Ronnie: I Believe I can Fly!
Until he talked to The STAR, Ronnie Liang was mum about his dream to be a pilot, with even his friends clueless that he was enrolled at the APG International Aviation Academy (IAA) in Subic. Ronnie has just completed the required 20 flying hours for private pilots (and 400 for commercial pilots) after one semester of ground schooling.
“I’ve been dreaming of becoming a pilot since I was in Grade 4,” said Ronnie who is set for his Love X Romance concert at the Music Museum on Friday, Nov. 8. “I’m glad that my childhood dream is coming true.”
Good thing Ronnie doesn’t have a fear of flying. After passing the ground course, he was put on simulation flying with an instructor on a single-engine, two-seater plane. Another requirement saw Ronnie on a similar small plane with the engine turned off while he was at an altitude of 700 feet. That was part of the course and Ronnie managed to land the plane, acquitting himself well.
“I believe I can fly,” Ronnie is sure. He hopes to further his studies and, why not, fly a commercial plane someday.
In the meantime, his mind is on ground level as his Music Museum concert fast approaches. Besides Ella Cruz and Janine Teñoso, Ronnie also has Sarah Geronimo as special guest. The repertoire consists of current love songs and those from the ’80s and ’90s.
“I’m happy that Sarah agreed to be my guest,” said Ronnie. “First, I asked the approval of the Viva bosses and they told me to ask Sarah. I wasn’t expecting anything so that if she said no, I wouldn’t be disappointed. I took the chance early this year when I guested in her concert in Iloilo.”
According to Ronnie, it’s an answered prayer.
“I’ve been wishing to appear in a concert with Sarah mula pa noong nasa Pinoy Dream Academy ako. I’m flattered every time she would introduce me as a ‘multi-platinum artist, maganda ang boses at magpapa-kilig sa atin.’ Wow, galing sa isang Sarah Geronimo ‘!”
Not only that. Ronnie also got to record a duet with Sarah on a song titled Liwanag composed by Marlon Barbueno, to be released during the Music Museum concert.
“Sarah likes the melody and the message of the folk ballad love song.”
That’s hitting two birds with one stone, so to speak — having Sarah as concert guest and recording a song with her, a nice way to cap a fruitful year. So far, in his 13 years in the business, Ronnie has released five albums and headlined more than 12 concerts. He has also a Christmas song titled Sa Paskong Darating now available on Spotify, composed by Joel Abad, a seaman, about an OFW longing for home.
No wonder Ronnie’s spirit is soaring.
(A production of Viva Live, Love X Romance is directed by Ryan Evangelista with Adonis Tabanda as musical director. Ticket prices are: P3,000 Gold; P2,500 Silver; P2,000 Bronze; and P1,500 Balcony. Call Ticketworld at 891-9999, Music Museum at 721-0635/721-6726 or Viva Live at 687-7236.)
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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