LONDON - The Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Catherine Street in London was flocked by some 2,000 Pinoys for the comeback performance of Heartthrobs Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual with first rate comedienne Pokwang.
But this time, the group returned with another heartthrob in the person of award-winning actor and certified box-office star John Lloyd Cruz. Pokwang was not the only rose in the group as Bea Alonzo also came as guest performer.
Heartthrobs’ fans from all over the UK and many parts of the world queued up early afternoon on Sunday for the opening of the doors at 4.30 p.m.
In October last year, the Heartthrobs concert likewise attracted a couple of thousands Pinoys from various parts of the world to see the much-awaited performance of their favorite ABS-CBN stars in a musical night coupled with comedic riot.
Roldan Acenas and his family took a four-hour train ride from Swansea to London to watch his idol perform.
“Idol ko si Pokwang. Ang saya ko kapag nakikita ko siya. Ang misis ko naman si Piolo ang gusto,” Acenas said.
But this was nothing compared to die-hard Pascual fanatics who came all the way from Canada, US, Australia and Japan and some parts of Europe and have been following him in his European tour.
Piolo’s global fans
Flor calls herself a ‘Piolo addict.’ Last year she also flew from Canada to watch the Heartthrobs concert in London. She has also watched the Heartthrobs concert in Barcelona and Dublin before the final show in London.
“Love ko kasi si Piolo kaya sinusuportahan ko siya sa mga ginagawa niya. Dahil sa kanya marami akong na gain na friends all over the world. Hindi niya kami tinuturing na fans kundi kaibigan,” she said.
Teary- eyed and despondent that the last leg of the European concert was coming to an end, she said: “Last night na makikita ko siya. Matatagalan na naman bago ko siya makita uli. PJ, always remember that tita Flor is here for you.”
Last year she confided to ABS- CBN Europe News Bureau that she has started to consider Pascual the angel sent by God who saved her from committing suicide. Her personal problems which were aggravated by the loneliness of being away from family and working abroad drove her on the brink of depression. But when she got hooked on one of Pascual’s teleseries aired on TFC she forgot her problems and bounced back from depression. She said her life went back to normal.
Normal, but not anymore mundane as she has been constantly travelling to support her idol and ‘angel’.
Mommy Vin from Maryland, USA is also part of the close-knit circle of Pascual’s growing number of global fans.
“Gusto ko si Piolo kasi mabait, Christian, honest at love niya kami,” she said. She lost her luggage en route to London but she said having spent time with Piolo in London made up for her lost luggage.
“PJ has been always good to us so we want to show our support and because we have formed such good friendships, we wanted to meet each other, spend time together and bond. For us, bonus na makita namin si PJ na magkakasama kami,” said Anne from Australia.
The Heartthrobs concert was also a reunion for some of them who were here last year like Mahal and Flor. To bond with Pascual, they always make sure that they also stay in the same hotel where Pascual is billeted when he is travelling.
A night to remember
Heartthrobs put together an ensemble of music that wowed the audience. While Pokwang delivered comic relief punctuated with her trade mark punch lines, Milby, Cruz and Pascual belted out powerful renditions of songs that titillated their female fans.
For many of the Heartthrobs fans, it was a night to remember.
The London concert was produced by Kapamilya Fiesta in cooperation with KCC Productions. The concert also raised funds for the victims of the recent typhoons in the Philippines.
The amount raised during the event will be donated to Sagip Kapamilya. Kapamilya Fiesta will oversee the projects for the typhoon victims.
Before London, Heartthrobs also performed in other European cities such as Tel Aviv, Barcelona and Dublin.
as of 11/15/2009 7:36 PM
by Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, London | 11/14/2009 10:58 AM
Leave a Reply