By JEMUEL CAINGLET SALTERIO
After doing a corporate show at Solaire Ballroom, Ogie Alcasid surprised his good friend Dingdong Avanzado during the latter’s concert, “The Original Prince of Pinoy Pop,” at The Theater at Solaire on Friday night.
Dingdong was supposed to perform in a production number with guest Randy Santiago, but Ogie emerged onstage to present a cake to Dingdong, who celebrated his 56th birthday last July 7.
When Dingdong saw his good friend, Ogie, he was visibly thrilled and surprised. Ogie was not in the lineup of special guests, he simply dropped by The Theater to congratulate and greet Dingdong.
Yet, Ogie readily obliged to join the number without any qualms. Ogie, Dingdong, and Randy rendered OPM hits — “Dito sa Puso Ko,” “Babaero,” “Raining in Manila,” and “Di Bale Na Lang.”
The “Original Prince of Pinoy Pop” has amazingly been in the music business for 37 years.
Undoubtedly, he has made his mark as a singer-songwriter in the local entertainment industry.
“All that I could think of, when I look back, is gratefulness,” admitted Dingdong. “I just feel so grateful for everything. Not just for the good, even the bad contributed to all I am as an artist today.
“I’m not perfect. I’m far from perfect. But I’m a real artist. What I give out to all of you came from the heart. It’s something that I value. What I do here onstage, everything is for you.”
Dingdong opened the concert with Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name,” followed by two of his familiar hits — “Ikaw Lamang” and “Tatlong Bente Singko.”
He then rendered buwis-buhay tunes — Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration,” Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love,” and Kenny Loggins’ “Forever” — and impressively managed to carry them out.
When he later sang a few more of his familiar hits, Dingdong was ecstatic that some of the guys in the audience remembered his songs — “Makapiling Ka Sana,” “Hindi Mo Na Ba Minamahal,” “Paniwalaan Mo,” and “To Love Again” — and could even sing the lines with him.
“There were so many special memories attached to my music,” said Dingdong. “My songs were able to cross generations.”
“Tawag ng Tanghalan” Duets champions Marielle Montellano and JM de la Cerna gave powerful, new versions of Dingdong’s early hit ballad, “Paalam Na,” sang with The Juan’s version of “Hindi Tayo Pwede.”
Dingdong rocked the stage with young artists Khimo and LA Santos, as they rendered Michael Jackson hits — “PYT (Pretty Young Thing),” “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” “Thriller,” and “Beat It.”
Undoubtedly, Dingdong, who is one of the judges (hurados) in “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on “It’s Showtime,” exerted great efforts to mount a concert that would please the crowd. He delivered sentimental and romantic tunes, did choreographed movements, performed with his guests, and did more to delight his audience.
Dingdong’s daughter, Jayda Avanzado, played the keyboards to carry out her new single, “Right Lover, Wrong Time.” The young lady impressed the audience with her soaring vocals.
She also did a duet with her dad in “Wish I Could.”
The loudest screams of the night came when SB19’s singer-composer Pablo emerged onstage as one of the much-awaited guests of Dingdong.
One of the “brilliant minds” of his generation, Pablo started his stint with his newest solo single, “EDSA,” which was released only last month. Midway into the song, Dingdong joined him onstage.
They sang “Mapa” together, one of the popular hits of SB19. Pablo acknowledged his parents — Ted and Grace — who were in the audience that night.
The son disclosed that his parents fell in love with Dingdong’s early hit, “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” so Pablo and Dingdong regaled the audience with the popular tune.
As Dingdong thanked designer Lloyd Arceo for his colorful outfits that night, he rendered Freddie Aguilar’s “Estudyante Blues,” the theme of Mike Relon Makiling’s youth-oriented comedy film of the same title where he also starred in 1989.
He crooned the achingly beautiful “A Song for You,” while playing the keyboards, and segued into one of his biggest hits, “Mahal na Mahal Kita.”
Dingdong and Jessa shared the stage and rendered the latter’s hits — “Bakit Pa” (1997), “Paano Kaya” (1999), and “Di Ba’t Ikaw” (1997).
After his last major concert in 2012, when he marked his 25th year in the business, it has taken Dingdong more than a decade to do another major concert and return onstage.
The director of Dingdong’s Solaire show is Jay Klio Bermudez, who extended his help in planning and staging the major concert. The musical director is Elmer Blancaflor.
