MANILA, Philippines – Bruno Mars drove more than 10,000 people crazy with a spellbinding performance Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
He made it more special by stirring national pride among the mostly local audience. “I am Filipino!” he proclaimed near the end of the sold-out concert.
Born Peter Gene Hernandez in Hawaii to a Puerto Rican father and Filipino mother, the recent Grammy winner and hotshot singer-songwriter pointed out that his Filipino clan was watching with the crowd, including his grandparents and his mom Bernadette.
On Thursday night his relatives also joined him at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel where he opened the two-night concert, bankrolled by actor-restaurateur Marvin Agustin with a couple of celebrity folks as partners.
At the Big Dome, where SRO tickets had to be sold to accommodate a huge demand from fans, the 25-year-old Mars presented a show that revealed his deep love for classic rock ’n’ roll.