Ariana Grande wants to return to the Philippines, praises Filipinos for 'best attitude and talent'
Cross your fingers, Arianators! Ariana Grande revealed that she is keen on performing in the Philippines again, having remembered Filipinos for being "so much fun" and for their singing talent.
The award-winning singer made this statement during her interview with Unang Hirit's Lyn Ching-Pascual to promote her upcoming film, Wicked, with Cynthia Erivo.
Recounting Ariana's words in a series of Instagram stories, Lyn said, "Ang ganda ng mga sinabi niya about the Philippines, and Cynthia said she also wants to go to the Philippines because magaganda 'yung mga sinasabi ni Ariana sa kanya tungkol sa ating bansa."
"Tuwang tuwa talaga sila sa mga Pilipino, tuwang tuwa sila sa mga talent ng mga Pilipino. Ariana said, 'They have the best singers.' Nakakatuwa," Lyn added.
The entertainment journalist then pointed out that it had been a long time since Ariana visited the Philippines. She last performed in 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena for her "Dangerous Woman Tour " and in 2015 for her "The Honeymoon Tour."
"Sabi [ni Ariana], 'It's been too long, I wanna go back,' Lyn recalled.
"Ariana remembers us for having the best attitude, that we're so much fun, that we have the best talent in singing. She remembers all that, and she remembers how warm we are towards her," Lyn continued. "She really loved the Philippines and the Filipinos."
Wicked: Part One opens in local cinemas on Nov. 20, while its second part is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025.
It centers on Elphaba (played by Cynthia), a young woman with unusual green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Glinda (played by Ariana), a popular young female gilded by privilege and ambition who has yet to discover her true heart.
After meeting as students in the fantastical Land of Oz, they unexpectedly form a close bond. However, their friendship gets tested after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz himself, and their lives take very different paths.
Universal Pictures Philippines, the official distributor of the film in the country, previously held an "Awiting Wicked" contest to look for Filipino amateur singers who can be part of the Philippine rendition of the movie's official soundtrack.
A total of 30 winners will have the chance to sing the Philippine rendition of Defying Gravity and take part in its accompanying music video, which will be launched on the same date as the movie's premiere date in local cinemas.