October 30, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — It was one of those Manila afternoons when everything seemed to run on “bahala na,” with the city buzzing with the usual traffic and chaos.
On Oct. 11 at 3 p.m., I left the house to pick up my friend, Ishvi, who had just arrived with me from Japan. We were both excited to see Katrina Velarde’s anticipated “SiKAT V.3” concert. Everything seemed to be on track — until I received a text from him at 3:24 p.m.: “Don’t forget our tickets!”
The tickets. I’d completely forgotten. In a frantic rush, I called home and arranged for someone to send them via a delivery service app, knowing we only had until 4:30 p.m. to validate them for our SVIP benefits. With traffic moving from Mandaluyong at its usual snail’s pace, I wasn’t sure if we’d make it, but somehow luck was on our side, so we arrived at the New Frontier Theater just in time.
Beginning the evening with a passionate performance of Basil Valdez’s Ngayon, Katrina captivated the audience with her ability to channel raw emotion into every note. She then sang Hajji Alejandro’s Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, honoring the rich legacy of Filipino music.
The concert also featured a video Q&A session, allowing fans to interact directly with her.
When asked about the concept of her concert, she said, “Kung kaya ng lalaki, kaya rin ng mga babae,’ stressing that women can also excel in music just as much as men. Thus, her repertoire is composed of songs originally sung by male artists.
Things took a playful turn when she launched into a medley of boy band hits, effortlessly transitioning from U2’s With or Without You to Backstreet Boys’ As Long As You Love Me, and Westlife’s I Lay My Love On You.
Despite the upbeat, fun nature of the tracks, Katrina’s vocal accuracy never wavered, demonstrating her ability to turn even pop classics into breathtaking vocal performances.
A touching moment followed when she performed SB19’s Mapa, which she described as her way of honoring the new generation of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) talent while also adding her own emotional depth to the track. Then she gave her interpretation of Nonoy Zuñiga’s Araw-Gabi, a song she also covered on YouTube with Troy Laureta, which has now garnered more than 3.5 million views.
Though Katrina held the stage on her own for much of the evening, her duet with The Juans’ Carl Guevarra on Hindi Tayo Pwede was a highlight. The entire audience held their breath as the two artists poured raw emotion into the performance, their harmonies creating a haunting, unforgettable segment.
But Katrina wasn’t done delivering iconic male hits just yet. She followed up the duet with a series of timeless love songs, each of which left the concertgoers in awe of her vocal prowess as she effortlessly glided through the romantic ballads.
She began with David Pomeranz’s Born for You and went on to perform George Benson’s Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You and Brian McKnight’s Back at One.
Her performance of the Bee Gees’ How Deep Is Your Love added a nostalgic yet delicate touch to the evening, followed by a powerful take on Percy Sledge’s When a Man Loves a Woman.
Katrina closed this segment with Martin Nievera’s hit song Be My Lady, capping off an impressive showcase of her vocal range and versatility.
The evening leveled up when Katrina teamed up with powerhouse vocalist and world champion Jed Madela and performed a soul-stirring duet of Die With a Smile. Their voices blended perfectly in a display of raw emotion and technical mastery. Jed also performed his original song, I Got Your Back.
Not to be outdone, GMA7’s “The Clash” grand champion Jessica Villarubin joined Katrina for a power-belting Air Supply medley that brought the house down. Their duet seamlessly transitioned into a rendition of I Surrender, where both biriteras showcased their stunning control and powerful belting, earning thunderous applause from the audience wanting for more.
With Carl Guevarra of The Juans.
As if to give fans one more chance to relive the “SiKAT V.3” experience, Katrina hosted a Thanksgiving gig at Viva Café on Oct. 29. It was her way of celebrating the concert’s success with fans who have supported her journey.
In the last segment of the concert produced by Viva Live, Inc., Katrina took the stage for a medley of her original songs, including Magkaibang Mundo and Kung Naging Tayong Dalawa, taking the audience on an emotional journey that culminated in a breathtaking finale, during which her boyfriend surprised her with a bouquet of flowers after flying all the way to Manila to see her.
As the confetti filled the entire venue, it was clear that “SiKAT V.3” truly lived up to its name — “SiKat Volume 3” represented more than just another performance, but a significant level up showcasing Katrina Velarde’s remarkable growth as an artist. She did more than just perform; she reinvented and added her own mark to iconic songs popularized by male local and international artists.
My dear friend Ishvi and I left New Frontier Theater still buzzing from the energy of the night, feeling like we had witnessed something truly memorable — a performance that exceeded our expectations and highlighted Katrina’s status as one of OPM’s standout voices.
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