A  DREAM  REUNION  COME  TRUE

MANILA, MAY 5, 2008 (STAR) DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda - Moy Ortiz of The CompanY wrote us about the show he had with the scholars of Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA). Two years after they shared the stage together, teachers and scholars of PDA Season 1 shared the stage and spotlight again in a reunion concert billed Back to the Academy: A Dream Reunion last April 12 at the Music Museum. The concert celebrated the gains and achievements of each performer within the last two years.

The opening number, a rambunctious version of the theme from Friends (I’ll Be There for You), established the evening’s premise. Each singer was given two spot numbers.

The scholars who had the good fortune of snagging recording deals, namely: Yeng Constantino, Jay-R Siaboc, Ronnie Liang and Chad Peralta, sang their hit songs and their respective albums’ cuts. Ronnie opened with a cover of Basil Valdez’s Nais Ko and did an acoustic version of his hit single, Ngiti. Jay-R (now a regular cast member of two ABS-CBN soap operas) sang Hiling, his original, alongside a cover of an Introvoys’ ‘80s hit, I’ll Never Go. Chad jammed with the band, Crayons and sang two rock cuts (A Song for You and his original composition, Realist) from his Star Records debut album. PDA’s grand star dreamer, Yeng, surprised her audience with a moving interpretation of the classic Somewhere over the Rainbow.

The song apparently hit an emotional chord in Yeng as she broke down in tears in the middle of a spiel expressing her utmost gratitude to God and her loyal audience. Yeng then proceeded with a raw and emotional performance of her biggest hit to date, Hawak Kamay. Panky Trinidad wowed the audience with her amazing range and rock star persona in the songs My Sharona and We Will Rock You. US-born Irish Fullerton proved to the audience of how much of a Pinay she really is when she chose to sing two OPM songs (Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito and Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos) with much bravura, passion and perfect Tagalog diction.

The durable and versatile vocal quintet, The CompanY, once again proved to the Music Museum audience that they are undoubtedly a world-class act. Their Hits Medley included some of the group’s original hits, namely: Pakisabi Na Lang, Now That I Have You, Muntik Na Kitang Minahal and Everlasting Love.

One of the highpoints of the concert was the Vocal Lessons Mishap Suite. The number spoofed the cast’s music classes and lessons on the reality TV show, Pinoy Dream Academy.

Other concert high points were the upbeat Pangarap Lang (Yeng’s second hit), an all-girl number paying tribute to the Motown girl groups of the ‘60s; Ang Huling El Bimbo — a spectacular rock opera style number of all the male performers alongside Panky and Yeng’s burning electric guitar solos; the poignant power ballad, Salamat (another Yeng composition), rendered by the entire cast; and the finale — a Disco Inferno remix of The Advisor’s ‘70s hit, Yugyugan Na, complete with choreography by Joe of the G-Force Dancers.

Musical director of the concert was Beth Martin. The members of the session band were Jorge San Jose on drums, Joji Magadia on bass and Noel de Guzman on guitars.

Back To The Academy: A Dream Reunion was produced by George Roca, Annie Quintos and Moy Ortiz with the cooperation of ABS-CBN Star Magic and Precy Florentino’s The Music Museum.

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