ART FEATURE By Arlo Custodio: Lea Salonga elevated to Aliw Awards Hall of Fame

Besides her Hall of Fame trophy, Salonga also copped the Best Actress In A Musical for “Sweeney Todd” under Atlantis Theatricals. She was also the recipient of Aliw’s first People’s Choice Award — conducted by Zed Philippines from November 19 to December 15 — getting the most votes among other luminaries that included Sarah Geronimo, Manny Pacquiao, Vice Ganda, Erik Santos and Anne Curtis.

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Considered a living national treasure, Salonga expressed elation over the People’s Choice Award and thanked the spectrum of fans and supporters of Philippine entertainment.

“I just want to thank all the fans that voted for this. To all of the fans that voted and kept on voting, this one truly belongs to you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said in her acceptance speech.

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She likewise performed “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” in her own style and rendition — only in the way Lea Salonga can.

Regine Velasquez was named Entertainer of the Year. Having won the title in 2008 and 2009, Asia’s Songbird is now qualified for the Hall of Fame award next year — joining Gary Valenciano (1984, 1988, 2005), Martin Nievera (1985, 2000, 2001) and her husband Ogie Alcasid (2003, 2006, 2007) in this elite circle of Filipino entertainers.

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Past Entertainer of the Year awardees include Pilita Corrales, Rico J. Puno, Celeste Legaspi, Basil Valdez, Bert “Tawa” Marcelo, Kuh Ledesma, Nonoy Zuñiga, Freddie Aguilar, Tessie Tomas, Lani Misalucha, Sarah Geronimo, (then) Charice Pempengco, Dulce, Lisa Macuja, Jed Madela, Gerphil Flores and Erik Santos.

Other Hall of Fame awardees were RJ Ledesma (Best Male Host), Jennifer Lee (Best DJ) and Banaue Miclat-Janssen (Best Performer).

The Lifetime Achievement Awards were bestowed on Eva Eugenio, Nonoy Zuñiga, Marco Sison, Douglas Nierra and Richard Merk.

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]Vince Tañada won the Best Actor In A Musical for “Sindak 194” — a story about how Filipinos lived during World War 2 under the Japanese regime. Produced by his own Philippine Stagers Foundation, the same musical also won Best Original Musical Production, Best Ensemble Performance, Best Musical Director for Pipo Cifra and Best Child Actor for Dean Rafols.

“Pinoy Playlist 2019” — an event put up by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, Moy Ortiz and Noel Ferrer bagged three awards — Best Special Event, Best Performance In A Concert (Male) for Gian Magdangal and Best Performance In A Concert (Female) for Gerphil Flores.

The Halili-Cruz School of Dance founder and artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz was the recipient of the Alice H. Reyes Lifetime Achievement Award.

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In Live Musical Performances, Gerald Santos won Best Male Major Concert for his “The Homecoming Concert” at The Theatre at Solaire. He told The Manila Times that he will do the restaging of “San Pedro Calungsod” early next year and negotiations are ongoing for “Miss Saigon” in other countries after his successful stint in the West End as Thuy.

Julie Anne San Jose (“Julie Sings The Divas” at The Theatre at Solaire) and Imelda Papin (“Imelda Papin Queen @ 45” at the Philippine Arena) tied for Best Female Major Concert. San Jose’s director, Louie Ignacio, won Best Concert Stage Director.

Winning Best Collaboration In A Concert were Sharon Cuneta and Regine Velasquez for “Iconic” at the Araneta Coliseum and Martin Nievera and Lani Misalucha for “Timeless Classics” at the PICC Plenary Hall.

Best Major Concert For Group was won by Ely Buendia + Itchyworms for “The Greatest Hits” at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra for “Gold: Classical Music Treasures” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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Best Musical Director For A Concert was Butch Miraflor for “Tribute To Rico J”; Best Performer In Lobby Lounge, Music Lounge, Bars (Solo) was Lloyd Mara at Astoria; Best Performer In Lobby Lounge, Music Lounge, Bars (Group) were Brothers Unlimited, Noli Aurillo, and Skarlet at Propaganda. Best Foreign-Based Filipino Performer was Joey Albert.

Winners for Entertainment were Mitzi Borromeo, Best Female Host; Jeremy Domingo, Best Host; Ate Gay, Best Stand-Up Comedian; Aleli Bustamante (Gabay Guro, PLDT), Best Special Events Director.

For Music and Dance, Best New Male Artist Male was a tie between Ato Arman and Kiel Alo; Nina Campos as Best New Female Artist; The Perkins Twins as Best New Group Artist; Patty Tiu, Best DJ for Electronic Dance Music; Jong Cuenco, Best Instrumentalist; Ateneo Chamber Singers, Best Choral Group; Nilo Augustin (Carabao Festival, Pulilan, Bulacan) and Mayor Arthur Robes (Tanglawan Festival, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan) as Best Festival Catalyst/Organizer.

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Best Festival Practices and Performances were awarded to Carabao Festival and Tanglawan Festival; Tanghalang Sandaang Pulo (Pangasinan), Best Cultural Theater Group; Tanghalang Bagong Sibul Theater and Dance Company (Malabon), Best Cultural Dance Group; Abigail Oliveiro (“Snow White,” Ballet Manila), Best Classical Dance; Nenen Espina, Best Female Classical Singer; Joseleo Logdat, Best Male Classical Singer; Skarlet, Best Blue/Jazz Artist; Janah Zaplan, Best Pop Artist; Jade Riccio and Ynez Veneracion, Best Female Crossover Performer; Reuben Laurente, Best Male Crossover Performer; and “Snow White” (Ballet Manila), Best Dance Production.

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For Theater, “The Quest For The Adarna” by Repertory Philippines was awarded Best Production for Children; Douglas Nierras for “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical,” Best Choreographer; “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical,” Best Musical Rerun; Bituin Escalante for “Waitress” by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, Best Actress In A Featured Role Musical; Arriana Golondrina for “Loob” by Philippine Stagers Foundation, Best Actress In A Featured Role.

Nyoy Volante, Sweeney Todd by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, Best Actor In A Featured Role Musical; Johnrey Rivas, Gemetzel by Philippine Stagers Foundation, Best Actor In A Featured Role; Himala: Isang Musikal by The Sandbox Collective, Best Musical Revival; Loy Arcenas for The Dresser by Repertory Philippines, Best Director For A Play; Audie Gemora for The Dresser by Repertory Philippines, Best Actor In A Play; Gigi Escalante for Ang Bahay Ni Bernarda Alba by Dulaang UP, Best Actress In A Play; “Loob” by Philippine Stagers Foundation, Best Play; and Laurice Guillen for “Magnificat” by Lyric Opera of the Philippines, Best Stage Director For A Musical.

Ecstatic for her win, Velasquez joked, “Buti na lang umupo ako doon sa table nina Lea nanalo tuloy ako,” drawing laughter and cheers from the crowd.

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“Gusto ko lang sabihin na sa lahat ng mga nagbibigay ng parangal, katangi-tangi ang Aliw Awards dahil sila lamang ang nagbibigay ng awards sa lahat ng klase ng performers. I would like to honor you guys for always recognizing our talent.”

She was not able to perform “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” though because she was not familiar with the minus one that was playing.

“Sa asawa ko yata ito,” she said, as she thanked and greeted everyone Happy Holidays.

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