Shiela Valderrama-Martinez in 'Part of My World.' Franco Laurel 

There were two National Artists – Alice Reyes (dance) and Ricky Lee (film) – in the house when singer-actress Shiela Valderrama-Martinez mounted the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) blackbox stage for her solo concert last Thursday night.

Luminaries from theater and entertainment showed up, as well as officials of the CCP like Nes Jardin and Dennis Marasigan. Even Repertory Philippines president Mindy Perez-Rubio made sure she was present.

Valderrama-Martinez proved she was really a formidable artist to have gathered all those names in the audience when she staged “Part of My World,” the second in the CCP “Triple Threats” series.

Other guests included Sheila Francisco, Audie Gemora, Luna Inocian, Cris Villonco, Leo Martinez, Franco Laurel and wife Ayen Munji, director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Michael de Mesa, Nyoy Volante and wife Mikee Bradshaw, Carlo Orosa, Tim Pavino, JM Rodriguez, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, and Paolo Valenciano. 

Valderrama-Martinez was in great shape that night, her voice was undoubtedly powerful, as she belted out those high notes with great ease and extended singing the high parts in her set list.

To think she just came from a two-week provincial tour of “Rama Hari” the day before. She performed with the cast in Dumaguete at Silliman University and Bacolod at St. La Salle University.

The stage was draped with a transparent cloth that served as the screen for the concert poster of “Part of My World.” The music started with a montage of “Part of My World” from “The Little Mermaid” and “In My Own Little Corner” from “Cinderella.” 

Valderrama-Martinez’s image when she was only 14 and auditioned for “Cinderella” was shown on the screen.

She shared with her audience that she graduated from De La Salle University and she was even a cheerleader when she was in college.

\Valderrama Martinez rendered her Broadway medley of “Human Heart” from “Once On This Island,” “Hello, Young Lovers” from “The King and I,” “Moment in the Woods” from “Into the Woods,” “Loving You” from “Passion” and “I Know It’s Today” from “Shrek the Musical.”

The decades of living the dream happened for Valderrama-Martinez when she portrayed memorable roles in local musicals and sang beautiful melodies.

She carried out her OPM suite – “Mahal Kita” from “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical” with Floyd Tena, “Magbalik Ka Na Mahal” from “Rama Hari,” “Paalam na Pag-ibig” from “Noli Me Tangere” with Arman Ferrer and “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako” from “Katy.”

Musical director of “Part of My World” was Roni Fortich, scriptwriter was Luna Inocian and Menchu Lauchengco Yulo was the concert director.

Fortich sang “Mr Cellophane” from the musical, “Chicago,” while Valderrama Martinez did a quick costume change. 

“The things I do for costume change,” smilingly lamented Fortich. 

When Valderrama-Martinez returned, she was in a sultry attire, joined by her female guests Carla Guevarra Laforteza and Yanah Laurel Siguion-Reyna for their number, “All That Jazz.”

For a change, Arman Ferrer, Floyd Tena and Valderrama-Martinez’s better half, Lorenz Martinez, dished out a beautiful Disney medley normally only sang by female artists. 

David Ezra carried out “Come What May” with Valderrama Martinez. Lorenz, meanwhile, later joined the wife onstage for “All the Wasted Time” duet. 

The big surprise of the night was Valderrama Martinez’s 14-year-old daughter Simone, who played the piano when her mom rendered the Disney song, “Someone’s Waiting for You,” one of the early songs Valderrama-Martinez learned from “The Rescuers.”

Simone later joined her parents in “Anything You Can Do” and proved she has the genes when she belted out “My Days” from the musical “The Notebook.”

Carla Guevarra Laforteza was the first to present her concert for “Triple Threats” last July, while in December, Tanya Manalang Atadero will take centerstage. 

We can only extend our admiration and praise for Valderrama Martinez, this lady of musical theater who has conquered every imaginable performance she ventures in, be it in theater, TV or film, with her incomparable talent.