Julia Christine Botin

Review: The CompanY honors past in 40th anniversary show

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750030276035IMG_0361.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">The CompanY – Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and OJ Mariano.<em> Photo by Tim Pavino </em></span></span></span></div><p>In the 40th anniversary concert of the country’s premier vocal group The CompanY held at The Theater at Solaire last Saturday, everyone was wondering why they didn’t perform  their first successful debut single, “Everlasting Love,” recorded in 1991.</p><p>Recording rules didn’t allow The CompanY to sing “Everlasting Love,” actually for the past two years now. However, last Saturday night in “The Company @ 40,” original member Moy Ortiz didn’t allow that to happen.</p><p>Ortiz penned a new song, “You and Me, Baby,” rendered as a counterpoint to “Everlasting Love,” with former members on video and the result was still a beautiful ballad.</p><p>Ortiz, with the present members of The CompanY – Annie Quintos, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and OJ Mariano – ruled the stage Saturday night and opened the show with an apt tune, “All Night Celebrate,” to mark their 40th year.</p><p>Resplendent in their Francis Libiran outfits, The CompanY then segued to “Kumusta Ka” and “Nandito Pa Rin Tayo.”</p><p>“Unbelievable,” said Quintos about their four decades in the music industry. “This is a wonderful evening of gratitude and joy.”</p><p>‘This (concert) is to honor our past, celebrate the now and look forward to our future,” said Mariano.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750030295235IMG_0360.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">The CompanY in their Francis Libiran outfits.<em> Photo by Tim Pavino </em><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>The CompanY started their journey in 1985, when they were handpicked by Ryan Cayabyab as back-up singers for Celeste Legaspi’s “Komiks Concierto.” However, it wasn’t until 1991 when they recorded their first album, that contained “Everlasting Love.”</p><p>One amusing spot was when they made the audience sing while they acted as back-up to the popular ballads that are familiar with the crowd like “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” by Cayabyab, “Bongga Ka Day” by Hotdog, “Isang Linggong Pag-ibig” by Imelda Papin, “Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang” by Basil Valdez and “Annie Batungbakal” by Hotdog.</p><p>Songwriters Babsie Molina and Edith Gallardo gave them an original song, “Sana Nga (Ikaw Na),” included in The CompanY’s first album that was also recorded by Regine Velasquez.</p><p>They also recorded “Paki Sabi na Lang,” which Ortiz and Gallardo originally submitted for Raymond Lauchengco’s album, but didn’t make the cut.</p><p>All the songs in the concert were given new arrangement.</p><p>Former CompanY members Febe Magbanua-Pantoja and Reuben Laurente joined the present members in dishing out old tunes – “What Would They Say” from “Boy In a Plastic Bubble,” “Just a Love Song,” “Afraid for Love,” “Precious and Few,” “You Changed My Life (In a Moment),” “Up, Up and Away” and “Afternoon Delight.”</p><p>Other female members of The CompanY Kathleen Villalon, Tetet Tolentino and Max Aviola also joined Laurente and Magbanua-Pantoja, with the four present members onstage. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750030307394IMG_0362.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">The CompanY quartet with director Paolo Valenciano (center).<em> Photo by Tim Pavino </em></span></span></span></div><p>Individually, the four members of The CompanY also do their respective work and careers. Quinos coaches singers in ABS-CBN’s talent competitions, Ortiz teaches young students and composes songs, while Plantado and Mariano do theater and film.</p><p>Backed up by a seven-member musical theater ensemble that included Plantado’s son Gab Tiongson, Plantado and Mariano rendered songs from musicals “Noli Me Tangere,” “Rent,” “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “Rak of Aegis,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Himala” and “Rama Hari.”</p><p>Stages bankrolled The CompanY’s 40th anniversary concert, with Stella Sison, Carlo Orosa and Audie Gemora as producers.</p><p>Paolo Valenciano, fresh from working at helm of SB19’s successful concert at the Philippine Arena, directed The CompanY’s 40th anniversary concert at Solaire. GA Fallarme on visuals and John Batalla as lighting director.</p><p>Celebrities were in the audience Saturday night, includng two National Artists – Ryan Cayabyab (Music) with wife Emmy Punsalan; and Ricky Lee (Film and Broadcast Arts).</p><p>Also in the venue were Jose Mari Chan with wife Maryann, Buboy Garrovillo with wife Elizabeth Agcaoili, Gino Padilla, and Jamie Rivera.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A8L81aLHVe0?&amp;pp=0gcJCd4JAYcqIYzvautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/leJE88a5aB8?&amp;pp=0gcJCd4JAYcqIYzvautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aJ6nfXpzEyY?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>In the 40th anniversary concert of the country’s premier vocal group The CompanY held at The Theater at Solaire last Saturday, everyone was wondering why they didn’t perform their debut single, 'Everlasting Love.'</p>

In the 40th anniversary concert of the country’s premier vocal group The CompanY held at The Theater at Solaire last Saturday, everyone was wondering why they didn’t perform their debut single, 'Everlasting Love.'