Veteran singer-songwriters Aia de Leon, Hannah Romawac, Acel Bisa, Lougee Basabas, Kitchie Nadal, and Barbie Almalbis conquered the stage together again at Tanaw: The Repeat concert which was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on February 9.

The crowd, composed mainly of millennials in their 30s and above, were on their seats for the four-hour show that gave them a whiplash of their favorite OPM soundtracks of their much younger selves. The six ladies, now formally known as the supergroup Tanaw Collective pulled the crowd into the vacuum of a time capsule containing memories of their youthful joys and heartaches. Presented by Gabi Na Naman Productions, the sold-out concert was the repeat the millennials needed.

The early 2000s saw the rise of OPM rock bands, a movement following the trail of alternative and pop-rock that the ‘90s had already developed—straight-up guitar-driven, rhythmic beats, and relatable prose. At the forefront of it were the six female vocalists who reigned supreme. Their hits not only became chart-toppers, but they became enduring life soundtracks and karaoke staples for a big part of the nation. In the concert, the audience fondly sang along, wistfully reminiscing about the time that was.

Here are the highlights of the four-hour concert in photos.

Bursting with immense energy, Aia de Leon fired up the show. Known as the former vocalist of the band Imago, her set was a mix of the best hits like “Taralets”, “Sundo” and “Akap”, and a bit of the rarity like “Idlip” and “Taning”. She invited the crowd to sing along during the chorus and the entire theater was happy to oblige.

Second in line was Hannah Romawac, frontwoman of the band Session Road, who performed the songs including “Suntok sa Buwan”, “Sana Naman”, “Eager Angels”, “Leaving You” and “Cool Off”. “Rock star ngayon, labandera bukas,” she joked as the audience laughed. On a more serious note, she thanked her husband, as well as the respective husband of each of the Tanaw ladies, for their complete support.

The dainty yet feisty Acel Bisa was next up. Making her entrance by belting out “Ang Pag-Ibig Kong Ito”, she proceeded to play “Sulat”, Jewel’s “You Were Meant for Me” and her new song “Great Reward”. “18 (years old) pa lang ako, ginagawa ko na ‘to. 48 na ako ngayon,” Acel said with a wide smile on her face. She thanked everyone for coming to the show and bid farewell as she and her family are set to head to the Netherlands within the month. She went down the stage to sing the forever karaoke favorite “Torete”.

The concert was also made more vibrant by the participation of the Manila String Machine which provided their music in between set changes and during special performances.

Strutting around the stage in her hot pink gown, Lougee Basabas of Mojofly kept the Tanaw engine running with the favorites “Minamalas”, “Mula Noon”, “Close to the End” and “Mata”.

Before singing “Tumatakbo”, she shared that it is their most requested song and at times, she does get tired of it, but remembering how fans had told her how it deeply affected them, she continues to perform it again and again. Brightening up the stage, she was later joined on stage by her niece Sam and her drummer son Leon.”

When the spotlight was on Kitchie Nadal, it was all sparkles and sing-alongs. Having made the trip from Spain, she reminisced that it had almost been a decade since she moved there, but she kept coming back to the Philippines. First up were her signature tracks “Fire”, “Run” and “Landas”.

This was followed by a stripped-down rendition of “Same Ground” which had the crowd crooning along. “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin” meanwhile had a more cheery vibe. The karaoke festival’s realness was felt when Kitchie personally went down the stage when “Bulong” was playing at the end.

Barbie Almalbis was the last to perform solo and she charmed the crowd with her duality – she has this sweet, soft voice but she can melt your face off with her guitar solos (insert: Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” intro). Her trademark hits “Tabing Ilog”, “Say Goodbye” and “Torpe” lifted the crowd’s energy. Her new song “Not That Girl” got the orchestral treatment as she performed it for the crowd.

A little past midnight, the ladies of Tanaw Collective owned the stage together. Since Acel was leaving the Philippines to migrate to the Netherlands very soon, they offered her a sweet tribute which made her tear up. It was a heartfelt moment when Aia read out a poem she wrote for her. Together, the group later performed “Buhangin”, a song composed by Acel. This was followed by their original song “Talinghaga” and their rendition of “Landslide”.

When the six of them performed together, they brought out this vibrant energy that radiated across the theater. They are, after all, some of the most distinguished musicians in OPM; their harmony was palpable. It was a joy to see them conquer the stage, each one playing their instrument – Acel on keyboards, Hannah on drums, and the other on guitars. For their finale, they played a cover of IV of Spade’s “Mundo” and The Cranberries’ “Zombie”.

The 1st time Tanaw Collective did their first grand show together was in 2022 at the Theater at Solaire wherein a full house welcomed them. The 2nd show with a less formal setting happened at 123 Block shortly after that. Technically, this is already their 3rd show, yet it just never gets old. Tanaw: The Repeat was a magnificent concert to experience again in this day and age. All the artists – Aia, Kitchie, Hannah, Lougee, Barbie, and Acel – have provided their voice and music for a generation that needed it. For that, it will always be worth it to see them perform together.

Special thanks to Gabi Na Naman Productions!

by Sandra Mae Laureano