Musical underscores mother?s love

By Isah V. Red

For Amanda Tiantes Enriquez? 90th birthday last Jan. 14, all nine children brainstormed to give their mother a celebration she would not forget.

The suggestions were varied: some said why not go to Hong Kong and do restaurant hopping. Another thought of throwing a three-day party with non-stop food and drinks.

Ricky Reyes, Mama Ada?s fourth child, had a different idea in mind?a musical on the life of her mother.

Everyone agreed, and Ricky started assembling the people that would bring on stage his vision of what love is about for his mother.

GMA-7?s Darling de Jesus helped make things happen by making GMA artists accessible to be the performers. Ada, The Musical became the highlight of Mama Ada?s 90th birthday party held at the Wack Wack Country Club.

Ayen Munji Laurel played the role of young Mama Ada, with Frances Makil (as Doray, Ada?s bestfriend), Jan Nieto (as Antonio Zabarte, Ada?s first husband), Gian Magdangal (as Ricardo Reyes Sr.) and Paolo Ballesteros (as a young Ricky Reyes).

The Terpsichore Dancers and Mama Ada?s grandchildren danced to the music provided by Gerard Santos, La Diva (Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia) and the UP Concert Chorus were the back-up vocalists.

Ricky pulled out all stops and commissioned the best in the industry to put the production together: Floy Quintos for direction, Geleen Eugenio for choreography, Danny Tan for the music, Eric Pineda for the costumes, and Cocoy Boncan for the script.

The whole Zabarte-Reyes clan was rejoicing when they finally watched the musical based on their mother?s life. Children Antonio, Wilfredo, Jaime, Ricky, Vivian, Rey, Connie, Claro and Les were teary eyed as they watched their mother?s life story being dramatized before them, chronicling the sacrifices she made single-handedly raising 10 children.

Mama Ada?s life

Amanda Enriquez grew up in Nasugbu, Batangas. She was known to family and friends as a very hard working woman. Before the war, she met Antonio Zabarte Sr., a young good-looking man who swept her off her feet. They were married eventually and had three children, Antonio, Wilfredo and Jaime, who all got the looks of their father.

When war broke out, Antonio was taken away by the Japanese, never to be seen again. Left to fend for her three sons, Ada did everything to survive, much of it involved selling different goods. But Ada never lost her love for life. She still was the toast of the town, for her beauty, for her good nature, for her friendliness.

Then she met Ricardo Reyes at a dance in town. Eventually, they became a couple and had seven more children?Ricardo Jr. (who we now know as Ricky Reyes), Vivian, Rey, Angelita, Connie, Claro and Celestino.

Ricardo senior was a known gigolo who got himself entangled in many affairs. Ada finally decided to leave him, together with her 10 children.

How could a single mother?with 10 mouths to feed? survive? Ada?s resiliency and her faith in God saw her through. She relied on her selling skills, selling all sorts of stuff from clothes, shoes, to food and house ware. She also put up a small salon where she would fix up most brides in their town.

Ricky Reyes, and all of Ada?s children, must have inherited their mother?s entrepreneurial skills, as well as her ability to survive. Today, Ricky Reyes has 46 branches in his chain of salons, three schools (Ricky Reyes Learning Institute) and one resort (Golden Sunset in Calatagan, Batangas), while his brother Les (Celestino) also founded Reyes Haircutters. The other Reyes siblings Claro and Vivian are also involved in their own salon businesses, among others.

Katrina celebrates birthday with fans

Despite controversies, Katrina Halili knows that she has so much to be thankful for?a successful career, a happy love life, and a series of endorsements. And to show her appreciation, she decided to celebrate her 23rd birthday with her loyal and loving fans.

Organized by www.iGMA.tv, the event held last Jan. 11 at Barrakz Bar in Quezon City was an all-out success. A happy and charming Katrina celebrated with select members of her fans club, the Katrinians, plus lucky fans from the iGMA community and her Fanatxt subscriber base.

What was Katrina?s birthday wish? ?Peace of mind and good health,? answered the Kapuso star.

Some of those close to Katrina also dropped by to show their support?Sundo co-star and close friend Sunshine Dizon and Katrina?s boyfriend Kris Lawrence .

After dinner, Katrina joined fans during the games and joked with them. It was an evening of fun and surprises. Prizes given away include GMA show merchandise, such as bags, cosmetic kits and T-shirts. Katrina also gave fans sexy pictorial pictures and tumblers.

Of course, some of her fans presented the birthday girl with their own gifts that Katrina unwrapped in front of everyone. There were stuffed toys, tokens, and others were personalized gifts. To serve as a memento of the special birthday bash, iGMA.tv presented Katrina with a scrapbook that contains special messages and photos from fans, plus a framed photograph.

Falling in Love

This year, Rachelle Ann Go will usher in Valentine?s Day by doing what she loves. The Ultimate Champion will welcome the month of love with a pre-Valentine concert titled Falling in Love tonight and tomorrow at the Music Museum.

 Incidentally, Falling in Love is also the title of Rachelle Ann?s new album under Viva Records. Falling in Love the concert will see her perform hits off the new album for the first time, which makes it a must-see.

To prove that this is no ordinary pre-Valentine show, Rachelle Ann will have two different sets of guests for each night. Tonight, she will be joined by current squeeze Gab Valenciano and Richard Poon; tomorrow, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, ex-boyfriend and Asap ?09 co-host Christian Bautista, and Gab will share the stage with her.

Yes, you read that right. Gab will be there on both nights in order to support his new ladylove. As to what surprise number she and Gab have prepared for Falling in Love, Rachelle Ann is keeping it a secret. Whatever it is, it will definitely be something to watch.

There will also be a special surprise guest, whose identity remains a tight secret. To find out, well? you?ll have to watch the show.

For last-minute ticket inquiries, call the TicketWorld at 891-9999 or the Music Museum at 721-6726 & 721-0635.

Tiongco Brothers at Casablanca

The country?s national treasure for entertainment, Emil, Art and June, collectively known as The Tiongco Brothers and more popularly known as The Four Aces of the Philippines, will be at the Casablanca Casino in Stotsenberg Hotel, in Clark Export Processing Zone tomorrow, Jan. 31 at 8:30 p.m.

Despite a long absence in the entertainment scene, they have managed to maintain the blending of their voices at par. Admittedly, the trio has not performed in Clark for quite some time but their loyal fans will be glad to hear the songs that they made popular before.

Their rendition of the Platters Medley, Four Aces hit songs brought back the golden years of live entertainment in the Philippines. As they have explained, that during their era, there were only few original Pilipino music that made it to the hit chart. Unlike now, that original compositions are big hits. They sing songs popularized mostly by foreign singers, for that was the trend during their time. And during their travels abroad, they remembered being introduced as the Four Aces of the Philippines.

The show is one of the rare performances of the Tiongco Brothers. They still sing, dance and deliver jokes with the perfect blending which made them famous and they have never aged. In fact, the Tiongco Brothers is the best argument to importation of talents. 

Unleashing the singer

Pokwang has now entered the recording scene through Star Records with album title Pokwang? Ang Album Na May Puso.

After bringing her brand of wit and humor to the boob tube, on stage, and to movies, Pokwang will surely make people laugh with her very first album.

?Dream ko talagang magkaroon ng album. Tuwing nakikita ko sina Nixon Sy at Annabelle Regalado-Borja [from Star Records] kahit saang parte ng ABS-CBN bigla akong nagvo-vocalization sa harap nila kaya naloloka sila. Dito sa album ko may six songs. Maiiyak kayo sa kakatawa sa album na ?to, pampatanggal ng stress. Meron akong love song na talagang nakaka-in love dahil super serious ng title, ?Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord.? Meron ding Tagalog version ng ?When You Tell Me That You Love Me.? May mga novelty songs din na danceable like ?yung ?GayaGaya Puto Maya Bratatat? at ?yung ?Bahoo.? Ilan sa mga composer sina Christian Martinez at Lito Camo,? Pokwang shared.

Her carrier single ?Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord,? composed by Christian Martinez, is playing in most of the radio stations nationwide (Love Radio 90.7, YesFM 101.1, EnergyFM 91.5, StarFM 102.7, i-FM 93.9, 101.9 For Life and all MOR stations).

According to her retail outlets top honchos, ?Excited din kami to have Pokwang sa outlets namin. Nakakatuwa nga kasi may naghahanap na sa mga outlets namin. Mga taga-US ata kasi mga TFC subscribers sila.?

Though Pokwang is aware that she doesn?t possess the singing prowess of a real powerbelter, she said that ?Hindi man ako kasing husay nina Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Sheryn Regis, pero kung ano ?yung taas ng boses nila, ganun kataas ang pangarap ko na makapagpasaya ng mga tao sa album na ?to. Sa mga kanta dito sa album nagseseryoso ako na parang Aegis. Pero kapag pinakinggan mo at dinama mo ?yung lyrics maloloka ka ng bonggang-bongga. Binigay ko lang ?yung gusto ng tao. Siyempre kung ano ?yung uso dun tayo.?

Several successful projects like Wowowee shows abroad and the successful comedy concert Poohkwang have poured over Pokwang?s 2008. And now she faces a new year with a new project under Star Records. Grab a copy of Pokwang?s very first album entitled Pokwang? Ang Album Na May Puso, and brace yourself for a bunch of laughter, available in all record bars nationwide.