‘As We Are’ deserves an encore

MANILA, Philippines — Bringing together Shiela Valderrama and Arman Ferrer to perform together onstage is not a tall order. Since they teamed up for the first time in 2017, they were often seen in concerts, musicals and even corporate events as a pair, like two peas in a pod.

While musicals are the most number of times Shiela and Arman share the stage together, they recently decided to perform in a full-length concert, “As We Are,” at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater (Globe Auditorium).

An apt title for an ideal concert, “As We Are” showed the real side of Shiela and Arman — no façade, no roles or characters being played, no acting or theatrics to follow — just the two of them onstage singing the songs they love to perform.

There was no band or singers to back them up, just their musical director Ejay Yatco to accompany them on the grand piano.

They were grateful to Ejay who found time to squeeze in their concert despite providing live, original music to “Pingkian: Isang Musikal,” a stirring tribute to revolutionary hero Emilio Aguinaldo.

Shiela and Arman opened “As We Are” with a Broadway medley of familiar tunes from popular musicals — Tonight from “West Side Story,” I Dreamed A Dream from “Les Miserables,” If I Loved You from “Carousel,” Corner of the Sky from “Pippin,” Take Me As I Am from “Jekyll and Hyde” and Last Night of the World from “Miss Saigon.”

That immediately got the concert on cue as everyone appreciated the beautiful songs they rendered. Their voices musically synched and their chemistry onstage was evident right away.

“I am Arman and I am Shiela,” started the two artists. “Tonight, we are performing ‘As We Are,’” they stressed.

They were apparently doing something new this time — something different, a little less glam or stripped down. In fact, after one outfit change, Arman bragged that he was wearing something similar to what One Direction singer Harry Styles would wear, partly revealing his toned body.

Arman recalled how he and Shiela met each other back in 2015, something that he always remembered how she was cold and distant the first time. She was introduced to him by her manager, David Cosico.

They started performing together nearly a decade ago. From their very first musical collaboration in a concert, they instantly clicked onstage.

Early on together onstage that night, they displayed their undeniable chemistry, musical or otherwise, after nearly a decade of sharing the spotlight. He was funny delivering his spiels and even his one-liners, while she took every joke with a grain of salt.

Yet, as the two recalled how they met, they realized, “The mark of a good friendship is helping each other improve,” shared Shiela. “It’s comforting to perform with someone you know for a long time.”

“I’m really fortunate to have a friend like Shiela,” maintained Arman.

“But how come we don’t have a (tandem) name?” Arman lamented. “We can be called She-Man or Sharman or Sha-Man.” That sent the audience into stiches.

The concert is a production of the artists’ respective talent managers — David for Shiela and Noel Ferrer for Arman — who pulled all strings and made everything happened despite being under-manned.

At the helm of “As We Are,” as defined by Shiela, is Nelsito Gomez, their “brilliant” stage director who also wrote the script.

“As We Are” was really Shiela and Arman’s way of showing who they are as performers.

“The audience always sees us as performers, but in this concert they will see who we are as individuals and how we are as best friends,” Arman said. “It’s an intimate and personal concert.”

The duo rendered heartrending tunes from the Pinoy musicals they performed in — Isang Tibok from “Rama Hari” (2024), Eternity from “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” (2018), Kumusta Ka from “Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag” (2017) and Paalam na Pag-ibig from “Noli Me Tangere.”

“Through the years, we’ve often been paired as guest or featured artists in different concerts and events, but this time, it’s finally our own show,” said Shiela. “It’s about sharing our music, our journey and the chemistry we’ve built over the years. It also feels like a celebration of our partnership as a performing duo.”

Today, the pair has proven their strong and constant partnership in theater musicals, live performances and special corporate events. They have become a “loveteam” onstage. They need not be a real-life couple. And when they sing together, they create musical magic with their voices.

Together, they carried out a medley of well-loved Disney tunes — Go the Distance from “Hercules,” Can You Feel the Love Tonight from “The Lion King,” Reflection from “Mulan,” I See the Light from “Tangled,” Love Is an Open Door from “Frozen” and A Whole New World from “Aladdin.”

Shiela was in tears after she carried out Sara Bareilles’ She Used To Be Mine, the hauntingly sentimental ballad from “Waitress The Musical.” After which Arman handed her a few tissue papers.

“Sideline ko lang ang singing, taga abot lang talaga ako ng tissue,” he teased.

Arman even aped Gary V when they started singing Pasko Na, Sinta Ko to usher in the Yuletide season.

Arman and Shiela returned for an encore and called onstage their “theater family” as they all started singing Seasons of Love from “Rent.” Names who went onstage included real-life pairs Franco and Ayen Laurel, newlyweds Gian Magdangal and Lara Quigaman, with Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Audie Gemora, JM Rodriguez, Shiela’s daughter Simone Martinez and director Robbie Guevarra, among others.

The beautiful and carefully-chosen set list of “As We Are” should not go to waste after only one night. The show calls for a repeat, perhaps before the holidays or even for Valentine’s season. With no guests or production numbers to worry about, the encore should easily happen.