CAYABYAB. Star-studded show pays tribute to the country’s legendary Music Man.
Ten years ago, I watched Ryan Cayabyab’s “The Musicman at 50” concert at the CCP. Last May 3, I was at the same venue for Mr. C’s 60th birthday concert, “The Music of Ryan Cayabyab.” Why do I keep watching and listening to the same repertoire? —Because Mr. C’s music is timeless!
(On a personal note, the concert reminded me of my departed eldest brother, Kuya Glenn, because he and I used to stay up late to watch “Ryan, Ryan Musikahan” for years!)
Stellar performers
Stellar performers included Hajji Alejandro, Kuh Ledesma, Celeste Legaspi, Mitch Valdes and Basil Valdez, who regaled the audience with their renditions of Mr. C’s hits from the movies, stage musicals and the Metropop.
Noel Cabangon, Ogie Alcasid and Martin Nievera performed “Kailan,” “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka” and “How Can I?,” respectively.
The audience erupted with laughter when Alcasid teased Cayabyab, who turned 60 last May 4, about how excited he must be to begin using the 20-percent discount given to senior citizens!
When Piolo Pascual performed “Sa May Bintana,” his fans swooned!
The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Salonga, gave an outstanding performance, especially when they played the orchestral arrangement of Cayabyab’s “Tsismis”—as Salonga’s birthday gift to his former teacher.
The choral renditions of “Hibang sa Awit,” “Da Coconut Nut” and “Angat Sa Iba” were also well-received. So was The Ryan Cayabyab Singers’ medley of Smokey Mountain hits, and the show tunes from “Katy!”
Young performers like Baihana (who delivered a jazzed up version of “Mamang Kutsero”), Bugoy Drilon (“Paano Na Kaya?”) and Morissette Amon (who sang a heartfelt rendition of “Sometime, Somewhere”) added sizzle and sparkle to the star-studded musical spectacle.
In his “thank you” speech, Mr. C noted how music changes so fast that, sooner or later, he and his music might be forgotten. Well, we sure hope not!
The well-loved maestro fittingly summarized his gratitude by singing lines from “Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako”: “Ang lingap mo’y hahanap-hanapin sa entabladong minsan ay sa akin/At kung ako ay malimutan, kahit sa awit ko man lamang/Iyo sanang matandaan bago tuluyang lumisan na minsan ang minahal ay ako!”