George Benson’s “In Your Eyes” which is available for download on iTunes and mymusicstore.

At the album launch held the other day at the Patio Carlito Restaurant (near ABS-CBN), Gary was only supposed to sing two cuts from the album. No copy of the album was given to the media as the CD is due for release today. So to make up for it, Gary said he will sing two cuts live. But can Gary resist the clamor of the media? Mesmerized by Gary’s music, who was singing live a little past lunchtime, they kept asking for more (us included). So Gary ended up singing six cuts from the album to the delight of the press.

“Baka nabitin kayo so I’d like to invite you to the album launch at Eastwood City on Saturday, November 17, at 7 pm. I will be singing more songs but it’s going to sound a little different because I will be performing with a band,” said Gary V.

For Gary V diehards, you’ve got to have a copy of your idol’s brand new album. You’ll surely enjoy it.

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Love – be it romantic, platonic or erotic – is beautifully defined in Gantimpala Theater’s (GT) “Sayaw ng mga SENIORita,” a dramatic – comedy play written by Jose Javier Reyes, under the direction of Jun Pablo, which will initially be shown during the National Theater Festival (NTF), presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Multi-awarded directors and actors give life to attention grabbing personalities that only Reyes can create - Soxie Topacio as Rading de Guzman, antique collector and dealer and birthday celebrant, Joel Lamangan as Terry Mangubat, the affluent yet penny-pinching  businessman, Arnell Ignacio as Romeo Cajanding, bikini-open producer and talent manager of male starlets, Manny Castañeda as Dr. Gerry Almario, aesthetic and cosmetic surgeon of the stars and Bb. Gandanghari as Raquel Villasor, homecoming queen and socialite.

“Sayaw ng SENIORita” gives audiences a peek on the surprise birthday party of Rading, (now scintillating at 60 years old). As the shindig progresses, it becomes an opportune occasion for the “sisterhood” to examine, to be incensed, loquacious, melancholic, melodramatic of their present situations and optimistic of what lies ahead.

Defining “love” as their respective characters, Topacio as Rading says, “Love is always a surprise, you would not know when it is coming. But when it comes, do not be afraid, embrace it fully!”

Lamangan, being Terry states, “Love, just like money, makes the world go round. Love is all that is nonsense. Men only love gays because of the money we give them.”

For Romeo, Ignacio declares, “I believe, ladies and gentlemen that love is like a rosary full of mysteries. All that I have experienced so far are the sorrowful. I wonder when will the joyful or glorious come, thank you very much.”

Castañeda, as Dr. Almario explains, “Love is sacrifice. Loving is a choice. But whoever or whatever you choose, choose the one that makes you complete and more beautiful.”

Gandanghari, the homecoming queen Raquel pronounces, “Love knows no gender. Love does not survive with lies. Love begets love and in the end, love is all that matters.”

Also starring are Doreen Bernal, yaya of Rading and Bea Alonzo fanatic and China Cojuangco, as Myrna Almario, the ever-loyal and unsuspecting wife of Doc Gerry.

The reasons for the rainbow colored days and nights of the SENIORitas are Chase Cervera as Ollie Samson, nurse and loving partner of Rading, Johnron Tañada as Ericson, bikini-open runner-up, Christian Paul Meteoro as Troy, the aspiring starlet, Royce Chua as Lance, the hip-hop dancer and Dax Alejandro as Kuya Ed, the condominium security guard.

Helping director Pablo and playwright Reyes achieve the SENIORitas fantabulous world are Monino Duque (Lights Designer), Dong Calingacion (Technical Director), Glenda Alday (Stage Manager) and Alice Borbe (Production Manager).

 NTF shows are on November 16, Friday, (3pm/8pm), at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City.

Succeeding performances are on November 23, Friday, (7pm), November 24, Saturday (3pm/7pm), December 1, Saturday (7pm), December 2, Sunday (3pm/7pm), and December 7 (7pm), December 8, (3pm/7pm), at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City.

The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), Café Ysabel and Everbilena fully support “Sayaw ng mga SENIORita”.

For the CCP shows, please call the CCP Box-Office - 8323704 (direct line) and 832-1125 local 1409.