By Boy Villasanta
Except for performers Garry Cruz, Xavier and Keif, most of the talents in Asia’s Sentimental Songstress Imelda Papin’s birthday concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Newport World Resorts on January 25, 2025 are the celebrator’s bloodline.
Simply dubbed “Imelda Papin Special Birthday Concert,” the show features, aside from the birthday girl, Maffi Papin Carrion, Aileen Grace Arcilla Papin, Zac Papin, Borj Papin and Gloria Belen, now renamed and known as Gloria Papin.
Because the Papins are basically musically minded and practically all singers, the filial engagement is a built-in performance. “We didn’t invite other singers outside the family except for Garry, Xavier and Keif,” said Aileen in an exclusive interview at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) where she holds office as Chief of Staff of Imelda A. Papin, one of the Directors of the agency.
A touch of the Jackson family—Michael, Janet, Jermaine, La Toya etc. or Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees etc. in foreign acts or the Valencianos (Gary, Angeli Pangilinan, Paolo and Gab) or the Cruzes and Cruzatas of Asia’s Timeless Diva Dulce (David Ezra, Jemimah and Abigail) etc. in the local musical clan.
It must be remembered that the Papins have been touring the whole country to stage concerts, the recent of which were in Pangasinan, Dagupan City and Manaoag.
“It’s part of our commitment to entertain Filipinos all throughout the country,” quipped Aileen Grace.
Imelda’s birthday concert is part of her continuing vision to give her fans the necessary musical support as panacea to life’s hardships although as a PCSO official, she reaches out altruistically to the needy.
“Imelda Papin Special Birthday Concert” is directed by filmmaker Gabby Ramos and Bobby Papin, Mel’s brother.