Fourth-generation Platters in Love Playlist

Valentine’s Day celebrations have turned so elaborate they are extending the romance beyond Feb. 14.

LOVE PLAYLIST OF CARPENTERS AND PLATTERS. “We are not a tribute group, but the fourth generation of The Platters,” emphasized front man Donne Ray Radford, a fourth-generation member who performs with Laurie Briggs as Karen Carpenter and Douglas Masuda as the Elvis Presley of Japan doing the front act at the Midas Tent (Midas Hotel and Casino) on Feb. 14 and at Kia Theater, Araneta Center on Feb. 15, 8 p.m.
“We thank Beth (Mercado of Royale Chime Concerts and Events, Inc.) for bringing us again this year as she did last year, which was a wonderful experience for us,” shared the dapper and eloquent Donne Ray, who is even better than the other vocalists of the Platters.
Laurie has been touring the world for 15 years as Karen Karpenter and as part of the tribute act called The Karpenters. She opened the media conference with an extraordinary rendition of “Top of the World.” She revealed her fascination with Karen’s voice and music started when she was eight years old. “Her voice moved me and I started to emulate her ever since.”  
“Twenty-four carat gold-plated,” described Douglas of this elaborate belt a la Elvis bought from Graceland. He will add more romantic nostalgia and fun as he performs three hits from the King of Rock and Roll.
Tickets for the Feb. 15 show is only available at Ticketnet (911-5555). For the show at Midas Tent on Feb. 14, tickets are available at SM Tickets (472-2222), Ticketworld (891-9999 and Ticketnet (911-5555). Use your BDO (Banco De Oro) debit/credit card to purchase tickets at 20 percent discount. For more info, call (0918) 4972121 or (0906) 4180786.

ONE BILLION RISING (OBR). With the theme Rise for Revolution 2016, this year’s campaign will escalate the collective actions of mainly female activists worldwide, and amplify their call for systemic changes towards ending violence against women and girls once and for all.
OBR founder Eve Ensler and global director Monique lead the One Billion Rising activists their rising events, artistic uprisings, panel discussions, press conference, town halls, movies, articles, gatherings, poetry, art, posters, actions, and protests to take place at the Rizal Park, Manila, on Feb. 14 starting 8 a.m.
Eve and Monique Wilson will spend a week in the Philippines, in multiple cities particularly Cebu, Tacloban, Manila, Angeles City rising for and with a cross section of Filipina communities including Gabriela Women’s Party, comfort women, youth activists, labor activists, indigenous groups and more.
In Davao City on Feb. 12, they join with activists from many grassroots communities including workers, urban poor, peasants, teachers, students, women’s groups, community groups, families of migrants, LGBT groups, and groups for the rights of sex workers.
They join Lumad communities, who are currently displaced because of militarization and living in evacuation camps in the city as they rise for rights, against militarization, against mining and environmental plunder and against political oppression and killings.
Political will can accomplish the impossible as Eve pointed out. She cited the outlawing of genital mutilation by Gambia’s President ended the primitive practice against women directly as a result of the lead of One Billion Rising. “Continue the Revolution!” Eve stressed.

THE ROYALS. Regine Velasquez and PLDT Home DSL warm hearts this Valentine with ‘The Royals’ concert with Martin Nievera, Eric and Angeline Quinto on Feb. 13, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Photo shows the doting mother onstage with her only son Nate (left) and with PLDT VP and marketing director Gary Dujali (right) at her most recent presscon with PLDT Home. But being Mommy to four-year-old Nate is her utmost priority.
A typical day for Regine involves bringing Nate to school, picking him up and playing with him. She considers time as the most valuable thing she can give to her loved ones.  As her schedule gets filled up each day with rehearsals and shows, Regine is very happy with how technology helped her strengthen her connection with her family especially with Nate.  
It is essential for Regine to be connected at home and even on-the-go because Internet connection doesn’t only help her strengthen her relationship with her family, but also helps her push for what she is passionate about.
The new PLDT Home DSL Speedster Fam Plan 1299 now offers five times faster speeds of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps), the Speedster Fam Plan has shareable monthly data allowance of 50 gigabytes (GB).
To enjoy the Speedster Fam Plan’s data sharing feature, subscribers can get a Smart mobile line that comes with a free smart phone for an additional P299 per month or with a free iPhone for P799 per month. Subscribers can share 6 GB of the 50 GB monthly data allocation to up to four mobile phone lines, which they can use even outside the home. Bundled with the Speedster Fam Plan, these are all conveniently billed under one subscription.

HE SAID, SHE SAID. Catch RJ Dela Fuente and Julianne Tarroja in a special Valentine concert on Feb. 14 (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.) at 19 East, in Sucat, Paranaque, titled “He Said, She Said.” The show marks the very first mainstream collaboration between RJ and Julianne and offers the personal views and opinions of the two talented artists on love and relationships through a sampling of chart-topping love songs, anthemic “hugot” ballads and homegrown favorites.
RJ started singing in special concerts and events in California, USA as he appeared as a special guest in the shows of Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera and Brian McKnight. RJ was a contestant on American Idol season 10 and made it past the competition’s early rounds singing before judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steve Tyler. This year, he recorded Nonoy Zuniga’s “Never Say Goodbye,” which is part of the official soundtrack of TV 5’s Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap starring Cesar Montano, Diether Ocampo, Meg Imperial and Claudine Barretto.    
Multi-awarded singer Julianne, on the other hand, has been in the music industry since 2007 as she consistently shared her story through the songs she performed in the Philippines and Asia. Pegged as an inspirational artist who speaks to the youth and women of her generation, she inspires through her testimony of beauty, hope, and courage such as her breakthrough single “Tulak ng Bibig.”
Opening the show is singer-songwriter Josh Buizon with his pop-alternative band Over October.
For ticket reservations call 0928-6134905 and/or 0915-3082308.