OPM royalty Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza recently took to Facebook Live for an extended, heart-to-heart Q&A session with their devoted fanbase to promote their upcoming milestone concert, “Sa Aking Puso: The Silver Anniversary Edition.”
Broadcasting directly from their home, the beloved power couple reconnected with viewers tuning in across the Philippines and from distant corners of the globe, including fans in California, Australia, Japan, and Canada.
Throughout the nearly hour-long live broadcast, the singer couple treated viewers to a warm blend of playful marital banter, impromptu acoustic song snippets, and candid reflections on their decades-long careers. Beyond the humor and music, the stream offered fans an intimate look into their enduring partnership as they recounted romantic backstories, shared personal health updates, and answered a wide array of questions about their music, family, and stage routines.
A Sentimental Homecoming at New Frontier Theater
In celebration of their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary, Dingdong and Jessa announced that the Manila leg of their world tour will take place on Sunday, September 13 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. While the Sa Aking Puso concert concept has traveled internationally across the United States, Canada, and Australia over the last three years, this performance marks an exceptionally sentimental homecoming for both artists.
Dingdong explained the personal history connected to the venue, noting that despite their extensive careers, the two have never headlined a major show together in Quezon City. Furthermore, the location holds civic meaning for the family, as Dingdong previously served as a city councilor in Quezon City’s third district, where the New Frontier Theater resides.
“We realized when looking back that Jessa and I have never done a major concert together in Quezon City as co-headliners,” Dingdong shared. “Plus, I served as a city councilor in Quezon City’s 3rd district, where the New Frontier Theater is located, so bringing this show here carries a very personal and sentimental meaning for us.”
The couple highlighted that this Manila staging will be a special, family-oriented affair starting early at 7:00 PM on a Sunday. Describing the production as a “supercharged” edition of their original tour, they promised fans an expanded stage design, unique musical arrangements, a stellar lineup of surprise guest performers, and deeper storytelling that chronicles their journey to forever.
The concert is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, at 7:00 PM at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City, with tickets officially available to the public through TicketNet online and physical outlets.
Overcoming a Health Scare Before the World Tour
The live stream turned poignant when the couple addressed Dingdong’s recent health scare, which briefly put his upcoming performances in jeopardy. Opening up about his hospitalization due to a serious infection, Dingdong shared his deep gratitude for his recovery, acknowledging how fortunate they were that the medical emergency was resolved before their rigorous international tour schedule commenced.
“It was really a scare, but I’m so thankful we overcame it. The timing of God is truly amazing,” Dingdong reflected during the live stream. “Praise God that the infection didn’t lead to sepsis, because that was the real fear. My strength is gradually returning, I’m out of the hospital, and my antibiotics treatment has wrapped up.”
Both artists paused during the stream to extend heartfelt appreciation to their medical team at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. They expressed gratitude to cardiologist Dr. Palafox, urologist Dr. PJ Fernandez, and infectious disease specialist Dr. Sheila Ariola-Ramos, as well as the attentive nursing staff who cared for Dingdong around the clock. Jessa added that the nurturing care of Filipino nurses both locally and globally remains unparalleled.
Interactive Q&A: Hits, Courtship, and Pre-Show Habits
As the broadcast progressed, fans flooded the comment section with questions ranging from song choices to personal anecdotes, prompting the couple to dive deep into memories from their 25-year history together:
Iconic Duets and Sentimental Favorites
When asked about their favorite songs to sing together, both artists immediately highlighted their classic duet version of “Basta’t Kasama Kita“. Dingdong reminisced about how the track evolved from his early solo release into a movie theme song, a teleserye track, and ultimately their signature duet.
Additionally, Jessa spoke lovingly about the track “Panghabang Buhay“ from their 20/30 album, revealing that it remains one of the few songs that still makes her emotional while performing on stage because of how accurately it reflects their love story.
Dingdong also surprised viewers by revealing that Jessa’s classic hit “Baliw Na Puso“ holds a special place in his memory. He recounted listening to the track constantly on the radio while courting Jessa in the late ’90s, admitting that hearing it today still brings back those early feelings of romance.
Pre-Show Rituals and Vocal Care
In response to fan questions about how they prepare before stepping onto the stage, Jessa detailed her strict pre-show regimen. To protect her vocal cords, she avoids dairy, coffee, juices, and spicy foods, relying strictly on water and vocal rest.
Dingdong shared that his routine includes facial massages to reduce muscle tension around his jaw, thorough vocal warm-ups, and most importantly, taking time to pray together with Jessa before every performance to express gratitude for their vocal talents and careers.
Musical Collaborations with Daughter Jayda
Responding to a query about their creative process, Dingdong shared the story behind co-writing the track “Happy For You” with their daughter, Jayda. He recalled how Jayda was barely 13 years old when she brought a complex chord progression to him during a Holy Week break. Impressed by her early musical instinct, Dingdong helped her navigate the melody, spending days fine-tuning what eventually became one of her most streamed releases.
Off-Stage Dynamics and On-Stage Chemistry
The couple shared laughs over their contrasting starts in the music industry. Dingdong debuted as a pop artist in the late 1980s, while Jessa achieved massive success in the late 1990s. Despite entering the industry a decade apart and operating as distinct solo acts, they discovered an organic chemistry when performing together that eventually blossomed off-stage.
“We weren’t an official ‘love team’ starting out; we were solo singers,” Dingdong explained. “When you have genuine chemistry off-stage, it naturally translates on stage. Through the years, you learn how to feed off each other’s energy and timing.”
International Tour Schedule and Beyond
Before taking the stage in Quezon City this September, Dingdong and Jessa are bringing the Sa Aking Puso concert to audiences across the United States.
Their US tour schedule kicks off on July 31 in Elk Grove/Sacramento, California at the Laguna Town Center, followed by a performance on August 1 in Clovis, California. Jessa will also deliver a solo performance in the Washington D.C. and DMV area on August 7.
With tickets for their September 13 anniversary concert now available via TicketNet, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza closed their Facebook Live stream by encouraging families and long-time OPM lovers to join them for a night of music, nostalgia, and celebration.