Love’s high stakes: OPM champions dazzle at the upcoming Valentine’s Day concert at the Marriott Grand Ballroom

The forthcoming concert, scheduled for February 14 at 8pm, is poised to be one not to be missed. Yet, as the artists and the creative team revealed during the launch, Champions of the Heart is far more than a parade of trophies and accolades.

Director John Prats, taking the helm for his first Valentine’s Day-themed concert, envisions a production that diverges from the saccharine clichés typical of the occasion. Embracing a sophisticated visual palette of solid gold and metallic black, elements reminiscent of royalty cards, Prats explores the metaphor of love as a high-stakes game.

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“I do believe that when you love, you gamble. It’s a risk that you take when you fall in love,” Prats mused, offering a poignant perspective on the show’s thematic undercurrent. “It feels good when you win, but when you lose, it really hurts deeply. But that doesn’t mean you are a loser. You gain something out of that love [experience].”

It is this emotional bravery that defines the ‘championship’ spirit of the evening. This title refers not only to the vocal competitions these artists have dominated but to the universal resilience required to navigate matters of the heart. As Nievera eloquently put it, the show celebrates the idea that “your heart is also a champion, and that your story is a championship worth pursuing.”

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In a refreshing departure from heavily orchestrated spectacles, the production team has opted for an organic approach to storytelling. Prats revealed that the concert will proceed without a proper, didactic script. “We believe that these artists, they were the writers of their own love stories. We want it to be organic,” he explained, noting that teleprompters will be reserved solely for sponsor acknowledgements.

This intimate format allows the artists to strip away the veneer of celebrity and connect with the audience on a profoundly human level. Nievera, a veteran of the stage, expressed his excitement for this collaborative dynamic. Unlike his usual duo performances, this quintet offers a rare opportunity for intricate blending and camaraderie among artists who have spent years performing together as ‘Kapamilya’ artists of ABS-CBN. “We’re no strangers to each other,” Nievera noted. “Different personalities, different musicalities... we’ve been together for so long that we know each other so well, that the blending and the gel-ling would come so naturally.”

The musical repertoire promises to be as diverse as it is moving, with musical director Marvin Querido’s orchestration ensuring a sonic feast. During the launch, the artists offered tantalising glimpses into the setlist, selecting songs that resonated with their personal journeys.

Vasquez, looking to bridge the generational divide through storytelling, captivated the members of the press during the launch with a rendition of Freddie Aguilar’s Minamahal Kita, teasing that such iconic tracks will find new life in the context of their life stories. Jona followed suit with a heartfelt performance of Handog by Florante, sharing a charming piece of trivia that the song was originally titled Bahay ng Langgam.

De Guzman, whose career is a testament to perseverance amidst rejection, chose to share her favourite, Almost Over You by Sheena Easton, while Madela, shifting focus from vocal acrobatics to relatability, crooned the timeless I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. Finally, Nievera anchored the afternoon with The Greatest Love of All, a fitting anthem for a cast that has mastered the art of self-love and artistic integrity.

Champions of the Heart offers more than a concert; it is a celebration of OPM’s enduring legacy housed within the premier leisure complex of Newport World Resorts. The venue itself, located across from NAIA Terminal 3, is a bastion of luxury, boasting five international hotel brands and a plethora of Tatler Best-listed dining options, ensuring that the Valentine’s experience can extend well beyond the final curtain call.

Whether you’re celebrating a romance that has weathered the storms or simply boasting about the resilience of your own heart, this event promises a night of standout performances and voices that hit straight to the heart.

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