Manila Sound Project rocks Misibis Bay

MANILA, Philippines - The hot and sweaty crowd gyrated and danced with gusto to the medley of hits that included Rock Baby Rock, Sumayaw Sumunod, Katawan and Awitin Mo Isasayaw Ko even if there was no assigned dance floor at the Misibis Bay Convention Center. The music of the Manila Sound Project was so infectious that even the waiters and employees were all dancing at their posts.

The wait at the tarmac to take off for Legazpi City was longer than the 40-minute flight itself. The sun was up when we landed and the view from the airport was bigger than life as the magnificent Mayon Volcano loomed on the background. This was Manila Sound Project’s second performance in the Albay region but it seems like the first because the venue was at the world-class Misibis Bay resort at Cagraray Island. The land trip to the resort took us through almost virgin forests embracing the mountainous terrain zigzagging through narrow winding roads. The rollercoaster-like, up-and-down drive made most of us dizzy short of losing the heavy breakfast we took prior to the flight.

After over an hour of the hairy ride, we hit a clearing on top of the road and the fabulous view of the resort revealed like a movie panorama. Just the fabulous view changed the queasy feeling to euphoria. I excitedly shouted, “Welcome to paradise.”

Paradise it was indeed. This was the playground and retreat of celebrities, the rich and the famous. Amid the lush and verdant forest were villas, halls and suites that stretched all the way to the ocean. There was no shortage of infinity pools either. It seems they built one at every nook and cranny. As we alighted our ride, dancers donned in native costumes welcomed us with palm necklaces and fruit spiked refreshments. We were briefed by the friendly check-in staff on services, water sports, meals and amenities before we were handed our room keys. Despite the resort that occupies acres and acres, there are only three dozen villas, suites and apartments which guarantee privacy and absence of congestion at the pools, beach and water activities. For the mega rich, there are even chopper tours and breakfast with Mayon Volcano on the background. For mere mortals like me, we opted to have a spa treatment but alas, Essenses Spa could not accommodate us because it was fully-booked until closing time.

The suites and villas had amenities of a five-star resort similar to the world-class Banyan Tree resort chain. Our suite though was not as well-furnished as the luxury villa that was afforded to the MSP stars like Sonny Parsons, but who’s complaining? My bed was comfy with plush pillows, there were lots of cable channels like History and National Geographic and WiFi was resort-wide. Sonny wished he was with someone he loved because the place was also romantic. All meals were buffet and served at one dining hall called Spice Market in the middle of the resort. The wide variety of food featured spicy Bicol specialties like Bicol Express.

The Manila Sound Project dinner show was at the centrally-located, three-tiered convention center. Also housed at the convention center was Bicol’s one and only casino and slot parlor. I was informed by the manager that it is frequented not only by resort guests but locals as well who travel from Legazpi and neighboring towns. I heard that when Manny Pacquiao visited the resort, he took a chopper.

Buffet dinner was ready at 7 p.m. as the guests started pouring in. At 8:30 p.m., the Manila Sound Project appeared center stage and began an over two-hour set of OPM songs. Lara Cuevas opened the set with a rocking version of Bonggahan followed by the entry of the three Manila Sound legends — Sonny (Hagibis), Joey Abando (Boyfriends) and Male Rigor (VST & Co.). From that point on, it was hit after hit after hit. The crowd sang along and participated with fervor. Joey charmed the crowd with his romantic Beegees-like performance of the Boyfriends hits Nais Kong Malaman Mo, Dahil Mahal Kita, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal and Salawahan. Sonny was at his peak performing Hagibis macho hits like Legs, Nanggigigil Kami, Ilagay Mo Kid and Katawan. He also provided the comedy while Male dazzled the audience with Ipagpatawad Mo, Rock Baby Rock and Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko. I heard from a waiter that the local crowd never stays beyond 10 p.m. and we broke the record by making them stay past 11 p.m. Even when the concert was over, the sweat-drenched crowd didn’t leave and requested instead for photo-ops with the artists.