Jammin’ for the ‘Brave 44’

Martin Nievera and Lea Salonga recently led the biggest jammin’ session of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists. There were no costume changes and elaborate set design. Only sporting T-shirt and jeans, the singers were in their “bare essential” — with their voice that never shortchanged the expectations of those who watched the show for a cause, titled Jammin’ for Help: Brave. This was an ultimate fusion of talents raising funds for the families of the Fallen 44, who according to Martin, should now be called the “Brave 44.”

The show began with all participating artists each reading the names of the brave PNP SAF soldiers. It swiftly shifted to the singing of the song One Voice performed by Fitri Cerado with the message of unity, “If we only have one voice. It just needs one voice.” Then after, the artists settled in their seats on stage with Ryan Cayabyab and Gerald Salonga and other musicians like Marvin Querido and Jimmy Antiporda. It deviated from the usual enter-perform-exit format. The artists were comfortably singing and talking and enjoying each other’s company.

The Best of Times and Rockin’ in Paradise set the upbeat mood of the night with Martin and Lea, Basti Atardi and Jett Pangan. After Martin reminded everyone about the thrust of the show, which was making a difference in someone else’s life, and spoke that Jammin’ for Help has been done several times before for different calamities, he proceeded to the Corner of the Sky segment and introduced the Big, Beautiful Country portion with The CompanY, Bimbo Cerrudo, Jon Santos, OJ Mariano and Carla Manglapus. The vocal group with Carla performed Limang Dipang Tao. Jon was in-charge of Swerte, Swerte Lang. OJ did Manila. Bimbo sang the Anthony Castelo hit Hahanapin ko. The audience applauded the medley-of-OPM-songs portion and agreed that there’s no place like home — the Philippines. 

From the Philippines, Angeline Quinto, Carla Guevara and Frenchie Dy brought the audience to some place by singing Somewhere Down The Road and Somewhere. It gave everyone that hope of meeting again those loved ones they had in their lives. It was a divanesque showdown between a theater veteran (Carla) and talent reality TV show winners (Angeline and Frenchie). Arnee Hidalgo and Christian Bautista showed sympathy with the families of the Brave 44 in the Stand by Me and Lean On Me segment.

The sacrifices the Brave 44 made in the name of peace were recognized in the Martin and Erik Santos portion — a duet of the Broadway song This is The Moment. As Martin put it, “We try very hard not to remember how they died but celebrate how they lived.”

The fund-raising event also touched on the values of kindness and goodness through the Where is the Love? (featuring apl.de.ap, Janice Young and Brad Holmes) and One (Basti and Jett) segments. The rock claimed again its spot via Jett’s Salamat and Nino and Rachel Alejandro’s Don’t Stop Believin performances. Ebe Dancel and Gloc-9 sang Sirena, proving that singing and rapping can make a good pairing. Bayang Barrios also joined in the jammin’ session with her chant vocal styling. Almost all segments were showstoppers. But the most heartfelt performances were Noel Cabangon, Aiza Seguerra and Bayang’s rendition of Walang Hanggang Paalam, which could be interpreted from a political or romantic standpoint and left many in tears; Lea’s Back to Before; Martin and Lea’s duet of Used To Be; Aiza’s Imagine, Respect and Come Together with Sessionistas (Nyoy Volante, Richard Poon, Princess and Sitti); Aiza’s interpretation of Makita Kang Muli with Liza Diño dancing flamenco; and Dulce’s The Prayer with The FORTEnors and Ryan Gallagher. 

Looking back, Jammin’ for Help: Brave was a selfless act and worthy of emulation as stars performed for free and Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. gathered all these talents in one place, The Theatre, which was granted for free by Solaire. Again, it was the ultimate fusion of vocal talents.