Lani vs Society of Seven

Las Vegas’ Siren of the Strip Lani Misalucha and the legendary group Society of Seven (SOS) teamed up and headlined highly-acclaimed shows in the Sin City for over four years until they parted ways in 2009.

Their paths have just crossed again in Honolulu, this time as rivals, said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre in a “flash” report.

“It’s a friendly competition,” Edmund hastened to add. “No negative feelings involved.”

Yes, the two Filipino singing greats are currently competing for the affection of audiences from Waikiki’s huge tourism industry, 90 percent of which comes from around the globe. Located in the south shore of Honolulu, Waikiki (which means “spouting waters”) is home to luxurious hotels and resorts with a vibrant nightlife and live music frequented by millions of visitors each year. It’s the same place where Regal Films shot a movie titled, you guessed it, Waikiki, directed by Elwood Perez and starring Alma Moreno, Rio Locsin, Lorna Tolentino, Victor Laurel, Ricky Belmonte and Alfie Anido.

Lani opened her new show last Dec. 20 at the Magic of Polynesia showroom of Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, while SOS has been playing at the main showroom of the nearby Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach Hotel in a performance repeatedly voted the Best Show in Waikiki by Honolulu magazine readers.

Society of Seven’s (top row, from left) Freddy Von Paraz, Jonathan Kaina, Glen Miyashiro, Mike DeGuzman, Jan Luna and John Salvatera with first female SOS member Jeannette Casuga Trevias (far left) and guest vocalist Melinda Fausto

Not only the two venues are located on Kalakaua Avenue, they also are situated almost across from each other.

“It’s really funny magkatapat lang ang hotels where they perform,” Edmund quoted Dina Maningas, a former New York concert producer and promoter who moved to Honolulu to manage the Outrigger Hotel showroom with her husband Odie Maningas.

Dina said that Filipinos who get to visit Waikiki are often amazed to discover that Filipino artists topbill two giant shows in the busy district night after night.

“And it gives them a sense of pride,” she added.

Edmund said that Dina, however, pointed out that Hawaii’s SOS is a different version from the Las Vegas group known as SOS LV (Latest Version). According to SOS history, the original SOS opened at the Outrigger Waikiki in 1969, while the younger version was formed in Las Vegas in 2001. However, the original SOS eventually moved to Las Vegas and the SOS LV became the resident version of the group at the Outrigger, its history on Wikipedia says.

SOS LV is composed of Freddy Von Paraz, Jonathan Kaina, Glen Miyashiro, Mike DeGuzman, Jan Luna, John Salvaterra, with its seventh honorary member and the first female member of SOS, Jeannette Casuga Trevias, a former Music & Magic band member and a most sought-after keyboardist in the Aloha State. The show also features singer Melinda Fausto as special guest.

Although SOS has been a regular crowd magnet at Outrigger Hotel for over four decades now — 42 years to be exact! — Dina told Edmund that the group is not complacent with its time-tested success especially now that Lani, who has always been a reliable box-office draw wherever she performs, is already a big hit in Waikiki.

Lani, also known as Asia’s Nightingale, was voted Best Singer in the 27th annual Best of Las Vegas by the reputable Las Vegas Review Journal, with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman declaring Dec. 4 “Lani Misalucha Day.”

“We all know that Lani is among the world’s best and she was signed up by the biggest tourist company here (Roberts Hawaii)...at big production talaga ang diva,” said Dina. “Kaya lang kasabay ng SOS show. Hahahahaha! But it’s a friendly competition naman. Sabi nga, di ba ‘the more, the merrier.’ Sa dami ba naman ng tourists sa Hawaii hindi naman mauubusan ng audience. And we know Lani, she’s a beautiful person, inside and out, at wala sa kanya ‘yung mga rivalry. She’s here to work and entertain people who come to experience Hawaii’s high-energy nightlife.”

Meanwhile, Dina said that she and husband Odie are planning to spotlight Philippine-based artists for limited engagements at Outrigger Hotel to attract the local Filipino residents of Hawaii.

She confided to Edmund that she’s presently in touch with Gina Valenciano, hoping to get Jericho Rosales. “We can probably invite more artists in the future but we want to try it first with Echo who is very popular among the locals here,” she said. “Alam naming mahilig din si Echo mag-surfing and he will enjoy Waikiki Beach.”

Dina also mentioned Gary Valenciano and Piolo Pascual and even Canada-based Joey Albert for future stints with SOS at Outrigger.

“There are so many Filipinos who come here, many of them from Manila’s high society, as well as mainland USA and Canada,” noted Dina. “We usually give discounts sa mga turistang kababayan and they really enjoy the SOS show. They find the show sulit na sulit because of dazzling song and dance numbers, big production numbers, and comedy acts and impersonations, kaya madalas umuulit pa silang manood and they bring along more friends.”

(Note: For inquiries about the SOS performances at Outrigger Hotel, email [email protected] or [email protected])

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on http://www.twitter/therealrickylo.)