MANILA, Philippines — It’s the month of hearts and the season that can make you feel all sorts of things — love, longing, loss and laughter. A song is a surefire way to bring out these emotions in an audience. But singers, no matter how seasoned they are, can be carried away by their own performance.
The STAR asked Joanna Ampil, Reuben Laurente and Arman Ferrer, who are joining forces in the Valentine show Silver Lining, The Concert on Feb. 14 at the BGC Arts Center, if they ever turned emotional mid-song.
“I remember it happened while singing Love is Always Better (from Bridges of Madison County musical) in a concert. But one song that I was surprised na naiyak ako is Hindi Simple Ang Buhay, which is not even my song in Ang Larawan. It was the song of the Senator (played by Robert Arevalo),” said the West End star Joanna, who won Best Actress for her portrayal of a spinster-heroine in the movie-musical. “I don’t know why but it really moved me. It could be the melody. Or siguro dahil ang daming nangyari during the making of Larawan.”
For Reuben, now a star performer in luxury liners after his time with The CompanY and as an award-winning solo recording artist, “I have this song for my father, which I used to do in my shows, If I Sing from (the musical revue) Closer Than Ever. Ayan na naiiyak na ako. ‘If I sing you’re my music, if I sing why I am good, if my hands could find some magic, you’re the one who says I could,’ wala na. Pag-ganun hinga ako ng malalim. Sabi ko, ano ba yung mga inaral ko sa mga theater workshops na yan na di ko talaga nagamit. Of course, you’re getting paid para di pumiyok and mag-flat or mag-sharp, and it’s just hard. So, I don’t do the song anymore.”
He added, “I become emotional because wala na ang tatay ko. He was my No. 1 fan. He was the one who really encouraged me that if there was an opportunity to do solo gigs (I could do it) not because he wanted me to earn more because I was already earning sufficiently from the group I was a member of. Ang hirap isipin na ang inspiration mo wala na, tapos kinanta mo siya. I would say, I’m putting this for the drama part of the show, but realistically, after the number, I would exit (to calm myself). But I embrace it. Mahirap nga lang. You just have to embrace the moment that you are moved by your own song. People are moved because it comes from the heart.”
Arman, a musical theater leading man and operatic tenor, shared his most recent emotionally-charged performance. “Nag-80th birthday yung lola ko. I sang their (grandparents’) theme song which is Portrait of My Love. Nasa gitna palang ng kanta, naiiyak na ako, but I still needed to sing the whole song because it’s a birthday party. And it just so happened namatay kasi yung grandparents ko sa father side in 2017, they were married for 61 years, so everytime I sing Portrait of My Love, naaalala ko sila together. Sobrang simple ng Portrait of My Love, no high notes, but I could not sustain it. During my Lola’s birthday, I sang it, then I stopped, I turned around and when I faced (the crowd) again, everyone was crying. That’s how it is with performers, if you’re true to yourself, it comes out, even if you don’t have to.”
All singers agreed that having family members, especially parents, in the audience makes them emotional so they would normally seat them far from the stage where they could not see them.
Their international stints are nothing compared to performing for their countrymen. Said Reuben, “You get a different validation from a fellow Filipino.”
Joanna added, “Filipinos are hard to please but we are more reserved also. Like others are shy (to do a standing ovation). But for them, that’s already a standing ovation in itself, when they clap or they are so taken by a scene, di sila maka react. (You know they like your performance because) they tell you afterwards. Or they’re quiet while you perform because that’s respect itself for the craft.”
Citing his experience from his past musical Sideshow, Arman knew he was effective because in the middle of his performance, “you could hear sniffing or murmuring because my role was na basted. So when Violet (his love interest) said, ‘No, I love you as a friend,’ I heard people gasp. Naririnig mo yun sa stage, hahaha!”
Meanwhile, it’s the first time for the three of them to share the concert stage. During the V-Day show, they will sing songs they want to sing, songs they’re not expected to sing and songs requested by fans. They will each have shining moments as well as moments together via duets and trios. They will also pay tribute to OPM icons like National Artist Ryan Cayabyab and perform new singles.
It’s You’re My Home for Reuben. “Home is where your heart is, home is your family, home is my country. Itong show na ito, I want people to see what I usually do on ships, and thank you to Noel (Ferrer, their manager) and my co-artists for giving me the time of day and sharing the stage with me.”
For Arman, he is reviving Giliw, a song of his idol Martin Nievera, classical-pop style. “I’m so lucky because the composer, Noel Gamboa, kilala pala siya ng teacher ko (at UP College of Music). We reached out to him and he replied. We found out, it was supposed to be a Kundiman so it connected with me more because of my classical background. Na-identify ko siya as an art song rather than a popular song because it was really intended to be a Kundiman.”
For Joanna, it’s a Randy Santiago song. “The single is Hindi Magbabago because I was a huge fan of Randy Santiago in the ‘90s before I left for Miss Saigon. I had a huge crush on him and that was his biggest hit, right? I’m still waiting (for the time) that Randy and I will sing a duet. One day.”
(Tickets are available on www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999.)