Leo Valdez, a friend who’s always there

LEO VALDEZ

Every Valentine season, the first friend who crosses my mind is Leo Valdez. I will never forget that he went out of his way in February 2012 to cheer me up when I was going through a crisis. He’s always been in my corner. I need never holler; he’s there. That’s why I always tease him to add an O and an E to his initials. Leo Valdez is “LoVe.”

All that love will definitely emerge when he performs with Kuh Ledesma in “The King and the Diva” on Feb. 14, 8 p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. They vow to fill the venue with their iconic wit, class, sophistication and style.

Excerpts from my most recent chat with Leo, a friend who occupies an entire ventricle in my heart:

What can we expect from your show?

It’s my first time ever to do a concert with Kuh, and having admired her ever since, I am looking forward to singing beautiful love songs with her the best way we know how.

What’s the best love advice you’ve ever received?

Love yourself … everything you share with the person you love starts with you.

What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done for love?

I am such a control freak in matters of the heart, that there’s not one thing I can single out.

What’s your fave love song ever?

“What Matters Most” stands out. My romantic slip is showing.

Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras celebrate with fans at the Sinulog Festival.

If you were Cupid, what would you change about love?

I would shoot arrows that would guarantee whole lifetimes of love and happiness for partners in love. That would be fantastic.

How has your perception of love changed through the years?

True love is constant. It’s a most beautiful gift— freely given, not demanded, and wholeheartedly shared by two people.

What’s your most romantic moment?

Simply walking hand in hand with my love in Paris around Place Vendôme—a little past midnight, when we had the place to ourselves—before we headed to our beautiful suite at The Ritz.

Sinulog sunshine

Dingdong Dantes at the Sinulog Festival.

After the storm comes the rainbow. For Cebuanos, the ray of sunlight in the aftermath of “Yolanda” was brought by their Sinulog Festival. GMA 7 stars Kristoffer Martin, Kim Rodriguez, Pauleen Luna, TJ Trinidad, Rafael Rosell and Camille Prats regaled the jam-packed  crowd  at the Gaisano Grand Fiesta Mall and The Terraces. The “Kapuso Mall Show” at the SM Event Center featured Marian Rivera, Alden Richards, Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Yasmien Kurdi and Mark Herras.

In Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan Festival. The “Mutya ng Lakan Grand Night” at the ABL Sports Complex  was hosted by Mikael Daez and Bettina Carlos. Guest performers were Alden Richards and Max Collins. “Kapuso Night” at the Pastrana Park had performances by Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Mark Herras, while Thea Tolentino, Jeric Gonzales and others joined the  “Pagdayaw kay Senyor Sto. Niño Sinaot sa Calle” parade.

Kalibo could very well be called Kapuso Country; the Aklanons called the stars by their characters’ names.