Ivy in Valentine show

Ivy Violan, one of the country’s most impressive performers, returns to the local concert circuit with a special Valentine season show at the I Vu’s Sky Bar & Lounge, Level 45 of the Marco Polo in Ortigas Center tonight and again on Feb. 17 both at 8 p.m.

Titled Then and Now, a Homecoming Concert, it will be a night of love and music welcoming back the Philippines’ much vaunted music festival queen. I think the event will be a good opportunity for her loyal fans to watch Ivy in action again and for new music lovers to discover why she has been dubbed a queen in her own right.

Ivy is a former member of the ’70s show band Sangkatutak. She has spent these past few years residing in the U.S. of A. But before the self-imposed semi-retirement, she was the acknowledged queen of international music competitions. Known for her sweet, but powerful and versatile singing voice, there was a time when Ivy was often sent off to compete against the best singers of other countries in assorted festivals abroad. Everytime she went, she would come home triumphant as the big winner with a huge trophy. And that is how she got that title.

Ivy was the grand prize winner at the third ASEAN Popular Song Festival held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1982. She was Best Performer at the first Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Song Festival held in Singapore in 1985. Aside from these, she was proclaimed the champion at the Asia Pacific Singing Contest held in Hong Kong in 1988, the grand prize winner at the fourth International Midnight Sun Song Festival held in Helsinki, Finland in 1991 and again the grand prize winner at the ASEAN Song Festival held once more in Thailand in 1992.

Aside from these, Ivy also interpreted song finalists at the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival. Her first in 1982 was a duet with Rico J. Puno of What Are You Doing On A Rainy Sunday Morning, written by Butch Monserrat. It was followed in 1985 with Pag-asa Ng Mundo, a composition by Alvina Sy. Ivy is also an adept songwriter with her own recording of her composition Yakapin Mo Ako, among her big sellers.

Yakapin Mo Ako will be part of her Marco Polo repertoire. She is also set to do Free Again, I Will Survive, a Natalie Cole Medley, a Rey Valera Medley, Hanggang, No Way To Treat A Heart and I’ll Never Love This Way Again, among others. There will also be duets. One is with her special guest, her Sangkatutak collegue-turned-jazz singer Richard Merk with whom she will perform Who Can I Turn To.

Then and Now is directed by Joey Nombres with musical direction by Mon Faustino and sound engineering by Rick Ramos. Cover charge is P2,000 per person inclusive of one drink, VAT and taxes. Call 720-7777 or e-mail [email protected] for inquiries.

And now a reminder for those among you who like fun, romantic shows and beautiful singing. Happy Together, starring The New Minstrels members of past generations and The CompanY, will be waiting for you at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Feb. 13, 8 p.m.

Produced by Viva Concerts, the show stars ex-Minstrels Joey Albert, Louie Reyes, Ding Mercado, Chad Borja and Eugene Villaluz and The CompanY with Moy Ortiz, Sweet Plantado, Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista, and just for the show, original member Reuben Llorente, who has just returned home after years spent performing abroad.

Get ready to get lost in the beauty of songs like Buhat, Tell Me, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Iisa Pa Lamang, See You There, Ikaw Lang, Gulong Ng Palad, Nothing I Want More, Everlasting Love, Now That I Have You, Muntik Na Kitang Minahal, Pakisabi Na Lang, Special Memory, Nawawala Ang Puso Ko, Just A Love Song, What Would They Say, You Changed My Life In A Moment and many others.

Tickets to Happy Together are now available. They are priced at P4,500 (Flat Center); P3,500 (Flat Left/Right); P3,500 (Level 2 Center, Left/Right); P3,000 (Level 3 Center, Left/Right); P2,000 (Level 3 Left/Right); P1,000 (Balcony); and P400 (Gallery). Check these out at TicketWorld, 891-9999; TicketNet, 911-5555; and at Viva Live, 687-7236.