Carla Guevara-Laforteza kicked off the 2024 Triple Threat series of shows of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in her inimitable style. Carla has always been about sass, style, and spunk, taking any musical role she takes on and stamping it her very own. 

It’s like you may have seen several versions of some musical comedy, but if there’s an iconic female role in it, and Carla has tackled the role, it’s her version that will be forever etched in your memory banks. 

That’s how ‘markado’ an attack she’ll utilize in interpreting that role - even her cameos or support roles become scene-stealers and those you’ll be recounting to friends the next day.

Held at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Jimenez, Carla joked about how all the members of the audience were special guests and were occupying seats she had personally assigned. Taking the seats right in front of the stage were Carla’s family: her parents and sisters, her husband Godfrey, and her son. Directed by Paolo Valenciano and with musical direction by Gerard Salonga, with the Filharmonika Orchestra, the show was an enthralling musical journey, with songs selected to reflect different stages of Carla’s career. 

What’s always been great about Carla is her unique sense of humor, her mock ‘taray’, and her ‘pagka-kalog’; and it was nice to see these qualities become a running theme of the show during the patter in between songs. As a result, it was like Carla had invited us all to her living room, asked us to dress in black tie, came out in a stunning red gown, and regaled us with songs and anecdotes - plus bringing on so many singing guests! 

There were so many guests, but if I judge based on audience reaction, the most applauded numbers would be her bringing on the show’s version of The 4 Tenors, in Audie Gemora, Loy Martinez, Raul Montessa, and Arman Ferrer. My personal favorite would be when Triple Threat Shiela Francisco and Gian Magdangal joined Carla to do their version of Chick Corea’s Spain, with the lyrics created by Al Jarreau, which our own Gary Valenciano has turned into one of his signature songs in concerts. Yes, it was originally Gary himself who would have performed this with Carla, but he had to leave for the USA when the date for this concert had to be moved.

Variety certainly is the spice of life via the song selection of Carla. From Jose Mari Chan to Ben & Ben, a medley of Carpenters songs as had been arranged for Lea Salonga (Karen Carpenter and Lea being acknowledged by Carla as major influences in her career), to Broadway tunes that included Hamilton, and movie theme songs such as Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka. It was a bounty of riches, with an encore of Earth, Wind, and Fire songs to ensure people were smiling from ear to ear and on a high as they left the theater. 

If there’s one thing we all have to regret, it’s that there are no plans to do a repeat of this show. There was genuine magic created that night, and it’s a shame that it’s something only the chosen audience of that Aug. 11 night can take home with us. I’d have also liked to have seen more of Carla’s acting and dancing to bring home why the Triple Threat appellation. Thank you, Carla, as the concert was one of a kind!