You reap what you sow, this singer ought to know

I don’t do blind items, but I have to do one in this column now – no, not because I’m protecting the identity of the person involved here (a female singer who is now very popular), but because I am so disappointed with her, I can’t bring myself to mention or even type her name.

Now, just for a backgrounder: During a pre-production meeting for the 2000 Gawad Urian with our then producer Tessie Celestino of Airtime Marketing, Inc. and our director, Al Quinn, somebody suggested the name of an emerging singer to do a duet with Pops Fernandez. We were quite apprehensive about how she would be accepted by the audience because she was still unknown in the music profession and we weren’t sure how the Urian audience would take to her. To begin with, she really isn’t a great beauty. But that’s not a problem by Urian production standards. For as long as you can sing and sing well, then you have a place in the Urian production numbers.

But what about Pops Fernandez? Wouldn’t the Concert Queen mind singing with an upstart? To our relief, she didn’t and readily agreed to do the duet with a virtual unknown. Pops, of course, was a hit with the audience. And the new singer? In fairness to her, she did a marvelous job and impressed everyone with her vocal prowess. But most people in the audience still wondered who she was.

They didn’t wonder long. In a year’s time, the new female singer became very popular and in demand for concerts. In fact, her schedule became so full that when the Gawad Urian invited her again in 2001 to do a production number, she flatly said no. Too busy" was her reply.

In 2002, we took our chance again with her and asked her another time. The answer was still no. She was even busier than the year before.

But for this year’s Gawad Urian, she miraculously said yes and we were overjoyed. Our happiness was short-lived, however. She backed out of the production number early this week. Her reason: She didn’t want to do the number with a bunch of newcomers.

This nearly floored me. If Pops Fernandez was generous enough to have shared the spotlight with her when she was still a nobody, why couldn’t she do the same thing now for today’s batch of neophytes, who – though very young – are all extremely talented?

Sure, she has the talent and was really bound to reach the apex of popularity. But then, had other people not gambled on her and given her the chance to climb the totem pole of success, where would she be now?

If she continues with that kind of attitude, I’m sure the law of karma would find a way to even things out with her. When she’s old, withered and gray, she shouldn’t be surprised anymore if even those street minstrels who sing for their meals wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her. After all, in this life, you reap what you sow.

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The 26th Gawad Urian, however, will still go on even without the participation of this female singer whose head is now as big as her – ooops, I can’t tell you which part of her anatomy that is because that’s going to be a giveaway.

For one thing, the Urian Awards will have no less than Regine Velasquez to do the opening number. Actually, it’s really quite a complicated number, but with Regine doing it, I’m sure it will come out well.

Even more complicated is this musical cum spoof to be participated in by Ogie Alcasid, Rufa Mae Quinto, Michael V., Marissa Sanchez and the Sex Bomb Dancers.

For the Manunuri tribute to this year’s recipient of the Natatanging Gawad Urian, screenwriter Ricardo Lee, Janno Gibbs, Michael Santana and Anna Fegi will render songs from Ricky Lee movies’ In between, Dina Bonnevie and Gina Alajar will read excerpts from Ricky Lee scripts. Vilma Santos will then be on hand to read the citation to Lee.

Another segment will feature the theme songs of the nominated films and these numbers will be performed by Jose Llana (Lea Salonga‘s co-star in Flower Drum Song); SOP talent and Los Angeles conservatory of music student Jay-Ar; Tex Ordoñez who originally sang with Gary Valenciano the theme song of Mano Po; and Arnee Hidalgo, Jeffrey Hidalgo’s sister who was the grand prize winner in the Voice of Asia 2002 competition.

For the finale, there will be a parade of winners (winners – even in the technical category – are therefore requested to stay until the end of the program) and the songs here will be performed by Piolo Pascual, Aiza Seguerra and Ciara Sotto. The other artists who will perform in the various numbers are the Tiples de Sto. Domingo, 1728,604 and percussionist Michael Alfonso.

Hosting the event is Edu Manzano.

The television coverage of the Gawad Urian will be aired on Channel 9 starting at 9 p.m., but the proceedings at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo will begin much earlier. Nominees, guests and other participants are therefore requested to come no later than 7 p.m.

This year’s Gawad Urian is produced by Antonio Tuviera’s APT Enterprises, Inc. This year’s sponsors are Anchor Full Cream, Chowking, Lucky Me Pancit Canton, PLDT, Samsung, Happee Toothpaste, Jollibee, Unilab, Regent Cake, Lactum, KFC, AMA Computer University, Mighty Bond, Leonardo Bags, Pepsi, Nivea Lotion, Fissan, Condura, Head & Shoulders, Dommex and Surf.