Gerald Santos to celebrate OPM greats in next major show ‘Dreams’

Singer-actor Gerald Santos will leave for the US this August to visit his girlfriend, Grace, who is based in New York. They have maintained a long-distance relationship (LDR) for two years after they met each other in New York in 2023.

“If both of you are willing to work it out, LDR will work,” Gerald told The Philippine STAR. “I am no longer a teenager. I am in my (early) 30s. My outlook in love is if she is the one, then you can feel it. I believe we are really meant for each other.”

The last time Gerald and Grace saw each other was early this year, when Grace came to Manila to lend moral support to Gerald’s well-received “Courage” concert at the SM North EDSA Sky Dome.

Gerald admitted he and his girlfriend are now talking about having a family with their children. His parents have been nudging him to have kids.

“I love that thought of being a provider in the future,” said Gerald. “I’m looking forward to being a father one day.”

Gerald does not discount the possibility that he might settle in the US with Grace when he starts having a family.

“I know that possibility will also happen,” he quipped. “The good thing is everything inter-connected because we can do things online. I can still have my career here even if I’m there. When she’s here, I believe that will be okay, too. I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.

“There are now so many blessings coming in, especially this 2025. Maybe next year, if there are more opportunities, I want to make the most out of that. I will decide by that time.

“Next year is my 20th anniversary, as well. All my influences in music and everyone who became part of my career the past 20 years, we will call them to join me.”

He expresses his desire to perform with Maki, Cup of Joe, SB19, BINI and Ben&Ben.

Gerald is also keeping the faith that veteran entertainers Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano will be part of his 20th year concert next year.

“I haven’t worked with them onstage,” Gerald said of Martin and Gary. “They are part of my dreams.”

Gerald is convinced 2025 is a banner year for him. He completed two major concerts, with the third one coming up in December.

He did a musical, “Haphow,” that premiered last May and will be restaged this September at Solaire.

Gerald will also perform in a benefit concert at St. John’s Church in Notting Hill in London (England) on Oct. 19.

“There were many blessings and projects that came this year,” said Gerald. “I don’t want to reject the blessings. That’s why I’m really, really thankful.”

On Dec. 3, Gerald will end 2025 with a major concert, “Dreams,” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT). “I will sing all my dream songs in this concert,” informed Gerald. “This is the first time that I will hold a concert with this concept.”

If audiences will remember, Gerald’s concert always has a theme. Last year, he did “Grateful.” Last January, he staged “Courage.”

His second for this year, “Gerald Santos Gives Back,” happened last July at the Music Museum.

“The one in December, ‘Dreams,’ is all about my dream songs,” Gerald said. “The songs that I really want to sing way before, I will have the opportunity to line up the songs.

“I’ll be a little bit self-indulgent this time because I will really include the songs that I’ve been wanting to sing. Like songs from the musicals — ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ ‘Cats,’ ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ ‘Pippin.’”

For OPM (Original Pilipino Music), Gerald wants to sing Basil Valdez’s vocally challenging Sometime, Somewhere, which he never performed in public in the past.

“I will set aside some of the songs I used to sing,” insisted Gerald. “I will give way to the opportunity to sing new songs in my set list.”

“The challenge is learning the songs for the first time. Last week, I started learning the songs. You still feel nervous learning to sing those songs. As a singer, you don’t know it yet by heart.”

“That’s really a challenge for me. Even if I’m just singing the songs for the first time, I want it to be almost perfect when I render it.”

He will pay tribute to Pilita Corrales, Freddie Aguilar, Hajji Alejandro and Nora Aunor, the music icons who passed on this year.

Three artists — Pilita, Freddie and Hajji — will have a common tribute where Gerald will sing Kapantay ay Langit, Anak and Tag-araw, Tag-ulan, respectively.

There is a special section for Nora, where Gerald will sing Handog and People. He previously recorded the theme for Nora’s teleserye on TV5, “Sa Ngalan ng Ina” (2011).

He also recorded the theme for Nora’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Isa Pang Bahaghari” (2020).

Gerald is slated to include at least 20 songs in his “Dreams” set list. “I need the right amount of preparation, the right amount of rest,” said Gerald. “You should know how to pace yourself so you will not lose your voice.”

“I need adequate sleep, no vices. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink. I really avoid those things. I don’t get tempted to do those things. I live a clean lifestyle. It’s my choice.”

This is the first time that Gerald will stage three major concerts in a year. That is not totally hard for him considering he did seven performances of “Miss Saigon” in a week when he was in the UK from 2017 to 2019.