Ipagdiriwang ng singer and actor na si Raymond Lauchengco ang kanyang 40th anniversary sa showbiz sa isang major concert titled Raymond Lauchengco: Just Got Lucky na gaganapin sa The Theatre at Solaire on November 23, Saturday, 8:00 P.M.
Ang kantang "Just Got Lucky" ay kabilang sa soundtrack ng iconic teen movie na Bagets noong dekada ‘80 na pinagbidahan nina Raymond, William Martinez, Herbert Bautista, JC Bonnin at Aga Muhlach.
Kabilang sa mga sikat na kanta ni Raymond ang “I Need You Back,” “Farewell,” “So, It’s You” at ang classic song na “Saan Darating Ang Umaga?” na likha ni George Canseco.
Panimula ni Raymond, “In my heart, I’m still a fumbling 18-year-old trying to make sense of life.”
Naging abala sa shows sa loob at labas ng bansa, ibinahagi ng 59-year-old artist na ito ang tamang panahon para ipagdiwang ang bagong milestone sa kanyang buhay.
Ito raw ang kanyang paraan para magpasalamat sa publiko na tumangkilik sa kanyang karera bilang singer at actor.
“It’s my way of giving thanks because these are the people who have been the same to me for the last 40 years and who continue to listen to me so I really, really want to express my gratitude,” lahad niya.
“And the way I feel I can best achieve that is by bringing my audiences back to the time where it all started — the fabulously fun '80s.
“So the show is going to be an '80s show where I’ll not just be singing my hits but songs and beloved ballads from the '80s.
“And to make it really fun, I’m going to be doing fast songs with dancers, which I am not known for. So, I will be needing your prayers,” sabay tawa ni Raymond.
“I’ll be doing Rick Astley. I want it to be really fun. I want people to walk out of the theater thinking, ‘Oh my God. It’s really good to be alive! Even if we are older now,’” natatawang sabi pa ni Raymond.
Special guest performer sa Just Got Lucky 40th anniversary concert ni Raymond si Bituin Escalante.
Ang direktor ng Just Got Lucky ay si Waya Gallardo na anak ng batikang singer na si Celeste Legaspi, habang si Marvin Querido (formerly of Neocolors) naman ang musical director.
Ginanap ang mediacon ng Raymond Lauchegco: Just Got Lucky sa isang exclusive function room sa East Ocean Palacea Restaurant sa Parañaque City noong October 2, 2024.
Read: Into The '80s concert brings together music icons
RAYMOND LAUCHENGCO ON SHARON CUNETA
Bilang baguhang artista noon ay pinalad siyang makasama sa pelikula si Megastar Sharon Cuneta sa mga pelikulang Cross My Heart (1982) at Bukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala (1984); pati na rin si Diamond Star Maricel Soriano sa Saan Darating ang Umaga (1983).
Inamin ni Raymond na isa si Sharon sa kanyang mga celebrity crush noon.
“Sharon discovered me. A lot of people didn’t know that.
“She was actually my first celebrity crush. And at that time, she was going to IS [International School],” pag-amin ni Raymond.
One day nakita raw siya ni Sharon kasama ang kanyang parents at sisters. Siya lang daw ang only guy among his sisters kaya napansin siya.
Balik-tanaw ni Raymond: “She goes, ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Oh, that’s my son.’ Siyempre may yabang-yabang.
“And then, I was cast in her movies. I stayed where she was recording. So, Sharon started it all for me.
“And can you imagine was it like for me to be this close with my first celebrity crush? You know, in front of the camera singing with her. It was awesome!"
RAYMOND LAUCHENgCO ON MEETING MARICEL SORIANO
Natuto raw siya sa pag-arte nang sumabak sa pelikula ni Maricel.
Sa first shooting day pa lang daw ng Saan Darating Ang Umaga? ay naranasan niya ang matarayan ng Diamond Star.
“I was late,” balik-tanaw ni Raymond.
“I was late because I was double-booked.
“I was with Vicor and Viva, and both of them gave me call slips at the same time. I don’t remember the time."
Pero tandang-tanda ni Raymond ang eksenang dinatnan niya noon sa set ng pelikula.
Lahad pa niya: “Let’s say it was two o’clock. How can I be in two places at the same time? One had me singing and the other reporting on set.
“They said, ‘Oh, don’t worry, we’ll take care of it. You sing first and then you go to the movie set later. So, I was, like, mga two hours late.
“And then I found out, Maricel had not been told. Nobody explained the situation to her.
“So, I walked in on Maryo J. Delos Reyes and he was really calm. He told me, ‘Raymond, kausapin mo si Marya."
Bad shot agad si Raymond kay Maricel.
Pagpapatuloy ni Raymond: "Remember, this is the first time we’re meeting, okay? So, I walked into her dressing room and I said, ‘I’m so sorry this all happened.
"And then, she looked at me from head to toe. And she said, ‘Ano pa nga ba?!?’ And she storms out.
"And I was like, ‘Oh, my God! My knees were shaking. I was trying to collect myself. I tried to compose myself.
"And two minutes later, a PA [personal assistant] comes in and says, ‘Sir, puwede ituloy yung pictorial now.
"And the pictorial was me and Maricel embracing each other. Hahaha!
“So, those are moments that really stand out."
Pero sinabi rin ni Raymond na isa si Maricel sa mga naging mabuting kaibigan niya sa showbiz.
“But, you know, later on, just like Sharon, Maricel became a very, very good friend to me. And she called me a lot, you know.
“She was like, ‘You should always know where the camera is. You should always look for the light.’ She always told me things that only seasoned actors know about.
“But the first encounter? Uhmm… not so thrilling! Not so thrilling!”
Read: Raymond Lauchengco and his shift from pop-rock stardom to balladeer
RAYMOND'S LOW-PROFILE LOVE LIFE
Bukod kay Sharon na first celebrity crush ni Raymond, hindi masyadong nalantad sa publiko ang tungkol sa love life ni Raymond.
Inamin naman ni Raymond na meron siyang mga na-date na female celebrities noon.
“Uh, I dated quite a few of the girls….hahaha.
“I dated Dawn [Zulueta]. I wanted to date Sharon but that would never happen because you know… baby brother, baby brother [treatment ni Sharon sa kanya]. But, yeah.
“Maricel? I became very fond of Maricel. And I had a crush on her while we were filming.
“Because once you get to know her, she’s very sweet. She’s very sweet. And yeah, I had a crush on her too.
“But after the movie, wala na. We never really saw each other anymore.”
Pero isa lang daw talaga ang artista na nakarelasyon niya sa showbiz.
“I already said it kanina,” na ang tinutukoy ni Raymond ay walang iba kundi si Dawn.
Naging sila bago nakarelasyon ni Dawn si Monsour del Rosario.
“I think so,” sabay tango ni Raymond.
Nagtagal sila?
“Hindi,” mabilis niyang sagot.
RAYMOND’S SHOWBIZ HIATUS
Matapos ang peak ng career ni Raymond noong ‘80s hanggang ‘90s, nag-lie low sa showbiz si Raymond.
Lahad niya: “The problem with life is that it’s too short for all of one’s dreams and I’ve had many, many dreams.
“Unfortunately, sometimes that would mean having to put singing in the backseat.
“Because I wanted to become a professional photographer. My dream was to do exhibits and have a studio. And so I gave myself time to explore that creative restlessness.
"And then all of a sudden, I wanted to become a director.
"Why? Because all my mentors were directors. So I wanted to experience what it would be like stepping into those shoes. Lo and behold, that took 20 years for me. I directed over 500 projects, including film and theater, lots of concerts, etcetera.
“And then during the pandemic, I got forced to stop, everything stopped.
RAYMOND ON FEELING “VERY, VERY BLESSED”
Inamin ni Raymond na malaki pa rin ang kanyang pasasalamat na muli niyang nababalikan ang kanyang first love: ang kanyang pagkanta.
“The thing is, I have always gone back to singing because singing is my first love and one of the reasons why we are calling this show Just Got Lucky is because every time I return to singing, audiences embrace me – without judgment, without question.
“So feeling ko talaga, I’m very lucky.
“The more appropriate term is, I’ve been very, very blessed.
“I don’t think we can accomplish all our dreams in one lifetime so i think we have time.
“I’ve gotten to a point in my life where most of the restlessness has settled. I’ve tried pretty much all the major things that I’ve wanted to try."
Bilang bahagi ng 40 years niyang career sa showbiz ang Bagets at Saan Darating Ang Umaga?, may aasahan ba ang audience niya sa Just Got Lucky na magkakaroon ng special appearance sa concert ang co-stars niya mula sa mga nabanggit na pelikula?
Sagot ni Raymond: “All of them are invited. Because 40 years of me is 40 years of them. So, I wanna celebrate that, di ba? So, they’re all invited.”
May nag-confirm na sa kanya?
“Well, the girls have confirmed. Si Aga wants to go. He’ll be here in Manila.
“Herbert is kinda busy with his stuff. But, they’re all invited. And I would love it if they will be there, because this is surely about them.
“Alam mo, tama si GR [Girlie Rodis, his manager and one of the producers of the concert].
“I wasn’t keen on celebrating my 40th anniversary. It never really occurred to me, initally. Because I didn’t want it to be about me.
“It only made sense when I realized it wasn’t just about me.
“It’s about the audiences I sing for. It’s about them. It’s about you. It’s about saying thank you to them.
“So, that’s what I like to celebrate and that also includes the Bagets. I’m hoping that they will come.”
What about Maricel?
“Maricel is definitely invited,” sagot ni Raymond.
Read: Raymond Lauchengo builds modern doll house for daughter Nat