The oldies but goodies still sell

MANILA, Philippines - Every year, crisis or no crisis, Filipinos celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way. It is the second most popular season of the year next to Christmas. It is when lovers, newly-weds, families, or just plain friends dress up and watch a Valentine’s show. It has grown so big that the days before and after Valentine’s Day have gotten equally popular, mostly because of the humongous traffic jams that clog the streets on the 14th itself.

Yearly as well, new pairings, new stars are introduced, but somehow it is the oldies that remain true to their calling. Most visible this Valentine season are the youngest of the oldies, Concert King and Queen Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez who have survived a failed marriage yet remain as big a draw as when they started at the Manila Hotel in 1984. The iconic trio APO formed in 1969 have announced their final shows this year. Viva’s Legends with an interesting trio in Rico J. Puno, Rey Valera, and Eva Eugenio is neither new nor old depending on how one looks at it. Ai-Ai de las Alas and Ogie Diaz have a two-day show, and so on and so forth.

As a group Viva’s Legends of OPM was only launched December, 2008, but as individual performers composed of Rico J., Rey, Nonoy Zuñiga, Claire de la Fuente, Joey Albert, and Eva have been around since the ’70s. And in the tradition of Viva’s head honcho Boss Vic del Rosario who is ever experimenting, Legends in Love will feature half of the sextet namely Rico J., Rey, and Eva, Feb. 13 at the SM Sky Dome.

Rico J and Rey are what are known as poste, pillars in the music industry who will continue performing for their loyal fans and newer generations until, like the Apo, they decide to retire. They started in the industry more or less at the same time in 1975, Rico J. in small bars and folkhouses notably the Spindle along the Morato-Mother Ignacia area, and Rey who shot up to fame after his Mr. DJ composition for a young Sharon Cuneta became the anthem of her fans. As related to us by Rico’s manager Norma Japitana, the shy retiring Rey better known as a composer than a singer had written a song Ako si Superman for Rico J. but ended up singing it himself. Norma explains that the Vicor bosses thought that having someone shy sing it as his own private dream would give the song the ironic twist that could make a hit. And they were right. Rico J. lost a song, and Rey found himself with a singing career.

Both would continue with their individually rising careers until 2001 when the unstoppable Boss Vic thought of bringing together the ‘70s hitmakers Rico, Rey, Nonoy, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison in what has become the Greatest Hits franchise that has toured the Philippines and the world to unequalled success. Then, Greatest Hits became Legends of OPM a half of which is now Legends in Love good for any season, at any venue, here and abroad.

We can see this concept prosper, with alternating two males and one female, more portable, more affordable in pricing, more adaptable to changes in concept. The best thing about it, of course, is the unparalleled comfort they share with one another having known each other from way back. As we listen to Rico J., Rey and Eva talk to the press over lunch at Steak House they hardly spoke of the Valentine show they were promoting. Rico J. excitedly reveled in experiences of strategizing his vice-mayoralty campaign with Jojo Binay’s son JunJun who is running as mayor. Rey appeared serious in his threat to upload all his songs on the Internet since it would be useless battling the pirates. It seemed a sound solution, like beating one’s opponents at his own game. And Eva shares her surprise at being summoned after 15 years of absence from the scene to join the Legends, and having been given a CD project immediately after. She also proudly declares that her only daughter Evangeline Nora Mae is starting at the bottom in production at ABS-CBN as she feels everyone who hopes to succeed should start.

In between these serious chatter would be the expected raucous off-colored sex-filled jokes from Rico J. who has woven an entire career around it that even the sexy Giselle Sanchez cannot match; from Rey, no longer shy, who admits to having become a willing student to the highest degree of bad influence from Rico J.; and from Eva who retorts that she was born bakla, actually meaning fag hag in terms of the most outrageous in fag lingo and behavior.

Not only will the three legends unleash unbridled fun but also their biggest hits from the ‘70s like Rico J.’s Kapalaran, May Bukas Pa, and Macho Guwapito; Rey’s Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko, Walang Kapalit; and Eva’s ever favorite jukebox hit Tukso and Pagibig na Walang Dangal. Naturally, there will be other songs popularized by other singers, grand production numbers and medleys. Director is Roxanne Lapuz with Gerry Mathias as musical director. It is produced by Viva Concerts and Events.

For details, call 687-7236 and 633-3808.