By: Anne Pabion
It was indeed a night of reminiscing… a travel back in time as I remember my high school days by listening to Pinoy hit songs of the ‘80s brought alive by the dancing Diva Florence A. Fadel, Master Balladeer Alain (Ivan Allen David ) and the Music Rhymes Band composed of Cheng Montemayor, Kath Macalanda, Ogie Quiambao, Jay Fernandez and Kerby Soriano.
The graceful V-Tallic Dancers (Florence, Mabel Saldevar & Vanessa Laplana) showed their great moves as well as the TLVIP Kids Crew under the choreography of Kate Tambuyat. Rani Montemayor opened the show with the Philippine National Anthem followed by Jasmine Sukjai who sang Hatikva, Israel’s National Anthem. Lhen Guillergan and Mary Ann Buniag also rocked the stage as the Dancing Diva’s back-up dancers.
The concert was entitled “Way back into Pinoy Rock”, a project of Pinay Namaste. The highlight of the show was the legendary ‘Jeproks’ of Pinoy rock music, none other than Mike Hanopol. The Pinoy Rock icon rendered most of his hit songs and saved the famous signature song, “Laki sa Layaw Jeproks” for his finale which caused the audience to get on their feet dancing to the beat. His golden voice never changed a bit even after a long time of absence from the music world.
Mike Hanopol, who is now a Jewish Rabbi named Rav Micha, shared to his audience a little about his new-found faith and said, “I did not come here to sing for you … I came here to convert you.” Those words put a smile on the people’s faces. He also left us some words to think about that goes, “Okay lang na tulog ka as long as alam mong tulog ka.” (It is okay to be asleep as long as you know you really are sleeping), well, it sounds like some kind of mind-boggling parable eh?
Congratulations to all the people behind this successful concert especially the over-all Coordinator & Production Manager, Ms. Ara Flores, and major sponsor Pinay Namaste of Ms. Ruby Sukjai. Special thanks to Megaworld, Adam & Rose of D’Underground Manila Tambayan DiscoBar, Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Incorporated Freedom Fighters Eagle Chapter Holy Land, Master Kate, TLVIP Parents, DJ Andrian, DJ DZ of RJC Lights & Sounds, Ms. Hermie Ocampo and Mr. Joey Solis.