(From left) Maris Racal and Daniel Padilla (a screengrab of his IG Story is seen) are some of the celebrities who witnessed the reunion of Rivermaya. Images: From their respective Instagram accounts
Pop-alternative rock powerhouse Rivermaya’s reunion concert has drawn big celebrities to watch their special concert, held in Paranaque City on Saturday night, February 17.
Bamboo Mañalac, Rico Blanco, Nathan Azarcon, and Mark Escueta took their fans on a trip down memory lane at the “Rivermaya: The Reunion” show where they performed their biggest hits such as “You’ll Be Safe Here,” “Kisapmata,” “214,” “Himala,” and “Ulan,” just to name a few.
Blanco’s girlfriend Maris Racal — who had long admired the band before her romance with the musician — was one excited fangirl as she witnessed the band’s reunion concert.
Racal donned a headband with cutouts of Blanco’s face and held a banner with the line, “Rico, my oppa (or love),” as seen on her Instagram post.
“‘Rivermaya: The Reunion’ was [fire emoji] What an experience! Witnessed great chemistry on stage. And they played ‘Sunog’ during soundcheck. Thank you,” she wrote.
Racal was accompanied by Kaila Estrada, Darren Espanto, Jane Oineza, and RK Bagatsing.
Daniel Padilla was also present at the band’s reunion show, where he shared snaps of the concert on his Instagram Story.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@supremo_dp
Escueta’s wife Jolina Magdangal was also present at the band’s concert, where she also shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of their preparations on her Instagram page.
“Para kayong bumalik dun sa panahon na kasama mo barkada (ako nung highschool to college) mo at kumakanta kayo ng Rivermaya songs pero nasa mundo na ng Gen-Z,” she wrote.
(It’s like you returned to the times you were enjoying life with your friends — me included from high school to college — and you’re singing along to Rivermaya’s songs. But you’re in Gen-Z’s world now.)
Entertainment journalist MJ Felipe also reported that Dominic Roque, Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo, Sarah Geromino, Matteo Guidicelli, and Bela Padilla were also present at the concert, although none of them have yet to share photos of their concert experience on social media.
Formed in 1994, Rivermaya is considered as one of the legends in OPM with their chart-topping songs and timeless hits ranging from love to slice of life. The original lineup consisted of Blanco, Mañalac, Escueta, Azarcon, and Perf de Castro.
De Castro departed from the band a year later, while Mañalac and Blanco left the band to pursue their solo music careers in 1998 and 2007.
Only Escueta and Azarcon remained in Rivermaya, but they were later on joined by Mike Elgar and Aiman Borres. The lattermost musician, however, only performs with the band when they go on tour.