Former Bagets heartthrob, Raymond Lauchengco still carries that easy charm and quiet sincerity that made him a favorite decades ago. Yesterday afternoon at East Ocean Palace Restaurant, a familiar, welcoming spot that has long supported his projects, he sat down with the press to talk about his upcoming one-night-only concert, We Built This City: A Celebration of Generation X.
The room was relaxed and genuine. Raymond spoke like someone sharing good news with old friends. The concert happens on November 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre in Circuit Makati. Tickets are available through TicketWorld.
“This is my dream concert because it’s about my generation,” the 60-year-old singer said with a smile. “We grew up with these songs, then went out and built lives. I want us to take an evening to enjoy how far we’ve come. We did well. And we still know how to have a good time.”
Raymond explained why it fit Generation X (born mid-1960s to 1980): they lived through the colorful, mixtape-and-MTV 1980s, then quietly built careers, raised families, made mistakes, learned from them, and kept going. “We did well. Not perfectly, but steadily. I think we’ve earned a really good night out!”
Joining him onstage are some of the biggest names in OPM: Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid, and the always-entertaining Mitch Valdes. Raymond spoke about them with clear admiration. “These are artists I’ve admired and enjoyed working with over the years. Each of them brings something special to the show,” he said.
The night blends ’80s anthems, ballads, Broadway numbers, new-wave tracks, international Top 40 hits, and Raymond’s signature songs (“So It’s You,” “Farewell,” “I Need You Back”). An immersive, city-inspired stage design frames the show, directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo with musical direction by Marvin Querido. Produced by GRCX under Girlie Rodis.
Raymond has been on a strong creative run. His recent Aliw Award-winning concerts Just Got Lucky (marking 40 years in the business) and Everybody Loves Raymond (his 60th birthday celebration) proved that audiences still show up for him in force. This new show feels like a natural next chapter, one that looks outward to celebrate the people who grew up alongside him.
He was quick to note that the invitation isn’t limited to Gen X. “Of course, all generations… are welcome,” he has said in related conversations. Younger fans who love discovering the music that shaped their parents’ youth are more than encouraged to come. Platinum ticket holders will even get a soundcheck experience and priority meet-and-greet access after the show.
As the afternoon wound down, Raymond left the media with a simple, sincere hope: that people will walk out of the theater not only humming the old songs but also feeling proud of the lives they’ve built. The kids they once were are still inside them, he noted, and this show is designed to let those kids come out and dance for one night.
For fans who grew up with Bagets, mixtapes, and Raymond’s clear, heartfelt voice on the radio, November 21 looks like a long-overdue reunion, with the music, with old friends, and with a generation that quietly got on with the work of living and, in the process, built something lasting.
Get tickets here:
https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=RLWBTC26
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