Hundreds turned out to see Alden Richards perform live.  Right: The house was packed for Richard’s first-ever performance in Doha.





They turned out in droves to see “Bae.” And it turned out to be laughter-on-the-roll fun-filled night for almost all of them —for many, it was a dream come true. The instant the Filipino heartthrob Alden Richards stepped up the stage at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) for a live music and dance concert, hundreds in the audience went up in an adrenaline rush.
When he danced, they danced with him and when he sang, they sang along. Dozens of his fans captured him in their ‘selfie’ frames while others took memorable group photographs. Richards, the recent AlDub-fame popular artist, commonly known as Bae in Philippines’s entertainment industry, literally enthralled the audience with his first ever concert in Doha.
He sang some of his recent popular songs and set the stage on fire with his dance moves. Richards who happens to be the biggest celebrity actor in the Philippines today was supported by Boobsie Wonderland, one of the prime comedians and TV personalities, Ian Red and AJ, the famous stand-up comedians in the Philippines.
“The reaction of the people was just great. It is actually gratifying and humbling to get good reviews and feedback from the audience. We had almost sold out seats despite the late selling of our tickets, especially the VVIP section was almost sold out,” Ryan Salcedo Tanada, the producer of the show told Community.
Ryan, who produced his first show, said it was not an easy task. “There is a lot of struggle that comes with it especially with the magnitude of event that we had. From the venue to managing the artists and team members, preparations were really hard, but I have a good team under me who helped me a lot in everything,” he added.
Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr., also known by the stage name Alden Richards, is a Filipino television actor, host, model and recording artist signed with GMA Network. He is best known for his roles in Alakdana, Tween Hearts, One True Love, Carmela, The Road, and the live Kalyeserye segment of Eat Bulaga!
Last year, Richards became a part of the Philippines’ longest running noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga! He is currently appearing as a co-host in the segment, That’s My Bae. His popularity has further skyrocketed not only because of the daily TV exposure as a mainstay co-host, but also because of the formation of an accidental love team between him and his Eat Bulaga! co-host Maine Mendoza.
The love team, labelled by fans as AlDub, has been a consistent Twitter trending topic in the Philippines and worldwide. Because of their huge popularity, Eat Bulaga! created a mini-series for AlDub labelled by Joey de Leon as Kalyeserye within the segment Juan For All, All for Juan.
Fan-made trailers requesting for a movie or TV show have gone viral online. One of them is a pitched remake of the Koreanovela My Love from the Star.
In August last year, Richards inked a four-year movie contract with APT Entertainment, the film outfit of Eat Bulaga! Richards and Mendoza are set to appear in the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival entry My Bebe Love. The movie is headlined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas and is to be directed by Jose Javier Reyes.
In July 2015, Richards got reunited with former leading lady Louise delos Reyes in the Talent episode of Karelasyon. While in August 2015, Richards signed a recording contract with GMA Records. His second album, “Wish I May”, was launched in October 2015.
The album contains at least two original songs and renditions. The first single, Wish I May, is an original composition by Agat Obar-Morallo and was released earlier for online downloading and streaming in September 2015.
The music video of Wish I May premiered on October 18, 2015 on GMA Network’s Sunday noontime show Sunday PinaSaya, where Richards is also a co-host. The single landed on the top spot of iTunes Philippines song charts. The sophomore album earned a gold record award from PARI prior to being officially launched.
In 2010, Richards was launched as an actor for GMA Network on the afternoon soap Alakdana, playing the role of Joma, a disabled man. He was paired with the then up-and-coming actress Louise delos Reyes.
He also signed a 5-year contract with the network. In 2011, he became a part of the successful teenage series, Tween Hearts and also starred in its film adaptation Tween Hearts: Class of 2012. He also performed on GMA Network’s Sunday variety shows Party Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars.
Richards graced two episodes of Spooky Nights in Singil and in the Christmas episode of Spooky Nights as Elmer. He was praised by critics with his performance as a psychopath in the movie The Road. By the end of 2011, he played Gobi in the box office hit movie Ang Panday 2, which was an entry at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Ryan, the producer of the show believes, that the Filipino community members in Doha want to see the popular celebrities that they love and see on television, “especially now that they are away from home and family, seeing their beloved celebrities makes them feel home and happy.”
As of now, Ryan said he is taking his well-deserved vacation but would soon start working to bring more fun to Doha for his community. “I honestly just want to have a quality time with my family and loved ones, but even now I am receiving good messages and feedback from the people who watched and even the people who missed the concert. They want me to do another event,” said Ryan.
Without giving specific details, he said he was sure he and his team would come up with a show worth the time and money of the people in Doha in the near future.
Ryan said all the artists who performed here loved their first time experience in Doha so much that they would really love to come back as soon as their schedules allow them.