“How you guys doing?” David Archuleta asked the crowd at the Mall of Asia grounds on Saturday night. Many thought it would take some time for him to be back when he quietly left the country on February 5 after rapping up his scenes in the forthcoming TV5 mini-serye Nandito Ako. But he was back to perform one more time for his Filipino fans.
Earlier, Archuleta was in Singapore where he spent a couple of days to meet and greet his fans in the Lion City. Back in Manila, people were screaming with disbelief when he indeed showed up at the Close Up Pyropalooza.
Camera phones were raised to freeze the moment. Photo courtesy of FuentesManila.
Even before Archuleta went up on stage, and as DJs Jessica and Josh Strike of Magic 89.9 had just mentioned his name, the audience, mostly comprised of teenage girls and young adults, shrieked with excitement to see the young heartthrob. Their shrill voices filled the air, as they flashed posters and placards of their idol. Mobile phone cameras were raised to immortalize the moment the singer fulfilled his promise to return. When the 21-year-old international TV5 talent began to sing “Nandito Ako,” the crowd went wilder as people sang with him until the end. The song said it all for the singer that evening: David Archuleta was really there.
There were no dull moments in the show. Luke Mejares hit the keys of his keyboard to the tune of “Wherever You Are,” a song released during the Mejares-led Southborder. Archuleta sang, and the mad crowd sang along with him. He smiled, and screams were given in exchange. And when the song ended, they immediately asked for an encore, which almost led to begging. Until DJs Jessica and Josh asked the audience. “Do you want more?” they asked the hungry crowd that hollered for the singer to perform a last song.
David was accompanied on keyboards by Luke Mejares. Photo courtesy of FuentesManila.
“Something ‘Bout Love,” which is part of his second album The Other Side of Down, was his last song. Fans cried out the lyrics as Archuleta sang. Soon, almost everyone was singing. And with the song coming into an end, everyone gave their cheers and applauded the singer. Fans who were lucky enough to win a contest on Close Up’s Facebook fan page were able to meet and greet the artist after the concert.
Aside from the performance of Archuleta, people were also wowed by the spectacular pyrotechnic exhibitions with background music from different participating teams representing their countries.
One of many couples who came to witness the fireworks display were Roxanne Lariego and Simon Pulmano. They were celebrating the first anniversary of their relationship and because it is their first Valentine as a couple, they said that for their Valentine’s date, they’d have dinner in a restaurant they haven’t yet tried.
David Archuleta with the team from Unilever (carrier of Close Up brand), from left, Kristine Emi, Cindy Melocoton, and Brian Duruin.
Rolly and Socorro Rasing, after 38 years of being together, said that they still find ways to enjoy each Valentine’s Day together. The couple, who just came from Abu Dhabi for their retirement, went to the event to spend time with their grandson. The couple shared their secret to a happy Valentine’s Day celebration: go out and enjoy a good old-fashioned date. Rolly also said that couples should “give room” to each other for their relationship to last, like theirs.
Ronald Roxas and girlfriend Joy del Rosario, who are back together after splitting up years ago, decided to attend the pyromusical show especially since it was near their workplace. Ronald and Joy shared that events like the fireworks show and concert are really good opportunities for lovers to bond, despite their busy schedules.
Besides romantic couples, the visual spectacle also drew families to catch the show at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. The first week of the competition kicked off with the spectacular display of fireworks from South Korea and Malta. For a couple of minutes, the competitors lit the sky with pyrotechnics accompanied by dramatic musical scorings.
For the past eight years, however, Close Up has always led the Lovapalooza kiss fest around or on Valentine’s Day. It has become a sort of tradition among couples and is missed this year. Close Up organized Lovapalooza in 2004 not only to promote its line of toothpaste products but also to attempt taking over the Guinness Book of World Records on the most number of couples kissing simultaneously for ten seconds. With a number of 5,374, the Philippines succeeded in stealing the record from Chile whose number is 4,445. Since then, it became a yearly Valentine’s Day festival.
According to Close Up Brand Manager Brian Duruin, Lovapalooza is “taking a break” for now.
“Although Lovapalooza is a fantastic event, it is time to innovate and we want something different right now,” he said. Also, he mentioned that they wanted to make the event open to families and not just to romantic couples.
Taking the stage alongside David were Zia Quizon, daughter of comedy king Dolphy and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, who performed her single “Ako Na Lang,” bands Indio and Never The Stranger, and real-life couple and YouTube sensation Jamvhille Sebastian and Paolinne Michelle Liggayu, A.K.A. JAMICH, who impressed the crowd with their sing-and-dance performance.
Photo by Rhoy Cobilla
The Close Up Pyropalooza will run for six Saturdays up to March 17, 2011. Every week, two countries will present their pyromusical shows as they battle to win the prize for best fireworks display. Participating countries are South Korea and Malta (February 11), United Kingdom and Spain (February 18), Finland and Portugal (February 25), China and The Netherlands (March 3), Austria and Canada (March 10), and Italy and Philippines (March 17). Winners will also be announced on March 17, the last day of the competition.
