MANILA, Philippines – With the thunderous applause and cheers still ringing in her ears, Jessa Zaragoza remains on cloud nine as she reminisces all the wonderful memories from her recent I AM ME solo concert tour in Hawaii last May 27.
The timing was perfect. After taking a well-deserved rest from their family’s hectic election campaign sorties, Jessa, together with husband Dingdong Avanzado and daughter Jayda, looked forward to their Hawaii trip as an opportunity to visit the island’s scenic spots and reconnect with their loyal Filipino fans who have long been clamoring to see and hear their favorite OPM idols belt out their timeless hits onstage.
And what a nostalgic night it turned out to be. As early as mid-afternoon, the Filcom Center, situated in Waipahu, was already jam-packed with fans armed with their prized CD collections and posters — well-preserved chronicles and mementos of the soundtracks of their growing-up years — all raring to be signed and immortalized for posterity.
Apart from the thousand-strong crowd of Pinoy professionals and immigrants, it was also interesting to see a younger crowd of millennials who obviously have been weaned on a steady dose of good ole OPM, thanks to their parents, of course.
With daughter Jayda during the I AM ME concert
For most of them, the event was closely akin to a high school reunion, with Jessa and family reprising their favorite songs, tugging at their hearts with her hugot-inducing sentimental hits, while Dingdong got the crowd up on its feet with his signature staples, as well as his rendition of other upbeat pop, rock and even disco-flavored OPM hits. Not to be outdone, 13-year-old Jayda stole the show in her own unique way as she dazzled her newfound fans with renditions of Olivia Newton John’s Hopelessly Devoted to You, One Direction’s Drag Me Down as well as her Britney Spears/Ariana Grande mash-up duet with her mom.
Under the baton of musical director Elmer Blancaflor, the back-up band for the night was comprised of seasoned session artists from the US.
More than the actual show itself, it was also the couple’s intimate huddle with their fans that made them appreciate their unwavering support and loyalty through the past years.
Now, more than ever, especially with the advent of social media, Jessa realizes how much her songs continue to echo in the hearts and minds of her followers, and how much her musical style has become a benchmark for a new breed of talented upstarts aspiring to replicate her legacy.
With their successful Hawaii sortie, it’s only natural to see their other OFW fans mounting their own crusades to get their idols to come to their countries. The good news is, Jessa and Dingdong have already been mapping out an itinerary for a world tour, which should hit the road hopefully within the last quarter of the year.