Mighty show, Matteo!

I heard Concert King Martin Nievera acknowledge the musical taste of Cebuanos in a couple of press conferences for his previous concerts in Cebu before.

This time, he repeated that acknowledgement onstage nevertheless during the Matteo Made In Cebu concert of half-Cebuano actor/sportsman/singer Matteo Guidicelli.

Personally, even if I had met and talked with Matteo several times before and even saw him perform on TV several times, I was not really amazed at his performances then. But that was before I saw him in Matteo: Made In Cebu.

He had improved a lot and he can even hold a candle side by side with the Concert King. He was not eclipsed when he shared the limelight with Martin while doing the latter’s song Say That You Love Me.

Matteo’s decision to use his native tongue was a big factor. He endeared himself more to the predominantly Cebuano audience that night.

His repartee with another guest performer who also speaks Visayan, KZ Tandingan, delighted the audience as gauged by the applause and the laughter that followed their dialogue.

Needless to say, Matteo’s good looks contributed much to his commanding stage presence. And he can also move with the beat of his fast numbers.

The segment which showed videos of two iconic Filipino talents, Randy Santiago and Rico Puno, praising Matteo and singing their original songs— Babaero for Randy and Macho Gwapito for Rico with Matteo singing with them—was a brilliant idea.

For sure musical director Louie Ocampo and show director Rowell Santiago had a hand in coming up with the concept. Congratulations!

The segment showing Matteo singing the hit songs of Latino artist Ricky Martin somehow brought about nostalgia in me, especially with the songs She Bangs and Livin’ La Vida Loca.

These were the songs that were used in the MTV-themed contest during the opening of the Press Freedom Week celebration nine years ago. Yours truly played the role of Ricky, that’s why, and the number (with Jennifer Lopez’s part played by another Sun.Star staff member) gave us the championship plum no less.

In fairness to pop princess Sarah Geronimo, she never did anything to steal the thunder away from his boyfriend. She just sat among the audience all throughout the performance. How generous!

With what I saw plus Martin’s words, I’m sure the show will also be loved by the Manila audience when it will be brought there as Matteo planned.

Congratulations to everyone involved with the project. Of course, the lion’s share goes to the star of the show himself.

*** Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival once again showed why it withstood the test of time up to these days. It has all the ingredients of a spectacular cultural showcase, not to mention that these ingredients were all products of the city’s homegrown talents.

Mayor Nicepuro Apura and his wife, Mercy, for sure, felt so proud of the outcome. After a couple of years or so of being just a non-competitive performance, Kabkaban was made a contest again this year.

This is to maintain the high level of quality in all aspects of the festival. The showdown, which was held later in the evening, was held at the new city center with the imposing soon-to-be-inaugurated city hall in the background.

Congratulations to the winners as well as the nonwinners, the organizers and everyone else involved with the undertaking for a job well done.

Last night, Bamboo was the city’s guest entertainer in lieu of a beauty contest. Tonight, Baptizo, an all-night disco event with a couple of celebrity DJs, serves as the culmination of the city’s annual fiesta celebration in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

Happy fiesta, Carcar!

*** Speaking of fiestas, my hometown, Oslob, will be celebrating its own on Dec. 10. This Wednesday, a parade starting from two opposite points of the town’s central barangay, will converge at the community square.

A drum corps competition will be followed by a mass dance competition among the secondary schools in the municipality. Right after, a procession will follow.

Other activities include a live band concert, a motocross competition, a beauty pageant and a disco event. A friendly match between the town’s Tuki Team versus the All Star Basketball Team will be held on Dec. 3 at the covered court.

A minimal entrance fee will be charged for the benefit of the ongoing reconstruction of the church and convent which was razed to ashes back in 2008.

Happy fiesta, Oslob! Viva Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepcion!