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Khalil Ramos proud to sing Rico Blanco songs in new musical: ‘His songs are just really genius’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>As one of the male leads of <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em>, Khalil Ramos shares the stage (and alternates) with fellow thespians Anthony Rosado, CJ Navato, and Vien King in 9 Works Theatrical’s upcoming new musical.</p><p>According to the show’s director Robbie Guevarra, <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em> is about an orphan named Elesi who decides to embark on a quest to find his past and in the process, finds friendship and brotherhood with another character named Cris who also helps him in fighting for the oppressed and underprivileged.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFxPeGDvZK_/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A979525.1999998093%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="856" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/2/19/exclusive-khalil-ramos-reveals-one-hour-valentine-date-with-gabbi-garcia-0655"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Khalil Ramos reveals ‘one hour’ Valentine date with Gabbi Garcia<br/></strong></a></div><p>The show, which was seven years in the making, features the songs of OPM icon Rico Blanco, which Khalil admitted he loved even if he found one of the songs very challenging to perform on stage.</p><p>“Definitely &#x27;Himala&#x27; was the most challenging. I think &#x27;Himala&#x27; is one of his highest songs. I think primarily because Bamboo was the lead singer of Rivermaya before pa so they wrote the songs in his range. It’s just so freaking high (laughs). Pero kaya naman with enough practice, kakayanin naman. It’s really that because there are a lot of vowels that are really big. It’s tiring but it’s very rewarding to be able to sing that song,” he admitted.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGOYGdJyqKT/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A979538.6999998093%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="763" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/2/12/7-years-in-the-making-robbie-guevara-ready-to-unleash-liwanag-sa-dilim-1735"><strong>READ: 7 years in the making, Robbie Guevara ready to unleash &#x27;Liwanag sa Dilim&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><p>Although most of the <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em> cast was able to meet Rico during one surprise visit during a rehearsal session earlier this year, Khalil said he missed out on that opportunity on meeting one of his OPM idols.</p><p>“I wasn’t here the day Rico Blanco came to rehearsals. But I have met Rico a couple of times before. I remember the first time was during Daniel Padilla’s concert where we were both guests. So I was able to chat with him backstage. The song that we actually sang then was ‘Liwanag Sa Dilim.’ That was the very first time I met Rico.</p><p>&quot;Since than I haven’t talked to him about the project yet. But he’s always been such an inspiration to a lot of people including me. His songs are just really genius. When I read the script for the first time and saw the lyrics on the script and we cold read them without the music, dun ko na-realize while reading the words coldly, I thought, ‘Man, the songwriting behind this is really incredible.’ Grabe, sobrang galing niya magsulat ng kanta. So galing talaga. So I’m excited for him to see it,” he shared.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGP4lqjIjez/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A979548.5999999046%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/2/24/khalil-ramos-and-gabbi-garcia-celebrate-their-8th-anniversary-with-a-15-course-meal-1900"><strong>READ: Khalil Ramos and Gabbi Garcia celebrate their 8th anniversary with a 15-course meal<br/></strong></a></div><p>The 29-year-old actor and singer, who recently celebrated his eighth anniversary with girlfriend Gabbi Garcia, said things are looking up for him this year with many big screen projects lined up already.</p><p>“Oh man, it has been unexpectedly great for me. 2024 was a bit slow on the career end of my life but then I did travel a lot. So it was a lot of travel and content creation last year. This year however, I am really grateful enough to be part of several projects.</p><p>&quot;One is a film this coming CinePanalo Film Festival in March. it’s a film called <em>Olsen’s Day</em>. it’s directed by JP Habac, a director that I look up to and I’ve always wanted to work with him. May mga projects na before with him na naka-lineup then COVID happened tapos ang daming mga nangyari and finally now we are able to make a film na together.</p><p>&quot;The other one is a Netflix Original film coming out in the second or third quarter of the year, I’m not sure when exactly. It’s directed by direk Marla Ancheta. She was the director of <em>Dollhouse.</em> I am co-starring with Sue Ramirez. The production name is <em>Lucid Dreams</em>. That’s what I have going on aside from this,” he shared.</p><p>Watch Khalil Ramos in the newest Original Filipino Musical featuring the songs of Rico Blanco <em>Liwanag Sa Dilim</em> which starts its run on March 7 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Directed by Robbie Guevarra and produced by 9 Works Theatrical. Tickets are available via ticket2me.net/LiwanagSaDilimMusical.</p>

<p>‘Liwanag Sa Dilim’ star Khalil Ramos reveals which Rico Blanco song really challenged him during rehearsals for 9 Works Theatrical’s latest musical opening this month.</p>

‘Liwanag Sa Dilim’ star Khalil Ramos reveals which Rico Blanco song really challenged him during rehearsals for 9 Works Theatrical’s latest musical opening this month.