Ara Mina produces Big Dome concert for a cause

Author: Wells Avante

In celebration of her 15th year in showbiz, Ara Mina is all set to hold her first major concert, Loving Ara, on February 3. And it will be held at the cavernous Araneta Coliseum, no less.

On top of her anniversary celebration, Ara will put all the proceeds of the event into the Ara Mina Foundation, Inc.

In a PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) interview held last January 11 at the penthouse of Lily Monteverde's Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City, Ara remarks: "Sa fifteen years of blessings na na-receive ko, gusto ko lang i-return. Concert ito for my foundation. Nagtayo ako ng foundation July last year. Mga beneficiary ko yung mga may billary atresia patients, mga kelangan ipa-liver transplant na bata. Wala pa naman akong hawak na maraming bata, kasi expensive. [At beneficiary din] yung nag-aalaga na Down's syndrome na foundation..."

She continues, "Malambot ang puso ko pagdating sa ganun e—may mga kapansanan na bata. At the same time, for me, at least hindi natin naranasan nung bata tayo na may sakit na sa puso. Kumbaga, naranasan lang natin—nagka-beke tayo, nagka-sore eyes, tinigdas, ganun lang, di ba? Napaka-lucky natin."

Unknown to many, Ara has a 14-year-old sister born with Down's Syndrome: "Siya si Mina, pero I call her Baching. Fourteen years old na siya. Lucky charm ko siya. Inspiration ko siya to help children. Parang angel ko siya sa life ko. Nung hindi pa siya pinapanganak, lagi na lang akong extra...Nung dumating siya, ayun, gumanda na ang takbo ng career ko. Tuloy-tuloy na."

THANKFUL. Ara Mina is very thankful for all the success she has enjoyed in show business. Before she was introduced as Hazel Reyes (Hazel is Ara's real name) in That's Entertainment, she played an "extra" in Bistek, the defunct show of Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista. Many more small roles came after, such as Kadenang Bulaklak (1993), Wanted: Cobra (1994), Grepor Butch Belgica Story (1994), and The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995).

And then the big breaks came. She made a name for herself by playing sexy roles in Init sa tag-ulan, Sagad sa Init (1998), Maldita (1999), and Banatan (1999).

In her 15 years in the business—which includes the years she was an "extra" with literally walk-on parts—Ara has appeared in 37 movies, two of which gave her acting awards.

Mano Po (2002), shown in the Metro Manila Film Festival that same year, won for Ara her first Best Actress award. Huling Birhen sa Lupa (2003) won for Ara the 2004 FAMAS Best Actress award, in a year that included acting veterans Lorna Tolentino, Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano, and comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas.

She was also nominated Best Actress three years in a row by the Gawad Urian for her roles in Mano Po (2002), Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa (2003), and Minsan Pa (2004).

Currently, the sexy comedienne is a mainstay of GMA-7's Bubble Gang, the longest-running gag show on the boob tube.

Less publicized is Ara's "other" career: as a recording star. Her very first single, "Ay, ay Pag-ibig," is part of her self-titled album and was a hit when it was released in January 2000. Then she recorded two more albums, Heavenly Ara Mina (2003) and Moving On (2005).

Ara hopes that her Araneta concert will serve as a venue for people to help those in need. She asserts, "Marami namang private citizens na gustong tumulong pero hindi alam kung papaano. Minsan takot silang mag-donate sa mga malalaking foundations. Tsaka alam nilang marami ng nagdo-donate dun. Ako mismo, direkta kong ibibigay sa tao, like sa mga bata."

Then she adds, "In my own little way, I'll produce a concert para sa mga tutulungan ko. Kumbaga, nag-enjoy ka na, nakatulong ka pa."

WHY THE BIG DOME? This may be her first solo concert, but Ara Mina is quick to assure her fans—and even her critics—that she has worked hard and prepared long enough for this big event.

She says, "Sabi nila bakit Araneta agad? I think its time for me na mag-big venue kasi nakarating na ako sa iba't ibang bansa. Nakapag-concert na rin ako sa Las Vegas, sa Belagio Hotel with Martin Nievera and Bert Nievera.

"Last year, puro travel nga ginawa ko. Hindi nga ako nakagawa ng pelikula. Nag-concert ako sa Oman, Dubai, Kuwait...pumunta din ako ng Europe, sa Barcelona, Spain... Amsterdam and Belgium din, tapos nag-Papua New Guinea ako, nag-Reno ako, nag-Los Angeles din..."

When asked why she calls her concert "Loving Ara," she replies with a smile: "I'm a loving person in all aspects [chuckles] sa career ko. Pagmamahal ko sa career ko, pagmamahal ko sa kapwa ko, pagmamahal ko sa pamilya ko—maraming ibig sabihin. May malambot akong puso."

"Loving Ara" is directed by Roel Santiago and produced by Ara Mina herself. Her special guests for the show are Ogie Alcasid, Michael V., Jimmy Bondoc, Rufa Mae Quinto, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, and Jose Manalo. Nay of 6-Cyle Mind and Raymund Marasigan of Sandwich are also performing.

(Ara has set the tickets at the more affordable rates of P150, P300, P600, P800 and P1200. For inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal