Julio Iglesias’ “Heart of Gold” marks Araneta Coliseum’s Golden Year

To thank his loyal Filipino fans for their unwavering love and support throughout his more than four decades as an artist, bestselling Latin crooner Julio Iglesias performed songs from the heart in a one-of-a-kind benefit concert dubbed “Heart of Gold” at the historic Araneta Coliseum on March 20 as part of his ongoing “Starry Night World Tour.”

“Starry Night” is a tour without borders in which he is slated to perform in all five continents. The tour takes him to the most remote stages and concert venues around the globe where the iconic name Julio Iglesias still attracts thousands of fans, eager to enjoy the Latin artist’s charismatic personality and his romantic songs.

The Manila leg of his world tour, aptly entitled “Heart of Gold,” was dedicated to the victims of typhoon Ondoy which devastated the country during the latter part of 2009. Held in celebration of Araneta Coliseum’s Golden Anniversary, the concert was meant to benefit the people who were the primary reason for the existence of the country’s mecca of sports and entertainment. Realizing that these people, most of who were severely affected by typhoon Ondoy, need immediate help to be able to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move on, Julio waived his talent fee. To match his generosity, the Big Dome likewise waived its rental fee while all the proceeds of ticket sales will also be turned over to the beneficiaries. In short, for the first time in the 50-year history of the Big Dome, all proceeds of a landmark concert done by a renowned international artist goes to charity, clearly explaining why it was coined “Heart of Gold.”

Special guest was the country’s megastar Sharon Cuneta, who has maintained a close friendship with Iglesias since they performed a duet years ago. Aside from singing “All of You” and “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” with the renowned Latin artist, Sharon also sang the classic Filipino love song “Dahil Sa’yo” with Julio, making the audience swoon.

Last March 19, Julio led the groundbreaking rites for the GK village he, in partnership with the Araneta Coliseum and the provincial government of Rizal, will be putting up for the beneficiaries. He was also awarded with the Keys to the City by the Honorable Sonny Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City, and also signed his “Star” on the Big Dome’s Star Walk, a pathway of remembrances that salutes the prominent performers who make the Araneta Coliseum the mecca of Philippine entertainment and sports that it is today.

Funds generated by the benefit show will boost the ongoing rehabilitation efforts to help thousands of Filipinos who experienced the devastation brought about by typhoon Ondoy rebuild their lives. Main beneficiary of the event were 200 families from Tanay, Rizal who all lost their homes during Ondoy. Araneta Center, Inc., the project’s main proponent, along with the provincial government of Rizal led by Gov. Junjun Yñares and Gawad Kalinga headed by Tony Meloto, is putting up a complete village for these families. Not only will they build homes but also community centers, implement values formation, and provide livelihood projects to make the community sustainable. Other beneficiaries were the United Nations World Food Program and the ABS CBN Foundation. Support for the project were likewise provided by event partners Skelan, LBC, Emperador Distillers, Jollibee, DBP, Cibo, Fiori di M, Pizza Hut, Crowne Plaza, Odyssey, CATS Motors, HM Transport, and the Light Rail Transit Authority. Official media partners were ABS CBN (Official TV Partner), Business World, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, Max 103.5,and Crossover 105.1.

For the momentous Manila visit, Julio stayed at the magnificent Imperial Suite of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, the only convention hotel in a resort setting here in the metro.

He went straight to Manila after his March 16 performance in Honolulu, Hawaii (USA). After his Big Dome concert on March 20, shows in Sydney, Hunter Valley and Melbourne in Australia will follow from the 26th to the 29th of March. He will then do Kuala Lumpur on April 1, and Tokyo from April 5 to 7, Osaka on April 11, and Nagoya on April 12. After Japan, Julio will then proceed to Seoul in South Korea for a show on April 17.

Even as he has sold more than 300 million copies of his 79 albums and has been the recipient of more than 2,600 Platinum and Gold records, Julio Iglesias has never ceased thanking his fans all over the world. His illustrious 42-year career and his many humanitarian efforts have earned for him the title of Special Ambassador for the Performing Arts from the UNICEF. He was also recently awarded a Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts by the Spanish Government for being one of only 25 people and organizations who have excelled in the field of artistic and cultural creations last 2009.

Some of the all-time Julio classics that Filipino fans saw him perform at the March 20 “Heart of Gold” concert were “Hey!,” “Moonlight Lady,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Mona Lisa,” “When I Fall In Love,” “Momentos,””Crazy,” and many more.

For ticket information and reservations for upcoming shows at the Araneta Coliseum, call 911-5555 or log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph.

300 million albums

Julio Iglesias has sold 300 million copies of his 79 albums released worldwide, including original versions in various languages, compilations, and live albums, which makes him the Spanish-speaking artist who has sold the most albums in history.

As the 1983 Guinness Book of Records recognized, on awarding him the only Diamond Disc ever given by this institution, Julio is the artist who has sung and recorded in the most languages in the history of music: 20 in total. The most recent were in 2006, on the album “Romantic Classics,” in Mandarin Chinese, Philippine Tagalog, and Bahasa Indonesian.

60 million spectators

In the 42 years of his unstoppable career, Julio Iglesias has received 2,600 platinum and gold records.
He has performed more than 5,000 concerts in 600 cities around the world, and more than 60 million people have seen him perform live.

Julio Iglesias has sung duets with famous artists such as Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Art Gurfunkel, Paul Anka, Charles Aznavour, Plácido Domingo, Sting, The Beach Boys, Nana Mouskouri, Mireille Mathieu, Dalida, Lola Flores, Pedro Vargas, Alejandro Fernández, José Luis Rodríguez, Wei Wei, Zeze di Camargo and Luciano.

Julio collects awards, accolades and honors from around the globe.
He won a Grammy Award in 1988, and one year later was awarded a star with his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He holds an American Music Award and the prestigious “ASCAP Pied Piper Award”, the highest award of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, also given to Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand.

In 1989 he was named UNICEF Special Ambassador for the Performing Arts, a title he holds with much affection and respect, and which he continues to carry in great esteem until the present day.

He is the only foreign artist honored by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, for his record-breaking sales of albums in that country.