Geolette Marie Esguerra

Metro Talks: Bituin Escalante Joins Ryan Cayabyab for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

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<p><strong>Bituin Escalante</strong> joins a stellar roster of stars for the third chapter of <strong>National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s acclaimed MaestroClass Concert Series</strong>. Along with <a href="https://metro.style/culture/2026/4/30/metro-talks-jett-pangan-joins-ryan-cayabyab-for-maestroclass-what-s-it-all-about-0800">Jett Pangan</a>, <a href="https://metro.style/culture/2026/5/4/sofronio-joins-ryan-cayabyab-for-maestroclass-what-s-it-all-about-0800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sofronio Vasquez</a>, <a href="https://metro.style/culture/2026/4/24/metro-talks-gigi-de-lana-joins-ryan-cayabyab-for-burt-bacharach-s-maestroclass-1800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gigi de Lana</a>, and the vocal group Baihana; she’ll join Mr C. on <strong>May 15 to 17, 2026</strong> in celebrating the timeless genius of Burt Bacharach with <em>What’s It All About? </em></p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778755313656Metro.Style Bituin Escalante MaestroClass.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Singer and theater actress <strong>Bituin Escalante </strong>possesses one of the most powerful voices in the Philippines, considered one of the best vocalists in the country today. Her career spans three decades across theater, music, film, and television.</p><div><br/></div><p>She has been part of productions such as <em>Himala Isang Musikal, Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, Waitress, SMAK, Pingkian</em>, and <em>Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady</em>; while she likewise regularly appears in <em>ASAP</em>, and was one of the judges in <em>Tawag ng Tanghalan</em>.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778755377837What’s It All About_ — Celebrating the Music of Burt Bacharach takes the stage at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell Center_.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>On working with Mr. C</strong></div><p>“It&#x27;s hard to sing a Bacharach song. It sounds easy to listen to, but when you see the progressions and you see the measures, the time signatures change. It&#x27;s not an easy sing, so I guess that&#x27;s a takeaway for any audience member or musician,” says Bituin.</p><p>“Even for a musician, just simply sitting down and listening to Bacharach is a masterclass in composition,” she adds.</p><p>Which is why this project with Mr C makes it even more special.</p><p>“Mr. C is the most curious person in any room. You would think that because of his seniority in the business, he would be jaded or, you know, nothing impresses him anymore. But in any room, in any situation, he has the most voracious appetite for new things. And that makes him the youngest person in any room he walks into. Did you notice that? Right? He&#x27;s a gift.</p><p>He doesn&#x27;t just teach you the things he knows, but how to approach life with boundless curiosity. That&#x27;s Mr. C. Curiosity. I think it&#x27;s that,” she adds.</p><p>“With a curiosity about so many things comes an enthusiasm for work, for engagement with people. Artists tend to be so defensive. You know, we always feel like we&#x27;re judged,” she reveals. “And when you encounter someone as great as Mr. C and see this attitude of vulnerability and just being available, being there for everyone, that&#x27;s a great lesson. That&#x27;s a great approach to life.”</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=315&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F741883602346105%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>As to some of her memorable projects with Mr. C, she recalls one performance in ABS-CBN, a Studio 23 Christmas production. It was a medley with Jett Pangan, Cookie Chua—and it was, as if by serendipity, a medley on Bacharach.</p><p>“I was new, I will never forget that moment. I survived it, so it was a gift,” she says of that moment. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Working with the other singers for MaestroClass</strong></div><p>She was excited working with the cast of top vocalists, some of whom she had already worked with in the past.</p><p>“I was fortunately there for Jett Pangan&#x27;s theater debut, and one of my first encounters in the business was with Mr. C. I was lucky enough to have that. And now Sof and Gigi are coming into the mix. I&#x27;ve never worked with Gigi,” she adds.</p><p>“I worked with Sof a few times, and I&#x27;m judging in the contest that they both joined. So it&#x27;s really, it&#x27;s a full circle moment, and it&#x27;s wonderful to see both ends of the spectrum, the ones just beginning and the ones who have been at it. And we can come together and share this music and share this healthy respect and love for Burt Bacharach&#x27;s music and to share it with this beautiful room of people for three nights.”</p><p>“What a gift. Honesty leads you not to give an unencumbered message. You know, it&#x27;s also as a performer, it lends you to being more vulnerable when you&#x27;re being honest,” she says of the performance.</p><p>She&#x27;s likewise excited to perform in the Proscenium theater.  </p><p>&quot;In any engagement, I think honesty is the primary quality. It&#x27;s hard not to have a venue and it&#x27;s hard not to have all these stories and not have an audience to listen to these stories,&quot; she begins.</p><p>&quot;So anytime a space like Proscenium opens up to artists, there&#x27;s more connection among people. You get to see this interpretation, you get to see this person&#x27;s artistry. I will witness Gigi de Lana, I will witness Sofronio Vasquez, even in the space of the rehearsal halls of Proscenium. Even in this pictorial setting, this pre-prod setting, we already get the moment to appreciate each other.”</p><p>“And whatever comes from that interaction, we&#x27;ll share with the audience eventually on those three nights, on 15, 16, and 17. And it&#x27;s enriching. It broadens anyone&#x27;s perspective.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778755625856Proscenium Theater - Burch Bacharach.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>What to expect at MaestroClass 3</strong></div><p>Following sold-out runs, the MaestroClass series continues its signature “masterclass-style” format where Cayabyab goes beyond conducting and performing. Through stories, musical demonstrations, and live arrangements, he guides audiences through the artistry and structure behind songs that shaped generations.</p><p>Presented by Rockwell, this third chapter celebrates the legendary songbook of Burt Bacharach, the American hitmaker whose sophisticated pop melodies and distinctive compositions produced dozens of global classics and influenced generations of composers worldwide.</p><p>For this special three-night engagement, Cayabyab brings together an exciting lineup of powerhouse Filipino vocalists, Jett Pangan, Bituin Escalante, Gigi De Lana, and Sofronio Vasquez, joined by the dynamic vocal group Baihana, promising an evening of rich harmonies, storytelling, and powerful interpretations under the stage direction of Rowell Santiago.  </p><p>Together, they will bring to life some of Bacharach classics including “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “The Look of Love,” “Close to You,” and “Walk On By”—timeless songs known for their lush arrangement and intricate rhythms.</p><p>Set within the intimate 776-seat Proscenium Theater, the experience is elevated by the venue’s natural acoustics—the first of its kind in the Philippines—and its Steinway &amp; Sons grand piano, providing the perfect stage for Cayabyab to explore Bacharach’s music.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Tickets for What’s It All About? — Celebrating the Music of Burt Bacharach are available via TicketWorld (online and outlets) and at the Power Plant Mall Cinema. Following two sold-out chapters—from the music of Ryan Cayabyab himself to timeless OPM classics—the MaestroClass Concert Series now turns its spotlight to the legendary songs of Burt Bacharach.</em></div>

<p>Bituin Escalante talks about joining National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and other vocalists f</p>

Bituin Escalante talks about joining National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and other vocalists f

Metro Talks: Bituin Escalante Joins Ryan Cayabyab for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

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Metro Talks: Bituin Escalante Joins Ryan Cayabyab for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

Metro.Style

Published May 11, 2026 01:00 PM PHT

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Updated May 14, 2026 06:52 PM PHT

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Ryan Cayabyab

Burt Bacharach

MaestroClass Concert Series

What’s It All About?

Proscenium Theater

Rockwell

Jett Pangan

Bituin Escalante

Gigi De Lana

Sofronio Vasquez

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