The best of OPM in #LoveThrowback at the PICC

MANILA, Philippines - Turn back the clock and listen to some of the best OPM love songs in a concert headlined by no less than eight hitmakers at the PICC Plenary Hall on February 13, 8:30 PM. Dubbed as #LoveThrowback, the show brings together Rico Puno, Marco Sison, Raymond Lauchengco, Gino Padilla, Chad Borja, Wency Cornejo, Roselle Nava and Nina.

#LoveThrowback does not only go down memory lane thru music but also lets you recall every significant moment of your love life. There's definitely a song which you can relate to, a song which could even be the soundtrack of your love story.

Leading the all-star cast in the concert is Total Entertainer Rico Puno whose smash hits are “Kapalaran”, “Buhat”, and “Macho Gwapito”, among others. He is also known as the singer who started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in English songs like his rendition of “The Way We Were” which was originally performed by Barbra Streisand.

One of Rico’s contemporaries is balladeer Marco Sison. If Rico was noticed then by record producers as a performer in folk houses and lounges, Marco got his career break after winning a singing contest in GMA 7’s noontime variety show Student Canteen in the late 70s. His songs like “My Love Will See You Through”, “Make Believe” and “I’ll Face Tomorrow” lorded over the airwaves making him one of the local singers to have captured the true vocal essence of OPM.

During the 80s, one of the hottest teen idols was Raymond Lauchengco. After his stints in musical theater, he joined mainstream show business and got his biggest break as one of the lead stars in the trendsetting film Bagets. As a singer-actor, some of his hits are “Saan Darating Ang Umaga”, “So It’s You”, “Farewell” and “I Need You Back”.

Another 80s music icon is Gino Padilla. He is the singer behind hits like “Gusto Kita”, “Let The Love Begin”, “I Believe In You” and “Closer You and I” which won as Song of The Year in Awit Awards. Gino is also known as the artist who starred in a worldwide advertising campaign of a softdrink brand alongside singing superstar Tina Turner.

The 90s music scene was dominated by bands. And one of the most remarkable vocalists then is Wency Cornejo of pop-rock band AfterImage. His distinct voice gave birth to phenomenal hits like “Habang My Buhay”, “Mangarap Ka”, “Next In Line” and “Hanggang” which reaped three major trophies in Awit Awards.

Band music dominated the live entertainment scene in the 90s but a song called “Ikaw Lang” performed by Chad Borja was able to pass thru the eye of the needle.  He became one of the most in-demand and sexiest balladeers and was also a favorite duet partner of female singers. His album Show Me The Way churned out hits like “Summer Without You” and “Kung Ako Lang Sana”. Chad’s collaboration with Japanese pianist and composer Yutaka Yokokura in the song “Yakap” also became a hit.

The late 90s towards the early part of 2000 witnessed a new set of hitmakers. And one of them is Roselle Nava, who started her career as part of the youth-oriented show AngTV in ABS-CBN. Roselle’s career as a singer propelled after the success of her single entitled “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita” and “Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita”, both used as movie soundtracks. Her rendition of “You”, originally performed by Basil Valdez and composed by Gerry Paraiso, gave her the Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist in Awit Awards. Roselle is a multi-platinum record awardee and her voice captured the hearts of many Filipinos, most especially the hopeless romantic.

Rounding up the line-up in #LoveThrowback is Nina, tagged as OPM’s Soul Siren. With ten Awit Awards and the recognition as the first-ever female OPM singer with a Diamond Record Award, Nina truly deserves to be called as one of local music’s treasures. Her body of work and numerous awards is a testimony of her dedication and passion to her craft. Her album entitled Nina Live! became the benchmark in acoustic recording and made her the number one female R&B singer in the country. Nina’s string of hits include “Someday” and her cover of “Love Moves In Mysterious Ways”, “Jealous”  and “Through The Fire”.

The powerhouse cast in #LoveThrowback guarantees the audience to give them an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime Valentine’s Day celebration. It is a show that boasts of OPM hit songs, beautiful voices and stories about life and love. #LoveThrowback is a show for everyone.

Tickets are available at SM Tickets (472-2222), Ticketnet (911-5555) and Ticketworld (891-9999). You can use your BDO (Banco De Oro) debit/credit card to purchase tickets and get a 15% discount. For more info and sponsorships, call Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. at (0918) 4972121 or (0906) 4180786.