 |
| ABS-CBN’s brightest young stars thrilled Los Angeles audiences with a spell-binding concert at the home of Hollywood’s elite (Image Source: Philippine Canadian Inquirer/ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Star Magic’s 30th Anniversary Concert “Beyond the Stars” culminated their three-city concert tour at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, California on August 14, 2022, marking the return of Star Magic on the live concert stages in the U.S. after two years. With 20 of Star Magic’s brightest talents from the Philippines, “Beyond the Stars” showcased what Filipino and international audiences always expect from ABS-CBN shows: excellence. “Our world is a landscape of change, and just like our company, Star Magic is evolving. Audiences now, in the digital age, are clamoring for diversity and Filipino talent can be appreciated anywhere and everywhere — and we have proven that,” said Star Magic Head Lauren Dyogi.
The tour kicked off in New York City, where the young stars performed for its discerning audiences. The next stop was San Francisco for a legacy-laced show at the historical home of the Filipino American diaspora. And the tour’s finale was in the hub of global entertainment Los Angeles. The young stars dazzled thousands across the U.S. — claiming their place as some of the top performers in the world. With an energized house on its feet, the show started with an electrifying tableau of Filipino dance hits with Philippines’ sweetheart Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, Maris Racal, Charlie Dizon and Alexa Ilacad. The opening number continued with a celebration of Filipino Pop Rock with seasoned performer Kim Chiu, dance vixen AC Bonifacio and “Gold Squad” heartthrobs Kyle Echarri and Andrea Brillantes. Music lovers swooned over the ‘Sesionistas’ segment of the concert — where top-caliber singers performed beloved OPM (Original Pilipino Music) hits. Angela Ken, Lian Kyla, Sab, KD Estrada and Carlo Aquino serenaded the audience with their smooth acoustic sounds, highlighting their musicality and instrumental talents.
Teleserye fans’ hearts melted when Star Magic’s top vocalists sang their favorite shows' theme songs. The powerhouse vocals of Gigi de Lana, Janine Berdin, Angela Ken, Lian Kyla and Sab brought the emotions of each of the drama series’ themes to their embracing fans. And with what felt like a lightning bolt striking the theater, the fans suddenly levitated when ‘love teams’ took the stage. KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, known as their “shipped-name” KDLEX, delighted their fans by singing a duet that explored the mysteries of young love. The screams intensified when the hottest love team in the Philippines took the spotlight. Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, more popularly known as “DonBelle”, sang, danced, and interacted with their adoring fans, reinforcing the undeniable chemistry they have that their global fans crave. Multi-award-winning actor Zanjoe Marudo brought the romance only a top matinee idol can bring to the show, making his fans swoon with his triple-threat performance and boy-next-door charm.
The breakout star of the night is funny man Eric Nicolas. His quick wit, funny antics and comical interactions with the crowd had the whole theater howling in laughter. The show ended with the whole cast on stage singing the song “Sama Sama” which sends messages of love, unity, and togetherness. “Our core has always been to serve our audience regardless of circumstances,” said ABS-CBN Global Events Head Arnie Garcia. "Star Magic’s Beyond the Stars is ABS-CBN Global Events’ way to start reaching out to our audience amidst these challenging times and prove to them that we would continue to bring joy and inspiration to everyone,” Garcia added. The night after the main concert, all the Star Magic stars, ABS-CBN team and invited guests enjoyed a celebration dinner under the stars at the world-famous Yamashiro restaurant in the Hollywood Hills. Punctuated by performances from Star Magic’s top singers, attendees had the opportunity to mingle with the young stars to explore future opportunities and possibilities of partnerships.
“Moving forward means we have to do collaborations with other players in the industry, both in the Philippines and internationally. We do our best to manage our resources very well to deliver the best product, the best content, for our audiences,” said ABS-CBN Global Chief Operating Officer Aldrin Cerrado. Bringing Filipino world-class talent to the global center stage is the underlying theme of the evening, especially to the Latin American market under TFC’s North and Latin America division. “Music is the key to helping us penetrate the Latin American market. We have shown the world how amazing our singers and performers are, and I feel our music will bridge our culture with theirs,” said ABS-CBN Global Managing Director Jun Del Rosario. And to further fortify their skills and talents, some of the Star Magic members said they enrolled in performance workshops in Los Angeles; lauded and supported by the network’s leaders and the community. The shows were made possible through the collaboration of Star Magic with iWantTFC and TFC. "Beyond the Stars" was co-presented with World Remit and Red Ribbon, with Tancinco Law as a major sponsor.
