Music Museum turns 25

MANILA, Philippines - Ain’t no place in the Philippines quite like the Music Museum.

That’s what friends, celebrities and trusted partners said in video greetings, songs, short speeches and performances when the Music Museum celebrated its 25th anniversary at Teatrino at Greenhills Shopping Center last Aug. 8.

Just a quiet, private affair but the evening glittered just the same as guests sat down to a celebratory dinner and were treated to a jaw-dropping show called A Musical Journey. Performers from different musical genres poured out their talents and left it all on stage.

Bituin Escalante (R&B), Bo Cerrudo (Broadway), Isabella (pop), Jett Pangan (rock), Joey Ayala and Jay Cayuca (world music), Rachelle Gerodias and Jonathan Badon (classical/opera), Abra (rap), Jacqui Magno (jazz), Mitch Valdes (comedy), Noel Cabangon and Aiza Seguerra (acoustic) and The CompanY (OPM) left the audience enthralled with a music and nostalgia trip that will be remembered for anniversaries to come.

Hosts Jojo Alejar and Angel Jacob paid tribute to the friendly, cozy and unique theater where performances were at once personal but grand, where one can watch concerts, plays, comedy acts, dance performances, musical theater and more, plus enjoy food and drinks while watching the show.

A highlight of the evening was a portion called Silver Presents where Music Museum’s Precy Florentino gifted organizations in the art and music field with financial support. Recipients were Mayor Guia Gomez’s Pink Ladies National Foundation of the City of San Juan, designer Inno Sotto for the development and training of young fashion designers, Mowelfund represented by Boots Anson-Roa, the Bencab Art Foundation, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno’s artistic projects, The Youth Philharmonic Orchestra represented by Irene Marcos-Araneta, the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit represented by its president Ogie Alcasid and the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab.

The high point of the night, however, was the launch of a commemorative coffee table book titled Music Museum: The Music Lives, And The Show Goes On, dedicated to three people who inspired and enabled the Music Museum to live and thrive: Its founder Kuh Ledesma, friend and supporter Edith Alcantara and the late lawyer Rafa Ortigas who believed in the concept of the Music Museum and provided space for it in its location.

“The book is a living testimony to the colorful and charmed life of the Music Museum, which all of you are a part of,” Florentino told her guests. The evening was capped by a silvery fireworks display.