Marvin Agustin and Valerie Concepcion
headline this year’s entertainment roster for "Aliwan Fiesta"
when they host the awarding ceremonies on May 3 in a
glittering program on Sotto Street, fronting the Aliw Theatre
at the CCP Complex on Roxas Boulevard.
A grand production number fusing neo-ethnic
touches with nuances of musical theater opens the program, as
performed by West End veterans Isay Alvarez and Robert Sena,
backed by guest instrumentalists led by Diwa de Leon of
Makiling Ensemble on the two-stringed hega-long,
Kalinga music master Benny Sokkong on nose flute and
percussion, Julliard Vergara of Banda Kawayan on the
tuba-sounding bumbong, and pop-jazz-rock violinist Jay
Cayuca. Spicing up the event will be spot numbers by R& B
specialist Luke Mejares and new South Border vocalist Pido.
The Reyna ng Aliwan pageant, scheduled on
May 2, will be hosted by the debonair Bobby Yan, with sterling
musical performances by Philippine Idol finalist Gian
Magdangal and television hearthhrob Jay-R.
"Pasakalye 2008," which kicks off the
Aliwan Fiesta celebrations today, May 1, with an
interscholastic dance showdown, will feature guest
performances by Mocha, 6 Cycle Mind, Shamrock, and Calla Lily,
plus the wacky hit tandem of "Balasubas and Balahura"– 90.7
Love Radio’s Chris Tsuper and Nicole Hyala.
Now on its sixth year, Aliwan Fiesta promises to be a
spectacular cultural extravaganza, with Manila Broadcasting
Company and the Cultural Center of the Philippines gathering
the country’s most popular festivals, in cooperation with the
cities of Manila and Pasay and with the support of Smart
Buddy, Tanduay, Enervon, Biogesic, Coca-Cola, Scotch Brite,
Dunkin’ Donuts, and McDonald’s.
