Ryan Cayabyab Gets Nostalgic Over His Reunion with Mitch Valdes and APO Hiking Society for ‘naRYAN nAPO Kami’

Are you ready for a night filled with nostalgia?

Fresh from his “Liyab: Mga Himig ng Dakilang Pag-ibig” concert, National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab is showing no signs of slowing down. This December, the celebrated composer and musician is set to return to the stage for the fourth installment of his MaestroClass Concert Series.

The concert will take place at the Proscenium Theater at Rockwell Center in Makati. For Ryan, popularly known as Mr. C, keeping himself busy with one project after another has its own rewards, allowing him to stay productive while looking forward to some well-deserved rest in between.

“Jumping from one to the next project makes me feel better because I know I’m productive and I feel better because it makes me sort of like makes me feel younger. Mahirap ‘yung wala talagang iniisip at walang ginagawa, and I really get bored easily if I’m not doing anything,” Mr. C told METRO.

Beyond another opportunity to showcase his musical brilliance, the fourth chapter of the MaestroClass Concert Series holds a special significance for the maestro. 

This time, he will share the stage with two of his longtime friends in the industry: Mitch Valdes and APO Hiking Society, making the upcoming concert a nostalgic celebration of music, friendship, and the memories they have created throughout their careers.

The fourth installment of the MaestroClass Concert Series also marks the series’ first anniversary, following its debut in November last year. For this milestone, Mr. C will be joined onstage by Mitch Valdes, APO Hiking Society, and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.

While a touch of Christmas will be part of “naRYAN nAPO Kami,” the concert’s central theme revolves around the excitement of opening a box. Much like unwrapping a balikbayan box during the holidays, the show brings together a collection of familiar and meaningful things worth sharing—only this time, the treasures waiting to be discovered come in the form of music.

“When you’re opening a balikbayan box, it is not for one person, it’s for the family, so, hindi mo alam kung para kanino ‘yung lalabas doon ng mga items. And it’s so exciting to open a box. I think ito ‘yung ito ‘yung basic theme na iniisip ni Direk Rowell [Santiago], not only for this show, but for the Maestro Class show,” he said.

Beyond the holiday festivities, Mr. C also hopes to capture the warmth and excitement of reuniting with old friends and classmates—a familiar tradition during the Christmas break. Through his reunion with Mitch Valdes and APO Hiking Society, the maestro hopes to bring that same sense of camaraderie to the stage, reminding audiences that these gatherings are about more than just food; they are also about shared stories, laughter, and memories.

“I’d like to have something like this with APO and Mitch Valdes, kasi it’s going to be fun kasi ganun naman tayo ‘di ba? We always pagka ‘yung reunions natin, hindi lang pagkain, ‘yung tawanan, ‘yung kwentuhan,” Mr. C explained.

Mr. C could not contain his excitement over reuniting with Mitch Valdes and APO Hiking Society for the upcoming collaboration, describing it as a long-awaited reunion with some of his closest friends in the industry.

The maestro is also looking forward to revisiting APO Hiking Society’s True to My Music album, which he arranged. Among the group’s well-loved songs, he is particularly excited to perform “When I Met You” using its original arrangement.

“I’m so excited. We’re going to do that kasi we’re playing the original arrangement. I don’t know if they’re going to do ‘True to My Music’ and ‘Yakap Sa Dilim,’ but I’m sure I’m going to pitch in ‘When I Met You,’” he said.

Beyond their shared musical history, Mr. C also recalled his longstanding friendship with Mitch, sharing how their paths have crossed numerous times throughout the years.

“Marami kaming bungguan in the past. We have a common friend, June Keithley. When I used to live in UP Village, the house of June was just around the corner, and she would call me to complete a quorum for mahjong, ‘pag hindi pwede si Mitch. So, kami ‘yung fourth wheel or fourth chair ng mahjong,” he shared with a laugh.

Their professional relationship also dates back decades. In 1988, Mr. C composed the original music for “Katy! The Musical,” a Filipino-language biographical production about Katy de la Cruz, widely regarded as the Queen of Philippine Vaudeville and Jazz. Mitch, meanwhile, took the lead in the production.

Despite their long history, it has been years since the two last performed together on a major stage. Mr. C recalled that their more recent encounters were limited to smaller engagements, making their upcoming collaboration even more meaningful.

“So, I’m meeting them again after a long, long time. I haven’t performed with them for a long time. Talagang decades. Si Mitch, nakasama ko siya sa isang—maybe kumanta lang siya and I played for her, but not in any major show. I haven’t had a show with Mitch, as a matter of fact. Only small ones na guest siya,” he revealed.

His last major project with APO Hiking Society was their “True to My Music” album, released in 1990, while his work with Mitch on “Katy! The Musical” dates back to 1988. Their upcoming reunion brings together not only longtime friends but also a significant part of their shared musical history.

Although Mr. C, Mitch, and APO Hiking Society entered the industry in different eras, they belong to the same generation and share a wealth of experiences in Philippine music and entertainment.

Through “naRYAN nAPO Kami,” the artists are set to revisit cherished memories while introducing their enduring music to audiences once again. For Mr. C, nostalgia is one of the biggest highlights concertgoers can look forward to in this special collaboration.

The reunion also marks Mitch and APO’s first time performing at the Proscenium Theater. Mr. C believes the artists will enjoy the experience, particularly because of the venue’s intimate atmosphere, which allows them to connect more closely with their audience.

“It’s like I invited all of them into my sala and everybody’s having fun and singing. I think the APO will enjoy doing this and Mitch. Parang reintroducing them again to the theater format, the Proscenium type, na hindi bar, hindi club, hindi casino type, ‘no?” Mr. C emphasized.

Again, while the production centers on reunion and nostalgia, the concert will also usher in the Christmas season during its final 15 minutes. Mr. C shared that “naRYAN nAPO Kami” will incorporate Christmas tunes toward the end of the show, giving audiences a festive send-off.

“It’s just like saying that reunions happen all year round, opening of boxes happen all year round. But it becomes more special during Christmas. So we’ll do it in the last part, because when they go out, they’ll be humming the Christmas tunes,” Mr. C concluded.

Lead photo from Proscenium Theater