Dubai: After smashing the social media records — almost 41 million tweeted about the phenomenal #Aldub love team — and besting most of the entertainment events in 2015, the 24-year-old Filipino TV actor Alden Richards treated his fans all over UAE on his first solo concert at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Thursday night.
Having patiently waited in the cold, the audience went wild when Richards kicked off the sold-out concert with his first Tagalog number Akin Ka Na Lang (Just be Mine).
“Hello Dubai! Thank you for coming and supporting me,” he said as fans giggled and screamed why Maine Mendoza known as "Yaya Dub" wasn’t with him.
“I promise to bring Maine soon on my next visit to Dubai,” he replied.
Closer
Richards said he likes to sing songs for Filipino community outside the Philippines because it makes him feel closer to home.
“You are all blessings to your family and to me,” the actor said to the crowd before singing Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud and his most-requested song God Gave Me You from His GMA Records album Wish I May.
Referring to the Richards-Mendoza team, which went viral in Philippines National Television, he said he believes that everything comes at the right time.
“We are very happy supporting AlDub [love team]. We are now like a family, loving Maine and Alden unconditionally,” said Mau, president of #AlDub MaiDen UAE, a 150-member — and still counting — club that started in July 2014.
“We forget homesickness and being away from our loved ones, as AlDub gives us pure happiness, romantic excitement and good moral lessons in life. We are overwhelmed of Alden’s appreciative, affectionate character towards his fans. We will support them forever,” Mau said.
True gentleman
“Alden is really a kind [and] true gentleman. Despite his popularity, he remains humble,” said Shena Nacional, a 25-year-old receptionist from Abu Dhabi. “We will support them forever even [though] we waited for three hours on January 5 at the airpot to meet him.
"He didn’t meet us but it's OK. We found a sense of belongingn, meeting new people who became like a second family.” The #teamAlDubarkads, the supporters’ Abu Dhabi chapter, currently has 82 members, Nacional said.
During his Dubai visit, Richards actually went on an exciting desert safari, about which he happily posted on Instagram.
🦂🐫🌵 #DesertSafari https://t.co/CBnCtBJxKd— Alden Richards (@aldenrichards02) January 7, 2016
Minutes before the show, I had a chance to find out how he prepares for a concert. Apart from memorising all the lyrics, Richards also enrolled in a voice lesson, he told us.
He also does avoids eating sweets or drinking cold water -- and makes sure he gets enough sleep.
@gulf_news @aldenrichards02 pic.twitter.com/EpNqFPRvkh— Elaine Morales (@kooldesign18) January 8, 2016
Towards the end of the Dubai gig, Richards asked his fans to take a selfie with "Pabebe" wave, a term coined by the Filipino media that refers to a hand gesture, mainly done by beauty contestants.
Needless to say, his fans who turned out in droves can't get enough of him. Most of them took the front-seat paddock tickets.
“I took a day off to see him in person and waited since 4pm here,” said Filipino nurse Amy Miranda. “I’m a bit disappointed because I didn’t get a chance to take a picture with him.”
Unknown to many, Richards is always filled with positive vibes. He helps and supports a non-profit organisation that builds shelter for the less fortunate in the Philippines.
His Dubai gig was surely a night to remember, both for Richards as a solo artist and his delighted supporters. One could feel the noise -- it was great fun and pure joy to see him live. That's not to mention the feel-good music, with songs that have become Richard's public persona as an entertainer.
Have you spotted @aldenrichards02 in Dubai? pic.twitter.com/lgFYRQk0lR— Gulf News (@gulf_news) January 8, 2016
All told, it was also test of sorts for Richards' ability to seize the night on a solo performance. I'm glad to find out that he did pull it off.
Thanks, @gulf_news ! Had at @aldenrichards02 concert! Sana kasama na si @mainedcm next time :) #ALDUBToSeeYouAgain pic.twitter.com/aJNzTIvOcj— Nash •﹏• (@Nashybeyb) January 8, 2016
Soon after the show, Richards left for Doha, Qatar, where he is also performing on Friday night.
We actually got Alden to autograph the Thursday issue of Gulf News' Tabloid, which had his face on the cover.
@gmapinoytv @gmanetwork @ALDUBARKADS_AUH @aldenrichards02 @gulf_news #ALDUBToSeeYouAgain https://t.co/ZcKpYjab8B— IamMacy (@MacyMontevirgen) January 8, 2016
