Erap, Laarni nagsilbing guardian angel sa 21st birthday ni Michael

MAY kuwento pala sa likod ng katatapos lang na free birthday concert ni Michael Pangilinan sa Rajah Sulayman Park sa Malate, Manila.

Behind its resounding success despite the intermittent rains ng Sabado ng hapong ‘yon, matagal na palang nasa drawing table ang plano ng manager ni Michael, si Jobert Sucaldito, na magtanghal sa isang malaking venue.

It was concert producer Joed Serrano (dating miyembro ng That’s Entertainment) who broached the idea several months ago that Michael perform at the Big Dome. For his part, Jobert was racing against time na gawing isang malaking pangalan in the music scene si Michael in time para by then ay hinog na nga naman ito for his biggest break ever.

But Jobert—despite being a visionary—needed more time to achieve his goal. Aniya, Araneta was too big. Option B: Kia Theatre—still on the Araneta grounds—would be easier to ensure a jampacked audience. Advanced booking had been made.

Eto na, malaman-laman na lang daw ni Jobert na sa iba palang artist nakalaan ang petsang ‘yon, hindi para sa pagtatanghal ni Michael.

Panicky and on the brink of near-hopelessness, Jobert’s immediate move was to stick to the original plan whatever it took, by hook or by crook. Du’n niya naisip na magpa-free concert ang kanyang alaga, but looking for the proper show venue was half the problem.

Like an angel who descended from heaven ang papel na ginampanan ni Tates Gana who hatched the brilliant idea na idaos ang free birthday concert ni Michael sa Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Sey nito kay Jobert, basta gumawa lang daw siya ng sulat addressed to Mayor Herbert Bautista ay good as approved na ‘yon.

Still, the plan fizzled out. And it was all because may isa pa palang option worth-considering by Jobert who, by sheer accident, brought up over his casual meeting with Laarni Enriquez ang tungkol sa balak nitong magpa-concert nang libre ang alaga.

Sa isip-isip ni Jobert, teka, saan sa Maynila? Meron bang mga concert venue roon? Suhestiyon ni Laarni, why not perform at the Mehan Garden?

The idea sounded great until nag-ocular inspection mismo si Jobert sa nasabing open air venue, now restored to its historical form.

Ani Jobert, considering the present look of Mehan Garden with all its charming landscape ay hindi niya maaatim na malapastangan ito lalo’t pagdarausan ‘yon ng isang pagtatanghal na inaasahang dadagsain ng mga laksa-laksang manonood (eh, sa rami ba naman ng mga magpe-perform).

Binalikan pa raw si Jobert ni Manila City Mayor Erap Estrada (who, by the way, sang his signature song Kahit nitong papagabi na ng Sabado) kung talaga raw bang ayaw nitong idaos ang show sa Mehan Garden.

But Jobert stood his ground, ewan kung ang advocacy niya is to preserve the country’s historical sites.
Hanggang sa bigla na lang umilaw (parang sa komiks) ang light bulb sa utak ni Jobert, why not at the Rajah Sulayman?

Another historical site, walang mababago o masisira sa lugar na ‘yon. All that was needed to dress it up for Michael’s birthday concert was to construct a makeshift stage, and voila, major show na kung major show na ang kalalabasan nu’n!

True enough, malayo pa lang kami sa venue – walking past clusters of tents fronting the Malate Church – nagkalat na ang mga naka-deploy na men in uniform mula hapon pa lang. Sabi ng nakausap naming pulis, they numbered about 130, all evenly scattered within the area.

Opposite that side ay ang entablado kung saan akyat-panaog ang mga performers, from Ate Gay with his trite, boring, juice-ko-kumita-na-‘yan mash-ups to Luke Mijares-Jimmy Bondoc-Duncan Ramos-Michael quartet bago ang finale number ng birthday boy.

Yes, Michael Pangilinan, hailed as the Harana Prince and Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala—has truly arrived as one of the country’s finest singers to reckon with.

And much of it ay utang niya kay Jobert Sucaldito who has made his career like a flower in full bloom in the garden.