Singer Sitti will mark the 20th anniversary of her song “Para Sa Akin” with a one-night concert on May 17 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre.
The show, titled “Sittiscape: The City of Bossa,” also commemorates two decades since the release of her debut album “Café Bossa,” which introduced the track to a wider Filipino audience. First recorded in 2005, “Para Sa Akin” has remained in circulation through personal playlists, public spaces and digital platforms.
“It’s not really my song anymore,” Sitti said of the track. “It belongs to everyone who played it during the hardest or happiest parts of their lives.”
Listeners have associated the song with personal milestones. Cebu-based fan Bing Torre said it “became the soundtrack of a very specific time,” tied to relationships and places. Chad Militante of Quezon City said the track introduced him to bossa nova, a genre he continues to revisit.
On Spotify, “Para Sa Akin” has logged nearly 60 million streams, contributing to more than 80 million streams across Sitti’s catalog. The song also continues to appear on curated playlists and music charts.
The May 17 concert is conceptualized by Liza Diño, with stage direction by Ice Seguerra, musical direction by Bobby Velasco and choreography by Dan Cabrera.
Diño said the show reflects the place of bossa nova in Filipino listening habits. “Sitti embraced Bossa Nova and made it belong to ordinary Filipino life. Sittiscape is our way of singing it back.”
The production features a multi-generational lineup including Gary Valenciano, RJ Jacinto, Seguerra, Ebe Dancel, Nyoy Volante, Richard Poon, Princess Velasco, Jason Dhakal and Ryan Cayabyab.
The program includes a “Para Sa Akin” suite, presenting the song in multiple arrangements, including a reinterpretation by Dhakal released in 2023. Valenciano is set to join Sitti for a bossa nova number, while the concert concludes with a samba finale choreographed by Cabrera.
Between performances, the show incorporates brief conversational segments, allowing Sitti to reflect on the song’s trajectory and its reception over the past two decades.
“Sittiscape” is produced by Fire & Ice LIVE. Tickets are available through Ticketworld.
