JERRY OLEA
NKKLK ang Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren sa NINA XX: The Anniversary Celebration noong Mayo 9, 2026, Sabado ng gabi, sa Newport Performing Arts Theater, Pasay City.
Mahigit dalawang oras ang soldout concert.
Kasama si Nina sa lahat ng numbers.
Walang solo number/s ang tatlong panauhin niyang sina Thor, Kris Lawrence, at Jay Durias. Ka-duet lang sila ni Nina.
Ang pahinga ni Nina ay kapag ipapalabas ang AVP (audio-visual presentation), na pagkakataon na rin para magpalit siya ng gown.
Hanggang sa huli, todo huni at birit siya.
“True!!!! And to think na nag-run through kami ng buong show from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. and she didn’t skip a song during the run,” pagtatapat ng concert director na si Calvin Neria.
NINA TEASES KRIS LAWRENCE
Nag-duet sina Nina at Kris Lawrence ng "Have You Ever" at "How Can We Be Lovers."
Binati ni Kris si Nina at ang mga beautiful nanay sa audience ng, “Happy Mother’s Day!”
Sabi ni Kris: “Nina has taken me to the States twice in the past five years, and into two US tours. And sobrang nakilala ko si Nina, and napakabait na tao.
“She has such a pure, genuine soul. And I just want to say congratulations, Nina, on your 20th year.”
Tugon ni Nina, “Thank you so much, Kris. So, ano ba… friends ba kayo?”
Napahiyaw ang audience, at kahit hindi banggitin ang pangalan ni Katrina Halili ay sapul na sapul sa tanong ni Nina.
Pagpapatuloy ni Nina: “Di ba, siyempre, maraming kinikilig, Kris. Ano ba yan? Kinikilig ba kayo?
"So ano, friends kayo? So how can you be lovers kung hindi kayo friends? So, friends ba kayo?”
“Ahh well, of course, we’re friends,” sambit ni Kris.
Sundot ni Nina, “Oo, totoo tonight, pero… may pero…”
Sey ni Kris, “Pero… of course, we’re just trying take it step by step.”
Napatango si Nina, “Oo, step by step.”
“Step by step, pero nakailang steps na siguro,” pakli ni Kris, at nagkatawanan sila ni Nina.
Read: Nina balances Soul Siren persona with simple family life
NOEL FERRER
Naka-duet ni Nina si Thor sa "The Closer I Get To You" at "Burn."
Nagsalo naman sina Nina at Jay Durias sa "Love of My Life" at "Saving Forever For You."
Apat na kanta ni “Pareng Barry” [Manilow] ang nasa medley — "Somewhere Down The Road," "Even Now," "One of These Days," at "Weekend in New England."
Tatlo ang kanta niya sa dance medley — "Second Floor," "Heaven," at "Make You Mine."
Sinundan iyon ng tatlo ring kanta sa Diane Warren medley — "I’ll Never Get Over You," "Love Will Lead You Back," at "Unbreak My Heart."
NINA'S SIGNATURE SONGS
Nakiki-sing along ang audience sa mga kanta, lalo na sa mga huling kanta na pinakahihintay ng mga manonood.
"I Love You, Goodbye."
"Jealous."
"Someday."
"Foolish Heart."
"Through The Fire."
Bagama’t fake ending yung "Through The Fire" ay may pakonti-konti nang umalis.
Siyempre, hindi matatapos ang concert kung hindi kakantahin ni Nina ang encore number na "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways."
Napaluha si Nina noong aawitin na niya ang huling linya nito.
Read: WHAT PEP KNOWS. Bea Alonzo-Vincent Co Wedding: Is it on or is it off?
GORGY RULA
Labinsiyam ang mga kanta sa album na Nina Live! (2005).
Labing-isa sa mga ito ang kinanta ni Nina sa concert niya noong Sabado night.
Kabilang diyan ang "Colored Kisses," "Sweet Thing," "Steep," "Sunlight," "The Closer I Get To You," "Burn," "Piano in the Dark," "I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend," "I Love You, Goodbye," "Through The Fire," at ang first single na "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways."
Bahagi ng spiel ni Nina bago kantahin ang "I Love You, Goodbye": “So, we are finally at the part of the night na siguradong kantahan na naman. Kakantahin natin ang mga songs.
“There are songs kasi that stayed with us through the years. The songs that became part of heartbreaks, healing, mga coffee sessions, midnight drives, ganyan.
“Love stories. Ready na ba kayo?”
Nag-"yeah" ang audience kaya ang sambit ni Nina: “Yan, ready na sila! So, itong song na ito is yung lagi ko namang sinasabi, para sa mga kaka-break lang, kakahiwalay lang.
“Tapos tinatawag-tawagan pa ng ex, no… so, final words that you have to say to your ex, pag tumawag.
“Sabihin mo ang words na ito, right? Para hindi na siya tatawag. Kasi, baka naman utangan ka pa.”
Napahalakhak ang audience at gets na gets ang biro ni Nina.
Dagdag ng Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren: “May problema ba tayo sa utang? Wala naman, di ba?
“Baka humingi ka pa ng pambili ng sapatos, pan-GCash, ganyan. Pag tumawag, ito na yung sabihin mo sa kanya, OK?”
Ang NINA XX: The Anniversary Celebration ay prinodyus ng EchoJham Entertainment Production at SynthX.
Ang musical director ay si Soc Mina, at ang publicist ay si Jemuel Salterio.
The show is co-presented by GAOC by Dr. Steve Mark Gan and sponsored by Philippine Airlines (The Heart of the Filipino), Discovery Suites Manila, Aqua Sweet, Papa's Chow, The Manila Bulletin, FuliTech Innovative Advertising, 96.3 FM, and Mellow 947 FM.