Erik Santos in Star Studio Magazine, November 2010 Issue

THE POWER OF MUSIC

ERIK SANTOS’S RECENT CONCERT POWER OF ONE WAS NOT A CELEBRATION OF ERIK’S POWER ALONE – RATHER, IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT GIVE HIM THAT POWER

What makes a man truly powerful? Erik Santos answered the question at his recent Power of One concert at the Meralco Theater. Erik opened the show with a rousing rendition of the Broadway classic Corner of the Sky from the musical Pippin, on which he was backed by the UP Singing Ambassadors. Then he brought out some of today’s up-and-coming female singers, including YouTube sensations Krissy and Ericka, Emanuelle from the ABS-CBN kantaserye IDOL, K-La and Hanna Flores. A VTR that played before Erik performed with them called their segment a nod to the power of the youth.

Other guests included Rachelle Ann Go (who tore the roof off the Meralco Theater with her take on Over The Rainbow, afterwhich she talked at length about her friendship with Erik and how much she misses working with him and the rest of the ASAP XV people, some of whom were in the audience), Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez. Erik’s number with Martin was especially poignant because it served as proof of the power of a dream. Before they started singing, Erik told the audience that before he won Star in a Million, “nakipagtulakan ako sa mga tao sa CCP para lang makapanood ng concert ni Sir Martin. At nung kinanta niya ito” – referring to the Broadway medley – “sinabi ko sa sarili ko na kakantahin ko yan with him someday.”

But aside from the displays of vocal power courtesy of Erik and all his guests, what made the night truly memorable was that Erik took the time out to thank his family ad friends, including ex-girlfriend Rufa Mae Quinto – who was present that night – for always being there to support him, no matter what. You know what they say – love is the greatest power of all.
–Julian Mauricio

The Meralco Theater often hosts formal events like corporate shows and stage productions, so it was a surprise to some that Erik chose it to be the venue of his concert. But come showtime, the theater’s formal atmosphere was converted into a fun and casual concert venue thanks to Erik’s lively bantering with the audience. At one point, he made a pun out of the air-conditiong system in the theater and the show’s title, “Meralco, salamat sa ‘power’ n’yo. Kahit sobrang lamig ang aircon.” It was so cold, Erik joked, that his fingernails were starting to turn a different color!