Justin Timberlake llega a Manila, actuará el 27 con Timbaland

Justin Timberlake es escoltado por el personal de seguridad mientras abandona el aeropuerto internacional de Manila, el 25 de marzo. El cantante se encuentra en Filipinas para hacer una aparición especial en uno de los conciertos de la gira «Changing Lives: Timbaland Shock Value II Tour», el próximo 27 de marzo.

Justin Timberlake y una fan en el aeropuerto internacional de Manila.

Justin arrives in Manila, snubs local fans, media

Multiple Grammy award-winning R&B singer Justin Timberlake arrived in Manila Thursday morning but ignored media and fans at the airport, ahead of his one-night concert slated Saturday on the concert grounds of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Timberlake arrived aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles, California, together with his eight-man crew that included a couple of burly bodyguards.

The R&B sensation, also a two-time Emmy award-winner, is a guest performer at rapper Timbaland’s concert titled «Changing Lives: Timbaland Shock Value II Tour» together with pop singer Jojo.

Upon deplaning from the PAL flight, the bodyguards scurried Timberlake off to the Presidential Lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 and tried to avoid the handful of mediamen who were there to cover his arrival.

As Timberlake was going down the escalator from the arrival concourse, the singer bowed his head and never made eye-contact to acknowledge the fans who tried to get a glimpse of him, much to their disappointment.

Timberlake stayed at the lounge and had a cup of coffee as they waited for their travel documents to be processed.

As soon as all their passports were processed and their luggage retrieved from the carrousel, the group proceeded to the arrival curbside to catch their ride to the hotel.

Security men encircled Timberlake as he stepped out of the lounge and walk towards the curbside to prevent the people from mobbing him.

Timberlake did not acknowledge greetings from his fans nor entertained any question fielded by local entertainment reporter Ginger Conejeros.

Timberlake’s behavior did not amuse his Filipino fans who said that their 4 a.m. trip to the airport to get a glimpse of him was not worth their trouble.

Justin arrives today for gig

MANILA, Philippines—As early as November last year there was talk that local concert promoters were bringing in pop superstar Justin Timberlake. But it remained just a rumor, until Francis Lumen’s All Youth Channels (former franchisee of MTV Philippines) announced a show that will feature not just Timberlake, but also Timbaland and Jojo on March 27 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.

It’s actually Timbaland, the rapper and sought-after record producer, who’s headlining the show. But even as Timberlake and Jojo (a teenage singer whom Timbaland has recruited in his latest album) are billed as guests, Lumen says they will play a major part in the show.

Fundraiser

In fact, the gig, dubbed «Changing Lives», is a special one-off event, a fundraiser for the PLDT-Smart Foundation which is channeling the gig’s proceeds to help young victims of the Ondoy-Pepeng storms, including students of the Angono School of the Arts whose musical instruments were damaged by the floods.

Timberlake, who’s flying in from Los Angeles today with girlfriend Jessica Biel, will be meeting the Angono music students after his arrival.

But apart from its being a benefit concert, what makes this gig worth checking out?

It’ll be interesting to hear how Timbaland would bring his studio production techniques in a live setting, without making it sound like the usual hip hop/R&B show.

Jojo is very familiar to the high school crowd, a stunning beauty with matching good singing voice.

Timberlake has certainly gone a long way from his ‘N Sync days. His collaborations with Timbaland would be the show’s highlight.