AI AI de las Alas breezed into the country last week to stage a concert, ‘The Kings and Ai,’ with award-winning actors Christopher de Leon and Gabby Concepcion. The three artists were brought together for the first time onstage where they bravely performed in a live, two-hour concert.

It was not easy to bring the three of them together, since Ai-Ai was even flown in from the US West Coast, where she has been based for nearly three years now.

Singing is not the main profession of Boyet, Gabby and Ai-Ai although they can undeniably carry a tune. They are actors more often seen on the big screen and on TV.

Yet, they are willing to go onstage once in a while. In fact, Concepcion was probably inspired by the success of his concerts last year with former wife and love team partner, Sharon Cuneta, both in Manila and Cebu.

Hence, he relented when offered to perform live onstage again.

Boyet and Gabby sauntered onstage and loud screams were immediately heard from the audience.

The dashing and good-looking actors dished out Beautiful Maria from The Mambo Kings. To which De las Alas butted onstage when she entered, “Bakit, hindi ba ko pwedeng maging queen?,” she apparently complained about the title of the concert.

She came out onstage in a metallic, all-gold, sexy get-up. “O, ano, bakit para kayong nakakita ng apparition?,” she berated her audience.

Then she gamely segued to the upbeat ‘So Happy Together.’ Never mind if she was off key or out of tune at times. No one really minded. She got away with it easily, with most of those in the audience simply laughing it off.

The Sharon-Gabby moment was relived with Concepcion and De las Alas crooning ‘Come What May,’ the popular theme from the ‘Dear Heart’ film.

“Nag-tooth brush ako ng todo,” Ai-Ai smilingly told Gabby when they had to sing really close together, with their faces also beside each other.

Then, Gabby was left on his own for his spot numbers. He rendered popular OPM (Original Pilipino Music) tunes – Ogie Alcasid’s ‘Nandito Ako,’ Richard Reynoso’s ‘Paminsan Minsan,’ Ariel Rivera’s ‘Sana Kahit Minsan’ and ‘Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin’ – as snippets of Sharon-Gabby films were flashed on the LED monitor.

“Ang hirap talagang kumanta,” Gabby ranted. “Sus maryosep. Ang tataas pa ng mga kanta.”

Yet, the actor pulled it off. When he sang ‘Ikaw ang Aking Mahal,’ he went down to the audience and fans swarmed on him, taking selfies and posing with him. The ladies were ecstatic.

He ended his stint with ‘Fly Me To the Moon’ and crooned ‘Init sa Magdamag.’

Ai-Ai started her spot number dancing to Cher’s ‘Believe,’ after which she belted out jukebox hits like Eva Eugenio’s ‘Tukso’ and Imelda Papin’s ‘Isang Linggong Pag-ibig.’

Only Ai-Ai could deliver a well-loved medley of Disney hits and changed outfits in every number – as Ariel in ‘Part of That World’for ‘The Little Mermaid,’ Mulan in ‘Reflection,’Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast,” Princess Jasmine in ‘A Whole New World’ for Aladdin and Elsa/Anna in ‘Let It Go’ for ‘Frozen.’

The ever-dashing De Leon crooned an old hit, “Sisikat Din Ako,” from Mike de Leon’s 1980 film, ‘Kakabakaba Ka Ba?,’ where he starred in.

He rendered Apo Hiking Society’s ‘Till I Met You,’ from his 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, ‘When I Met You in Tokyo,’ opposite Vilma Santos.

The three artists regaled the crowd with a dance medley – ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love,’ ‘Save the Last Dance for Me,’ ‘Sway,’ ‘Time of My Life — followed by “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday.’

Carlo Orosa worked at the helm of ‘The Kings and Ai,’ successfully staged Friday night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Newport World Hotel.

Carlo admitted he didn’t have a hard time directing the artists who performed. “They complemented each other very well,” Carlo said. “Ai-Ai was the perfect comic foil for the two [dramatic] leading men.”

Their finale was a dance medley of VST and Company hits that never grow old even after more than four decades – ‘Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,’ ‘Swing It Baby,’ ‘Rock Baby, Rock,’ ‘Tayo’y Magsayawan’– where the audience was up on their feet dancing to the music.

There is apparently a plan to bring the successful The Kings and Ai concert for a US tour. Maybe early next year or even latter part of this year. That will certainly make more Filipinos who will anticipate the shows, really happy.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio