One special (Mc)Knight

He stayed barely one night.

Except for singing a song (Back at One) at the 2018 Miss Earth pageant at the MOA Arena last Saturday night, Brian McKnight begged off from doing any other activity, arriving a day before the pageant and then leaving right after that, politely refusing to meet the media to confirm his An Evening with Brian McKnight concert at The Theatre at Solaire (Dec. 4) and at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City (Dec. 5).

Those will be the nth time McKnight (turning 50 on June 5 next year) is having a show in Manila, the last having been in June 2016 at the New Frontier (formerly Kia) Theater. At that time, McKnight did a pre-concert phone interview with The STAR. After the show, he attended a party hosted by Dr. Vicki Belo at her Dasmariñas Village home. David Foster, the Belos’ good friend, was also present. McKnight did a duet with Kyla. He said that he love(s) coming to the Philippines not just to perform but to touch base with friends like Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and Regine Velasquez.

This time around, McKnight very gladly answered questions e-mailed to him a week prior to his arrival.

Here’s what he has to say, short but sweet:   

How have you been since the last time you were in Manila?

“I’ve been really great, thanks for asking.”

You’re coming for a special performance at the Miss Earth pageant. Are you rooting for your country’s bet?

“I always find that contests are better when you’re surprised who won.” (The winner was Miss Vietnam…read on!)

What kind of song would you serenade a woman with to win her attention?

“I’ve always felt that if I had to serenade a woman to win her then I don’t deserve winning her. It should be about who I am and less about what I do.”

What kind of song makes you happy?

“It’s usually a song that blends the right melody with the right chord changes coupled with the right lyric.”

What kind of songs make you sad?

“I’m never sad.” (Asked in that 2016  phone interview if he ever cried over a song, McKnight said, “Oh yes, I’ve cried over many songs. When you put the right lyric with the right note with the right melody, the song can make you feel emotional. Everybody is susceptible to that no matter how strong you think you are. That’s the beauty of music. It can bring you to a whole range of emotions.” Take note: One of McKnight’s well-loved songs is called One Last Cry.)

What kind of songs don’t you listen to?

“I listen to just about everything…that’s the best way to remain up-to-date on all the music that’s out there.”

What’s on your car playlist?

“All the same music I’ve ever listened to ­— Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Bryan Adams, Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson.”

What inspires or energizes you in a concert?

“Always, it’s the audience.”

You will be back for a concert barely three weeks before Christmas. What is your favorite Christmas song?

“Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song.”

How do you usually spend Christmas?

“As often as I can with my family.”

What’s the best Christmas gift that you ever received?

“My wife…last year.”

(Note: Presented by Solaire Resort & Casino, Aficionado, Waterfront Hotel & Casino in cooperation with Media Sync Productions and Beyond Borders, An Evening with Brian McKnight features guest performers JV Decena who represented the Philippines in Finland as the Phils. karaoke world male champion; Natasha Sass, a German-Malaysian international pop artist; and Joaquin, two-time gold medalist at the World Championships of the Performing Arts [WCOPA] in Hollywood.) 

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How Vietnam’s Nguyen Phurong Khanh clinched the Miss Earth title

2018 Miss Earth Nguyen Phurong Khanh (of Vietnam, third from left) with runners-up (from left) Miss Earth Fire Melissa Flores (of Mexico), Miss Earth Water Valerie Ayos (of Colombia) and Miss Earth Air Melanie Mader (of Austria). – Photo by Lito Caleon

From the start, it was clear that Miss Vietnam Nguyen Phurong Khanh stood out among the 87 so-called Goddesses of the Earth competing for the 2018 Miss Earth during the finals held at the Mall of Asia Arena last Saturday night. She was a cool and composed winner and her court included Melanie Mader of Austria (Miss Earth Air), Valeria Ayos of Colombia (Miss Earth Water) and Melissa Flores of Mexico (Miss Earth Fire and Eco Media fast-track winner).  

During the final Q&A, the Top 4 were asked a common question, Being a millennial, what do you think is the most pressing issue of your generation? 

Nguyen’s reply: “We have so many technologies, and we just use social media and only care about ourselves. We should spend our time to think and feel with what’s happening with the Earth right now. One small action multiplied by a million people can transform the world.”

Nguyen belonged to the Water Group and bagged several special/corporate awards during the pre-pageant events including Best in Evening Gown (Gold), Best in Swimsuit (Silver) and Best in National Costume winner for Asia. She was also named Miss Puerto Princesa Centro Hotel, Miss Robig Builders and Miss Ruj Beauty Care and Spa.

Nguyen, 23, was born in Ben Tre, a coastal province in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam. She’s 5’7” tall, weighs 112 pounds and measures 32-22-36. She is currently a senior Marketing student at Curtin University in Singapore and hopes to graduate in early 2019.  

Last April, Nguyen was adjudged second runner-up in the 2018 Miss Sea Vietnam Global earning the right to compete in the 2018 Miss Earth. Our very own 2015 Miss Earth Angelia Ong was one of the judges in the search. 

Nguyen was only 15 when her country hosted the 2010 Miss Earth held in Vinpearl Land, Nha Trang. Since then, she dreamed of representing Vietnam in the Miss Earth pageant. She’s the first-ever Vietnamese to win the coveted crown in the 18-year history of “environment-friendly” pageant. 

For the record, Vietnam sent its first delegate only in 2003, didn’t compete in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and its highest placement before Nguyen’s victory was when Nguyen Thi Le Nam Em placed Top 8 in 2016.

It’s interesting to note that when Mader won 2016 Miss Philippines Earth Water, she represented the Filipino Community of Vienna, Austria.  

Guest performer at the pageant was American R&B singer Brian McKnight and the affair was hosted by James Deakin.  ­— Reported by Celso de Guzman Caparas