One of the crazier things I did in college was sing on stage in front of a live audience. It was one of those school fairs with the covered court full to the rafters. And of all the songs I could have sang, I picked Deborah’s “Hello Joe, Goodbye” with the warbling and the high notes. As I said, CRAZY!

I remember this now because I just heard a beautiful rendition of the very same song by Bituin Escalante. She was spectacular. But what blew me away was that the song was actually penned by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. That I did not expect, along with a bunch of other things as Gen C, Mr. Cayabyab’s 70th birthday concert, unwrapped its many surprises.

In a span of a few weeks, I was lucky enough to witness two icons of my youth unrolling their greatest hits, Gary Valenciano with Pure Energy at the MOA Arena and Ryan Cayabyab with Gen C at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

Pure Energy I watched with college friend Cherry—yes, the very same woman who saw hundreds of Koreanovelas and is all the better for it! We were gate watchers at Gary V’s same titled concert at the Folk Arts Theater almost four decades ago, and to see the show once again, perhaps for the last time that we could still swing our hips without causing ourselves bodily harm, was truly a treat.

That Gary V., who’s diabetic and almost 60, could still bust his moves with hyper energy is an inspiration. We swooned and we sighed as every song brought up memories of a youth spent magnificently. Growing Up took me back to the room of my adolescence, with posters of Francis M on the walls and diaries filled with recollections of kilig brushes with my crushes. Di Bale Nalang had me jogging down the tree-lined streets of Katipunan before it was overrun by cars, trucks, and everything else in between. When Gary V screamed Hataw Na, we got to our feet stomping, turning the arena into a disco, even for a few moments. But more than these melodic gyrations, Gary V has the power to persuade us into reflection, bringing us to tears a couple of times but most specially in Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos.

I understand why this was to be his last big show, to not perform with his signature energy would be travesty, but I am positive that he would be moving on to bigger and better things. Age cannot contain talent.

Proof of which is Mr. C’s Gen C, which I watched, this time, with my girlfriends from high school.

Oh, how proud I was to be a Filipino during the two and something hours we spent witnessing a life’s work interpreted by the country’s best. When Basil Valdez walked out of the stage, all his songs came rushing to my head. He performed some of Mr. C’s biggest hits and that night he gave us Paraisong Parisukat and Nais Ko. Honestly, I could have walked out that very minute and would be infinitely satisfied. I mean, it’s Basil! I only know of Belle Mariano from social media, apparently she’s half of a love team that local show business is so very fond of, but Kailan was perfect for her. She was coyly flirtatious, heady with the joys of first love. I knew even less about Stell of SB19, so it was a joy to discover such talent. When he began Sometime, Somewhere so high up the scale, I thought his voice would break at some point. It didn’t. His performance was both powerful and refreshing.

But Mr. C made more than songs, he did commercials (What a treat to see Gloc-9 rap to Angat Sa Iba) and musicals (John Arcilla is good at whatever he does; this time he did Hindi Simple Ang Buhay from Ang Larawan The Musical). My personal highlight: Mr. C singing Tunay na Ligaya with Mrs. C as their son conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

I guess, in the end, that’s how we’d like to play our greatest hits—with the joyful warmth of those we love.