Shiela Valderrama-Martinez is diving headfirst into a new set of projects, with her upcoming concert Part of My World a key highlight of her schedule. Set to be part of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) prestigious Triple Threats series, Valderrama-Martinez has been balancing multiple roles in theater and music as she prepares for the event.
Valderrama-Martinez recently completed her run as Erzulie, the goddess of love, in the musical Once On This Island, which closed on Sept. 29 at the RCBC Theater in Makati. The role had been a long-standing ambition for the singer-actress, who shared her excitement about the character.
“It has always been on my bucket list,” she said, citing the role as an important milestone in her theater career.
Hot on the heels of Once On This Island, Valderrama-Martinez quickly transitioned to rehearsals for Rama Hari, a Filipino pop ballet that will tour Visayan cities in October. She is set to take on dual roles as Sita and Kaikeyi. She will make her first visit to Dumaguete, where the show will be performed at Silliman University, and return to Bacolod, her hometown, where it will be staged at St. La Salle University.
Juggling several projects at once has become routine for Valderrama-Martinez, who is also preparing for her Triple Threats concert, Part of My World, happening on Thursday, Oct. 17.
The concert is a major opportunity for the singer-actress, and she expressed her gratitude to the CCP for the chance to perform in the renowned series.
“It’s an honor to be invited and given this grant by CCP,” Valderrama-Martinez said, noting how meaningful it was to be selected for such a prestigious event.
The title Part of My World holds personal significance, as it was the song she performed during her first professional audition. The concert is set to be a retrospective of Valderrama-Martinez’s career, providing audiences with a glimpse into her journey in both theater and music.
“My concert will be a journey of my career, so I’m inviting my audience to see and be a part of my world,” she shared. Known for her Disney roles, Valderrama-Martinez has had a successful run in various productions, including as a vocalist for Hong Kong Disney shows.
Valderrama-Martinez’s solo concert comes after her performance at The Ruins in Bacolod, produced by her talent management group, Stages. This time, she is working with a trusted team, including director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, a well-known figure in Philippine theater.
Lauchengco-Yulo has worked with Valderrama-Martinez on several productions, including Secret Garden and Godspell, and is someone the singer-actress trusts deeply.
“She’s seen me grow in this industry, and she’s someone I trust,” Valderrama-Martinez said.
The concert’s musical direction will be handled by Rony Fortich, a longtime collaborator of Valderrama-Martinez. The two have previously worked together on Disney shows and her previous solo concert. Fortich and Valderrama-Martinez took their time to finalize the concert’s setlist, carefully selecting songs that fit both the theme and the flow of the performance.
“It was like solving a puzzle,” she explained, noting how they had to consider the musical sequence, the story, wardrobe changes, and vocal endurance.
Though the specific setlist is being kept under wraps, the concert will feature orchestral arrangements by JC Celeste and will include performances by an 11-piece orchestra.
Valderrama-Martinez will be joined by special guests, including Arman Ferrer, Floyd Tena, David Ezra, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, and Yanah Laurel. A choir, led by Valderrama-Martinez’s close friend John Mojica, will also participate, along with her husband Lorenz Martinez and their daughter Simone Martinez.
Looking ahead, Valderrama-Martinez’s schedule remains packed. She is set to begin filming the Netflix series Buy Bust, directed by Erik Matti, and is preparing for the release of Bag Man, a series she recently wrapped up filming. As the year winds down, she is bracing for the busy events season that the final months of the year usually bring.
In September 2025, Valderrama-Martinez will reprise her role as Fosca in the Philippine production of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, a role she has long held dear. With its themes of love, betrayal, and obsession, Passion is expected to be another standout moment in Valderrama-Martinez’s already impressive career.
