Forever After: A Concert Review

Reached Cubao at half past 7. The concert starts at 8 so I had 30 minoots to have din-dins. Spotted KFC and quickly bought and consumed my dinner.

When I entered Araneta Coliseum at 8, the place wasn't full yet. 'twas about 60% full. Got worried a bit but still it's too early. There's a huge video screen in the middle of the two-tier stage. The teevee sets that serve as the artists lyrics board were covered in white cloth. In fact, the whole stage was done in white. Kinda reminds you of the Ice Queen kingdom in Narnia. There's a small bridge on the right side near my area.

At 8:30, the audience was requested to stand up for the National Anthem. It would be hilarious if Jennifer Bautista was there to give a live performance (and to redeem herself).

They showed a video (with Allan K narrating) of the kingdom of Amorato (not quite sure) where an Ice Queen (Ai-Ai) ruled the land. She wouldn't want to do anything with any love-related stuff. She separated the two kids, Pog (prince) and Reg (fairy). Pog (played by Ogie) was sent to a faraway land while Reg (played by Reg) got stuck in Amorato (which was changed to a more complicated name). The Ice Queen captured all the butterflies and put them all in a cage. She even killed Cupid.

Anyhoo, Ogie appeared on the left side of the stage beside a tv (I don't get this). The stage has been designed to incorporate entry and exit points for the artists. Regine appeared on the upper right hand corner, in a green gown complete with wings. She's sporting diva hair extension. The first song of the night was "The Twelfh of Never". The couple was backed up by the Hot Legs in elaborate fairy & "tree-like" costumes.

Since Ricky Lee was the concert scriptwriter, I didn't expect Reg and Ogie to greet the audience with their usual welcome messages like Reg's "I'm so happy to be here tonight". They followed Lee's script, plus ad libs.

Reg sang "Somewhere over the Rainbow" while Ogie sang "Somewhere Out There" as his counterpoint. I wish Regine did Eva Cassidy's version instead of the "gasgas" rendition.

Ogie exited the stage. Regine did "Breakaway". The song was pretty appropriate since it talks about "spreading her wings and learning how to fly". Obviously, Regine likes Kelly Clarkson 'cause she's been singing this song for the longest time. An MTV was also created for this song.

She then expressed how ready she was to love again. She belted out Destiny's Child's "Stand up for Love". Amazing!

She left the stage. Ogie reappeared not on stage but somewhere far (could've been the upper box). He rocked the house with local rock band hits like "Hanggang Kailan", "Sige Na", "Hari ng Sablay", and "Alleluia". The crowd loved him 'cause they get to take pictures with him and kiss the guy *rolling my eyes now*.

He told the audience that in his dreams he could hear a lovely voice. Reg's voice similar to Disney Ariel's "Aaaaahhh" could be heard in the background. Reg appeared in a yellow gown (still with wings) contrasting Ogie's red polo.

When they sang "Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang", soap suds rained down from above. Kinda cool.
The video showed Ogie entering Regine's fairy land. Regine sang "Pure Imagination". The dancers appeared again. A harness was placed on Regine's gown and she flew for a short time. Not much impact though.

So our lovers met... Reg introduced herself as freaking Reg =oP They did one of the longest medley ever. Reg started with "The First Time I Loved Forever" (my all-time favorite) but Ogie cut it short with his "It Might Be You" number. Then Reg sang "Can You Read My Mind?". Ogie followed it with Janno Gibbs' "Fallen" and "You are so Beautiful". Reg sang "The Last Time I Felt Like This" and "If I Believe". Ogie did Kathy Troccoli's "If I'm Not In Love With You". Reg followed it with her 90's hit "Please Be Careful With My Heart". Ogie then sang "Don't Know What To Do". "Heaven", "Almost Paradise", and "If I Never Knew You" were the last three songs.

During the last song, Ai-Ai's face appeared in the video. Her face was superimposed on a full moon.

She was wearing a white gown, complete with white, curly wig. Her face was covered in white makeup too. She had male dancers clad in black attire. She sang Donna Summer's "Enough is Enough". The audience loved her.

She talked about men and how men sometimes say that they're big when they're really not. This made the audience laugh. She even talked about her boobs.

She wowed the audience with her version of "What Kind of Fool". For a while, she couldn't get the tune (this made it more funny). And she got interrupted by hecklers. During the interlude, she danced sexily. That was hilarious! When she reached the high notes, Reg sang it for her. Although it's not new anymore, the crowd still bought it. Crazy!!! She brought the house down again. Lastly, she exclaimed, "Laban, Pacquaiooooo!" =oP

Ogie appeared with his eyes closed. He was playing hide and seek with Reg's character. He was shocked to see the Ice Queen instead. They did "Doncha", "My Humps", "Bebot", "My Style", and "Don't Phunk with my Heart". Ai-Ai kept teasing him and they even ended the song with Ai-Ai in a compromising position. She knelt down in front of Ogie and her mic was placed near Ogie's crotch =oP

Reg appeared again, in a beaded gown minus the wings. I have no idea what she sang. It had "God, give me strength" in the chorus though. She got emotional throughout the song. She was in tears when she ended it.

Ogie sang "Kailangan Kita" and Reg provided "Paalam Na" as her counterpoint. Reg's voice was powerful in this song. She should've done it solo. Swallowed Ogie whole.

Regine exited the stage. Ogie sang his original "Ikaw Lamang". He acknowledged the couples, Raymart & Claudine and Richard & Lucy, in the audience. Nice song.

He then mentioned that he missed his mentor, Corics (played by Rico J.). Rico appeared and Ogie left the stage. Rico joked that he looked like a druglord in his all black suit. He sang "Huling El Bimbo".

He then called the lovers 'cause he planned to fix the relationship up. He played the Love Doctor in the concert, by the way. He joked that the couple had sex already and they're pretty good at hiding it. Reg couldn't help but laugh at this.

Rico interpreted "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" (it's nice to hear his husky version). Reg sang "Sa Kanya". Ogie sang "Ala-ala", Rico's Tagalog version of "The Way We Were". The three ended their medley with "Magkasuyo Buong Gabi".

Rico asked if the two were okay already. Not yet. The couple left the stage again. Rico thought he should fix his own love life first so he called the Ice Queen. Ai-Ai appeared in a different white gown. Her white wig is long and straight now.

They exchanged sex jokes and the audience liked 'em. They sang "Macho Gwapito", Aegi's "Halik", "Abot Kamay", "Babae Po Ako", "Maling Akala", "Lintek na Pag-ibig", "Don't Touch my Birdie" (complete with a little bird props), "Hwag Dyan", "Jumbo Hotdog", and "Sasakyan Kita".

Rico left the stage. Regine appeared in a beautiful red gown. Ai-Ai commented that Reg looked like she has an esophagus on her chest (pertaining to her cleavage). Ai-Ai bluntly calls it "suso". Reg suggested to call it "boobs". According to Ai-Ai, GMA would just edit the boobs talk. Reg asked if Ai-Ai is already a "Kapuso". Ai-Ai answered, "not yet". Hmmm... She was also grateful she won't get edited out.

Ai-Ai and Reg then battled it out with a videoke sesion. They chose "Total Eclipse of the Heart". Reg commented it's an easy song. Ai-Ai only sang the line, "Turn around", while encircling the Songbird and hunkered down. The crowd roared in laughter. Ai-Ai interrupted the song. She was worried that she won't get a high score if she just sang those lines. So she belted out the chorus. She wowed the audience. She even requested the band to increase the pitch. But it got too high for her so Regine sang it for her and in a much, much higher pitch. Ai-Ai kept trying to reach those high notes but failed miserably. This made the number even crazier.

Ai-Ai finally surrendered and left the stage. Regine sang her Covers 2 carrier single, "Hold Me In Your Arms". A couple performed some flying acrobatics while the Songbird was singing. Reminiscent of her "Kailan" number in "Reigning Still". Beautiful indeed.

Ogie appeared in white suit. He sang "More Than You'll Ever Know".

The last song of the night was "Sa Piling Mo". They showed a video of Reg and Ogie kissing and Ogie became a fairy too.

They bid their goodbyes. I was pretty sure they'd come back for an encore.

They sang "Everlasting Love". Reg had the wings again. Ai-Ai appeared in a wedding dress with Rico J as her groom. Cacai gave some flowers to her older sister. It rained confetti.


Regine's showstopper was her "Stand Up for Love" number. There wasn't any spectacular duets. Martin & Regine is still the team to beat for me. Sorry, Ogie fans. Ai-Ai and Reg's "Total Eclipse" number was the highlight for me. Ogie was good in his "Ikaw Lamang". But Rico's version of "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" was a breath of fresh air. All throughout the concert, I kept remembering "Two Hearts, One Beat".