Celebrating Creative Connections: Bigo Live’s Mid-Year Gala 2023 Inbox

Manila, Philippines, 19 August 2023 – Bigo Live, the leading global live streaming platform, is thrilled to share the return of the annual Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala. The Gala, held at Revel at The Palace on 19 August 2023, saw the convergence of over 100 Bigo Live broadcasters, hosts, users, agencies and partners. They came together to honor and celebrate the creativity and vibrant culture of the Bigo Live’s thriving, diverse and talented community in the Philippines.

A Night of Glamour and Esteem

Bigo Live serves as an important space for people from all walks of life to showcase and grow their talents. The Gala was a glamor-studded night of recognising and celebrating the Bigo Live broadcasters in Philippines who have truly made their mark in the community. 

This year’s star-studded event recognised the best of Bigo Live Philippines’ community across 12 award categories. This includes Mary-Erika Gervacio who clinched the ‘GALA LIVEHOUSE Star’ award, The Daniels Agency winning ‘Top Agency’ award and, itsyourboyChing emerging on top for the ‘INCREDIBLE STAR’ award.

The Gala was hosted by Eyah Candelaria (BIGO ID: Eyah08), one of Bigo Live’s top broadcasters, and the evening featured captivating performances by amazing Filipino singers and rising stars such as:

• AnnRaniel (BIGO ID: AnnRaniel)

• Micah Gomez (BIGO ID: mixxhearts)

• Jannine Cartagena (BIGO ID: Ninjajannine)

• Gladys Ayuste (BIGO ID: gladyscosplay)

• Aya Andrade (BIGO ID: Ayaandrade)

• Erika Louise (BIGO ID: erikalouise)

• Emie Conjurado (BIGO ID: Emieloveee)

Empowering the Filipino Creator Economy

 

Recognising the growing size and power of the creator economy in the Philippines, Bigo Live continues to provide an enriching space defined by empowerment and authenticity. The platform enables broadcasters and users alike to forge strong and positive bonds with their communities – whether the audiences are based in the Philippines or around the world. 

“The Filipinos continue to inspire us daily with their laudable talent and their ability to empower inclusive and dynamic communities. Looking ahead, Bigo Live remains dedicated to enhancing creator communities by leveraging our platform to further deepen the localized social ecosystem. We endeavor to empower individuals to continue generating positive impacts within their own communities as their authentic selves,” said Tina Guo, Bigo Live Philippines' Country Manager. 

Since 2016, Bigo Live has paved the way for both established artists and emerging stars to broadcast real-time moments seamlessly, captivating fans and  audiences locally and across the globe. Building on this momentum, Bigo Live continues to play a key role in enabling the creative and entertainment industry to continue pushing boundaries in the Philippines.

Bigo Live continues to stand out as a platform where a vast array of inspiring and dedicated broadcasters from various backgrounds can be empowered to connect with audiences meaningfully and build a following. Recognising the evolving user behaviors, Bigo Live strategically focuses on fostering a sense of community, elevating the user experience with deeper engagement through innovation and technology to develop our localized social ecosystem. Moreover, Bigo Live will continue nurturing the organic growth of the creator economy by pioneering creator-centric initiatives that uplift agencies, their hosts and their broadcasters. 

MINAMAHAL KITA: THE ART OF FILIPINO LOVE SONGS(A TRIBUTE TO THE 2022 NATIONAL ARTISTS) ALL SET ON SEPT. 15

A crossover artist generally refers to an artist who has had substantial success in multiple genres of music. It’s been used particularly to refer to a handful who have marketed themselves as performers of the classical and pop repertoire.

One can make the argument, however, that most of them are simply pop artists who try to sing in a classically trained style. 

Going by its definition, or at least by its generally agreed notion, a crossover artist must be someone who, let’s say, has professionally performed operatic roles or oratorio solos while concurrently rocking pop music establishments. If we go by this definition, then Rogelio B. Peñaverde Jr. is a bonafide crossover artist par excellence.

Peñaverde is a homegrown Filipino who moved to the US to pursue a scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City for a Master’s Degree in Voice. After graduating, he carved a career in opera, sacred music and musical theater with critical acclaim.

The New York Times praised his “sweet sound” while Opera Magazine lauded him as an “incisive tenor”.

Some of his career highlights include the role of Ferrando from Cosi Fan Tutte (W. A. Mozart) with the Martina Arroyo Foundation, tenor solo in Missa Solemnis in C (L. Mozart) at the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral of New York, and the role of Basel in the Off-Broadway run of Figaro 90210 by Ragman Ventures. 

He has also performed as a featured artist at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, the Manhattan Center, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

When the pandemic hit in 2020 and wiped away all his engagements, Peñaverde rediscovered his passion and gift for songwriting. While it began as an outlet for anxiety, it became a serious creative endeavor as he churned one pop song after another. 

By 2021 he was sitting on 12 compositions that he collectively called the Pearl Drive Project.  When Covid restrictions eased, he debuted selections at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, an institution in New York’s independent music scene. 

It was so well-received that the show was picked up by the iconic Mercury Lounge in New York City, a hallowed ground of pop music that has featured the likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran.

Performing as Ilustrado (his pop alter ego), Peñaverde became the first homegrown Filipino to play a full set of his compositions in this hall. He is scheduled for a repeat after the commercial release of 2 singles from the Pearl Drive Project this fall.

Catch the artistry of Rogelio B. Peñaverde Jr. as this consummate crossover musician visits home in a featured performance on September 15 (Thursday), 5:00 p.m. cocktail reception 6:30 p.m. show proper, at the Main Theater Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Entitled MINAMAHAL KITA: THE ART OF FILIPINO LOVE SONGS (A TRIBUTE TO THE 2022 NATIONAL ARTISTS), the show was conceptualized by Peñaverde and produced by the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) under the leadership of its current president, Martin Lopez. 

It will also feature the following guest artists, most of whom are FCCP Scholars:  Athena Macatangay  (Soprano), Giuseppe Diestro (Cello), Kris Gonzales (Baritone), Lance Capitan (Guitar), Madeline Jane Banta  (Piano), Myramae T. Meneses  (Soprano) and Nathan Gemina (Piano). 

Directed by Manolet Garcia, the ensemble will be performing Filipino love songs from both the classical and contemporary repertoire.

The gala is part of Peñaverde’s advocacy to present quality performances of Philippine music here and abroad that educate as much as they entertain. 

Proceeds will go towards funding the tuition or travel expenses of the 26 FCCP scholars studying in local and foreign schools. 

For more information, or to buy tickets, please visit the Facebook page of the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines or call Angie Godoy at +63927-2292128.