CARLO AQUINO had a solo presscon for his first major solo concert, “Liwanag in Concert”, to be held on August 31 at Music Museum, directed by Frank Lloyd Mamaril. What does the “Liwanag” in the title stand for?
“Yung Liwanag, middle name ko yan, galing sa mother ko whose maiden name is Amelia Liwanag,” he explains. “Also, in this concert kasi, Direk Frank says audiences will see me in a new light dahil marami akong gagawin dito na ngayon ko lang gagawin. Kung ano yun, abangan nyo na lang.
"I’m really excited kasi nag-concert na ako before, but with Matteo (Guidicelli). Noon, pinag-uusapan lang but ngayon, totoo na. Ako na lang, solo, so kinakabahan din ako, but I promise to use my kaba so that I will give my best in the concert.”
Where did he get his knack for music? “Music-oriented ang family namin. My dad sings and I grew up listening to his favorite songs, like ‘Born Free’. Yung brother ko naman, member ng band, and tinuruan niya akong maggitara. Hirap na hirap nga siyang turuan ako kasi kaliwete ako, e.”
Will he have guests? “Yes, mostly my friends in the industry. Pero hindi pa finalized, e. Malalaman nyo na lang kapag malapit na ang concert ko. Basta I will do duets and production numbers with them. And yes, sasayaw rin ako, which I haven’t done since I was a teenager.”
He’s currently in the news now because his ex-GF Angelica Panganiban says she’ll never work with him again after they did the hit movie, “Exes Baggage” and the morning soap, “Playhouse”.
She said he made her “paasa” that they’ll be on again, then he’s suddenly seen dating some other girl. For this, he was bashed vehemently in social media. What can he say about this?
“What can I say, e yung bashers, kahit wala ka namang ginagawa, iba-bash ka. Nang pati ang mga taong mahal ko sa buhay na wala namang kinalaman sa showbiz, dinadamay pa nila, I turned off my account.
"Pero in-on ko rin uli later kasi nare-realized ko, hindi naman sila titigil dahil doon sila masaya. E, ako, masaya naman ako sa buhay ko ngayon, so pabayaan na lang sila. Heto nga, may solo concert ako and may bago akong movie, with Maine Mendoza, so sa work na lang ako magpo-focus muna.”
Is he still willing to work with Angelica? “Oo naman. Puede pa rin naman kaming gumawa ng pelikula. I believe that in time, mangyayari rin yun. Ako naman, nag-sorry ako sa kanya, e. Yung feelings niya, they’re valid.
"So whatever she feels, ibigay na natin yun sa kanya. Basta nag-sorry ako, maraming beses, sincerely. Ilang ulit na kaming nagkausap, e. Yung ibang tao lang, alam nang may apoy, binubuhusan pa ng gasul para mas lumaki.”
For tickets to Carlo’s “Liwanag in Concert”, just call Ticketworld at 891-999, Music Museum at 721-0635 and 721-6726 and his producer, Hills & Dreams, at 0977-7818540
