Power pairs in V-Day shows

MANILA, Philippines - Two specially-crafted shows featuring interesting pairs are set this Valentine’s Day. One is a husband-and-wife pair that makes cooking tastes like good, unpretentious music. The other, a pair of Kilabot Ng Kolehiyalas fronting a strong pool of balladeers with certified hit songs in their catalogues.

Celebrity chefs Lau and Jackie Laudico will treat guests to a five-course set menu in Palazzo Verde’s Valentine’s dinner show dubbed Perfect Pair, with crooner Markki Stroem serenading them. The dinner, beginning 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, fits well to the place’s established reputation as a venue for romantic gatherings like weddings, anniversaries and engagements.

Palazzo Verde, located along Daang Reyna in Vista Alabang, Las Piñas City, attracts the rich and the famous for its intimate, naturally vibrant atmosphere and amenities like gondola and horse-drawn carriages. Celebrities Carmina Villarroel and Joross Gamboa had their separate weddings here, so do the debut parties of Janella Salvador and Julia Barretto.

“The place is amazing like you come in and feel like you are in another country,” said Chef Lau, adding something to sure make Markki smile. “As for Perfect Pair, we will be serenaded by a fantastic singer and very good crooner whom I consider as the Michael Bublé of The Philippines. It is going to be a super romantic night.”

The Laudico couple, who started as cooking friends before tying the knot, will serve a “fusion of distinct Filipino cuisine and a touch of European flavors.” For every course, there will be two dishes that are otherwise considered perfect pair. (Contact 0917-8703838 or e-mail [email protected] for table reservations.)

Measuring 2.3 hectares, Palazzo Verde has the Notre Dame de Vie chapel and Gazebo Garden that’s said to be “perfect for couples who want a lovely outdoor event.” The Colonial Ballroom boasts of Renaissance paintings and chandelier designs inspired by Buckingham Palace.

The other V-Day concert is set 8 p.m. at the PICC Plenary Hall in Pasay City, with Hajji Alejandro and Ariel Rivera, both labeled Kilabot Ng Kolehiyala during their heydays, leading a pack of hitmakers for #Love Throwback2.

In the poster for the show produced by Royale Chimes Concerts & Events, Inc., Ariel and Hajji are placed side by side and ahead of everyone, somewhat emphasizing the supposed rivalry between the two. There are actually six of them to serenade audiences, the other four being former Side A frontman Joey Generoso, Soul Siren Nina, international sensation Christian Bautista and ex-Freestyle frontwoman Jinky Vidal.

But wait. Fans won’t expect a true clash between the two. Hajji and Ariel are not the type to upstage each other. Hajji was the Kilabot of the Manila Sound era, with Ariel being handed the tag during the ‘90s.

Ariel quickly stated his take on this knowing that he is not the original kilabot. “Although I appreciate being called as one, for me, there is no such thing as second Kilabot ng Kolehiyala in the same way that there is no other Megastar,” he noted. “A title is given to one person and it stays with that person for the remainder of his or her life.”

The voice behind now-classic songs Sana Kahit Minsan, Sa Aking Puso and Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin emphasized Hajji was “very influential” to him as a singer, considering that he grew up in Canada and didn’t know much about OPM until he got access to the music of Hajji and his contemporaries like Rey Valera and Rico J. Puno.

Hajji, whose catalogue includes his voice giving life to numbers like Nakapagtataka, Tag-Araw Sa Tag-Ulan, May Minamahal and Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika, smiled after hearing what Ariel pointed out during the press conference at Salu restaurant in Quezon City. He responded, in jocular tone, “May matutuwa sa sinabi ni Ariel. Pero ang sabi nga ng iba, mas bagay na sa akin ngayon ang title na Kilabot ng mga Ina ng Kolehiyala.”

Yuri Mercado of Royale Chimes told The STAR that #Love Throwback is decidedly a yearly thing now considering the public’s passion for great love songs and tendency to feel positive about reminiscing the past through music associated to that era. “Aabot tayo hanggang Love Throwaback 10!” he noted.

(For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999, TicketNet at 911-5555 or SM Tickets at 470-2222. Check the Facebook, Instagram @RoyaleChimesConcerts and Twitter @RoyaleChimes.)