Tonight, the trio of TNT Boys Mackie Empuerto, Francis Concepcion, and Kiefer Sanchez is set to fill up the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City as a grand showcase of the fame and adulation they have achieved as a group.
The show is dubbed Listen: The Big Shot Concert. And boy, who wouldn’t listen to the gripping harmonies and high-pitched display of vocal talent they possess.
Vice Ganda, Jed Madela, K Brosas, and fellow performers from Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids like Krystal Brimmer, Onyok Pineda, and Sheena Belarmino are among the artists included in the guest lineup.
The TNT Boys trio was established last year after their showdown on Gandang Gabi, Vice became viral.
The boys do accept that life has changed for them, for the better.
They don’t just travel abroad. They compete, too, and always in spectacular fashion that they have captured attention globally. They have been tapped to perform in Little Big Shots in the U.S., UK, and Australia.
Still in their early puberty, the group, naturally carrying the flag of the country wherever they go, has been given the honor of performing in front of heads of states including those from Singapore and Papua New Guinea. They have also performed live in front of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Curiously, the boys have been called effeminate in their stage manners, choice of expressions, and musical preferences. They often choose to perform songs of Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and female groups such as the Wonder Girls and DoReMi.
For this reason, they have been questioned about their sexual preferences.
When a veteran reporter asked about their take on haters criticizing them for apparently being not manly enough to even be addressed as boys, Mackie meaningfully replied, “Bakit po kami magre-react sa kanila, e, kung di po talaga kami ganoon.”
The word “ganoon” obviously meant more. But they chose not to expound on it.
ABS-CBN media relations manager Aaron Domingo pointed out, “Ang importante marami silang napapasaya, maraming nata-touch sa performances nila, at globally.”
True enough, lots of young boys with talent and dreams like them should find them relatable and encouraging enough to come out of their shell themselves.
The TNT Boys first gained public admiration as grand finalists in “Tawag Ng Tanghalan Kids” aired on It's Showtime. When they participated in The Kids’ Choice, they donated their PHP 50,000 prize to Bantay Bata.
Just last month they left the country again for another competition abroad.
(For tickets to Listen: The Big Shot Concert, visit ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.)