Tagalog Word of the Day: KUMANTA

Dear Friends,

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to watch Sunset Boulevard with my friend Chris Maliwat. We even had the pleasure of heading backstage to hang with Alan Williams, the Musical Supervisor and Conductor, who recently won a coveted Olivier Award in London for his performance on the West End. It was such a treat to catch up, especially since we had just met for dinner in Miami and my curiosity for the show intensified.

In fact, I flew into New York solely to watch this show at Chris's invitation. There was something about it that gnawed at me, something telling me this show would have a profound effect on me. I kept my research to a minimum — only knowing the original Billy Wilder film starring Gloria Swanson and my early 2000s love for the Pussycat Dolls. Over the years, I've missed countless performances on and off Broadway, but I never regret making time for art, and something inside me told me not to let this one slip away.

And I’m so glad I didn’t. The show is an arresting blend of genres — modern, experimental, dance, and musical theater. Every detail, from the minimal to the exaggerated, does its job in expressing tension, humor, and drama. I could go on and on about the cast, but truly, they deserve their own dissertation. The standing ovations throughout the show were well-earned.

And then there is the Olivier Award winning Nicole Scherzinger. The doyenne from the Pussycat Dolls, who could have easily faded into the sunset like so many women of a certain age — despite their undeniable talent and beauty. But she didn't. Her presence on stage, her command of her voice, and the authority she held over the audience betrayed her teeny tiny stature. At 5'5", she seemed diminutive in person, yet I was the one who shrunk in witness to her power.

Click here to purchase tickets to Sunset Boulevard!

At times, I found myself tearing up during the production — not just from the power of Nicole Scherzinger's performance, but from the intersection of her character, an aging Hollywood star, and her real-life persona as an over-40 actress and performer. With the voice of an angel and the intensity of Dante’s Inferno, Nicole brought a dangerous and poignant authenticity to the stage that was undeniably her destiny. You could feel that her performance echoed her own experiences, frustrations and desperations and that translated into something simultaneously raw and gut-wrenchingly perfect in pitch, execution and necessity.

As a little girl, I can tell you my dreams were somewhat informed by what I could envision for myself and with only a handful of options of women who looked a bit like me — Tia Carrere (Filipina), Coco from Fame (Afro Latino), Connie Chung (Chinese) and Nia Peeples (Filipina) — my imagination had to work on overdrive. No sad story here, just realities of my lived experience.

So, when I met Nicole backstage, I struggled to find the words to convey what her success means to me — not just as a fan, but as a woman of a particular age who shares her Filipino heritage. Her art, her presence, and her success inspire me to keep going for my own sake, while also reminding me of what my own journey can mean to others. For me, Nicole is what’s possible when you refuse to let the world define your limits and keep going.

I highly encourage you to see this show. Alan Williams is back conducting next month, and the run ends in June. From what I understand, no one else could truly fill Nicole’s shoes — and after just one look, you’ll understand why.

Seeing is believing.

Nic