MANILA, Philippines — Before the New Jersey-based Sounds of Manila (SoM) staged its homecoming concert in the Philippines, Typhoon Dodong relentlessly spewed non-stop rains for three consecutive days.
However, on July 15, the group mounted the stage at the UP Bahay ng Alumni. The skies cleared up and the group filled up the venue with excited concert-goers who came to watch.
After more than a decade of performing in North America, Sounds of Manila fulfilled its long-time wish of finally coming to the Philippines to perform here.
Even before the pandemic happened, Sounds of Manila, who won Best Group of Artists Based Abroad in the 35th Aliw Awards last year, was already planning to stage a concert here.
In fact, Aliw Awards founder Alice Hernandez Reyes graced the concert with her presence.
Most of the members of the group had not visited the Philippines in decades. Lead singer Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan had not come home in 32 years and she was really thrilled and thankful to set foot in the country again.
Thankfully, all the plans of Sounds of Manila materialized when producer-couple Bing and Anton Pascual of Rockford Productions, came in to bankroll the group’s homecoming concert in the Philippines, co-produced by Five Strings Entertainment.
The minute Sounds of Manila sauntered onstage at UP’s Bahay ng Alumni, the full-house crowd, composed of their family members, relatives, friends, former classmates and yes, even exes, immediately responded positively to their upbeat medley.
Some clapped and cheered, while others excitedly stood carrying the respective tarpaulins of the member they were welcoming.
Sounds of Manila rendered familiar OPM tunes like Magandang Gabi sa Inyong Lahat, Isang Mundo Isang Awit, Salamat Musika and Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.
Of course, they made sure their original songs were included in the repertoire — from Cecile Azarcon’s All My Tomorrows to Malen Suarez’s Ikaw Lamang (arranged by Kiko Versoza) and Sounds of Manila theme song penned by Ronnie Lee.
Opening acts were promising artists Janna Cabauatan and Radhni Tiplan, as well as Kiko Versoza of Freeverse Band.
Sounds of Manila gave the crowd a glimpse of how they’ve been successfully entertaining audiences across North America with their well-received performances — either as guests or main artists.
Not all 12 members of Sounds of Manila made it to the Philippines for the homecoming concert. Only 10 members came.
The list included Suzanne, co-singer Dr. Efi Sunga, band leader and bassist Ronnie Sabangan, back-up vocalist Marla Villacorte, drummer JR Gendrano, first keyboardist Neil Estanislao, keyboardist Jing Villegas, saxophonist/flutist Kyle Crouchelli, lead guitarist Jason Paguiligan and rhythm guitarist Jonah Balagtas. Musical director is Paulo Areza, also the band’s second keyboardist.
Three band members are University of the Philippines (UP) alumni — Suzanne is from UP College of Mass Communications, Marla Villacorte from the UP College of Engineering and Jing Villegas from the UP College of Music.
Special guest in the concert was Rannie Raymundo, who carried out two covers — The Last Time I Fell in Love and You Never Love Me the Same Way Twice — as well as duets with Doctor Efi (an optometrist) in Get Here and Suzanne with Why Can’t It Be?, Rannie’s original hit recorded 37 years ago.
Suzanne and Rannie subsequently did a recording of Why Can’t It Be?, the week following the concert before the group returned to the US.
Another guest artist was US-based young singer Shanice Aquino.
By the second half of the concert, the audience stood up and danced when Sounds of Manila frontliners went down the stage and performed a medley of popular foreign and OPM dance tunes — Ain’t Nothing’s Gonna Keep Me, If All We’re Gonna Do Is Dance, I-Swing Mo Ako, Disco Araw-Araw and Macho Gwapito — kissing and hugging all those they knew in the crowd.
They ended the show still with very upbeat dance tunes from Bongga Ka Day, VST medley — Swing, Rock Baby Rock, Tayo’y Magsayawan and Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko — wrapping up with Manila by Hotdog.
OPM tunes will apparently never die and thank you, Sounds of Manila, for reliving those classic tunes to be heard by the younger generations.