Busy year for the Backroom artists

Backroom artists sailed through 2002 beautifully. It was a year punctuated with laughter and screams, good and not-so-good reviews, new friendships and tough challenges.

Ai Ai de las Alas forged new friendships when she held major concerts at the Grand Olympics Auditorium in Los Angeles and in San Francisco at Masonic, Nob Hill. Also this year, Ai Ai in a back-to-back concert with Pops Fernandez staged standing-room-only performances at Reno, Virginia Beach, Jacksonville, LA and San Diego. It was pandemonium wherever she appeared and audiences could not get enough of her.

On the movie front, Ai Ai made a splash when she started shooting her first major film for Star Cinema titled Tanging Ina. She also got an award for Best Comedy Actress from the Star Awards for her role in Whattamen. Ai Ai maintains three shows in ABS-CBN namely, MTB, Arriba Arriba and Whattamen. She also hosts Singgaling on Channel 5. Ai Ai endeared herself to Davaoeños when she held a major concert at the Venue. It was again an SRO show, a record yet to be equaled.

Dessa added another feather to her cap when she was given the Awit and Katha Awards for Best performance by a Duo with Noon, Ngayon, which she sang with Rannie Raymundo. Her gig in Seoul, South Korea with Jamie Rivera and Lloyd Umali was equally successful.

Calvin Millado showed he is not only a singer and an excellent host but an actor as well. He played to critical acclaim the transvestite Frank N’ Furter in the Rocky Horror Show.

Gladys and the Boxers with K became the undisputed comedy/musical band in the local entertainment scene. The group’s talent was recognized as they won the Best Novelty Recording in the Awit Awards. GBWK also released their first record, Ako’y Napapauh under Star Records, which became a certified hit.

The CompanY held standing ovation concerts in Singapore and Guam. A sold-out concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater sealed their title as the number one vocal group in the country. An album, Story Book under Viva Records was released. The CompanY is this year’s Await Awardee for Best Performance by a Group with the song Gusto Ko ng A Capella.

Also this year, Ariel Rivera made a successful concert tour in Canada. Canadians are looking forward to having him again in a concert next year. Ariel is one of the hosts of ASAP in ABS-CBN. He is now recording an album with BMG Records.

Verni Varga remains the diva of corporate shows.

Rufa Mae Quinto starred in the blockbuster movie Super B. Her earlier films Booba and Radyo were also big hits. She was also picked to endorse Softee, the bathroom tissue, and in the Coke commercial. Rufa is a mainstay of Bubble Gang, Idol Ko si Kap, and in the telenovela, Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw all on GMA-7.

Dominic Ochoa gained notice when he played an off-beat role as a two-faced campus heartthrob in Jologs. He was paired opposite Assunta de Rossi. Dominic was also seen in a meaty role in Nine Mornings. Dominic is seen in Whattamen and MTB on ABS-CBN.

Belinda Panelo’s versatility as a performer was showcase in Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka, and Nine Mornings. On the other front, she earned rave reviews in Vagina Monologues and as MTV veejay.

Ima Castro continues to bring home honors with her performance in the London production of Miss Saigon.

Ara Mina made a comeback with the movie Two Timer. She is part of the TV drama Kung Mawawala Ka. Ara is cast in Mano Po, Regal Films’ entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.