IN 1991, I was with the United States Air Force Reserve working as an Operation Desert Storm Mobility Officer. I was with fellow actors William Martinez, Franco Paras, Ali Lee Presley Paras, Howard Hughes Paras, Reaganholmes Einstein Paras and my brother Melvin Balolong Paras who was in the U.S. Navy.
We watched legendary singers Anthony Castelo and Imelda Papin live in concert in San Diego. Both of them rocked the house with standing ovations. They sang up and down the stage and everyone was so impressed with their connection with the fans.
The venue was a packed full house! Fast forward to 2020, Anthony Castelo can be seen on Media Productions on YouTube every Friday. Love songs, Pinoy humor, little known historical trivia, and so much more await online viewers in ‘In The Islands with Anthony Castelo’, a YouTube original.
A pre-recorded program featuring the music of the OPM legend and his guests, the musical-variety show is designed for Filipinos here and abroad. In The Islands, says Castelo, promotes national pride and Filipino values. “The series will also exhibit the unique and colorful character of our island nation,’’ the singer behind unforgettable three songs like “Balatkayo,” “Kaibigan,” “Nang Dahil sa Pag-ibig,”. He composed a theme song called “I’m Coming Home, Philippine Islands,’’ written straight from the heart. Singer and actor Anthony Castelo lived in the United States and the Philippines.
The singer-composer’s nationalistic bent has given rise to another new song, “Minamahal Kita, Philippines.”
In The Islands with Anthony Castelo, which premieres on Valentine’s Day, is produced by Oxin Entertainment Productions, and directed by Xion Lim. Post-production supervision is by Jay-V Chua and Raymark Aguilar. I, Edgar Mande and Concert Producers Claire Flores, Ami Almerol, Cora Pastrana, Concert producer and Sensational Singer Jo Awayan