NOW it can be revealed: Celine Dion’s two-night Manila concert last July 19 and 20 nearly did not push through, and was saved at the last-minute by TV host Boy Abunda.
According to concert producer Joed Serrano, his friend who had committed to pay half the talent fee of the “My Heart Will Go On” hitmaker backed out just as the December 2017 deadline for the payment was nearing.
“October of last year, we were able to close the deal for Celine Dion,” Serrano was quoted as saying by PEP.ph. “And then siyempre nagbayad na kami ng Ovation [Productions].”
However, by the time the last week of December rolled in, the co-producer wasn’t yet able to hand over the balance. At that point, Serrano recalled he was on the verge of giving up on the concert altogether, even if the initial payment would be forfeited as per the contract with Dion’s camp.
Serrano said he was then referred to Abunda by a friend, resulting in a phone call with the talk show veteran.
He narrated their conversation: “Sabi ko, ‘Kilala mo si Celine Dion?’ ‘Yeah, ‘yung kumanta ng ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ You got my attention.’ ‘May problema ako, Tito Boy. Nangako si ganito, hindi dumating. E, kasi, Tito Boy, mukhang hindi mangyayari if I don’t get the full payment na maayos.'”
As it turned out, Abunda had a quick solution for Serrano’s predicament. The producer eventually had a meeting with Abunda and his friend, Flor Santos of Dreamwings Entertainment, who agreed to shoulder the balance for Dion’s talent fee.
Serrano, with Abunda and Santos’ help, finally met the deadline for the payment of Dion’s talent fee, paving the way for her concert to once and for all get scheduled at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“That’s why I want this out. It has to be fair for all,” Serrano said, “because kung wala ang tulong niyang iyon, walang Celine Dion [sa Manila]. Napaka-low profile lang ni Tito Boy. Hindi ko alam kung gugustuhin niya ito, pero it’s my way of saying, ‘Thank you, Tito Boy.'”
He added: “Kahit ako natutulala pa rin ako na, ‘Wow, naitawid ko talaga si Celine Dion na muntik nang nawala. It was a trial of faith kung hanggang saan talaga. Aminin niyo, miracle talaga.” (ABS-CBN News)
