Ai-Ai ‘awesome’ in more ways than one

Ai-Ai de las Alas is one awesome woman. She’s proven that many times in her life, and proved it again during the opening of her concert series, Ai’m Awesome at the PAGCOR Grand Theater at the Airport Casino Filipino.  

Refreshed after a month-long vacation in the US, Ai-Ai livened up the PAGCOR concert stage with her song-and-dance numbers that included a Rihanna medley and a fun audience participation segment, and numbers with her special guests. Ai-Ai was teary-eyed and visibly touched that so many people showed up to support her return to the concert scene. “Natutuwa ako na nandiyan kayo. Thank you at sinusuportahan n’yo ako parati,” she told the crowd. She added that she agreed to do the show “kasi gusto kong ipakita sa inyo na ok ako.”

Proving that she is indeed “awesome” and living up to the title of her show, Ai-Ai pulled out all the stops to give her audience something they wouldn’t forget. She did everything — dance, comedy and singing — bravely taking on pop icons like Rihanna, Katy Perry and including in her repertoire OPM novelty songs like the very popular Pusong Bato. Ai-Ai even pulled some people from the audience to do a duet with her. Ai-Ai was game, and so was the crowd. If there was one thing the evening gave Ai-Ai the chance to do, it was the chance to successfully re-establish herself as a singer. Combined with her comic timing and talent for witty repartee (which she exchanged with the two stand-up comedians she had for co-hosts), Ai’m Awesome turned out to be one very fun show.

The show had a live feed hook-up to other PAGCOR branches in and outside of Metro Manila, including the Manila Pavilion, Iloilo, Cebu and Olongapo. 

Her special guests for the series were John Prats, Aljur Abrenica and K-Menn, a new all-male trio composed of semi-finalists from the recent OPM @ PAGCOR 2 contest who were plucked from the ranks of the contestants and put together in a group. Although the group is still in its infant stage, members Eeboy, Mykel Benedicto and Steve Fernandez — all young and good-looking — displayed a lot of promise. During the show, they performed pop hits like Payphone and Moves Like Jagger, delighting the audience with their moves and voices. Very soon, the group will have its own chance to shine when it embarks on its own tour of different PAGCOR branches like Davao and Tagaytay. This will be a series of free shows with singer-actress and comedienne K Brosas.

Aljur was also a pleasant surprise on opening night. It was nice to discover that the good-looking actor can actually sing. He did a duet with Ai-Ai of Pink’s Give Me A Reason and did a solo number, Kailangan Kita during which he went down to the audience. Aljur was mobbed by excited fans who begged him for another song, but unfortunately he didn’t have any more material ready. He promised the fans — and Ai-Ai — that he’d be back next time.

But the final moment of the night belonged of course to Ai-Ai, who took the opportunity to thank her fans again for their support. “Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko, ito lang ang masasabi ko,” said Ai-Ai, whereupon she launched into a mash-up of I Will Survive and Survivor.

Indeed, with all the crises and trials she’s been through, there really is only one word to describe Ai-Ai de las Alas: Yes, the woman is, without a doubt — awesome!