THE Theatre at Solaire in Paranaque City is a bit far from where we live pero malapit at madali itong puntahan kapag interasado ka sa gusto mong panoorin.

Last Friday, May 24, dinayo namin ang The Theater at Solaire for “The Music of Cecile Azarcon: A 45th Anniversary Concert” which was produced by VAA Live. Ito bale ang first major concert ni Cecile in her 45 years in the music entertainment business and after 40 years in Vallejo, California, USA where she is currently based since 2004.

Apart from Cecile, the prolific songwriter behind the classic hit songs ng mga top singers-performers ng bansa tulad nina Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Raymond Lauchengco, Jam Morales, Iwi Laurel and Chiqui Pineda, gusto namin ang kanyang line-up of guests. Sa first night last Friday, she had Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, Concert King Martin Nievera, Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, Jam Morales, Jackie Lou Blanco, Isabella (daughter of Kuh Ledesma), Iwi Laurel, Janno Gibbs and her nephew na si Tim Pavino na napakagaling ding singer.

Sayang nga lamang at wala roon sina Basil Valdez, Raymond Lauchengco at Chiqui Pineda who recorded Cecile’s hit own compositions.

Ang unang hit composition ni Cecile na pinamagatang “Lift Up My Hand” was recorded by Basil Valdez at isa sa kanyang mga classic hits. She was 19 and was still in college. Si Cecile din ang nag-compose ng hit song ni Raymond, ang “So It’s You” habang “How Did You Know” naman kay Chiqui which she recorded in 1993.

Martin Nievera opened the show by singing his classic hit song na “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin” penned by Cecile in 1986 habang nasa audience seat ang singer-composer na si Cecile. After the song ay nilapitan ni Martin si Cecile and ushered her on stage where a grand piano was waiting for her. Then Martin called in his ex-girflriend na si Jackie Lou Blanco who sang “How Did You Know” originally sung and recorded by Chiqui Pineda then nag-duet sila ni Martin sa isang piece which was recorded by Kuh and Richard Tan na pinamagatang “What Comes Over Me.: Ang pamangkin ni Cecile na si Tim Pavino ang kumanta ng “So It’s You” which was popularized by Raymond Lauchengco. He was such a revelation that night dahil napakahusay pala nitong singer.

US-based singers Jam Morales and Fe de los Reyes flew in to be part of Cecile’s homecoming concert. Si Jam ang nagpasikat ng awiting “Even If” habang si Fe naman ang kumanta ng “Hoy, Ikaw na Naman”. Personal ding dumating si Iwi Laurel na siyang kumanta ng sarili niyang hit song, ang “Special Memory”. Gary V. was well-applauded nang kanyang kantahin ang sarili niyang hit song na “Reaching Out”

Ang bawat kantang sinulat ni Cecile ay may kani-kanyang kuwento. She even wrote songs for her mom, the grand pianist Minda Azaron (“Memories of You”), for her grandfather (“Awit kay Lolo”), “As I Am” at iba pa.

Since wala si Basil na siyang nagpasikat ng awiting “Lift Up You Hand,” ito ang ginawang finale number ni Cecile and she was later on joined on stage by all her special guests that evening (except for Martin and Iwi na maagang umalis) na sina Kuh Ledesma,Gary Valenciano, Jackie Lou Blanco, Jam Morales, Fe de los Reyes, Isabella and Tim Pavino.

Although she composed the songs for other people, aminado si Cecile na lahat ng kuwento ng mga kantang kanyang ginawa ay pinagdaanan din umano niya sa totoong buhay.

Kahit sa Amerika na naka-base si Cecile for the last 40 years since 2004, ang pagsusulat niya ng kanta never stopped at marami pa umano siyang nakatago sa kanyang `baul ready to be given life by new and upcoming singers.

Thankful si Cecile sa Viva big boss na si Boss Vic del Rosario, Jr. dahil bukod sa ito ang nasa likod ng kanyang two-night successful 45th anniversary concert sa The Theater at Solaire, si Boss Vic din ang nagbigay sa kanya ng malaking break bilang songwriter 45 years ago when Basil Valdez recorded her “Lift Up you Hand,” her first hit composition when she was 19 and still in college.

Samantala, sa second night ng 45th anniversary concert ni Cecile last Saturday, May 25 ay naging guest performers sina Kuh Ledesma, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Katrina Velarde, Janno Gibbs, Jam Morales, Fe de los Reyes, Jackie Lou Blanco, Tim Pavino and Isabella.

Cecile is an OPM treasure.

Samantala, nasa audience last Friday ang Viva big boss na si Boss del Rosario along with the other top executives ng kumpanya.

Maituturing namang `a night to remember’ ang two-night 45th anniversary ni Cecile dahil bukod sa ito ang kanyang first major concert in the Philippines, napagsama-sama sa kanyang show ang mga bigating singers and performers ng bansa na karamihan sa kanila ay nagbigay-buhay ng mga awiting kanyang nilikha tulad nina Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Jam Morales at Iwi Laurel.

Sana muling bumalik si Cecile sa Pilipinas in five years to celebrate her 50th anniversary concert.

Mga naulila ni Leo nawalan ng pakpak

NASA loob kami ng The Theater at Solaire sa anniversary concert ng veteran singer and songwriter na si Cecile Azarcon nang matanggap namin ang forwarded text message ng talent manager na si Manny Valera informing us of the sad news na sumakabilang-buhay na ang mabait na talent manager na si Leo Dominguez ng LVD Management Corporation na siyang namamahala sa respective careers nina Ogie Alcasid, Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino, Janine Gutierrez, Snooky Serna, Ricardo Cepeda, Victoria (Agbayani), JC de Vera, Emilio Garcia, Soleen Heussaff, Nathalie Hart, Rita Magdalena, Lotlot de Leon, Dina Bonnevie at iba pa.

Si Ogie bale ang signature talent ng LVD Management ni Leo na una naming nakilala when we were still working with OctoArts ni Boss Orly Ilacad at maging contract talent ng OctoArts ang mister ni Regine Velasquez.

Ang pakiramdam ng mga `naulilang’ talents ni Leo ay para silang nawalan ng `pakpak’ sa maagang pagkawala ng kanilang ama-amahan na si Leo.

Sa mga kaibigan, kasamahan sa industriya at mga kakilala ni Leo, magkakaroon ng urn visitation ngayong araw ng Linggo, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight sa Chapel 2 ng Magallanes, Makati City with a memorial mass at 5 p.m.

Mula sa amin dito sa People’s Journal, ang aming taos-pusong pakikiramay sa mga naiwan ni Leo at hangad namin ang walang hanggang kapayaan para sa kanya.

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