Sharon Cuneta doesn’t disappoint Raymond Lauchengco

A sold-out concert is undoubtedly enough of a boost for the artist to give his all in performing onstage to please his audience.

- By LEAH C. SALTERIO

That was what happened when singer-actor-artist Raymond Lauchengco staged his 60th birthday Concert, indeed a milestone for the OG “Bagets” star.

On Nov. 29, Raymond officially turned senior and he flaunted it with a major concert the night before, “Everybody Loves Raymond,” at the full-house The Theatre at Solaire not only with his loyal fans from the time he started in the business when he was only 18, but also with his loved ones and his friends in the business.

There was no need for guests to do any front act. A video of a cute six-year-old Raymond singing Dahil sa ‘Yo, delighted the audience before Raymond immediately sauntered onstage and was introduced by a familiar voice-over, his elder sister Menchu Lauchengco, also the director of the concert.

He started with the familiar dance ditty, Just Got Lucky, the popular dance theme from“Bagets,” his 1983 youth-oriented flick with Aga Muhlach, William Martinez, Herbert Bautista and JC Bonnin, and the entire audience was immediately up on their feet dancing.

“If this is what 60 is like, then bring it on,” Raymond excitedly told his audience. “You are the greatest audience ever.”

After two more songs — Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone and You Io Me Are Everything — the crowd was still standing and that prompted Raymond to say, “Why don’t everybody just sit down?”

“In just a few more hours, I'll be turning into a senior bagets, an oldie but goodie,” Raymond proudly said. “By the grace of God, I still can (perform).”

He introduced his 18-year-old daughter, his “forever baby girl” Nathalie, who sang Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You with him: That was not the first time she sang with him in public. The audience saw the video of a six-year-old Nathalie singing. “When she was little, 1 used to love to carry her in my arms and she would sing with me.