WATCH: Madonna serenades Pinoys with 'Crazy for You'

"That's the first time I sang that song onstage in 30 years." We're CRAZY FOR YOU, Madonna!!!! ❤️ #BeOneWithMadonna #GlobeMadonna

Posted by Globe Telecom on Thursday, 25 February 2016

MANILA - "That's the first time I sang that song onstage in 30 years."

These were the words of pop star Madonna after belting out her 1995 ballad hit "Crazy for You" in front of thousands of fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Thursday evening.

In a video uploaded on the Facebook page of Globe Telecom, one of the official partners of the event, Madonna said it was her gift for Filipinos for fighting against dictatorship.

JUST IN: Madonna congratulated PH for 30yrs of Democracy & People Power Rev. As a gift, she sang CRAZY FOR YOU for the first time in 30yrs!

— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) February 25, 2016

Madonna, who was performing for a second night in a row in Manila, also sang her other older hits such as "Like A Virgin," as well as some new ones from her "Rebel Heart" album like "Iconic".

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How Pinoy fan ended up on stage with Madonna

MANILA - A lucky fan got the chance to be with international pop star Madonna on stage during the first night of her concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

That lucky fan is stylist Shahani Gania, who introduced himself to Madonna as "Super Starlet."

In a lengthy Facebook post, Gania shared how he ended up dancing with Madonna during her performance of the song "Unapologetic Bitch."

He said it all started when two ladies gave him an SVIP ticket, giving him a better view of his idol.


"I cried! I hugged both of them, and in between sobs I explained to them that I'm such a huge fan and that I organized this Madonna exhibit. It was an Oprah moment!" he said.

According to Gania, Madonna made eye contact with him the moment she emerged on stage. He, in turn, sang and danced to every single performance.

"From there, hindi ko na siya binitawan. I knew all the songs! I sang with her in all of them. I danced to everything, never sat down at all! I screamed out the names of all the dancers. She looked at me directly sa isang buong chorus ng 'Who's that Girl'! Heaven!" he said.

Gania said the same ladies who gave him the SVIP ticket then asked him if he wanted to be Madonna's "Unapologetic Bitch" for the night.

Of course, without hesitation, he said yes. At the end of the performance, Madonna gave him a banana and a straw.

Recalling the experience, Gania said: "I had my 4 minutes with her. She called me brave. Her eyes were so beautiful! I made her laugh! Everything was too much to handle! Nakasayaw ko si Madonna! Inakbayan niya ako. Pinatong niya ulo niya sa akin. Sinabi niya ang pangalan ko paulit-ulit: Super Starlet!"

"Ang saya-saya ko right now! Feeling ko lahat ng ginawa ko tama... Mula sa exhibit at pag-memorize ng buong concert, hanggang sa last-minute decision na mag-drag. Everything just came together. The universe gave me my moment with Madonna... The one thing I've been wishing for ever since I found out she was coming to Manila."

Fellow Madonna fans took to social media to congratulate Gania for being chosen to dance with the international pop star on stage.

One of them is "It's Showtime" host Anne Curtis, who even wore a Madonna-inspired outfit during the show.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Madonna visits Manila orphanage

MANILA -- International pop star Madonna visited an orphanage in Manila on Tuesday ahead of her two-night "Rebel Heart" concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.

Madonna, who arrived in the country on Monday, posted a selfie with three children of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation on her Instagram account.

"Chillin with my Homies at the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation. Inc. giving shelter to Orphans street children trafficking/abuse victims in Manilla‼" she wrote on her post.


According to Australian volunteer Catherine Scerri, the 57-year-old pop icon was warmly welcomed at the orphanage.

"She spent time with the kids, dancing and interacting with the kids," she told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.

Scerri said the older children were able to recognize Madonna and her songs. "I think the older ones know her. They were dancing and playing, everybody enjoyed it," she said.

"She's very down to earth and loves interacting with them," she added.

Madonna is known for being fond of kids. She has adopted two children, David Ritchie and Mercy James, from Africa.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Madonna arrives in Manila

MANILA – International pop star Madonna finally arrived in Manila ahead of her two-night concert in the country on Wednesday and Thursday.

She arrived onboard a chartered Boeing 752 plane at around 1:58 a.m. Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway.

Her passport name Madonna Louise Ciccone was stamped by Philippine Immigration officers before she disembarked from the plane. She did not pass through the normal customs, immigration and quarantine inspection at the NAIA.

Madonna was then whisked out of the airport onboard a fleet of vehicles surrounded by foreign and local security.

Even airline and ground personnel were also barred to use their phones to take photos or videos of the American singer.

Madonna’s Philippine concert us part of her world tour promoting her 13th studio album, "Rebel Heart," which began in Montreal last September 9 and continues throughout North America and Europe before heading to Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

Madonna’s show is one of the most expensive concerts to be held in the Philippines, with a top ticket price of nearly P58,000 to see her up close and personal.

Ticket prices for the concert are as follows: P57,750 (VIP); P52,500 (Patron VIP); P52,000 (VIP Floor); P42,000 (Patron); P33,600 (Lower Box VIP); and P29,400 (Lower Box); P8,400 (Upper Box); P3,150 (Gen Ad).

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Madonna embroiled in Taiwan-China row over flag

TAIPEI - Pop diva Madonna has waded into the war of words over Taiwanese identity after draping herself in the island's flag, sparking ire in China, where any suggestion of independence is scorned.

Taiwan's Apple Daily and Liberty Times newspapers ran photos of Madonna with the flag over her shoulders as she sang an encore Thursday on the Taipei leg of her global Rebel Heart Tour.

The move was greeted enthusiastically by many on Taiwanese Internet forums, who saw it as a boost to their quest to protect the island's sovereignty in the face of increased influence from Beijing.

"Madonna supports Taiwan with her acts. Taiwan loves Madonna too," read one message on Apple Daily's website.

But posts on China's Twitter-like Weibo responded angrily.

"Is Taiwan a country? I am laughing to death... you are just a region," said one.

"Madonna draped the flag and you think you are going to be recognised by the UN? So funny," said another, referring to Taiwan's lack of international status.

Taiwan has been self-ruling since splitting from China in 1949 following a civil war, but Beijing still views it as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

As Beijing's influence has grown globally, Taiwan has haemorrhaged allies, losing its place at the UN to Beijing and is now only recognized by 22 countries.

INSTAGRAM BACKLASH

China supporters also voiced their anger on Madonna's Instagram account, responding to a picture which showed her face superimposed on a blue sun motif similar to the white sun on Taiwan's flag, attracting 2,000 messages.

"Shut up, people of Taiwan province of China," one message read.

"Madonna was just creating a talking point and some Taiwanese people thought she was speaking up for Taiwan independence? So funny," said another.

Others hit back at the critical Instagram posts.

"Someone holds the flag and you are barking like a dog. So low class. If you like China so much, go back to use your weibo," one comment read.

The Asian leg of the Rebel Heart Tour includes dates in Hong Kong and Macau, but not mainland China.

There was no immediate comment from local promoters or Madonna's representatives following Thursday's concert.

Last year, US singer-songwriter Katy Perry caused a stir in both Taiwan and China when she appeared on stage in Taipei draped in a Taiwan flag, while donning a gold dress adorned with sunflowers -- a symbol of anti-China student protests in Taiwan in 2014.

Several Taiwanese entertainers have also got into trouble for waving the Taiwan flag abroad.

Last month, K-pop singer Chou Tzu-yu, 16, was forced to apologise for waving the flag in an Internet broadcast, which stoked online anger in China and accusations that she was a pro-independence advocate.

Her video apology went viral on the day of Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections in January and some analysts believed may have cost the ruling Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) party hundreds of thousands of votes.

The traditionally pro-independence main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won by a landslide, with the KMT's rapprochement with Beijing a major factor in its defeat.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com