Valentines month with David Pomeranz

CEBU, Philippines - You’ve surely seen him all over Philippine television the past few weeks --- from guesting stints in variety programs, talk shows and even a cameo appearance in a teen series’ Prom episode.

International singer-songwriter David Pomeranz has been making the rounds since his arrival in the country late last year to promote a new album especially made for his loyal Filipino fans. One of his nationwide stops happened to be an early Valentine treat for Cebuano mall-goers through a show held at the Ayala Activity Center last February 2.

Alternating between his piano and guitar, the multi-platinum recording artist serenaded the audience with a repertoire of his unforgettable love songs. Songs that, despite shifting trends in the music industry, have endured as classic favorites and wedding soundtracks throughout the years.

Pomeranz didn’t dally and right away opened his mall concert with the hit "Got To Believe in Magic," followed by “I Learned It All From You,” “Old Songs,” the prom staple “King and Queen of Hearts,” “Born For You” and “If You Walked Away” which he once recorded with Sharon Cuneta.

Before performing his other hit, “On This Day” which he called a wedding song, Pomeranz first shared on stage the story behind its composition. “Me and my co-composer were thinking of our wives and how we felt during our wedding day. From there, we wrote the words and we were just both crying,” he revealed.

Pomeranz also sang his version of well-loved hits sung and written by other artists, all found in his new CD “You’re the Inspiration,” a first all-revival album for the crooner.

Explaining the idea behind the album, Pomeranz said, “For many years, my friends here in the Philippines have asked me to sing songs that they love. So I asked my Filipino friends what else they would like to hear me singing, and from the long list they gave me, I picked the songs for the album.”

“You’re the Inspiration” includes these covers: Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration”(with a gospel choir background), Rod Stewart’s “Have I Told You Lately,” Survivor’s “The Search is Over,”  Toto’s “I’ll Be Over You,” Kenny Rankin’s “What Matters Most,” Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us,”  “To be With You,”  “Now and Forever,” Backstreet Boy’s “As Long as You Love Me” and “These Dreams.”

After an 11-song set, Pomeranz hung around for at least an hour to sign albums bought on the venue.

He returned to Cebu just this Saturday for a Feb. 23 post-Valentines concert dubbed “Never Too Late” at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino with featured performers Sitti, Gerald Santos and TV5’s “Kanta Pilipinas” contestant from Cebu, Chadleen Lacdo-o. Contributed photos by Rocky Rostra