Singer and screen star Julie Anne San Jose had nothing but good words for Jessica Villarubin and Xian Lim when asked about their concert collaboration during a virtual conference held on Wednesday.
The multitalented artist will be joined by The Clash Season 3 grand winner and new Kapuso actor in an explosive concert titled Stronger Together: GMA Pinoy TV at Expo 2020 Dubai happening on March 30 at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Dubai Expo Grounds.
This will mark Xian’s first Kapuso project abroad. Meanwhile, Jessica, who emerged as one of the promising vocal performers of GMA, will serenade thousands of concertgoers who are excited to hear OPM live once again. This is Jessica’s first international concert.
The trio will perform on the very same stage where international acts and pop stars Alicia Keys, Cold Play, Black Eyed Peas, and Il Divo have already showcased their music before a massive and adoring crowd.
“We have a lot very good talents in GMA, it’s just a confluence of factors why we chose Julie, Jessica, and Xian. The timing was perfect and the availability of the stars was also a consideration. There was a window of opportunity for us to get these stars to headline the concert in time of the closing of the expo,” GMA Pinoy TV’s Joseph Francia told Manila Standard Entertainment.
“I wish we could bring all the stars to Dubai but I believe we have these stars who represent a lot of the values that we want to impart. Since some of the best global stars have performed in Dubai Expo, so you can already think of that as a big achievement for our artists,” the executive added.
With the theme #StrongerTogether, the concert aims to share the message that Filipinos abroad, though separated by distance, can draw strength from each other and still unite in facing the adversities in life.
“It’s my first time to perform overseas. There’s pressure but more than anything else I feel excited to sing for our fellow Filipinos in Dubai,” said Jessica who’s flying to the Middle East for the first time as well.
For Xian, it’s a great opportunity for them to showcase local talents in a live concert that will be held more than two years since the pandemic forced countries to go on lockdowns and closed their borders.
“Just the thought that I’ll be singing in front of a live audience already excites me. I think it’s going to be very special since it’s the second to the last day of the expo, and I hope it will be special too for our kababayans out there,” Xian stated.
For Julie Anne, performing in Dubai Expo is a sign that we’re progressing and “slowly getting there” alluding to the cancellation of shows and concerts due to the pandemic.
“I hope this won’t be the last and more shows will happen in the next few months. We all have friends and relatives in the Middle East and it’s our chance to reconnect with them through this concert. And it makes me feel so proud to represent the country in this expo, which is attended by people from around the world,” Julie Anne shared.
The concert is a highlight of GMA Pinoy TV’s “Stronger Together” campaign in the Middle East and also supports the culmination of the Expo 2020 Dubai specifically for the Filipino community in the UAE.
The concert was made possible through the partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and official media partners, The Filipino Times and TAG 91.1. The artists’ costumes will be sponsored by Filipino fashion designer Ryan Pacioles of Atelier Zuhra.
Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and show starts at 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.