(Left) Julia Clarete performing with her 17-year-old son, Sebastian on guitar at a recent fundraiser. (Right L-R) Julia, musician-composer Rey Abella, PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon, and Julia’s son Sebastian. 
PHOTO/S: Julia Clarete / Paola Abella

A welcome sighting of Julia Clarete!

Last night, November 27, 2024, she was seen perfomring at a benefit show for a friend and fellow musician.

The show, dubbed ReyVolution A Benefit Gig Series, was held at the ‘70s Bistro Bar in Anonas, Quezon City, a place with a storied music history.

The ReyVolution is a pick-up from the name of Julia’s friend, Rey Abella, a musician whom local bands like to address as “Sir Rey,” to show their respect to a talent that composes, orchestrates music, creates magic on the keyboard, and has helped many aspiring musicians.

Julia, now 45, used to be a “tambay” of the well-known bar when she was young and callow, and eager to learn from the country’s best musikeros. Thus, the long friendship with Sir Rey.

More popularly known to the public as a TV host and actress, largely because of her years in Eat Bulaga!, a 40-plus-year-old noontime variety show, Julia is, among entertainment industry insiders, long been respected as one talented singer.

When Sir Rey, 64, was diagnosed recently with a blood problem, many musicians jumped in to help him through this challenging period—Julia among them.

Last night, with her very handsome 17-year-old son Sebastian on guitar, Julia performed “First Cut is The Deepest” by Rod Stewart.

Mother and son were wildly applauded.

The performance also marked Julia’s latest public performance after she stepped away from the limelight in 2015 to focus on her personal life.

She married Irish business executive Gareth McGeown in 2017.

Julia then followed her husband to his country, which was also the site of their wedding ceremony whose festivities ended with Julia performing songs for their guests.

Since then she has occassionally accepted showbiz projects, the latest of which was Barangay Mirandas, a 2023 TV series on Net 25, but more the most part Julia has focused on family.

Julia Clarete showcased her musical skills in a recent fundraiser. With her on stage was the host-actress’s son, Sebastian, who played the guitar while her mom sang Rod Stewart’s “First Cut is The Deepest.” 
Photo/s: Julia clarete

musicians come together for fundraising event

Julia jumpstarted her performance with an auction of wines she brought in. She played the role of auctioneer herself. And clearly, her years as a TV host have given her the skills to keep an audience laughing and bidding and giving up their money happily.

Among those who bid, and who eventually won the box of wines, was PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon.

In ReyVolution A Benefit Gig Series, other performers included The Bloomfields, CBI Lady I, Red Dela Peña & Hiyas, Dino Pascual, High Targets, and Johnoy Danao.

The next leg of the series will have still other musicians—among them, Cooky Chua, former vocalist of the band Color It Red, and one of the Tres Marias, which includes Lolita Carbon and Bayang Barios—coming together in My Brother’s Mustache Folk Bar on Scout Tuason, Quezon City, on December 5, 2024.