A rare onstage appearance of a local music legend was a dream come true for a young artist.
It came during Version 4.0's seventh weekly gig at the Hard Rock Café in Glorietta 3, Makati City last August 12.
After dishing out such pop and rock classics as Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" and Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" midway through their second set, Pinoy Dream Academy Season 1 scholar Panky Trinidad, one of the band's vocalists, introduced Pinoy rock music icon Sampaguita as their special guest that night.
"This is what I've been waiting for... to sing with one of my heroes in OPM," said Panky excitedly.
Sampaguita responded by saying, "I'm here because Panky is rock ‘n roll! Sayawan naman! We need some energy, I need it!" The female artist then enjoined the crowd to dance along as they performed the former's signature hits, the 1970s' "Bonggahan" and the 1989 classic "Nosi Ba Lasi."
PEP
(Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Panky how she felt about fuldilling her
dream to perform with Sampaguita. "I'm overwhelmed, sobra, medyo hindi pa nagsi-sink
in sa akin. Of course, I'm very, very happy... I love Tita Sam!"
Just last week, in an exclusive interview with PEP, Panky shared her vision of collaborating
with Sampaguita, if given the chance. "Gustung gusto ko siyang makatrabaho
talaga... Lumaki kasi ako sa music ng mga rock legend na katulad niya," she said
in that interview.
As for Sampaguita, she says that she likes Panky's band, Version 4.0, very much.
"I'm very happy knowing that. I think good dreams begets good dreams, kumbaga
happiness begets happiness. Kung happy si Panky, happy din ako. It's like ang
energy namin ang nag-aandar sa saya namin. I like Panky because she's rock ‘n
roll! I like this band, Version 4.0, very much. This is my favorite band for
now."
That night, she was accompanied by her daughter Jacinta.
Aside from Panky, Version 4.0 is composed of Dex de Rosa (also a former WCOPA participant), Jem Marquez (member of The Siblings, who won the grand prize in the now-defunct Fam Jam! talent search aired on QTV a few years ago, and also competed in WCOPA), and Jaylee Orpiano (Marianas Idol '05 champion). The band is managed by KB Entertainment Unlimited, Inc.
Asked by the press on her thoughts of reuniting with her contemporaries, like Mike Hanopol, Pepe Smith, Hebert Bartolome, Sampaguita related: "Sana, sana, we can do that sometime in the near future, because I really miss them very much. Kaya lang, kailangan medyo mawala muna kami sa eksena to give way to other people, kumbaga, turn by turn. Kung panahon namin, panahon naminulit. It will be a good reunion kung kami'y magkasama-sama ulit."
The 63-year-old Sampaguita, who does a lot of interior designing these days, admitted that she's mellowing down now, but hopes she can write more songs to make people happy. "Alam mo naman ako, masayahing tao. I want everyone to be happy. Ayoko yung mga sadness, kasi mabigat na yung dinadala, tapos dadagdag pa ako."
Sampaguita also appealed to the local music industry to give importance to what she considers a minority kind of music in the Philippines. "Come on, let's give rock ‘n roll a chance. Ang daming balladeers, mga bumibirit... Kami naman, para masaya at para sa mga kabataan na rin! I like people to have more happy songs. I think the Filipino youth today are like, they're so young, pero nagkakantahan na ng ‘iniwanan mo', lalala...Depressing na, pero ang bagets-bagets pa."
For her, young Pinoy artists just need a little more time to hone and showcase their musical talent. "Para hindi masyadong maging sabik ‘yung mga bata. Give them a little more time. It's all production numbers kasi ngayon. Give chance to new groups."
As she thanked her fans and all rock and roll music aficionados for their support, Sampaguita encourage everyone to "be happy, pray, rock ‘n roll and then pray again." "Just be happy. Say no to drugs. Pray to God always for your safety. God bless and love everyone. Keep on rockin', with love and peace! Rock ‘n roll, rock ‘n roll, rock ‘n roll!" she energetically ended.
After the resounding number with Sampaguita, Version 4.0 also did impromptu
jamming with World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) 2009 Junior Grand
Champion Performer of the World Rhap Salazar and Pinoy folk music icon Freddie
Aguilar‘s daughter, Maegan Aguilar, who were among those in the audience. Rhap,
who, like Panky, is also co-managed by KB Entertainment and ABS-CBN's Star
Magic, sang The Jackson 5/Mariah Carey classic "I'll Be There" and Beyoncé's
"Listen", to the delight of both local and foreign spectators. Maegan owned the
stage for some four minutes with her booming rendition of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet
Child O' Mine."
Among those spotted by PEP enjoying the good food
and great music were the KB Entertainment team, led by its owner, Kitchie
Benedicto and her daughter, KB Entertainment president Christine Rosales; Eat, Bulaga! and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Director Bert de Leon; Traders
Hotel's Pia Asistio and husband Andy Asistio; Lighting Entertainment Designs
(LED), Inc.'s Paulo Paulino; WCOPA '09 acting champion Guy Lockwood; Alegra
Music's and one of Version 4.0's managers, Marie Gutierrez; radio personality
DJ Long Tall Howard; former Are You The
Next Big Star contender Alexa Ortega.