Photos by Ver Penaranda
After a long absence from the stage, Geneva Cruz, The Pop, Soul, and R&B Diva from Seattle, Washington is currently back on stage and touring the Phiippines and Korea. Geneva Cruz will be kicking off this series of concert April 1, 2008 at Casino Filino in Tagaytay.
Geneva Mendoza Cruz- Miller, who is better known by her screen name Geneva Cruz, is a Filipina singer and actress. Born on April 2, 1976 in Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila, she comes from the legendary Cruz clan (one of Tirso Cruz Sr.'s Great Grand-Daughters) which include celebrities like Tirso Cruz III, Sunshine Cruz, Sheryl Cruz and Donna Cruz. She is also the cousin of actor-dancer Rayver Cruz.
Cruz began her career in 1989 as one of the lead singers of the popular group Smokey Mountain. She subsequently left the group to pursue a solo career. Her first album, "I Like You", went platinum. The album produced several hit singles, including the title track and "Anak ng Pasig" (from the movie of the same title) in which Geneva appeared. "Anak Ng Pasig," was also chosen as Best Pop Song by the 1992 Catholic Mass Media Awards.
Her scheduled upcoming shows include the following venues:
Apr 1 2008 8:00P - Casino Filipino Tagaytay City (Solo show)
Apr 3 2008 5:00P - Mall of Asia Manila ***
Apr 18 2008 7:00P - Davao City
Apr 19 2008 7:00P - Panabo City
Apr 24 2008 7:00P - Butuan City
Apr 25 2008 7:00P - Cagayan de Oro
Apr 26 2008 9:00P - Captain’s Bar Makati City (Solo with her band)
May 2 2008 7:00P - Cebu City
May 10 2008 7:00P - Iloilo City
May 24 2008 7:00P - Bacolod City
May 30 2008 7:00P - Tacloban City
Jun 1 2008 8:00P - Korea, Korea (Show for Globe Telecom)
(Most shows are with Pops Fernandez 'Divalicious Tour'/ except *** with Rachel Alejandro)
She arrived in the Philippines recently with the same speculations from the press as when she left in January 2007 for the United States -- with the nasty rumor that she and husband KC Montero were having marital problems. However, the energetic diva discounts the rumor as nothing new. She is happily married to MTV VJ KC Montero since January 2004. She has a twelve year old son- Heaven by her former Husband, Introvoyz drummer Paco Arespacochaga who is now based in Los Angeles.
Geneva and KC started going steady in 1999, right after her marriage to Paco was annulled. In 2004, the two got married in civil rites at the Montero's Seattle home but they kept their marriage a secret until recently. The rumor seem to have sparked because she left Seattle without KC nor Heaven, who is celebrating his 12th birthday on April 17th.
But Geneva is unfazed with all the rumor and is excited for tonight's kick-off show at Tagaytay. She plans to stay in the Philippines for the next three months ending her tour in Korea. An unfinished Album is also in the works. Her last recording came out in 2002.
Despite the curious tone of the Philippine media welcome to Geneva and her hectic Philippine comeback tour, she is so focused on the one dozen shows that are scheduled. Her reply to my last email before she left for the Philippines was: " hi! i'll let you know when i get back to manila, my manager has my schedule. thanks ha! happy valentines!" It looks like the love and the groove is still inside the girl from Tondo.
Watch out Philippines. The Diva is back !
By Jay Fermin