PeopleAsia soars on the wings of music and memories on its 20th year

Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano shouts for joy at the People of The Year 202o awards night.

The evening’s highlight was easily Gary V’s two-song number. By the time the two-time “People of the Year” awardee segued into his second number, members of the well-heeled crowd were already up on their feet either dancing or capturing “Mr. Pure Energy’s” every move on stage with their smartphones.

By the time he segued into his second number, members of the well-heeled crowd are already up on their feet dancing to Gary's music
By the time he segued into his second number, members of the well-heeled crowd are already up on their feet dancing to Gary’s music.

With some of the country’s best of the best in their chosen fields, including Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Alliance Global’s Dr. Andrew Tan, Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation’s Alice Eduardo, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Chef Jessie Sincioco and Sen. Sonny Angara, gracing the event, PeopleAsia magazine soared to greater heights as it celebrated its 20th anniversary Thursday evening with a star-studded Soaring ’20s: “People of the Year”  2020 Awards Night and Musicale at Okada Manila’s Grand Ballroom.

Babe Romualdez, ,Miguel Belmonte
Former Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Babe Romualdez, Manny Pangilinan and PeopleAsia Vice Chairman Miguel Belmonte

Apart from the formal recognition of this year’s awardees, the evening’s highlight was easily Gary V’s two-song number, which he kicked off with his signature hit Shout for Joy. By the time he segued into his second number, a fast and soulful rendition of some of Earth, Wind and Fire’s classic hits, members of the well-heeled crowd were already up on their feet either dancing or capturing “Mr. Pure Energy’s” every move on stage with their smartphones.

People of the Year awardees Myrna Yao, chef Jessie Sincioco and Kathryn Bernardo.
People of The Year 2002 awardees Myrna Yao, chef Jessie Sincioco and Kathryn Bernardo

The ageless Gary, who fed off the crowd’s energy, was in his element, as he danced on stage with two much younger members of the new Manoeuvres. He wasn’t complaining, but during his short spiel, he shared with his fans that there have been times when he felt his age. If he did, it didn’t show that night, as Gary, a two-time “People of the Year” awardee, basked in the audience’s adulation.

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PeopleAsia’s editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, Christine Dayrit, Miguel Belmonte, Marivic Rufino and The Philippine STAR’s Bum Tenorio

Completing this year’s list of POY awardees are box-office queen Kathryn Bernardo, Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco, Henann Group of Resorts’ Dr. Henry Chusuey, AirAsia’s Sheila Romero, Okada Manila’s Takashi Oya, Rich Prime Global’s Myrna Yao and “doctor to the stars” Dr. Vicki Belo. Eduardo, Tan, Chusuey, Romero and Bernardo graced the cover of the magazine’s special 20th-anniversary edition released last December.

People of the Year 2013 awardee Kuh Ledesma.
People of the Year 2013 awardee Kuh Ledesma

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, PeopleAsia’s publisher, president and chief executive officer on leave, and PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez led in formally awarding this year’s batch of awardees.

Kathryn Bernardo and Dr. Aivee Teo
Kathryn Bernardo and Dr. Aivee Teo

The night’s top award, The Max V. Soliven Lifetime Achievement Award, named after PeopleAsia’s founding publisher, was given to the late Betty Go-Belmonte. As founding chairman of the Philippine STAR and its charity arm Operation Damayan, Betty was honored for her works as a journalist, pillar of the free press and for her advocacy programs that continue to help multitudes to this day.

POY 2020 WEBSITE PHOTOS27
Philip and Small Laude, Alice Eduardo, Nympha Valencia, Kevin Tan and Jojie Dingcong

Receiving the award on her behalf was her husband, former Speaker of the House Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. and their son Miguel G. Belmonte, president and CEO of the Philippine STAR.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who shot into national prominence for his swift cleanup and restoration of Divisoria, Quiapo, Escolta and other places in the country’s capital, received the “People’s Choice Award” from Romualdez. “Yorme” also received the “Volvo Ironmark” Award from the luxury car brand’s president and CEO lawyer Albert Arcilla and marketing head Chris Yu.

Ligaya Salonga, Preciosa Soliven, Jon De Guzman, Sarah Soliven-De Guzman and Lea Salonga
Ligaya Salonga, Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, Jon De Guzman, Sarah Soliven-De Guzman and awardee Lea Salonga

National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera also received a “Special Award for Arts and Culture.”

Adding a much-needed respite to all the excitement was  “People of the Year” 2013 awardee Kuh Ledesma who led in a special in memoriam number to honor mentors, former colleagues and past awardees, who have since passed on.

Miguel Belmonte, Ben Cab and Joanne Rae Ramirez
Miguel Belmonte, special awardee Ben Cab and Joanne Rae Ramirez

Also gracing the stage were musical sensations Jon Joven and Yanah Laurel, who performed pop and Broadway standards with the Marcy David Orchestra, while celebrity host Bianca Valerio led the evening’s ceremonies.

Atty. Albert Arcilla, awardee Takashi Oya and Joanne Rae Ramirez
Atty. Albert Arcilla, awardee Takashi Oya and Joanne Rae Ramirez
Dr. Gap Legaspi, Tootsy Angara, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Sen. Sonny Angara
Dr. Gap Legaspi, Tootsy Angara with awardees Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Sen. Sonny Angara

Directed by Miguel Miñana of Theme Works Events and styled by Dave Sandoval, PeopleAsia’s Soaring ‘20s: “People of the Year” 2020 Awards Night was brought to you by Okada Manila, Volvo, Sta. Elena Construction, Megaworld, Pilipinas Shell, PLDT-Smart, Smarthouse Corp., Eastwest Banking Corporation, Oman Air, The SM Store, Belo Medical Group, Ultherapy and Merz Philippines, San Miguel Corp., Philippine Gaming and Amusements Corp., I AM Worldwide, The Dalmore Single Malt Whiskey, One Earth Organics, Philippine Wine Merchants, Corona and Stolichnaya and The Philippine STAR.

Alice Eduardo, Joanne Rae Ramirez, Sheila Romero and Jojie Dingcong
Awardee Alice Eduardo with Joanne Rae Ramirez, awardee Sheila Romero and Jojie Dingcong
POY 2020 WEBSITE PHOTOS2
Lucien Dy Tioco, awardee Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat and Mitch Suarez
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Bernd Schneider, Johnny Litton, Henry Howard and Fausto Preysler
Chris Yu, Manila mayor Isko Moreno, Philippine Ambassador to U.S. Babe Romualdez and lawyer Albert Arcilla
Chris Yu, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Babe Romualdez and Atty. Albert Arcilla
Kathryn Bernardo and Michael Cinco
Awardees Kathryn Bernardo and Michael Cinco

A musical extravaganza and awards show rolled into one, a special feature on the event will be aired on “One News” on Cignal TV Channel 250 HD this Sunday, 7:30 p.m., February 23.