Sarah Geronimo has a lot to thank for as the Year of the Ox draws to a close

After the phenomenal success at the box office of “A Very Special Love” in 2008, Sarah proved her pulling power by chalking up another record grosser with the sequel, “You Changed My Life” at the start of this year.

But it’s not only on the silver screen that Sarah has proved herself to be crowd drawer.

“Record Breaker,” her concert last month at the Araneta Coliseum, lived up to its name, topping her three previous packed shows at the Big Dome, and certifying her as the new, undisputed concert queen.

As a performer, Sarah is indefatigable. She was on road for the most the year, performing to Pinoy audiences in the US and Europe with The Next One Tour. Upon returning home, she hardly had time to unpack her bags before pushing off again for The Next One Philippine Tour.

In the recording scene, Sarah was also blazing new trails with chart-topping albums. Her “Sarah Geronimo’s Your Christmas Girl,” released just last month, is no. 1 among local Christmas albums.

Not only that, Sarah is on the A-list of the most sought-after commercial endorsers. TV ads and billboards show her promoting food products, cosmetics and computer schools.

“This year has been a truly fulfilling one for me. I have a lot to thank God for,” she admits.

“At this point in my career, I couldn’t ask for anything more. In fact, it makes me even more determined to improve myself because I don’t want to let my fans down. I owe a lot to them.”

Now that election season is approaching, many are wondering if Sarah will be endorsing any candidate. Three presidential bets are said to be after her, but it all depends on her boss, Vic del Rosario.


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Sarah Geronimo's Record Breaker concert lives up to its name

For Sarah Geronimo, there's no place like home. Proving anew her status as a certified crowd-drawer, the young singer performed her fourth concert Record Breaker before a jampacked crowd last night, November 7, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.



Sarah endearingly calls the Big Dome "home"—a claim she can rightfully make as all of her major concerts since 2005 have been done at the historical indoor sports stadium.



Each year has seen a notable increase in audience size and last night's concert perhaps drew the biggest gate attendance of all of Sarah's major concerts.



Much, of course, has changed since Sarah's solo concert last year. Aside from the platinum selling records, the former Star of the Night big winner is now also a certified box office actress, as proven by the strong showing of her two romantic-comedy films opposite John Lloyd Cruz: A Very Special Love (2008) and You Changed My Life (2009).



REINVENTING SARAH. Now a blooming young lady at 21, the Pop Princess has chosen the right path—concerts like Record Breaker—to gradually distance herself from the cute teenybopper image she had nurtured since her first foray into the spotlight as a shy but determined 14-year-old.



Sarah opened the evening with the energy-driven dance number "Unstoppable" before changing gears to "Love Game."



Sarah's repertoire that evening meandered from dance to pop cover tunes. Her beautiful rendition of Beyonce Knowles' "Broken-Hearted Girl" was one of the most appreciated. But eager crowd reaction was reserved for her early hits, like "Sa Iyo" (given an R&B arrangement that evening) and "Dahil Minahal Mo Ako."



ASAP '09 and Champions colleague Christian Bautista appeared as Sarah's first guest. Christian performed a medley of hits originally popularized by balladeer and prolific songwriter Jose Mari Chan. Next, Sarah and Christian performed a duet of "Please Be Careful With My Heart." Incidentally, Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez, who originally recorded the song with Jose Mari years ago, was in the audience that night.



Viva Records' new all-girl group, Pop Girls, joined Sarah in singing the infectious South Korean pop hit, "Nobody." Speaking of going international, Filipino-British Charlie Green of Britain's Got Talent performed "The Way You Looked Tonight" with his "Ate Sarah." As a new addition to Viva Records' growing list of young talents, Charlie brandished those extraordinary pipes fit for standard tunes through the songs "For Once in My Life," followed by the classic Filipino ballad, "Dahil Sa Iyo."



Sarah paid tribute to the legacy left by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, by interpreting "One Day In My Life," "Ben," "I'll Be There," and the defiant "They Don't Care About Us."



Billy Crawford, Vhong Navarro and Luis Manzano teamed up with Sarah in dishing out the music of the popular American '90s boy band, Backstreet Boys.



REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. Sarah became very emotional while talking about her struggles when she was still a beginner trying to make it big in the industry inundated by talents and aspiring singers.



Though she has gradually moved away from the old signature hits that made her a household name, Sarah knew by heart the importance of the songs that propelled her to the top and the expectations of the fans to hear them. A medley of the songs "Forever's Not Enough," "How Could You Say You Love Me," and her winning piece, which was a cover of Celine Dion's "To Love You More," brought back memories of the old Sarah.



As expected, the concert was well-attended by celebrities and other key figures in the industry. Aside from Regine Velasquez, other personalities spotted by PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) inside the venue were Anne Curtis, Iya Villania, Denise Laurel, Rachelle Ann Go, Amber, Rayver Cruz (Sarah's rumored admirer), cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo and daughter Cristalle Henares, ABS-CBN lady executives Cory Vidanes and Malou Santos, and Viva Entertainment boss Vic Del Rosario.



One of the evening's highlights was Sarah performing the theme songs of her two hit movies, "A Very Special Love" and "You Changed My Life," complete with film scenes playing on the background wall screen.



And just like in previous years during her concerts, the audience, most notably loyal supporters, were hoping for some major announcement from their idol regarding the true status of her romantic life.



Nothing earthshaking came as Sarah maintained that she remains single and unattached. However, it didn't mean she wasn't looking and hopeful. After singing the last line of the yearning ballad "Right Here Waiting," Sarah—with the strain of the poignantly familiar notes of the song still ringing from the coliseum speakers—beamingly announced: "Kung sino ka man, dumating ka na!"



The Pop Princess has grown up, indeed, in more ways than one.


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Regine Velasquez and Sarah Geronimo win in the 1st Star Awards for Music

Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez did not expect to win an award in the first Star Awards for Music of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), held last night, October 29, at the Sky Dome, SM North EDSA in Quezon City.



In her speech after receiving the Best Female Recording Artist of the Year award, Regine said, "Okay na sa akin 'yong tinanggap ko ang awards para kay Ogie."



She was referring to the two awards she received on behalf of her boyfriend Ogie Alcasid, who is currently in Japan with the Bubble Gang cast and crew. Ogie won as Best Male Recording Artist of the Year while his song "Ikaw ang Pangarap" was named Song of the Year.



"I'm very happy and very thankful, of course. Siyempre, I'm so proud of my honey," said Regine, whose album Low Key also got an award for Best Revival Album of the Year (a tie with Rachelle Ann Go's Falling in Love).



She added, "Hindi ko ine-expect. I thought I was just gonna sing for the finale that's why I came late. Kasi, they told me na sa finale na lang ako and diyan lang naman ako, that's why I came late."



POP ARTIST AWARD. Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo told PEP that she had mixed emotions when she found out that she would be competing against some of her idols—like Regine, Lea Salonga, and Lani Misalucha—for the Female Pop Artist of the Year category.



When her name was called as the winner, Sarah dedicated her award to these lady icons in local music industry during her acceptance speech.



"Nanghihina nga ang tuhod ko, e. Siyempre, halu-halo na ang emotions mo, nahihiya ka. Pero siyempre, sobrang thankful. Siyempre, sine-share ko talaga ang award na ito sa mga hinahangaan kong singers, like si Ms. Regine, Ms. Lani, and Ms. Lea," said Sarah.



LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. PMPC gave its first Lifetime Achievement Award to the popular trio of Apo Hiking Society. Danny Javier and Jimmy Paredes accepted the award, sans Boboy Garovillo who was at a taping of his current TV project.



The award was presented by Claire dela Fuente and German Moreno, who also announced the inclusion of the group in the Walk of Fame Philippines at the Central Plaza of Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City.



Before this presentation, singers Richard Poon, Jay-R, and Jed Madela serenaded the audience with a medley of Apo Hiking Society's hit songs like "Kabilugan ng Buwan," "Pumapatak na Naman ang Ulan," and "Panalangin."



THE PARTICIPANTS. Other singers who performed in between the awardings were Allan K with SexBomb Dancers, Rachelle Ann Go, and Jolina Magdangal.



Dingdong Avanzado also performed his song "Panahon Na Upang Tayo'y Magkaisa," which he composed in connection with the recent calamity caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. He was joined by other local music artists like Jan Nieto, Chris Cayzer, Geoff Taylor, Eva Castillo, Faith Cuneta, and Laarni Lozada.



The presenters of the awards included Regine Tolentino, Ayen Munji Laurel, Edgar Allan Guzman, Nikki Bacolod, Joel Cruz, and Gerard Santos. Music groups like La Diva (composed of Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, and Jonalyn Viray), Mocha, and Retrospect were also invited to present awards to the winners.



The program was hosted by Best RnB Artist of the Year winner Billy Crawford and Nesvita Beautiful Awardee Toni Gonzaga.


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