2 decades of breathing music

Just how do you celebrate two decades of living, breathing, and loving music?

This could very well be the dilemma of the country’s leading vocal group, The CompanY, as it mounts its 20th anniversary concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Oct. 1. For starters, The CompanY will chronicle the most memorable chapters of its collective history. And that’s quite a lot!

As a matter of fact, if you ask The CompanY members Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista, Andre Castillo, Reuben Laurente, and Sweet Plantado, their stints with the group are simply overflowing with unforgettable moments. Moy singles out sharing the stage with their musical idols, the Manhattan Transfer, in two Manila concerts in 1992 and 1996 at the Araneta Coliseum. Most of his groupmates agree with him on that (high) note.

"Even when he was back in grade school, Moy would skip school to watch the Manhattan Transfer’s guesting on Eat Bulaga," Cecile chortles. "We are fans of their music," Moy owns up. "Coincidentally, when we traveled to Tokyo for a music festival in 1994, the Manhattan Transfer was also in the same city for a big show." Since their respective engagements were held on the same night, Moy had to content himself with a phone call. "Their producer was also our producer then!"

Speaking of Tokyo, that 1994 assignment in Japan was another momentous occasion.

"We were asked by another musical mentor and idol Ryan Cayabyab to do a series of shows staged in four cities in Japan," Reuben recalls. "It was an Oriental musical/revue type of show. It was memorable because we got to do arrangements by Mr. C for the show! And we sang Tagalog songs. They just provided the audience with a Japanese translation of the lyrics on a big screen."

"It was great having the chance to perform and interact with artists from other Asean countries," Andre affirms. "It was a great honor for us to represent the Philippines."

Another personal favorite of Reuben’s was his first recording day with the group 14 years ago. "After their first album ’Yon Na became a huge hit, their old recording company, Ivory, decided to come out with a bonus track for the album’s second printing," Reuben recounts. "After I passed the auditions, they asked me to sing the bonus cut, a Tagalog song by Babsie Molina and Edith Gallardo, Sana Nga Ikaw Na."

Sweet’s first day as a CompanY member was just as unforgettable, as far as she was concerned. "The very first time I joined them onstage was their recital show at the Music Museum in 1998," Sweet recounts. "That was the night I was introduced as The CompanY’s newest member. I did four numbers with them."

Funny thing was, Sweet could have joined the group six years earlier.

"When Maus Bartolome left the group in 1992 after getting married and moving to Singapore, Mr. C asked me to audition for the group," Sweet looks back. "I remember telling Mr. C that I was a big fan of The CompanY."

Alas, Sweet’s first audition didn’t push through because she was simply too young then.

"I was still in school then and Mr. C, who was one of my teachers at the UP Conservatory of Music, advised me to wait," Sweet says. Patience paid off for Sweet. It seemed destined and written in the stars because Sweet eventually joined the gang in 1998.

If you ask Annie, another high point was when The CompanY brought home a double whammy at the 1992 Awit Awards for the hit Everlasting Love. "We won Best New Group and, at the same time, Best Group, meaning we bested other groups that year," Annie beams.

As early as then, they already showed people they have what it takes to last in the biz. "That’s why this show is really a thanksgiving, a celebration, more than anything else," Moy says.

And The CompanY members are having a ball – a big she-bang with all their fans and friends on Oct. 1. "We’ve invited some of our closest friends from the industry to guest in our show," Moy shares.

The guest list includes such luminaries as Regine Velasquez, Aiza Seguerra, Nanette Inventor, and Ai Ai de las Alas. Also flying in and strolling down memory lane are past CompanY members. "Tetet Tolentino from Davao, Maus Bartolome from Singapore, Tom Calisterio from New Jersey, and Carol Menguito from San Francisco are also participating in the CCP show," Moy volunteers.

While The CompanY is welcoming back past members, they are also bidding adieu to two present members: Andre and Reuben. "Andre is migrating to the US while Reuben is going solo," says Cecile.

Nevertheless, the music continues for The CompanY.